Archive for the ‘strange happenings’ category

The John Keel Files Special…

April 4, 2015

20150403-232315.jpg

Many of us are familiar to at least a degree with the Mothman saga, and the S3/Ep09 2015 installment of Monsters and Mysteries in America spent the full episode on Mothman, emphasizing the investigative role of pioneering paranormal journalist John Keel. Now Keel was on assignment from Playboy magazine to look into UFO’s, and together with area reporter Mary Hyre looked into the hundreds of Mothman sightings that occurred up and down the Ohio River within only two months of time, especially within the area of Point Pleasant, West Virginia.

…now Mothman is described as standing about seven feet tall, and resembling a cross between a man and an alien with wings. A number of sightings had occurred in the so-called TNT area, where old abandoned bunkers had stored explosives during the World War II era. The most intensive time of sightings occurred between November of 1966 and December of 1967, but Mothman was actually just the headliner in what was actually a cluster of paranormal events. In addition to Mothman, lights were seen in the skies, the presence of which attracted dogs which were later found slaughtered and drained of blood. Cattle mutilations were also reported, and a bloodmobile was supposedly attacked at night by a UFO which gripped it in mechanical arms until the presence of other car lights drove it off. Point Pleasant also saw an influx of “Men in Black,” those dark-clad, sunglasses-wearing figures that some see as government operatives while others regard as aliens. MIB’s supposedly tried to intimidate key investigators, including Mary Hyre and her niece. John Keel was contacted by various unknown entities over the phone even after he had left Point Pleasant, and he had the impression that some of them could foretell the future.

The convergence of all of these strange events seemed to be building towards something dire, and sure enough the Silver Bridge collapsed on December 15th, 1967 during rush hour, killing 46 people in the worst bridge collapse in U.S. history. Mothman was said to have flown over the bridge prior to its collapse…

…new sightings of Mothman and related encounters are said to continue, with a reported frequency of one perhaps every month or two. One man interviewed had seen the Mothman while a child in his parent’s car, and he returned to the area to experience another encounter as an adult, when he saw a black figure emerge out of what was described as a shimmering curtain. The gentleman involved speculated that perhaps Mothman was a Thunderbird, some kind of ancient being, or perhaps a multidimensional creature.

Well, everyone’s got to believe in something. I believe I’ll have a diet Coke…

Demon Panthers; Helicopter Crew Meets UFO; Doppelganger

March 28, 2015

wpid-wp-1427508717485.jpegThe S3/Ep08 episode of Monsters and Mysteries in America featured a cryptid, an otherworldly encounter, and a paranormal experience, a bit of something for everyone!  In Alexander City in Illinois in the Shawnee National Forest (Devil’s Kitchen sector) lurks a never-identified feline creature, similar to a black panther but at over 9′ in length much larger.  The panther is further extraordinary in that it can apparently appear and disappear.  Accounts of the demon panther date back to the mid-1800’s, with a butler working on the exterior grounds of a mansion reportedly attacked in July of 1917 but the attacker never found.  More recently in fall of 1969, cryptozoology investigator Loren Coleman traveling as a passenger in a car saw a large black panther crossing the road, wishing to exit the vehicle to search for tracks which he was not able to do as his companions wished to leave the vicinity.  A bit later in fall of 1969, Mike Busby was out driving late at night when his car quit, causing him to exit the vehicle to work on the engine.  The panther then pounced on him, and the situation was dire until he went limp and the headlights of another vehicle caused the creature to break off the attack.  Remarkably, the panther was then seen to walk off into the woods on its hind legs! The police thought that the panther was a large wolf, although the victim knew better and suffered a lengthy recovery from the attack…

…there are those that believe that we all have a doppelganger, a “double walker” that is essentially a duplicate of a living person although they are a kind of imperfect evil twin that may be bent on replacing their mainstream version.  Abraham Lincoln supposedly saw a pale and deathly image of himself in a mirror, a vision which his wife interpreted to mean that he would not survive his term of office.  In Oviedo, Florida a family was reportedly invaded in April of 2003 by a duplicate of one 17-year-old daughter which both the girl’s mother and her sister reported seeing.  The duplicate could supposedly open doors and perform actions in the physical world.  The doppelganger even appeared to the young woman at work, and to the mother at home after the daughter had gone off to college…creepy, huh?

