Monsters and Mysteries in America (2013–…): Season 2, Episode 3 - Prarie Land - full transcript

[ GROWLING ]

Narrator: THE HAIRY-HEADED
BEAST CALLED MOMO.

IT WAS
JUST STANDING THERE.

IT HAPPENED SO QUICK,
IT FELT LIKE MY STOMACH DROPPED.

IT SCARED ME TO DEATH.

EVIDENCE OF THE BEAST
RECOVERED.

Windmiller:
THERE'S NOTHING THAT I KNOW OF

THAT WOULD LEAVE A PRINT
THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT.

Narrator: MONSTERS THAT STRIKE
FROM THE SHADOWS.

Travis: I WOKE UP
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,

AND I SAW
A SHADOWY FIGURE...



AND I STARTED SCREAMING.

DAD!!

I WAS SCARED --
INCONSOLABLY SCARED.

Narrator:
THE BIZARRE BAT MONSTER
THAT TOOK ON AN ENTIRE TOWN.

Houser: THIS CREATURE
TERRIFIED THIS TOWN.

THEY'RE AFRAID --
"WHAT CAN IT DO TO OUR KIDS?

WE'RE STAYING INSIDE."
IT CHANGED THIS TOWN FOREVER.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
70 MILES NORTH OF ST. LOUIS,

THE SMALL TOWN
OF LOUISIANA, MISSOURI,

SITS QUIETLY ALONG THE BANKS
OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER.

Offutt: ANY TOWN OF ABOUT
4,000 PEOPLE IN MISSOURI

IS PRETTY QUIET.

Richard: IT'S JUST
A BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE.



LIKE THEY SAY,
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

Narrator: AND THERE'S NO PLACE
QUITE LIKE LOUISIANA, MISSOURI.

NOT SINCE A MONSTER SHOWED UP
AND TERRORIZED THE TOWN.

[ POLICE RADIO CHATTER ]

Windmiller:
LOUISIANA IS A VERY SERENE TOWN,

AND THEN ONE DAY,
THERE WAS MOMO.

THERE WAS A CREATURE,
AND YEAH, THINGS CHANGED.

I CAN REMEMBER MY MOM TELLING ME
ABOUT HER EXPERIENCE WITH MOMO.

Offutt: MOMO IS SHORT
FOR "MISSOURI MONSTER."

I WOULD HAVE PREFERRED
A DIFFERENT NAME.

IT SOUNDS WAY TOO CUTE.

[ GROWLING ]

Narrator:
TO THOSE WHO ENCOUNTERED IT,

THERE WAS NOTHING CUTE
ABOUT THE LONG-HAIRED BEAST.

TO ME, IT WAS A MONSTER.

IT WAS REAL SHAGGY.

IT LOOKED LIKE BIGFOOT,
EXCEPT IT WAS HAIRIER.

Offutt:
IT WAS SO HAIRY,

THAT THERE WEREN'T ANY REPORTS
OF ANYBODY SEEING ITS FACE.

Houser: THIS CREATURE
EMITTED A HORRIBLE STENCH.

IT HAD BLOOD ON IT, IT WAS
BIG AND HAIRY, AND IT STUNK.

Robert: IT SCARED US.

WE THOUGHT FOR SURE WHATEVER
IT WAS, IT WAS GONNA GET US.

Narrator:
WHAT WOULD DRAW THE ATTENTION
OF MONSTER HUNTERS NATIONWIDE

BEGAN WITH A SIGHTING IN 1972

BY A 15-YEAR-OLD GIRL,
DORIS HARRISON.

Harrison: I WAS BORN
IN LOUISIANA, MISSOURI.

EVERYONE THAT LIVES HERE
KNOWS ME AND MY FAMILY.

BEFORE I SAW THE CREATURE,
EVERYTHING WAS FINE.

EVERYTHING.

SEEING THIS CREATURE
CHANGED MY LIFE.

Narrator:
THE MORNING OF JULY 11, 1972,

STARTED OFF AS A TYPICAL
SUMMER DAY FOR DORIS.

Harrison: I WAS HOME
WATCHING MY TWO BROTHERS.

MY YOUNGER BROTHERS
WERE 8 AND 5.

Narrator:
THE TWO BOYS WERE PLAYING.

AT SOME POINT,
THEY WENT FROM THE BACKYARD

INTO A STAND OF TREES.

[ GROWLING ]

[ SCREAMING ]

[ GROWLING ]

Harrison: I WAS CLEANING,
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,

THEY JUST BURSTED
THROUGH THE DOOR.

