Monsters and Mysteries in America (2013–…): Season 2, Episode 10 - Sykesville Monster, Lechuza, and The Rake - full transcript

Narrator: INNOCENCE PURSUED
BY A DARK COLLECTOR OF SOULS.

Fargiorgio:
WE WERE TERRIFIED.

THAT FEAR SETS IN,
AND YOU JUST CAN'T MOVE.

YOUR WORST FEAR, HE KNOWS IT,
AND HE MAKES IT REAL.

Narrator: TWO BROTHERS
IN THE FIGHT OF THEIR LIVES

AGAINST THE WITCH OWL.

Andres:
THE NIGHT I SAW THE LECHUZA,

I WAS, LIKE,
QUESTIONING EVERYTHING.

WE'RE LOOKING AT EACH OTHER
JUST, LIKE, WE'RE GONNA DIE.

THIS -- THIS IS THE END.
THERE'S NO HOPE.

Narrator: THE WILD MAN MONSTER
THAT THREW A TOWN INTO PANIC.



Strickler:
I STOOD THERE IN SHOCK.

[ GROWLING ]

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THIS MONSTER
WAS GOING TO DO.

[ GROWLING ]

Narrator: EVEN STRANGER --

THE MYSTERIOUS MANHUNT
THAT FOLLOWED.

THERE WERE SHERIFFS' CARS,
STATE POLICE, BLACK S.U.V.s.

THE PLACE WAS SWARMED
WITH FEDERAL AGENTS.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE
ANY SENSE TO ME.

[ GROWLING ]

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA --

AN INDUSTRIAL CITY WITHIN
AMERICA'S CRUMBLING RUST BELT.

BENEATH ITS TOUGH EXTERIOR,



WHISPERS
OF A MYSTERIOUS MONSTER.

HORRIFYING AND HYPNOTIC,

A SILENT STALKER
WITH A TENTACLED DEATH GRIP.

[ GROWLING ]

EVERY CIVILIZATION
HAS THEIR OWN BOOGEYMAN --

A CREATURE THAT STALKS
AND KILLS THE INNOCENT.

THE LEGEND OF THE RAKE STATES
THAT, ONCE THE RAKE IS SEEN,

IT WILL STALK THE INDIVIDUAL
FOR THE REST OF ITS LIFE

UNTIL IT DRIVES THEM INSANE,
OR IT KILLS THEM.

IT'S A RELENTLESS PREDATOR.

Narrator: THIS IS THE ENEMY THAT
ROBIN SWOPE HAS VOWED TO FIGHT.

SWOPE IS A PASTOR AT ST. PAUL'S
UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST IN ERIE.

AS A SEMINARY-TRAINED EXORCIST,

HE IS NO STRANGER
TO BATTLES WITH THE DEMONIC.

Swope: IT DOESN'T MATTER
WHAT RELIGION YOU ARE.

IT'S YOUR FAITH IN GOD
TO DRIVE OUT THE EVIL,

TO FORCE THE CREATURE
TO GO AWAY

BECAUSE, REALLY,
THE PLACE THAT THEY'RE HAUNTING

IS THE TERRITORY
OF THE PEOPLE WHO ARE LIVING.

AND THESE SHADOW CREATURES
REALLY DON'T BELONG THERE.

Narrator:
WHEN IT COMES TO THE RAKE,

THE STRUGGLE WITH
THE SHADOW ADVERSARY IS OLD.

THE CONCEPT GOES BACK
TO THE TIMES OF ANCIENT EGYPT.

SO, BASICALLY, 4,000 YEARS.

Narrator:
OSIRIS, GOD OF THE UNDERWORLD,
STRUCK FEAR AMONGST THE LIVING.

AND OVER THE AGES,
SIMILAR FORMS HAVE COME FORTH --

OFTEN TALL, DARK, AND FACELESS.

THE END GAME IS ALWAYS DEATH.

Swope: THE RAKE IS MORE OF
A 21st CENTURY MANIFESTATION

OF THE SAME PERSONA THAT'S
BEEN HAUNTING FOR CENTURIES.

Fargiorgio:
HE'S LOOKING FOR PEOPLE'S FEAR.

HE'S DEFINITELY
OUT FOR ALL OF US.

IT WAS, BY FAR,
THE SCARIEST THING

THAT I'VE EVER SEEN,

AND I'VE HAD A FEW
OTHER EXPERIENCES IN LIFE,

BUT THAT IS DEFINITELY
THE MAIN ONE.

NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN MY LIFE.

Narrator: KERRIE FARGIORGIO
RUNS A BUSY TATTOO STUDIO

IN ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FROM AN EARLY AGE, THIS ARTIST
HAS PLAYED BY HER OWN RULES.

SHE WASN'T THE KIND OF GIRL
WHO WAS AFRAID OF MONSTERS.

Fargiorgio:IN HIGH SCHOOL,
I KIND OF KEPT TO MYSELF.

I WAS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

MY PARENTS DECIDED TO SEND ME
TO CATHOLIC BOARDING SCHOOL

TO TRY TO DRAG ME OUT OF
MY SHELL,

AND THAT'S NOT
WHAT IT TURNED OUT TO BE.

Narrator: THE OLD BOARDING
SCHOOL SAT IN SECLUSION,

SURROUNDED BY DEEP WOODS.

Fargiorgio:
AFTER CLASS AT SCHOOL,

THERE WASN'T REALLY
MUCH FOR ME TO DO THERE.

SO, WE HAD TO KIND OF
FIND OUR OWN ENTERTAINMENT,

AND WE USED TO SNEAK
AND SMOKE CIGARETTES.

Narrator:
ONE NIGHT, KERRIE SNUCK OUT
TO MEET HER BOYFRIEND.

SHE WAS WORRIED
SHE MIGHT GET IN TROUBLE.

THE LAST THING SHE EXPECTED
WAS A VISIT FROM THE RAKE.

WE WEREN'T
SUPPOSED TO BE OUT AFTER DARK.

AND WE SAW A TEACHER
WITH HIS BIG, BLACK DOG.

Narrator: THE SCHOOL PROCTOR WAS
PROWLING FOR WAYWARD STUDENTS.

HE'LL JUST GO BACK IN.

Fargiorgio:
SO, WE HID, JUST LAID THERE,

STILL AND QUIET, SCARED.