Lastly, an incident was covered in Louisville, Kentucky where two air police officers in a helicopter were pursued by a UFO in February of 1993.  The supposedly alien craft circled and chased the hopelessly outmatched helicopter, eventually shooting three fireballs at them which required emergency evasive action.  The UFO was described as moving quickly with no visible means of propulsion, and it vanished following the encounter.  Two police officers on the ground also reportedly saw the strange craft but were unable to pursue it.  The segment also touched upon a January of 1948 incident when planes unsuccessfully chased UFO’s, as well as a 1955 encounter when a family saw small alien creatures outside of their farmhouse, later finding glowing material left on the ground. – – Where is Fox Mulder when we need him?!

 

Mantis Man; Spottsville Monster; Tornado Phantoms…

March 23, 2015

20150321-232033.jpg

In the S3/Ep07 installment of Monsters and Mysteries in America, the first segment concerned a huge, hostile Bigfoot-type beast reported in Spottsville in the northwest part of Kentucky. Reports of the creature date back to 1892, but the segment largely concerned the Nunnelly family who in 1975 moved to a farm house in the back woods, where they sensed something strange. Chickens went missing, and two brothers in the family found a dog carcass, later finding eight dogs killed and mutilated in the same manner. Family members heard rustling sounds in their yard, and reported seeing a seven to nine foot tall hairy creature with piercing eyes covered with hair and emitting the odor of rotten eggs…

…well, the family reported coming under siege from the creature, who would rattle their door knobs and screech on their porch. They repeatedly called the police, who would investigate and discover nothing, finally refusing to come further. Deciding to take matters into their own hands, family members and friends staged a stake-out on their roof one night. They heard sounds, released their dogs, and fired with shotguns into the area with no result. They finally left the house, fearing for their lives. One unrelated Kentucky native put out a recorder in the general area, and recorded an eleven second scream which wildlife experts said matched no known species…

…on a more benign note, the second segment concerned “butterfly people,” luminous beings of light with wings who were reported seen largely by children during a devastating tornado in Joplin, Missouri which occurred on May 22nd, 2011. The entities reportedly shielded people from debris during the tornado. Curiously, forty to fifty children reported seeing the same thing, which only one adult witnessed, describing the beings as angels or guardians.

Last was the account of the Mantis Man, a huge, hideous, insectile-type creature reported in Hacketstown, New Jersey. The monster was described by two unrelated fishermen as standing about seven feet high, having mandibles, and large intense black eyes. One observer described the creature as fading as it moved up the river bank where it was spotted, leading to speculation that perhaps the beast was using camouflage and blending into its surroundings. The second observer reported hearing a humming and feeling tingling sensations, and seeing the mantis-man spread its wings when observed by him in a threatening gesture. The fisherman felt like the big bug was somehow sucking information from him. It also eventually vanished as if into a fog. Speculation followed that the giant, scaly creature was psychic, and may have even been an insectile type of alien…better summon multiple exterminators for this one!

Carolina Reptile Man; Succubus; Napa Rebobs…

March 13, 2015

 

wpid-1426195087094.jpg

The Carolina Reptile Man is a cold-blooded reptilian beast recently profiled on Monsters and Mysteries in America that supposedly preys upon unsuspecting campers along the South Carolina coast.  Legends of the creature go back hundreds of years to Native American accounts of “men with tails” in the Smoky Mountains, with more recent sightings dating to 2008 and twenty years before that…

…in 1988, an African American youth was reportedly attacked in his car by the reptilian, which perched on his roof and clawed at his windows.  Later, a crop duster about to take off had the creature appear in his flight path.  In August of 1990, a 19-year-old man was camping, and had his sleep interrupted by a yellow-eyed reptilian.  He repeatedly cracked his bull whip at it, but the spry creature snatched the whip from him, and bit the end off!  Beating a hasty retreat to put distance between himself and the Reptile Man, the subject was later picked up by a Native American, who told the camper that he was lucky he had only run into one of them (dramatic pause with music)!