I SAID,
"WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU ALL?"

THEY WAS MUMBLING WORDS

AND STUMBLING
ALL OVER THEIRSELF.

THEY SAID
THEY'D SAW SOMETHING BIG.

I CAN'T SAY THAT
I BELIEVED THEM AT THE TIME.

I'M SURE
IT WAS JUST AN ANIMAL,

BUT YOU GUYS,
PLAY INSIDE FOR A WHILE.

THERE'S A WINDOW,
AND I LOOKED OVER.

[ GROWLING ]

IT WAS JUST STANDING THERE,

CARRYING SOMETHING
UNDER ITS ARM.

[ GROWLING ]

AND THERE WAS SOME BLOOD.

[ SCREAMS ]

IT FELT
LIKE MY STOMACH DROPPED.

IT SCARED ME SO BAD.
IT SCARED ME TO DEATH.

I DROPPED EVERYTHING,
CALLED MY DAD AT WORK.

I WAS TELLING THEM, "DON'T
GO OUTSIDE, WHATEVER D-- I-I--"

I LOST
MY WAY OF THINKING, EVEN.

I WAS AFRAID
IT WAS GONNA COME AND GET US.

I WAS SCARED.

I PROMISE YOU, THERE IS
A PERFECTLY GOOD EXPLANATION.

Narrator:
DORIS' BOYFRIEND, RICHARD,
REMEMBERS THOSE FIRST FEW HOURS.

Richard:
SHE STILL HAD A PRETTY RED FACE,

AND YOU COULD TELL
SHE HAD BEEN CRYING

'CAUSE SHE WAS THAT SCARED.

Narrator: THAT EVENING,
RICHARD AND DORIS' FATHER

SEARCHED THE WOODS
BEHIND THE HOUSE.

YOU COULD TELL
THAT SOMETHING HAD BEEN STANDING

WHERE SHE SAID
SHE HAD SEEN IT

BY THE MASHED DOWN
GRASS AND WEEDS.

WHAT IS THIS?

Narrator: THE QUESTION WAS, WHAT
EXACTLY HAD THESE CHILDREN SEEN?

THE CREATURE WAS LARGE,
ALMOST 8 FEET IN SOME REPORTS.

A BIG, GIANT HEAD THAT ALMOST
LOOKED LIKE IT HAD NO NECK,

COVERED IN FUR HEAD TO TOE.

THERE WERE NO MOMO REPORTS
OF IT ATTACKING PEOPLE,

BEING VIOLENT TOWARDS HUMANS
IN ANY WAY.

HOWEVER, IT DID SEEM
TO HAVE AN APPETITE FOR DOGS.

AFTER THE HARRISONS
SIGHTED MOMO,

THERE WERE DOGS
THAT ENDED UP MISSING.

THEY NEVER DID FIND OUT
WHAT HAPPENED TO THOSE DOGS.

Narrator:
THE HARRISON FAMILY TRIED TO
CONTINUE WITH LIFE AS USUAL.

SOON AFTER THE ENCOUNTER,

DORIS' FATHER ASSEMBLED
A PRAYER MEETING IN THE BACKYARD

TO HELP FAMILY AND FRIENDS
COPE WITH THEIR FEARS

ABOUT A BEAST IN THE WOODS.

THE SPIRITUAL COMFORT
DIDN'T LAST LONG.

WELL, WE WERE HAVING
OUR PRAYER MEETING,

AND THERE WERE
NUMEROUS PEOPLE THERE.

IT IS DARK, AND MY DAD
WAS STANDING OUTSIDE

STRUMMING ON HIS OLD GUITAR,

EVEN THOUGH
HE COULDN'T PLAY A LICK.

AND RICHARD WAS THERE.

[ SINGING "AMAZING GRACE" ]

AS THE LORD TELLS US
IN JOB 5:23,

"AT DESTRUCTION AND FAMINE,
YOU SHALL LAUGH."

[ GROWLS ]

"NEITHER SHALL YOU BE AFRAID
OF THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH."

"NEITHER SHALL YOU BE AFRAID
OF THE BEASTS OF THE EARTH."

[ ROARS ]

THE NEXT THING WE KNOW,
IT HOLLERED.

[ ROARS ]

IT WAS SO LOUD THAT CHILLS JUST
WENT THROUGH YOUR WHOLE BODY.

[ ROARS ]

IT WAS THE MOST
BLOODCURDLING NOISE

I HAVE EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE.

IT WAS UNREAL.