AND WE THOUGHT FOR SURE,
SURELY WE WERE GONNA GET CAUGHT,

GET IN A LOT OF TROUBLE.

I MEAN, THAT TEACHER WAS COMING.
WE WERE PETRIFIED.

Narrator:
LIKE BLOOD ATTRACTING SHARKS,

THEIR FEAR WORKED LIKE A MAGNET
FOR THE RAKE.

Fargiorgio: ALL OF A SUDDEN,
WE SAW A REALLY TALL HUMAN

KIND OF CROUCHED OVER.

IT SLOWLY ROSE UP.

OH, MY GOD.

AND IT JUST TURNED
AND LOOKED AT US.

WHAT IS THAT?!

I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING
TO COMPARE IT TO.

IT'S JUST
A BLACK-ON-BLACK BEING.

AND WE COULDN'T MOVE.
WE WERE TERRIFIED.

JUST THAT -- THAT FEAR SETS IN,
AND YOU JUST CAN'T MOVE.

Narrator:
KERRIE STARED IN HORROR AT THE
GARGANTUAN, GRASPING CREATURE.

Fargiorgio:
HIS HANDS WERE LARGE,
AND ITS FINGERS WERE LONG,

ALMOST LIKE A HAND IN A SHADOW,

HOW THE SHADOW WOULD DISTORT
YOUR FINGERS AND EXTEND THEM.

THEY WERE LONG AND POINTY,

LIKE THREE TIMES THE SIZE
OF A NORMAL HAND.

Swope:
THE RAKE APPROACHES A PERSON
SORT OF LIKE A NIGHT TERROR,

AND IT TAUNTS THE PERSON

UNTIL IT CATCHES THEM
AND TAKES THEM AWAY.

Narrator: JUST AS THE RAKE
WAS CLOSING IN FOR THE KILL,

THE PROCTOR AND HIS DOG
WERE BACK.

[ GROWLING ]

[ DOG WHINING, BARKING ]

THE NIGHT ERUPTED
IN THE CRIES OF A HOWLING DOG.

IT WAS IN THIS -- LIKE THE GLOW
OF A STREETLIGHT

AND JUST RAN OFF
IN THE NIGHT INTO DARKNESS.

AND WE WERE TERRIFIED.

Narrator:
THE RAKE HAD BEEN THWARTED.

ACCORDING TO DOZENS OF REPORTS
BY THOSE WHO SURVIVED,

THIS CREATURE PREFERS TO KILL

WHEN THE VICTIM
IS UNAWARE OF HIS PRESENCE.

Swope: THE CREATURE SOMETIMES
CAN BLEND INTO ITS ENVIRONMENT,

AND IT CAN SNEAK UPON THE PERSON

AND EXTEND TENDRILS
FROM ITS BACK,

ALMOST LIKE LIVING TREE LIMBS
OR OCTOPUS OR SQUID TENTACLES.

WHERE THEY REACH OUT
TO THE PERSON,

THEY GRAB THE PERSON AND TRAP
THEM AND TAKE THEM AWAY.

[ RADIO DIAL TUNING ]

Man: THE RAKE HAS BEEN
SHOWING UP EITHER IN THE CORNER

OR ON THE BED OR SOMETHING,

AND IT WAS AN INTERNET MEME
THAT WAS FLOATING AROUND.

Narrator: IN THE PAST DECADE,
HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE

HAVE DESCRIBED TERRIFYING
ENCOUNTERS WITH THE RAKE.

Fargiorgio:
WHATEVER WE SAW THAT NIGHT,

IT'S LIKE HE KNEW
WHAT WE FEARED.

IT'S LIKE
HE CAME TO SCARE US THAT NIGHT,

LIKE HE WAS STALKING US.

Narrator: UNFORTUNATELY,
THE STALKING WAS FAR FROM OVER.

THE RAKE WASN'T FINISHED
WITH KERRIE,

AND THIS MONSTER
HAS A LONG HISTORY

OF SHOWING UP
WHEN YOU'RE DEFENSELESS,

ASLEEP IN BED.

THE RAKE WOULD PAY A BEDTIME
VISIT TO KERRIE FARGIORGIO.

SHE BARELY SURVIVED
THE ENCOUNTER.

[ BED RATTLING ]

Fargiorgio: I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE TO ME

HAD MY ROOMMATE
NOT HAVE WOKEN UP.

MY HEART ALMOST STOPPED.

I'D NEVER BEEN SO SCARED
IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

Narrator: THE RAKE --
NOCTURNAL NIGHT STALKER

WITH A TERRIFYING TASTE
FOR THE YOUNG.

TOWERING, FACELESS,
RAZOR-SHARP CLAWS.

THERE ARE HISTORICALLY
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE

WHO'VE SEEN
THESE TYPES OF CREATURES.

IT'S AN INTRUDER.

IT HAS LONG ARMS
THAT MOVE IN A WAY

THAT IS NOT TYPICAL
OF A HUMAN BEING.

IT HAS TENDRILS
THAT ARE NOT TYPICAL.

AND THAT FEATURELESS FACE --

THE UNKNOWN TERROR
COMING AT YOU.

THAT'S WHAT INSPIRES
THE FEAR OF DREAD.

Narrator: FOR TATTOO ARTIST
KERRIE FARGIORGIO,

THE DARK SILHOUETTE
OF THIS MONSTER

IS FIRMLY TRACED IN HER MIND.

WHEN SHE WAS A TEENAGER
ATTENDING BOARDING SCHOOL,

KERRIE NARROWLY ESCAPED
A NIGHTTIME ATTACK BY THE RAKE.

IN ANOTHER VISIT,
IT SHOWED UP ALONGSIDE HER BED.

MY DORM ROOM HAD TWO BUNKS.

ONE NIGHT, I WAS IN MY BED,
SLEEPING KIND OF RESTLESS.

[ GASPING ]

I WOKE UP ABRUPTLY,

AND I REMEMBER
LOOKING AT THE CLOCK.

IT WAS 3:33.

I SAW MY ROOMMATE
STARING DOWN AT ME HORRIFIED,

JUST TERROR ON HER FACE.

Narrator: KERRIE HAD NO IDEA
WHAT HAD JUST TRANSPIRED,

HOW CLOSE SHE HAD COME
TO NEVER WAKING UP.

HER ROOMMATE KNEW.

NOW SHE HAD LAID EYES
ON THE RAKE.