Now we turn to the girl of your nightmares; the Succubus!  Reported in incidents from South Boston, Virginia, the succubus is a demonic female entity, a literally hot date with fiery eyes and heat to her skin who tries to collect male souls, stealing first breath and then life. Legends of the succubus extend back to stories of Lillith in the biblical Old Testament.  It’s in the nature of the succubus to first appear in dreams, then gradually gain physicality; to banish them, you need to drive them off by faith. 

A former prison counselor was profiled who had extensive dealings with sexual offenders, becoming tainted by them and getting into a darker lifestyle.  A succubus descended upon him one night, paralyzing him in bed until he drove it off by force of will.  A former heavy metal rock musician in 1990’s Springfield, Missouri who led a life of sex, drugs, and rock & roll reported visitations from a succubus who assaulted him.  Alluring at first, the succubus became a powerful, grotesque hag.  Able to finally drive the demon off, the rocker was thereafter compelled to live a more upright life.

Finally on Partrick Road in Napa Valley, California tales of Rebobs, flying monkeys, have lured thrill seekers for sixty years, with multiple sightings having occurred in the 1960’s and 1970’s.  In one incident, campers on Partrick Road heard screaming like a female voice.  Falling asleep, a male in the group later awoke to find large scratch marks across his torso.  Leaving, they later returned in their car, at which time something jumped in front of their vehicle and climbed a tree.  The creature was said to be larger than a man, to be dark and furry with wings, and to emit a terrifying screech.  Called “Rebobs,” these monkeys gone terribly wrong were said to be the creations of a mad scientist who made mutant simian creatures that eventually got loose, and made the area their home. 

A 1997 case cited involved a couple who went in search of the rebobs, going up Partrick Road and struck with a chilling cold.  They eventually found a gothic-looking, abandoned house where they heard and saw a red-eyed creature.  It fixed them with a penetrating stare, and gave them a feeling of lasting fear…

The Mill Race Monster; Deadly Rain; Devil Dogs…

March 1, 2015

wpid-wp-1425165161215.jpeg

On Monsters and Mysteries in America, we were recently presented with the Mill Race Monster, a gargantuan green beast reportedly observed in Mill Race Park in Columbus, Indiana.  The creature is described as being bipedal, standing about 6 to 7 feet tall, and having a mossy-green appearance.  Forty years ago on November 1, 1974 four women walking in the park saw the beast walking in the trees; they beat a hasty retreat.  Later that same night, three other young women in a car parked near a river by a boat launch in the park to eat, and were approached by the creature which beat on the windshield of the vehicle.  The monster was described as having claws and slime on his face.  Managing to drive away, they reported the attack to police who saw scratch marks on the car, which also bore a stench from the monster.  

These sightings of the monster set off a wave of mob hysteria, and a monster-hunting mob formed of hundreds of souls intent at getting a crack at the creature; as Kermit the frog observed, it’s not easy being green.  The park was then shut down for a time owing to the presence of such self-appointed armed vigilantes.  Prior to the sightings, strange lights were seen in the sky as if from a UFO.  Appearances of Bigfoot-clones have been associated with UFO sightings in a number of other cases, some of which we’ve mentioned here before.

A second segment involved the appearance of a deadly and peculiar rain in Oakville, Washington on August 7, 1994. This rain was peculiar in that it was thick, syrupy, and gelatinous.  Cats and dogs exposed to it died, and people became sick, including one cop who ran a high fever and vomited; investigating the rain prior to to onset of his illness, he reportedly saw official-looking men in hazardous materials suits collecting material.  There was a spike in public respiratory illnesses as well following the slimy rain, and laboratory testing on samples revealed the presence of bacteria and human white blood cells in the goo.  The question was raised as to whether the government had been conducting a biohazard test in the area, with the people unwilling subjects…government conspiracy theories, anyone?