[ ROARS ]

AND MY DAD
AND THEM HOLLERED OUT,

"IT'S COMING!
IT'S COMING OFF THE HILL!"

IT'S COMING
OFF THE HILL!

Richard:
COME HERE, BUDDY! COME WITH ME!
COME HERE, BUDDY!

Richard: IT TOOK US ALL
BY SURPRISE AND SHOCK,

AND THERE WERE LITTLE KIDS
CRYING AND SCREAMING.

IT WAS NOT SOMETHING

YOU WOULD HAVE WANTED
TO HAVE BEEN FACE-TO-FACE WITH.

[ GROWLS ]

IN THE BACK SEAT!
GET IN THE BACK SEAT!

RICHARD TOOK THE KIDS,
AND WE TOOK OFF.

[ GROWLS ]

Narrator: DORIS AND HER FAMILY
LEFT THEIR HOME BY THE HILL

AND WARNED OTHERS TO STAY AWAY.

MOMO WAS ON THE MOVE.

WHEN I WAS 7 YEARS OLD,

I LIVED ON A FARM WAY OUT
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

WITH REPORTS OF THIS CREATURE
IN MY BACKYARD, BASICALLY,

I WAS PRETTY SCARED
TO GO OUTSIDE.

OUR GRADE SCHOOL
IS A THREE-LEVEL BUILDING,

AND ON THE TOP FLOOR,

THE KIDS THAT WERE
IN THE CLASSROOM AT THE TIME

LOOKED OUT THE WINDOW
AND SAW MOMO.

TEACHERS SAW IT.

THERE WERE
TWO DIFFERENT TEACHERS

IN THE CLASSROOM AT THE TIME
THAT SAW IT.

BOTH THOSE TEACHERS AND
THE CHILDREN IN THAT CLASSROOM

STILL SWEAR THAT
WHAT THEY SAW WAS MOMO.

Narrator:
MOMO WAS ON A TEAR THROUGH TOWN,
STIRRING UP TROUBLE AND FEAR.

[ DOG BARKING, GROWLING ]

Minor:
MY GREAT UNCLE ELLIS,

WHEN HE TURNED THE LIGHT
UP IN THE ROAD,

THERE IT WAS
STANDING THERE LOOKING AT HIM.

HE THOUGHT ABOUT 6 FOOT,
MAYBE 7-FOOT TALL.

SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME.

I MEAN, I'M ONLY
14 YEARS OLD, YOU KNOW.

[ GROWLING ]

Narrator: IN 1972, IN THE SMALL
TOWN OF LOUISIANA, MISSOURI,

A GIANT, HAIRY BEAST KNOWN
AS MOMO SPREAD PANIC AND FEAR.

15-YEAR-OLD DORIS HARRISON
WAS BABYSITTING HER BROTHERS

WHEN SHE MET THE MONSTER
FACE-TO-FACE.

I'VE NEVER SEEN
THE LORD, JESUS CHRIST...

BUT I HAVE SEEN MOMO.

[ SCREAMS ]

[ GROWLING ]

Narrator: DAYS LATER,
14-YEAR-OLD DAVE MINOR

WAS HEADING TO BED WHEN HE HEARD
HIS UNCLE YELLING OUTSIDE.

[ SHOUTING, DOG BARKING ]

Minor:
HE LOOKED LIKE A GHOST.

HE HAD A T-SHIRT ON,

AND YOU COULDN'T REALLY TELL
THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN HIS SKIN
AND HIS T-SHIRT.

THEY WERE BOTH WHITE.

HE WAS REALLY SHOOK UP.

Narrator:
DAVE'S UNCLE ELLIS

HAD BEEN RESTING ON THE PORCH,
HIS DOG NEARBY.

[ DOG BARKING ]

[ GROWLING, DOG WHIMPERS ]

APPARENTLY,
MOMO HAD HIS EYE ON DINNER.

THE DOG JUMPED OUT AND STARTED
BARKING AND RAISING CAIN,

AND HE TURNED HIS FLASHLIGHT
AROUND UP IN THE ROAD,

AND IT WAS STANDING THERE
WATCHING HIM.

[ GROWLING ]

SAID, "I TURNED
THE FLASHLIGHT AROUND ON HIM,

AND THERE HE WAS."

I THINK THE THING
COULD ACTUALLY SMELL THE DOG.

[ DOG WHINES ]

[ GROWLS ]

HE LOOKED AT IT,
AND THEN IT JUST TOOK OFF.