SHE JUST LOOKED TERRIFIED,
ALMOST STARTED CRYING.

SHE STARTED TELLING ME
THAT SHE WOKE UP AT 3:30,

LOOKED DOWN AND SAW THIS BEING,
THIS THING SITTING ON MY BED,

JUST SMOTHERING ME.

AND SHE WAS HORRIFIED.

SHE DESCRIBED IT
AS MAYBE EIGHT FOOT TALL,

THIN, THIN, LONG FINGERS.

IT WAS SO BIG, IT COULDN'T FIT
UNDER THE BUNK BED ABOVE IT.

IT WAS HUNCHED OVER.

[ GASPING ]

[ GROWLING ]

AND SHE SAID JUST --
SHE COULDN'T --

SHE COULDN'T MOVE,
PARALYZED WITH FEAR.

Narrator: THIS MONSTER
DOESN'T WANT WITNESSES.

I DON'T KNOW
IF HE WAS SCARED AWAY,

BUT WHEN IT RAN OFF
INTO THE NIGHT,

WE JUST LAID THERE FROZEN,
TERRIFIED.

I FELT SICK.
I FELT DIZZY.

I WANTED TO THROW UP.
I WANTED TO CRY.

A MILLION EMOTIONS AT ONCE.

I DON'T KNOW
WHAT HE WOULD HAVE DONE TO ME,

HAD MY ROOMMATE
NOT HAVE WOKEN UP.

BUT I CAN'T HELP BUT FEEL
THAT HE WAS TRYING TO HURT ME.

Narrator:
KERRIE WENT TO THE DEAN

TO REPORT WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

SHE WAS SURPRISED
BY WHAT FOLLOWED.

Fargiorgio:
THE DEAN TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

SO SERIOUS THAT,
WHEN WE ENTERED OUR ROOM

THAT DAY AT LUNCH HOUR,

THERE WAS A MEDICINE WOMAN
DOING A SMUDGE OVER MY BED

SAYING PRAYERS
AND SHAKING AROUND SHELLS.

AND FOR A CATHOLIC SCHOOL,
THAT'S UNHEARD OF.

FOR THEM TO RESORT TO THAT,

IT HAD TO BE SOMETHING
THEY'VE DEALT WITH BEFORE.

A LOT OF KIDS HAD SEEN HIM.

THAT CHRISTMAS BREAK,
I NEVER WENT BACK.

I WAS TOO SCARED TO GO BACK.

I BELIEVE HE'S STILL AROUND.

I THINK THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT
THAT HAS THOSE CAPABILITIES,

THAT CAN CHANGE THEIR SHAPE --

I BELIEVE
THAT HE'S DIMENSIONAL, REALLY.

Swope: AS A MINISTER,
I BELIEVE WE'RE SURROUNDED

BY ANGELS, DEMONS, SPIRITS,
AND ALL KINDS OF THINGS

THAT WE CANNOT SEE,
BUT WE SENSE.

SOMETIMES THESE ENTITIES
ARE VIOLENT.

SOMETIMES
THEY'RE KIND AND ASSISTING,

BUT THE VIOLENT ONES CAN STALK
YOU FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

Narrator: YEARS LATER,
THE RAKE'S MESMERIZING IMAGE

STILL LINGERS
IN KERRIE FARGIORGIO'S MIND,

AND NOW, ON HER BODY.

I BECAME OBSESSED WITH IT.
I STILL AM OBSESSED WITH IT.

I JUST --
IT'S SO HARD TO BELIEVE.

EVEN TODAY, LIKE, I STILL
THINK ABOUT IT ALL THE TIME.

I COULD SEE IT
LIKE IT HAPPENED YESTERDAY.

Narrator: 40 MILES
NORTH OF WASHINGTON, D.C.,

SYKESVILLE, MARYLAND, SITS
TUCKED WITHIN DENSE FORESTLAND.

IN THE EARLY 1970s,

A FEW HUNDRED FAMILIES
CALLED THIS PLACE HOME.

SYKESVILLE WAS A VERY QUIET
LITTLE COMMUNITY.

IT WAS PEACEFUL
AND AN ENJOYABLE PLACE TO BE.

Narrator: THAT IS, UNTIL THE DAY
A MONSTER SHOWED UP.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

THE TOWN OF SYKESVILLE
WAS IN FEAR.

PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW
IF THEY SHOULD BE ARMED,

IF IT WAS DANGEROUS.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

Narrator: SIGHTINGS ABOUT
CRYPTIDS IN THE WOODS

ARE TYPICALLY
MET WITH SKEPTICISM.

DISMISSED
AS CRAZY OR JUST IGNORED.

SOMETHING DIFFERENT
HAPPENED IN SYKESVILLE.

[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]

Wells: IT'S INTERESTING TO ME
WHY SO MANY AUTHORITIES

WERE HERE SO QUICKLY.

IT SEEMS LIKE THE AUTHORITIES
WERE A LITTLE TOO READY.

[ DOG BARKING ]

Lutz: THE INCIDENT,

WITHIN 24 HOURS, TRIGGERED
A VERY ENORMOUS MANHUNT.

Strickler:
SOMETHING WAS GOING ON.

EVEN THE SYKESVILLE POLICE
HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.

Narrator:
IF RESIDENTS WERE IN A PANIC,

EVEN STRANGER
WAS THE MYSTERIOUS MANHUNT

LAUNCHED
BY LAW-ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

MANY TRACE
THE STORY'S BEGINNINGS TO 1973

AND A HOUSE
ON THE EDGE OF SYKESVILLE.

Lutz:
THE WOMAN LIVED IN A RANCHER,

AND THERE WAS TREES
ALL AROUND THE HOUSE.

[ CLANGING ]

Narrator:
RESIDENTS IN THIS RURAL AREA

WERE USED TO
LIVING ALONGSIDE WILDLIFE.

THAT NIGHT,
THE NOISE OUTSIDE WAS UNUSUAL.

[ CLANGING ]

Lutz: THE WOMAN THOUGHT
THERE WAS A PROWLER OUT THERE.

[ CLANGING CONTINUES ]

Narrator: SOMETHING HAD GOTTEN
INTO A SHED NEAR THE HOUSE.

CURIOUS, SHE DECIDED
TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.

[ GLASS SHATTERS ]

[ GROWLING ]

[ CRICKETS CHIRPING ]

Narrator:
SYKESVILLE, MARYLAND.