The third segment concerned reported appearances of Devil Dogs (the canines, not the Drakes Cakes snacks) in the Meridean Island area of Wisconsin.  Reported sightings extend back to at least the early 1900’s of something about the size of a bear, but dog-like.  A couple in the fall of 2004 at a boat landing reported hearing movement and sounds of growling, with a Devil Dog pursuing their car for a time.  Paranormal ties were made in the feature to a woman called Mary Dean who drowned in the river there in the 1800’s; her spirit was reportedly trapped in the vicinity, and has attracted such monsters.  Supporting such speculations was the story of two young paranormal investigators who in October of 2014 went to the boat landing to investigate the legend, and heard a low growling coming out of a fog which swiftly developed in front of their vehicle.  They reported seeing a woman’s figure appear out of that fog accompanied by a large dog which pursued them as they retreated…good scary stuff!

 

The Pigman of Vermont!

February 20, 2015

20150219-233602.jpg

Men are such pigs, sometimes…or so I’ve been told, and can well believe, especially after seeing a recent episode of Monsters and Mysteries in America which dished up one monster and two mysteries. Season 3 seems to be running a bit short on monsters, and so is plugging in more “mysteries,” which in this trilogy included a ghost story and a paranormal segment. That floats my boat, however, as I like a little variety in my viewing diet!

Now the Pigman of Vermont is described as having a man’s body with a pig’s head; he’s massive, muscular, has claws for hands but human feet, and parades around naked. He makes squealing sounds that also carry a shrieking component, and has been seen in the “Devil’s Washbowl” area of Northfield, a place used as a lover’s lane by local teenagers. In fall of 1971, a group of teens at a dance went outside to the woods where they supposedly saw a kneeling creature eating roadkill. Inside a cave in the Devil’s Washbowl area, a type of nesting area has been found, together with bones that were mostly feline. In another reported episode, a couple were making out in their car when the guy went to answer a “call of nature,” encountered the Pigman, and was physically thrown into the underbrush. Their screams drove the creature away, allowing the couple to escape in their car although the guy bore claw-like scratch marks on his chest.  In yet another reported incident, a group of young people walking through the woods had branches thrown in front of them repeatedly and heard squealing, occurrences which encouraged them to flee the area.

Now stories of a “Pigman” supposedly date back to the 15th century, with one story maintaining that a young man handled his pigs with cruelty, meeting one night with a bad end at the claws of the Pigman.  His body was never found, and in one account had been eaten…I do so love stories with a happy ending!  One accounting for the Pigman’s existence holds that he was a physically deformed child living in a feral way…

A second episode was a kind of ghost story from Jamestown, North Carolina detailing the appearances of “Lydia the Hitch Hiker,” the spirit of a young woman woman killed in a car accident in the 1920’s who is now bound to the underpass where she died, still trying to make her way home.  In one accounting from 1924, a man picked up a woman of beaten appearance who rode silently with him, at one point indicating by gesture the home of her residence.  When the man approached the resident of the house to advise them that he was returning their daughter home, the woman present indicated that her daughter had died years ago.  Returning to his car, the motorist found that his passenger had utterly vanished!  Another appearance of the spirit in 1972 was reported, when two young men traveling in a car saw a girl sitting by the side of the road who appeared to have been in a car accident; they originally bypassed her, but returned to offer aid, at which time the passenger of the vehicle became severely alarmed by the figure, urging the driver to pull away.  As they did so, the figure supposedly shrieked, “Come back!” A song, “Bringing Mary Home,” may reflect the case, and an investigator found that the unfortunate spirit’s name may have been Mary rather than Lydia.– A good spooky tale!

