Biographies

Oliver Kemenczky is the founder of New York Strange Phenomena Investigators (NY-SPI), headquartered in Manhattan. NY-SPI is a scientific research group dedicated to the systematic investigation of UFO sightings, "missing time" reports and related extraordinary occurrences.

Oliver has over 25 years of experience as a UFO researcher and field investigator. He consults regularly with television networks and production companies on the filming of fact-based investigation programs. Officially, his interest in UFOs began in childhood. His parents, who encouraged him to look at the subject with an open mind, were his inspiration. His mother helped plant the seeds of his curiosity, while his father (an engineer, inventor and amateur astronomer) helped teach him how to examine the UFO phenomenon from a technical perspective. It soon became a hobby.

For over 10 years, Oliver served as a key player with New York City’s Intruders Foundation (IF), working closely with author, artist and veteran UFO abduction investigator Budd Hopkins. IF is a research and support organization that examines UFO close encounters, especially those where the witnesses report having had strange dream-like experiences, a sense of "missing time," or memories of potential “alien abductions.” IF also offers a network of support, providing sympathetic help and understanding to individuals who feel they may have had these experiences. It was through the Intruders Foundation that Oliver developed friendships and solid associations with fellow researchers Ted Davis, Dennis Anderson and Jed Turnbull.  

In 2006, Oliver and Ted formed NY-SPI, with Dennis and Jed joining thereafter. Denise Petty signed on in 2007. Together, the NY-SPI team looks to uncover hard evidence of UFOs. The team also employs diverse scientific methods to dissect and scrutinize the physical, statistical and psychological patterns associated with the phenomenon. NY-SPI has well-established case-review and investigation protocols in place. These protocols allow its investigators to carefully piece together the details of reported UFO sightings or possible abductions, and to determine their validity and credibility. NY-SPI receives an ongoing stream of cases daily. Each case pursued is treated like a new mystery.

Oliver is extremely committed in his research and driven to help the many people the UFO phenomenon affects. He is continually amazed how UFOs and "missing time" experiences do not discriminate; that they impact people around the world of all cultures, races, religions, professions and levels of socioeconomic standing. His work with NY-SPI reaches across the entire gamut.

Oliver holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University and works professionally as a product specialist for a high-tech equipment manufacturer. Throughout his career, he has held diverse consulting, engineering and management positions for various well-recognized technology corporations. He has traveled globally in support of his trade. In his post-college days, he has also worked in materials and acoustic testing labs, gaining an extensive background in solids, fluids and sound analyses.

Very athletic, Oliver participates in many competitive sports. His recreational passions often lead him to the football fields, tennis courts and volleyball beaches of NJ.

Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Ted Davis has been interested in UFO’s for as long as he can remember. Growing up he was drawn to Star Wars, Star Trek and countless other science fiction tales. Convinced the universe was too large for humanity alone; contact with extraterrestrials was always within his realm of possibility. Ted began reading extensively about and studying the UFO phenomenon in his late teens.

In the mid 1990’s, Ted began working with Budd Hopkins and the Intruders Foundation (IF) and during his 10 years with IF, he learned the ins and outs of UFO investigation from Budd, one of the best researchers the field has ever known.  During this time, Ted worked alongside Oliver and over time the two became close friends. Together they ran IF’s advisory committee for years, eventually meeting two other members of the NY-SPI team, Dennis and Jed.

In 2006, Ted and Oliver branched out, forming their own researcher group, New York Strange Phenomena Investigators (NY-SPI) with the goal of focusing on scientific investigation of UFO-related phenomena. Now, with the assistance of the rest of the NY-SPI team, they attempt to find answers to long-standing questions in Ufology.

Through years of research, Ted has concluded that UFOs and abductions are a multifaceted phenomenon, well beyond any token explanation offered up by the armchair skeptic. Ted has been involved in hundreds of cases, hearing testimony too amazing to believe and yet too compelling to ignore. Undaunted, he presses on, looking for answers he knows he may never find.

Ted is a licensed social worker holding a master's degree in both psychology and social work. For a living he’s a social worker in a private school for children with autism. In his free time, Ted enjoys writing science fiction, cooking up some spicy cuisine or catching the NY Giants or Yankees play. Ted is in his mid-30s and lives on Long Island with his wife and two young sons.

Jed Turnbull is a licensed psychotherapist in full-time private practice.  He lives and works in New York City. He has been formally interested in UFO and alien abduction phenomena for over 20 years. For the last 10 years, Jed has volunteered as the clinical advisor to Budd Hopkins’ Intruders Foundation, where he currently continues to lend his professional therapeutic skills. More recently, he has become the go-to guy for the NY-SPI team whenever a case presents itself in need of his expertise. Jed brings a wide range of training to his work. He holds a master’s degree in social work and has three years post-graduate education in psychoanalytic studies. He is a certified hypnotherapist, Level II EMDR (an advanced treatment for trauma) practitioner, and has advanced training in relationship counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, and group dynamics. Currently, his study concentration has been in evolutionary psychology and belief systems.

As an American Red Cross, Disaster Mental Health volunteer, Jed continues to work extensively treating people in crisis. Since 2001, he has helped members of the NYPD, FDNY, and the families of victims of the 9/11 World Trade Center tragedy. Effectively treating trauma has given Jed deep insights into the strengths and spirit of all human beings.  

Often, people who have seen something they cannot explain, like a UFO, seek help in dealing with such a remarkable experience. “PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) is very common among these individuals,” according to Jed. “Imagine what it would really be like, if you have a normal, everyday life in every way, and out of nowhere you experience a UFO sighting, or worse, an abduction. In truth, it would be very unusual, even traumatic, and for some, it is extremely so.”