DECADES AGO, SIGHTINGS
OF A MONSTROUS BEAST

GRIPPED THE TOWN IN A MIX
OF FASCINATION AND FEAR.

IN 1973, A WOMAN LIVING NEAR
TOWN HEARD A COMMOTION OUTSIDE.

[ GLASS SHATTERS, CLATTER ]

[ GROWLING ]

LUCKILY,
SHE LOCKED THE DOOR IN TIME.

AND WITH AN INTRUDER LIKE THAT,
SHE NEEDED HELP IMMEDIATELY.

A LOCAL POLICE OFFICER
RESPONDED TO THE CALL.

OFFICER GOT THERE
AND WAS LOOKING AROUND OUTSIDE.

AND AS HE WAS PUTTING HIS
FLASHLIGHT IN THAT DIRECTION...

[ GROWLING ]

...WHATEVER IT WAS THREW HIM
ON THE GROUND,

AND HE JUST ROLLED.

[ GROWLING ]

Narrator: THE CREATURE
HAD ENORMOUS STRENGTH AND SPEED.

IT QUICKLY VANISHED
INTO THE NIGHT.

FROM THAT MOMENT ON,

SYKESVILLE POLICE STARTED
GETTING MANY PHONE CALLS.

[ PHONE RINGING ]

REPORTS WERE COMING IN
BY THE DOZEN.

PEOPLE SEEING THINGS,
HEARING THINGS.

THEY WERE SCARED.

AND SYKESVILLE POLICE
WERE ACTUALLY OVERWHELMED

WITH THE AMOUNT OF CALLS
THAT THEY WERE GETTING.

THEY DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO MAKE OF IT.

Lutz:
SEVERAL PEOPLE IN SYKESVILLE

THOUGHT IT WAS AN ANIMAL
OF SOME SORT.

OTHER PEOPLE
THOUGHT IT WAS SOMEONE

THAT ESCAPED
FROM THE PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL

HERE IN THE AREA.

Narrator:
JOHN LUTZ WAS A WILDLIFE TRACKER

AND ONE OF THE FIRST
TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS

OF SYKESVILLE'S MONSTER.

I WAS CONVINCED THERE WAS
A LIVE ENTITY OF SOMETHING

THAT WAS MOVING AROUND.

AND WHAT I SAY BY ENTITY,
SOME FORM OF A CREATURE.

WE DID FIND
SOME INTERESTING TRACKS

THAT MEASURED OVER
14 INCHES LONG

AND WHAT APPEARED
TO BE FOUR TOES.

Narrator:
THE LEGEND OF BIGFOOT WAS KNOWN,

BUT SYKESVILLE'S CREATURE
SEEMED DIFFERENT.

THE DESCRIPTION
OF WHAT PEOPLE WERE SEEING

WASN'T EXACTLY LIKE BIGFOOT.

IT WAS MORE HUMAN LIKE.

LOTS OF HAIR, BUT A HUMAN FACE.

THEY JUST COULDN'T TELL
WHAT IT WAS.

Narrator:
AND THAT'S WHERE THE MYSTERY
STOOD FOR CLOSE TO A DECADE

UNTIL SOMEONE ELSE
HAD A RUN-IN WITH THE BEAST.

LON STRICKLER
HAD HEARD THE LOCAL LEGEND

OF THE OVERGROWN WILD MAN,

BUT HE HAD NEVER GIVEN IT
MUCH THOUGHT.

THE BURLY FACTORY WORKER
WASN'T EVER AFRAID IN THE WOODS.

THAT WOULD SOON CHANGE.

THE DATE WAS MAY 9, 1981.
TYPICAL SPRING DAY.

I WAS GOING FISHING

AT A LOCATION
I WAS VERY FAMILIAR WITH

ABOUT A MILE DOWNSTREAM
FROM SYKESVILLE.

[ DOG BARKING ]

I DID NOTICE A DOG
ROAMING AROUND IN THE WEEDS.

I DIDN'T PAY IT ANY ATTENTION.

A COUPLE MINUTES LATER,
I HEARD THE DOG LET OUT A YELP.

[ DOG YELPING ]

WHEN THE BEAST STOOD UP,
I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

AT FIRST,
I THOUGHT IT WAS A PERSON.

IT WAS ABOUT
SEVEN TO EIGHT FOOT TALL.

AS I WATCHED,
THIS BEING TURNED AROUND.

THE FACE LOOKED HUMAN
TO A DEGREE,

BUT IT WAS MORE NEANDERTHAL,
AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT IT WAS.

I STOOD THERE IN SHOCK.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT
THIS MONSTER WAS GOING TO DO.

[ GROWLING ]

IT STARTED MOVING AWAY
TOWARD THE WOODS.

IT VERY SWIFT.

I FELT THIS HAD TO BE REPORTED.

I QUICKLY GOT IN MY CAR.

HADN'T EVEN
TAKEN THE WADERS OFF

AND DROVE TOWARDS SYKESVILLE,

FOUND THE FIRST PAY PHONE
I COULD FIND,

AND I CALLED THE SYKESVILLE
POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Hey, it was huge.

It was eight feet tall.

I SWEAR, IT'S TRUE.

I DESCRIBED IT
AND WHAT I HAD SEEN,

AND THEY DIDN'T BELIEVE ME.

BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULD MEET ME
AT THE LOCATION.

[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]

Narrator:
SOON AFTER HIS ENCOUNTER,

A BIZARRE CHAIN OF EVENTS
BEGAN TO UNFOLD --

EVENTS THAT STRICKLER
CAN'T UNDERSTAND TO THIS DAY.

Strickler: IT WAS VERY STRANGE
BECAUSE I GOT --

I IMMEDIATELY GOT BACK IN MY CAR
AND DROVE BACK.

IT WAS NO MORE THAN
A FOUR- OR FIVE-MINUTE DRIVE.

[ RADIO CHATTER ]

STOP, SIR.

Narrator: WHEN HE PULLED UP,

STRICKLER WAS SHOCKED
AT WHAT HE SAW.

Strickler:
THERE WERE POLICE CRUISERS.

THERE WERE BLACK VEHICLES THERE.

WHAT I THOUGHT LOOKED FEDERAL.

SIR, THIS IS
A DANGEROUS SITUATION.

YOU NEED TO LEAVE NOW.