The final segment focused on “Project Stargate” supposedly conducted at Fort Meade during the height of the Cold War in an effort to turn psychics into soldier-spies.  Recruits were supposedly capable of “remote viewing,” a controversial psychic phenomena where an individual can project his consciousness, in this case to spy on our enemies.  Exercises involved discerning a “target” in a sealed envelope.  Subjects were also asked to see into the future, with one participant reportedly foreseeing the attack on the USS Stark.  Research was also done by Stargate into UFO activity, with one participant in 1982 perceiving a 300′ long object.  In 1984 when asked to focus on coordinates, one remote viewer perceived an encounter with a race of aliens in the distant past of which we are supposedly the descendants, a thread often found in science fiction…

Florida Zombie; Dybbuk; Shenango Dog Boy…

February 9, 2015

image

According to a trio of terrors presented in S2/Ep03 (2015) of Monsters and Mysteries in America, zombies have been seen in Florida!  On May 26th, 2012 in the Miami area, a Randy Eugene was seen walking incoherently on the highway, attacking a homeless man thereafter and beginning to eat his face.  Police arrived, and dispatched the man with several shots.  Post-mortem blood work failed to reveal any substance that could account for the bizarre behavior.  Then in Delray Beach on February 4, 2014 a teenage girl was attacked by a naked man, her older brother attempting to intervene but faring poorly against the assailant despite inflicting wounds to him with a box cutter. The father of the siblings joined the fray, and finally the zombie backed off.  Police sometime later cornered and shot the zombie, with again no explanation found for his behavior in post-mortem examinations…

The Dybbuk is a powerful demon in Jewish mythology summoned into the world to seek revenge.  A museum director in Kirksville, Missouri acquired a possessed wine cabinet supposedly originating with Polish Jewish women in World War II and spellcast to fight Nazi evil.  The accursed box made its way to Kirksville owing to a former resident there called Laughlin who espoused eugenics, ideas which resonated with Hitler.  Anyways, the museum director brought the box home, at which point strange things started to happen.  Touching the box brought unusual sensations, and black emanations were seen to come from it.  The health of the museum director deteriorated, and the box also seemed to play havoc with light bulbs and other powered devices.  After consulting with a rabbi, the box was buried in a ritual way.  Thereafter, a sinkhole developed near the burial site!

Lastly, the Shenango Dog Boy is indigenous to northwest Pennsylvania, has stories tracing back to German settlers, and may possibly be the product of European folk magic.   Standing three to four feet tall and completely covered in hair, the Dog Boy supposedly lived in an abandoned farm house.  He was reportedly seen by two sisters in 1955, who together with their mother barely escaped from him…heel, boy, heel!

Sabine Thing and Lightning Psychic…

February 2, 2015

 

20150201-232524.jpg

The Sabine River borders Texas and Louisiana, and in S2/Ep02 of Monsters and Mysteries in America, we were introduced to the Sabine Thing, an unknown, 8′ tall monster weighing in at about 500 pounds that frequents the waters and has demonic eyes. Hundreds of sightings of the beast extend back to the days of early Native Americans, with the creature often reported to scream and throw things at witnesses. Covered were two recent sightings by fisherman Jeff Stewart in 1986 and again in 1996. In the earlier sighting, catfish guts served to attract the creature which was seen to stand on its hind legs and to leave huge tracks. In the 1996 incident, a submerged fish trap was pulled from the water and plundered, with the theft attributed to the beast.

In December of 1981, hunter Mike Wooley was aloft in a deer stand when he saw the creature approach and felt menaced by him. The arrival of a second creature caused the hunter to flee, escaping in his vehicle while under pursuit by the beasts.

Also covered were attempts by Bruce Densford and his team to set up video and audio recorders to survey for the creature. Raspy screams were heard and recorded in the field which showed no known identity with animals calls.

The second segment of the show on “Lightning Psychics” was more in the category of mystery than monster, detailing how some survivors of lightning strikes apparently develop psychic abilities. Covered was a case where a man hiking in Colorado was struck by lightning, later reporting the ability to see spirits, and communicate with them. He later became a psychic investigator to families traumatized by crime, helping to solve a murder case. The additional case of Sonia Benzer was reported, who in 1952 was struck by lightning on a beach with the result that her intuition was intensified. Approximately 20,000 people are struck by lightning annually, and in some survivors their neural anatomy and chemistry are reportedly affected to an extent causing the acquisition of such paranormal abilities…the science underlying such is sketchy, however.

When Turkeys Attack!