Narrator: WITHIN DAYS,
MOMO WAS FRONT-PAGE NEWS.

Offutt: IT CREATED A FERVOR
AROUND THE NATION,

AND PRESS CAME IN FROM ALL OVER
JUST TO COVER THE MOMO STORY.

Narrator: AND DORIS HARRISON WAS
AT THE CENTER OF A MONSTER STORY

SHE WISHED HAD NEVER HAPPENED.

REPORTERS WERE
BUGGING US TO DEATH.

LIVING IN THIS TOWN,
IT WAS HARD.

Robert:
WHEN MY MOM TALKS ABOUT MOMO,
SHE'S ALWAYS SERIOUS ABOUT IT.

YOU CAN TELL IT STRIKES HER
DEEP IN THE HEART.

Narrator:
WHILE SOME RIDICULED THE STORY,

MAYOR TOM WALLACE
DECIDED TO RULE OUT

ANY POSSIBLE DANGER
TO THE COMMUNITY.

EVERYBODY WAS TALKING ABOUT IT,

AND SOME OF THE MOTHERS
WERE SAYING,

"WELL, I'M GONNA
KEEP MY KIDS AT HOME."

Windmiller:
WHEN THE FIRST STORY CAME OUT,

YOU KNOW,
MOMO WAS TURNING OVER CARS,

HE WAS BREAKING TREES.

YOU KNOW, HE WAS
THIS BIG-TOOTHED, MEAN CREATURE.

IT WAS SEVERAL MONTHS
OF TRYING TO FIND MOMO.

WHERE WAS MOMO?
WAS MOMO REAL?

Minor: THIS TOWN WAS UP IN ARMS.
YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN IT.

I MEAN, IT LOOKED LIKE
THEY HAD A MILITIA.

EVERYBODY HAD GUNS, WAS WANTING
TO GO UP AND HUNT MOMO.

Narrator: MAYOR WALLACE
LED THE EFFORT TO ROOT OUT MOMO.

HIS CHOICE FOR AN ARMY
WAS SURPRISING.

I WAS AN ADVISOR FOR TROOP 155,
A BOY SCOUT TROOP.

WE THOUGHT THAT IF WE TOOK
A TROOP OF BOYS UP ON STAR HILL

AND SPENT THE WEEKEND,

WE COULD PUT
EVERYBODY'S FEARS TO REST.

SCOUTS, YOU HAVE
NOW BEEN DEPUTIZED.

I WAS 12 YEARS OLD AT THE TIME
OF THE MOMO EPISODE.

CALVIN, YOU READY
TO GET THIS THING?

YES, SIR.

IT WAS A LITTLE TENSE.

KIND OF LIKE AN ADVENTURE,
YOU KNOW?

MIKE,
IT'LL BE ALL RIGHT.

THERE WAS A MONSTER
ROAMING AROUND ON STAR HILL.

LIGHTS ON.

Wallace: THE 21 BOYS THAT
I WENT UP ON STAR HILL WITH,

I THINK THEY WAS THE GUTTIEST
21 BOYS I'VE EVER KNOWN.

THEY SAID, "IF THERE IS ONE
UP THERE, WE CAN FIND HIM."

IT WAS A BIG, HAIRY MONSTER,
MEAN AND UGLY.

[ GROWLING ]

PEOPLE WERE TERRIFIED.

Narrator: MAYOR WALLACE
AND HIS BOY SCOUTS SET OUT,

NOT KNOWING WHAT THEY'D FIND.

WE SPLIT UP IN PAIRS
IN CASE WE WOULD GET LOST.

THEY SCOURED EVERY ROCK
AND EVERY TREE

AND EVERY BRUSH PILE
UP ON STAR HILL,

AND WE DID HAVE THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT GO UP THERE

AND CHECK TO SEE IF THEY FOUND
ANY TRACKS OR ANYTHING,

AND THEY ALL WALKED STAR HILL
AND FOUND NOTHING.

[ BUG BUZZES ]

Narrator:
JUST WHEN IT SEEMED THE MONSTER
HAD DISAPPEARED WITHOUT A TRACE,

ONE FAMILY FOUND A WAY
TO PRESERVE A BIT OF PROOF.

THE ONLY PIECE
OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

THAT I KNOW EXISTS FROM
THAT TIME IS THIS FOOTPRINT.

THERE'S NOTHING THAT I KNOW OF

THAT WOULD LEAVE A PRINT
THAT LOOKS LIKE THAT.