I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.

YOU CANNOT BE HERE, NO.

I WANT TO KNOW
WHAT THAT IS.

YOU NEED TO LEAVE NOW.

HAVE YOU SEEN IT?
NOW.

Narrator:
SOME FOUR DECADES AGO,

THE SMALL TOWN
OF SYKESVILLE, MARYLAND,

ERUPTED IN FEAR
AFTER A FLURRY OF SIGHTINGS

OF A WILD MAN IN THE WOODS --
THE SYKESVILLE MONSTER.

THERE ARE MANY THEORIES

AS TO WHAT THIS CREATURE
COULD BE.

IS IT THE STANDARD BIGFOOT,

THE YETI, THE YOWIE,
THE SASQUATCH?

OR IS IT SOMETHING MORE?

MAYBE A THROWBACK
TO OUR ANCESTORS.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT
THE SYKESVILLE CREATURE

SOMEHOW GOT WASHED DOWN
OUT OF THE MOUNTAINS

DURING TROPICAL STORM AGNES.

Narrator: IN THE SUMMER OF 1972,

HURRICANE AGNES
BLEW THROUGH MARYLAND,

UNLEASHING A TORRENT OF FLOODING

THAT TORE THE SYKESVILLE BRIDGE
FROM ITS MOORINGS.

DID THE STORM LET LOOSE
SOMETHING MONSTROUS, AS WELL?

Lutz:
SIGHTINGS IN THE SYKESVILLE AREA

NEVER STARTED
TILL ABOUT SEPTEMBER OF '72.

OVER THE YEARS,
THE ENCOUNTERS CONTINUED,

AND IN MAY 1981,
MILL WORKER LON STRICKLER

WAS FISHING NEAR SYKESVILLE

WHEN HE SAW SOME SORT OF HAIRY
HOMINID MOVING IN THE BRUSH.

[ GROWLING ]

[ SIREN WAILS ]

WITHIN MINUTES, THE WOODS
WERE SWARMING WITH POLICE.

Strickler:
STATE POLICEMAN TOLD ME TO GET
BACK IN MY CAR AND LEAVE,

AND I EXPLAINED TO HIM,
"I MADE THE CALL."

HE SAID, "YOU GOT TO LEAVE."

HAVE YOU SEEN IT?
IT'S MASSIVE.

IT WAS -- IT WAS --
IT WAS HUGE.

YOU CANNOT BE HERE.

WHEN I WAS TOLD TO LEAVE,
I WAS FRUSTRATED.

SOMETHING WAS GOING ON,
SOMETHING I DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT.

Narrator: WITH THE FIRST
SYKESVILLE MONSTER ENCOUNTER,

JUST ONE POLICE OFFICER
RESPONDED.

ALMOST 10 YEARS LATER,

STRICKLER'S ENCOUNTER
TRIGGERED A MANHUNT.

[ SIREN WAILS ]

[ HELICOPTER BLADES WHIRRING ]

THE AUTHORITIES
WERE ON RED ALERT,

AND IT WASN'T JUST LOCAL POLICE.

BY ALL APPEARANCES, THE RESPONSE
HAD TURNED TO THE FEDS.

I CAME BACK ABOUT AN HOUR LATER,

AND THE WHOLE AREA
WAS CORDONED OFF.

THERE WERE PEOPLE
GOING THROUGH THE WOODS,

DOGS GOING THROUGH THE WOODS.

Wells: THERE WERE HELICOPTERS.

THERE WERE SHERIFFS' CARS,
STATE POLICE,

BLACK S.U.V.s.

THE PLACE WAS SWARMED
WITH FEDERAL AGENTS.

THAT DOESN'T
MAKE ANY SENSE TO ME.

[ GROWLING ]

Strickler:
SO, I WAS TOLD THAT THERE HAD
BEEN SOME EVIDENCE FOUND,

BUT I WAS TOLD I HAD TO LEAVE,
SO THAT'S WHAT I DID.

I WENT.
I LEFT AND WENT HOME.

Wells:
THE TOWN WAS IN SORT OF A CHAOS.

THERE WAS A CURFEW PUT ON.
YOU COULDN'T GO OUT AT NIGHT.

PEOPLE WERE SCARED HERE.

Narrator: EXACTLY WHICH
AUTHORITIES WERE IN SYKESVILLE,

OR WHAT THEY MAY HAVE RECOVERED
HAS NEVER BEEN DOCUMENTED.

THE FACT THAT THE OFFICIALS
GOT THERE AS QUICKLY AS THEY DID

TELLS ME
THAT THEY WERE TRACKING IT,

AND THEY WERE READY FOR IT.

I DO BELIEVE THE GOVERNMENT

REALIZES
THAT THESE CREATURES ARE REAL.

THEY JUST DO NOT WANT THE PUBLIC

TO SAY MUCH
AND KNOW MUCH ABOUT IT.

Narrator: THE GOVERNMENT'S
RELUCTANCE TO COMMENT

HAS STOKED
THE COMMUNITY'S SUSPICION.

Wells: IT'S VERY CREEPY TO ME
AND VERY DISCONCERTING

THAT THERE ARE NO RECORDS
OF THE SYKESVILLE MONSTER

IN OUR OWN POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Narrator:
THE OFFICIAL RECORD IS BLANK,

YET CRYPTOZOOLOGISTS ARE ADAMANT
THAT SOMETHING WAS OUT THERE.

THE U.S. GOVERNMENT THROUGH
THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE

ACTUALLY RELEASED A BULLETIN

THAT ASKED THEIR LOCAL PERSONNEL
TO BEGIN INVESTIGATIONS

WHENEVER SUCH AN INCIDENT
OCCURS.

AND TO THIS DAY, THEY STILL DO,

ALTHOUGH THEY CONTINUE
TO DENY THEIR INVOLVEMENT.

Narrator: STRICKLER DECIDED
TO TRY AND FIND SOME ANSWERS.

Strickler: I ACTUALLY FOUND
A FEW OF THE ORIGINAL WITNESSES

FROM THE '70s
AND INTERVIEWED MANY OF THEM.

I ASKED A SKETCH ARTIST
IN FLORIDA,

WHO WAS A RETIRED DETECTIVE,
TO GIVE ME A RENDERING.

WHAT I RECEIVED
WAS A PICTURE OF A CAVEMAN,

OF AN NEANDERTHAL,

BUT THAT IS WHAT I HAD SEEN.