Jed provides hypnotherapy regressions for those seeking deeper answers to what may have happened to them. Over the course of studying UFO phenomena, he has come to realize that there is something very compelling about these experiences, and that many questions remain. “Many individuals are seeking concrete answers to what might be happening to them, and we have to assure them that, even though we have yet to fully understand what is going on ourselves, we are doing everything possible to try and provide some of those answers,” he says. “But until that time comes, all we as therapists can do is ask them to try and make peace with the uncertainties — and to always try and remember, that there are many here who do take them seriously, and I am one of them.”

Another part of Jed’s interest is to enlighten the mental health professional community in becoming more aware of the needs of individuals who may one day seek their help after having a UFO experience. “Many of my colleagues in the helping professions are unaware that these UFO/abduction experiences are very real to people,” he comments. “Unfortunately, individuals who seek help in understanding what has happened to them, who then meet an un-empathetic therapist, stand the chance of being re-traumatized. Moreover, it is our duty to create a safe, consistent, and non-judgmental place for these frightened individuals. Needless to say, there is a lot of work ahead of us.”

Jed also sees people with more “earthly” issues in his private practice. “Oh yes,” he says. “Most of the people I see come for what one would call more ‘typical’ concerns — quality of life stuff, work-related matters, relationship problems and of course deeper emotional disorders. However,” he states, “it’s the UFO/abduction individuals who only wish their lives were just that common again.”

Dennis Anderson has been the Director of the Wagner College Planetarium in Staten Island, New York since 1990. As an adjunct assistant professor of astronomy, he teaches laboratory classes pertaining to our solar system. He has been an amateur astronomer for 34 years.

From 1985 to 2003, Dennis was Chairman of the Staten Island Chapter of the Amateur Astronomy Association of New York City. In that capacity, he conducted public lectures and astronomical observing sessions in city, state, and federal parks. As an astronomy consultant, he has appeared on Saturday TODAY in New York, CBS Evening News, Channel 7 Eyewitness News, Channel 11 News, WCBS News Radio 88, and in the Staten Island Advance newspaper.

In 1963, Dennis read "The Report on Unidentified Flying Objects" by USAF Captain Edward J. Ruppelt. This started what has become a 45-year quest for answers to the UFO mystery.

Having trained and worked as a criminal investigator in the 1970's, he is known for the objectivity, logic and reasoning skills he applies to every case. Dennis has an extensive library of UFO materials from which to gather information. He has been an active member of The Center for UFO studies since 1976.

In 2000, he became a member of the advisory committee of Budd Hopkins' Intruders Foundation. He has published works in The International UFO Reporter quarterly magazine, and The Intruders Foundation Newsletter. From 1998 to 2003, he appeared regularly as a panelist on the local television shows - We Are Not Alone, UFO Phenomena and The UFO Enigma.

Dennis is a lifelong resident of Staten Island, New York.

Denise Petty is a Private Investigator born and raised in Fairbanks, Alaska where she owns and operates her investigative firm, DCRI, Inc. Her investigative services and specialties include Criminal Defense, Civil Litigation and Worker’s Compensation fraud as well as occasional private-party and missing persons’ cases. Denise has worked within multiple capacities within the legal field before becoming a Private Investigator by serving as a Deputy Clerk for a US Magistrate Judge, a civil litigation, collections and criminal defense Paralegal, and performed an internship at the Fairbanks District Attorney’s Office.

Denise’s education background includes an AAS in Paralegal Studies (cum laude) from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, which is an American Bar Association Approved Program. Additionally, she has received her Master Detective Certification from an accredited post-secondary education program. Denise pursues ongoing education relating to Alaska law and investigative techniques on an on-going basis. One specific area of study has been Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a technique which she has integrated into her interviewing and investigative skill set.

Denise is very active within her local and professional communities. She is the Fairbanks liaison for the Alaska Innocence Project, a member of the UAF Paralegal Program Advisory committee, has served on the Alaska Investigator’s Association Board of directors for two consecutive terms, with her most recent service as President, writes a monthly newsletter article on preventing fraud for the Fairbanks Seniors’ Center, and performs numerous speaking engagements relating to a variety of topics to local groups such as the Fairbanks Association of Legal Assistants and the  UAF Youth Justice Program. Additionally, she holds memberships within multiple Investigation-related professional associations nationwide and acts as a group moderator on two professional list serves.

A lifelong Alaskan, Denise not only married a high school classmate, but has also raised both of her daughters in the same community and schools she and her husband attended while growing up. Being outdoor enthusiasts, every spare moment will find the entire family hiking, fishing, camping, ATV-riding and exploring the great Alaskan outdoors. In the wintertime, Denise’s youngest daughter can be found participating in competitive dog-mushing while the rest of the family prefers riding snow machines and skiing or snowboarding.

Denise’s interest in science began early in adolescence and her interest in the subject has never waned. Denise’s particular scientific interest is in quantum physics. She has also independently studied philosophy and religion, and over time began to believe that all three areas contained interesting overlaps. Her interest in unexplained phenomenon and UFO’s followed suit shortly thereafter. Denise’s goal in her studies is to find some solid connectivity within these multiple areas of study that will provide solid, logical answers to the eternal questions we all ask ourselves: How did the human race come to be, what happens when we die, and is there any other intelligent life out there? As an investigator, she approaches the subject from a very rigid, scientific perspective.