November 27, 2014

image

The Destination America channel treated us to some strange, tongue-in-cheek fare the evening before Thanksgiving with a special styled somewhat like numerous others airing on that network, and called “When Turkeys Attack!”  The show used home video footage depicting wild turkeys chasing children, grandmothers, and grown men; one chased and kept up with a bicyclist for a short distance, while others attacked mail delivery vehicles in a territorial frenzy.

Now wild turkeys should be distinguished from domesticated turkeys genetically engineered to be walking hunks of meat; these are the descendants of theropods, a carnivorous dinosaur.  A wild tom turkey can stand about waist high on a human, and can drop kick you in the head.  This could be a bad encounter as the males have razor sharp spurs on the back of their legs that are 1-1/2″ – 2″ long.  They can flog you with their wings.  Turkeys will try to strike at your head, have acute hearing, and can read subtle behavior rather well.

How then does one defend against a wild turkey attack?  It was suggested that you don’t run and flee from them, but rather try to put a physical object between yourself and the offending turkey.  Don’t try to fend one off with a flipped jacket, which they may interpret as an invitation to attack. Cover your head, and try to kick at them.  In the words of one expert, “Some turkeys are territorial, some defend their women, some are just crazy!”  

UFO Bigfoot; Lake Pepin Monster; Cajun Werewolf…

March 15, 2014

20140315-152816.jpg

The season finale of Monsters & Mysteries in America (S2/Ep12) brought us three new segments with a wide range of strangeness. Just when you thought you’ve heard about every Bigfoot tale around, we’re asked to consider the twisted possibility that the celebrated cryptid is an alien, either the pilot of the UFO close by which it is seen, or an agent of those actually in control of it.- -“Who let the ‘Squatches out?!,” roared the commander of the Grays to his subordinates…

On July 30th, 1966 two picnicking couples got their vehicle stuck on Presque Isle in Pennsylvania. One male walked to town to seek a tow truck with the others remaining behind. Those remaining saw a “falling star” as night approached, the object assuming a mushroom-shape as it approached and landed behind a tree line. A park ranger then appeared, and that ranger and the remaining guy went to investigate the UFO. The two girls remaining with the car saw a 7′ humanoid approach, who attacked the car, hitting and denting it. Of course, there was nothing to be seen of the Bigfoot when the ranger and boyfriend returned. The next day, the Air Force, police, and other groups were crawling all over the site, investigating it. The incident supposedly became part of the Project Blue Book reports. In Fayette County, Pennsylvania a woman investigated noises in the vicinity of her porch, finding instead of the critters she expected a large, Bigfoot-type creature with red eyes. She fired a shotgun at it, at which point the creature disappeared in front of her eyes, apparently “beamed up” by its alien overlords.

Now if aquatic beasties are more to your preference, we were given the story of the Lake Pepin Monster in Minnesota, “Pepie” for short. A type of sea serpent, “Pepie” reportedly was photographed in 2004, with the photo showing a humped creature with a long neck.  The earliest known sightings go back to 1867, with Native American tribes attributing missing members to predation by the monster.  In 1983, a water skier fell off of her skis and while in the drink reported seeing a creature twenty to thirty feet long with scales; she has never returned to those waters since.  A boat equipped with “fish finder” type radar discerned a moving underwater object about 6′ wide by 35′ long; diver Cory Breault was sent in after it, to be passed by something large underwater which caught him in a vortex from which he barely surfaced, emerging freaked out by the experience.  “Pepie” is mundanely thought to be a giant sturgeon or eel, or more imaginatively a plesiosaur…wet and wild stuff!

The third and most brief segment presented the story of the Cajun Werewolf, a shape-shifting canine of the Louisiana swamps.  The creature is said to be a cursed person having the body of a man and the head of a dog or wolf-like beast.  Presented was the story of Chauvin Beldrin, who when about 13 years of age went hunting on All Saints Day in 1976, a day on which it was considered forbidden to take life.  While targeting a rabbit, a creature with the face of a dog came out of the grass, growled, and pursued the young teen, essentially driving him out of the swamp.  It was speculated that the wolfman may be sent forth by the swamp as a warning to those who are not respecting its ways, or trying to take inappropriately from it…