THIS WAS NOT AN APE.
THIS WAS NOT A GORILLA.

IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I SAW.

THIS WAS THE FACE OF A MONSTER.

MY ENCOUNTER MADE ME REALIZE

THAT THERE ARE
OTHER THINGS OUT THERE.

[ GROWLING ]

I DON'T KNOW
THAT PEOPLE ARE READY FOR IT.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE READY
FOR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

Narrator: 200 MILES SOUTHWEST
OF ALBUQUERQUE,

THE FARMING TOWN
OF ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO,

SITS PERCHED ON THE HIGH PLAINS.

THE INFAMOUS SITE OF AN ALLEGED
UFO CRASH IN THE 1940s,

ROSWELL IS ALSO THE SITE
OF A SINISTER VISITATION

BY A FLYING MONSTER --

ONE THAT'S FEATHERED, FEMALE,
AND FRIGHTENING.

[ OWL HOOTING ]

A SHAPE-SHIFTING WITCH
KNOWN AS LA LECHUZA --

THE OWL.

Ramos: IT'S SENT TO CAUSE TERROR

AND EVENTUALLY
HAVE THE PERSON DIE OF FEAR.

THAT'S THE PURPOSE OF THIS THING
IS TO SCARE YOU TO DEATH.

[ OWLS HOOTING ]

Narrator: THE ORIGINS
OF THE LEGEND SUPPOSEDLY START

WITH AN OLD MEDICINE WOMAN --

ONE THAT STRAYED FROM HEALING
TO BLACK MAGIC.

AFTER NEWBORN BABIES
WENT MISSING,

VILLAGERS ARRIVED AT HER DOOR.

THEY WERE DETERMINED
TO WIPE OUT THE CONJURING CRONE.

BRUJA! BRUJA!

[ CROWD SHOUTING IN SPANISH ]

[ DOOR OPENS ]

[ CROWD SHOUTING IN SPANISH ]

[ SCREAMING ]

BUT FOR THIS WITCH,
DEATH DIDN'T LAST LONG.

LA LECHUZA WAS BORN,
AND SHE'S OUT FOR REVENGE.

[ PANTING ]

[ SCREAMS ]

Narrator: LA LECHUZA, PART OWL,
PART WOMAN, ALL MONSTER.

THE ANCIENT MAYANS BELIEVED
THAT ONCE THE SUN WENT DOWN,

THE REALM OF DEATH ARRIVED,

AND THE OWLS
WERE GODS OF THE DAMNED.

IN MYTHS AROUND THE WORLD,

OWLS ARE PERCEIVED
AS HERALDS OF DOOM,

BABY STALKERS, NIGHT KILLERS.

Ramos: THE LECHUZA IS REALLY
PERVASIVE IN THE SOUTHWEST.

AND IT'S MOVING INTO OTHER PARTS
OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE IDEA BEHIND THE LECHUZA IS
THAT IT DRAINS YOU PHYSICALLY,

AND IT DOES THIS
THROUGH FEAR AND TORMENT.

Narrator: WHEN CHILDREN
AND ADULTS SEE THIS OWL,

IT'S ALWAYS AT NIGHT,

AND THEY DON'T ALWAYS SEE
THE NEXT DAY.

Andres: THE WORST CASE
IS PEOPLE BEING FOUND

WITH THEIR EYES CLAWED OUT.

PEOPLE BEING FOUND
WITH CLAW MARKS ON THEIR BACKS,

AND THEY'RE FOUND IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE STREET, ANYWHERE.

MIDDLE OF, LIKE, NOWHERE.

Ramos:
THAT, TO ME, IS HORRIFYING.

IT'S PROBABLY ONE OF
THE SCARIEST CREATURES

THAT I'VE EVER HEARD ABOUT.

[ SHOUTING IN SPANISH ]

Narrator:
OCTAVIO RAMOS IS A JOURNALIST

AND TECHNICAL WRITER
AT LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LAB.

MY PARENTS WERE IN THEIR 20s

WHEN THEY MOVED TO
THE UNITED STATES FROM MEXICO.

MY FATHER CAME
AS A MIGRANT WORKER

AND MOVED HIS WAY
INTO ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO.

MY MOTHER
ALSO MOVED OVER TO ROSWELL

WHERE SHE WAS WORKING
IN A HOUSEHOLD.

THAT'S WHEN THEY MET,
AND THEY MARRIED.

THIS IS IT.
WE'RE HERE.

Narrator:
SOON, THEY FOUND A NEW HOME TO
START THEIR LIFE TOGETHER.

Ramos: IT WAS THEIR FIRST HOME.

FOR THEM,
IT WAS QUITE LUXURIOUS.

THEY NEVER HAD ANYTHING SO BIG
IN THEIR LIVES BEFORE,

SO THEY WERE EXTREMELY HAPPY
OF WHERE THEY WERE.

Narrator:
THE YOUNG COUPLE SETTLED IN,
FULL OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.

[ LAUGHS ]

[ WINGS FLAPPING ]

I WAS BORN --
I WAS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD.

Narrator:
WITH THEIR NEWBORN SON,

JUAN AND MARIA'S PARADISE
WAS COMPLETE.

ONLY THE VERY BUNDLE
THAT BROUGHT THEM SO MUCH JOY

MAY HAVE ATTRACTED
A WICKED FORCE.

Ramos:
THE LECHUZA MAY HAVE SENSED

THAT THERE WAS A BABY
IN THE HOUSE.

Narrator:
ONE NIGHT IN THE FALL OF 1964...

Ramos: MY FATHER WAS IN CHARGE
OF WATERING THE LAND

THAT SURROUNDED THE HOUSE.

AT NIGHT, IT'S EASIER TO WATER

BECAUSE
THERE'S LESS EVAPORATION.

THE LAST THING HE WOULD DO
BEFORE TURNING IN

WOULD BE TO GO OUTSIDE
AND MAKE SURE

THAT THE GENERATOR
WAS RUNNING PROPERLY.

[ DOG BARKING ]

[ DOG HOWLING ]

[ DOG BARKING ]

AND THAT'S WHEN
HE SAW THE FIREBALL

COMING FROM OUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE
BACK OVER TO OUR HOUSE.

MARIA!

Narrator:
JUAN CALLED MARIA OUT TO SEE IT,

TO MAKE SURE
HE WASN'T IMAGINING THIS.

Ramos: MY PARENTS DESCRIBED IT
AS A VERY ORANGE FLAME

THAT WAS LIKE
SCINTILLATING BLUE.

IT WAS INCREDIBLY BRIGHT,
INCREDIBLY BRIGHT.

HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE A METEOR,

OR HE THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE SOME
STRANGE FORM OF LIGHTNING.

VáMONOS.

Narrator: THE TERRIFYING VISIT
WAS JUST THE BEGINNING.

EVERY NIGHT,
THE FRIGHTENING FIREBALL

DESCENDED UPON THE FAMILY.

Ramos: MY PARENTS REMEMBER THE
DOGS JUST BARKING CONSTANTLY.

AND THEN EVENTUALLY,

GOING FROM BARKING
TO THIS HIGH-PITCHED HOWLING.

[ DOGS HOWLING ]

THEY WERE SO TERRIFIED
OF THIS THING.

[ OWL HOOTING ]

Narrator: JUAN STILL
HAD TO BRAVE THE OUTDOORS

TO TAKE CARE OF HIS CHORES
IN THE BARN.

THAT'S WHEN THE TRUE NATURE
OF THE STRANGE EVENTS

WAS REVEALED --

LECHUZA.

Ramos: THERE WAS A LOT
OF COMMOTION IN THE BARN,

AND HE WENT INTO THE BARN,

AND HE SAW 10 TO 12 OWLS
INSIDE THE HAY LOFT.

HE FELT AS THOUGH
THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG,

AND HE FELT
REALLY, REALLY TERRIFIED.

AND MY FATHER
DOESN'T TERRIFY EASILY.

[ WINGS FLAPPING ]

AND SO HE WENT
BACK IN THE HOUSE,

AND HE TOLD MY MOTHER
THAT HE FELT

AS THOUGH THERE WAS
SOMETHING WRONG.

AND THAT'S WHEN
THEY STARTED TO HEAR THE OWLS

WALKING ON TOP OF THE ROOF.

INTERSPERSED WITH THAT SOUND WAS
THAT DEEPER, RESONATING SOUND,

AS IF THERE WAS SOMETHING
WITH THE OWLS,

WALKING WITH THEM.

EXCEPT THE SOUND
WAS MUCH HEAVIER AND DEEPER,

AND THAT'S WHEN THE LECHUZA

BEGAN TO MOVE DOWNWARD
ONTO THE SHUTTERS.

AND MY MOTHER, BEING CURIOUS,

DECIDED TO OPEN
ONE OF THE WINDOWS.

[ PANTING ]

[ SCREAMS ]

[ SCREAMS ]

SHE SCREAMED, AND SHE TOLD
MY FATHER WHAT SHE HAD SEEN.

AND SO, THEY STAYED THERE
FOR THE REST OF THE NIGHT.

Narrator: THEY HAD SURVIVED
A MYSTERIOUS FIREBALL,

A VISIT
BY THE WITCH OWL HERSELF,

THEN JUAN FELL GRAVELY ILL.

Ramos: HE HAD BEEN WORKING
IN THE FIELDS

WHEN THE APPENDICITIS
HAD STRUCK HIM,

SO HE WAS IN BED.

HE SLEPT MOST OF THE TIME.

HE WAS GETTING WEAKER AND WEAKER
BY THE DAY.

Narrator: JUAN'S HEALTH
CONTINUED TO DETERIORATE,

AND THE LECHUZA CAME EVERY NIGHT

TO CHECK ON HIS DOWNWARD SPIRAL,
AS IF TO WATCH HIM DIE.

MY MOTHER SAYS THAT SHE BELIEVED
MY FATHER WAS GOING TO DIE

IF THEY DID NOT TAKE ACTION,

WHICH IS WHY SHE WENT TO THE
EXTREME OF GOING TO A CURANDERA.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

WHICH IS A GOOD WITCH,
SUPPOSEDLY A GOOD WITCH.

GOING TO A CURANDERA MEANS
THAT YOU'RE TAPPING INTO MAGIC,

AND ANY TYPE OF MAGIC
IS NOT A HEALTHY THING.

BUT THE ONLY WAY
TO DESTROY THIS CREATURE

WAS TO DO AS THE CURANDERA SAID.

[ SPEAKING SPANISH ]

Narrator:
THE CURANDERA TOLD THEM

SOMEONE WAS USING THE OWL WITCH
TO HARASS THE FAMILY.

BOTH THE NEWBORN BABY
AND JUAN WERE IN DANGER

IF THEY DIDN'T ACT SOON.

THEY HAD BUT ONE OPTION.

TAKE A BULLET AND ENGRAVE
A CRUCIFIX OR A CROSS ON IT.

[ PRAYING IN SPANISH ]

LOAD THE RIFLE
AND GO OUTSIDE AND SHOOT IT.

AND SHE SAID
THAT HE WAS THE ONLY PERSON

THAT COULD POSSIBLY GO OUT THERE
AND KILL IT.

Narrator: IN 1964,
IN ROSWELL, NEW MEXICO,

A SINISTER OWL WITCH
KNOWN AS LECHUZA

WAS STALKING A YOUNG COUPLE,
JUAN AND MARIA RAMOS...

[ SCREAMS ]

[ SCREAMS ]

...AND THEIR NEWBORN BABY.

AFTER JUST DAYS OF TORMENT,
JUAN WAS SICK, NEAR DEATH.

HIS ONLY HOPE FOR SURVIVAL,
KILLING THE MONSTER,

USING A BULLET
CARVED WITH A CROSS.

Ramos: THE TORMENT WAS SO BAD,

MY FATHER DECIDED
THAT HE HAD ENOUGH.

AND SO HE LOADED IT,
WENT OUTSIDE,

WAITED FOR IT TO MANIFEST ITSELF
INTO THE BALL OF FIRE.

HE SAID THAT THERE WAS
A HORRIBLE, HIGH-PITCHED SCREAM,

AND HE SHOT IT.

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ SCREAM ]

THEY FOUND SOME FEATHERS,
AND THEY FOUND SOME BLOOD.

HE DOESN'T KNOW IF HE KILLED IT,
OR IF HE WOUNDED IT.

BUT THAT WAS THE END OF IT
FOR THEM.

IT NEVER TORMENTED THEM AGAIN.

Narrator:
JUAN RECOVERED FROM HIS ILLNESS.

HE EVENTUALLY
SHARED THE STORY OF LA LECHUZA

WITH HIS SON, OCTAVIO,

BUT REFUSES TO DISCUSS IT
WITH ANYONE ELSE.

Ramos:
WELL, MY FATHER DOESN'T LIKE
TO TALK ABOUT THE LECHUZA

BECAUSE HE IS VERY RELIGIOUS,

AND ANYTHING TO DO
WITH ANY TYPE OF MAGIC

IS CONSIDERED BLASPHEMOUS
IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.

BUT I KNOW
BY THE CADENCE OF HIS VOICE

THAT HE SAW SOMETHING
THAT HE'D RATHER NOT TALK ABOUT.

I THINK IT'S ONE OF
THE FEW SECRETS

THAT MY FATHER
WILL TAKE TO THE GRAVE.

Narrator:
REPORTS OF LA LECHUZA CONTINUE
TO SURFACE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST.

RECENTLY, IN AUSTIN, TEXAS,

TWO TEENAGERS
WENT LOOKING FOR FUN.

THEY NEARLY ENDED UP AS PREY
FOR THE BLOODTHIRSTY OWL WITCH.

Garcia:
WE JUST HAD BAND PRACTICE,
AND WE WERE HANGING OUT.

YOU KNOW, WE JUST HAD
ONE OF THOSE NIGHTS

WHERE WE REALLY
DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO.

Narrator: IN THE SUMMER OF 2010,
DAVID GARCIA WAS 15 YEARS OLD.

HIS BROTHER, MIKE ANDRES,
WAS SIX YEARS OLDER.

ON A WHIM, THEY DECIDED
TO HUNT AROUND

IN A DERELICT STRUCTURE
ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TOWN.

COME ON.
YOU GUYS GO THAT WAY AND LOOK.

WE'LL LOOK THIS WAY.

DUDE,
I DON'T WANT TO GO.

COME ON.

I'LL BE HONEST, I WAS NERVOUS

BECAUSE
I'VE NEVER REALLY GONE INSIDE

AN ABANDONED BUILDING
AT MIDNIGHT.

COME ON, LET'S GO.

AND IT WAS, LIKE,
AM I REALLY DOING THIS?

[ WINGS FLAPPING ]

Narrator:
AS THEY ENTERED THE BUILDING,
THE AIR SUDDENLY WENT COLD.

IT WAS THAT EERIE KIND OF COLD

WHERE YOU GET A CHILL
UP YOUR SPINE,

AND YOU JUST KIND OF, LIKE,
"I SHOULDN'T BE HERE."

THIS IS SO COOL.

SO, WE WALKED AROUND,
AND WE COULD HEAR, LIKE,

SCUTTLING
AND NOISES HERE AND THERE

AND THINGS FALLING, YOU KNOW.

WE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, IT WAS
JUST AN ABANDONED BUILDING.

YOU KNOW,
MAYBE NOBODY TOOK CARE OF IT,

AND IT WAS JUST FALLING APART.

SHH.
DID YOU HEAR THAT?

Narrator: BUT THEN THE NOISES
TURNED INTO VOICES.

MIKE.

MIKE.
MIKE.

I JUST HEAR, LIKE,
THERE'S SOMEONE BEHIND ME,

LIKE, "MIKE. MIKE."

WAS THAT YOU?

WHAT ARE YOU TRYING TO DO,
FREAK ME OUT?

DUDE, IT WASN'T ME.

IT WAS MORE OF A SOFTER,
YOUNGER WOMAN'S VOICE.

MICHAEL.

I THINK
IT CAME FROM DOWN THERE.

LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT.

I WAS SCARED.

THAT'S WHEN WE WERE, LIKE,
WHO'S IN HERE WITH US?

Narrator: DESPITE THEIR FEAR,

DAREDEVIL COURAGE
LED THE BROTHERS ON.

Garcia: THEN WE START WALKING.
WE HEAR A SCREECH.

[ SCREECH ]
WHAT WAS THAT?

A SCREECH,
JUST PETRIFYING KIND OF SCREECH.

I HEARD WINGS.
I HEARD TALONS, I HEARD CLAWS.

Narrator:
IT WAS CLEAR THEY'D TRESPASSED
ON MONSTER TERRITORY.

Garcia: WHEN YOU HEAR THIS,
YOU ARE MORTIFIED.

YOU'RE FROZEN IN FEAR.

THERE IT IS.

Andres: ALL WE SEE IS SOMETHING
PERCHED OVER THE BANISTER.

Garcia: MIKE'S YELLING,
"OH, MY GOD. OH, MY GOD.

"BAD THINGS ARE GONNA HAPPEN
IF WE STAY HERE.

"WE'RE GONNA DIE.

TONIGHT'S THE NIGHT
WE'RE GONNA DIE."

[ SCREAMS ]

I LITERALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD
JUST GET US AND RIP US APART.

[ CLATTERING ]

Narrator: MIKE AND DAVID
WERE RUNNING FOR THEIR LIVES,

LA LECHUZA CLOSE BEHIND.

[ SCREECH ]

ALL WE SAW
WAS SOMETHING BLACK, FEATHERY,

SLAM ITSELF AGAINST THE WINDOW.

IT WAS FIERCE.

IT WANTED
TO BREAK THOSE DOORS DOWN.

Narrator:
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE GLASS,

A CREATURE THAT WOULD
HAUNT THEIR MEMORY FOREVER.

AND I SEE CLEAR,
A YOUNG, YOUNG GIRL.

I MEAN, NOTHING PAST 20.

JUST STARING.

AND THE FOLKLORE DESCRIBES
THE CREATURE'S EYES

THAT ARE LIKE DARK CHASMS
THAT YOU STARE INTO

AND THAT CREATE
A REALLY HEIGHTENED SENSE

OF PARALYSIS AND HORROR.

COME ON.
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!

Narrator: BREAKING FREE
OF LECHUZA'S MESMERIZING GRIP,

THE BROTHERS
ESCAPED WITH THEIR LIVES.

Boy: LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!

Garcia: I TRULY BELIEVED
THAT I WAS IN THE PRESENCE

OF THIS MAJESTICAL,
DEMONIC THING.

I WISH I COULD PUT IN MORE WORDS
HOW BEAUTIFULLY TERRIBLE IT WAS.