Narrator:
IN THE FALL OF 1972,

RESIDENTS OF THE SMALL
MISSOURI TOWN OF LOUISIANA

REPORTED SEEING A HUGE, SHAGGY,
UNIDENTIFIABLE BEAST.

IT CAME TO BE KNOWN AS MOMO.

AFTER MONTHS
OF TERRIFYING ENCOUNTERS,

THE MONSTER
DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW.

JUST WHEN THE COMMUNITY
WAS LEFT WONDERING

IF WHAT THEY'D FEARED
WAS EVER REALLY THERE,

SOMEONE FOUND A CLUE.

MY FATHER RECEIVED A PHONE CALL
FROM ONE OF HIS FRIENDS

SAYING THAT,
"I FOUND PRINTS IN MY GARDEN,

AND I BELIEVE
THEY'RE PRINTS OF MOMO."

AND SO, MY DAD AND HIS BROTHER,

THEY TOOK A PLASTER CAST
OF ONE OF THE PRINTS.

THE ONLY PIECE
OF PHYSICAL EVIDENCE

THAT I KNOW EXISTS FROM
THAT TIME IS THIS FOOTPRINT.

THE TOES ARE ODD.

IT HAS A VERY DEEP HEEL,
SO WHATEVER IT WAS WAS HEAVY.

Narrator: BOTH SCIENTISTS
AND EXPERT TRACKERS

HAVE EXAMINED THE PRINT
AND DECLARED IT STRANGE.

NO KNOWN MAMMAL
RUNS ON THREE TOES,

NOR SINKS ITS HEEL SO DEEP.

WITH NO SIMILARITY
TO ANY OTHER CREATURE,

IT'S THOUGHT TO BE
EITHER FABRICATED,

OR A SIGN
OF SOMETHING TRULY AMAZING.

IT COULD BE SOME CREATURE

THAT SCIENCE
JUST HASN'T DISCOVERED YET.

Narrator: NO FURTHER TRACE
OF MOMO HAS EVER BEEN FOUND.

YET, FOR THOSE
WHO ENCOUNTERED IT,

THEY'RE CERTAIN THEY SAW
A FLESH-AND-BLOOD MONSTER.

Richard:
WE HAVE MILES UPON MILES

OF ENDLESS WOODS
AND DEEP, DEEP HOLLERS.

HE COULD BE JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE

IN THESE THICK WOODS
WE HAVE AROUND HERE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE
IN TOWN

WHO, 100%, BELIEVE
THAT MOMO EXISTS.

I'VE NEVER DOUBTED WHAT I SAW.
NEVER. NEVER WILL.

Narrator: 300 MILES WEST
OF MOMO'S STOMPING GROUNDS

IS THE SMALL TOWN
AND FARMING COMMUNITY

OF MARYVILLE, MISSOURI.

HERE, AN ENTIRELY
DIFFERENT MONSTER

LURKS WITHIN THE DARKNESS,

ONE THAT STRIKES OUT
FROM THE SHADOWS.

MARYVILLE SEEMS TO HARBOR
A MYSTERIOUS PHENOMENON.

STRANGE ENTITIES THAT DARKEN
ANY CREVICE OR CORNER.

SHADOW PEOPLE.

Offutt: GENERALLY, PEOPLE SEE
SHADOW PEOPLE, TO BEGIN WITH,

OUT OF THE CORNER OF THEIR EYE.
JUST A FLEETING SHADOW,

WHEN THEY TURN THEIR HEAD,
IT'S GONE.

THEY'RE USUALLY TALLER
THAN A NORMAL HUMAN,

BUT THEY'RE HUMAN-SHAPED,
TWO-DIMENSIONAL.

USUALLY, PEOPLE DO NOT
SEE A SHADOW PERSON'S FACE.

WHEN YOU'RE IN A PITCH BLACK
ROOM,

AND YOU SEE SOMETHING
DARKER THAN THAT,

YOU START ASKING QUESTIONS.

White:
FEAR DOESN'T QUITE COVER IT.

IF YOU'VE EVER
HAD SOMETHING HAPPEN

WHERE YOU WERE SHOCKED SUDDENLY,
AND YOU FEEL YOUR BODY CHILL.

YOU FEEL THE BLOOD
DRAIN FROM YOUR FACE,

AND YOUR HEART'S RACING.

THAT'S WHAT IT FEELS LIKE
WHEN ONE OF THESE SHADOW PEOPLE

POPS IN ON YOU UNEXPECTEDLY,

AND IT SCARES
THE NONSENSE OUT OF YOU.

Narrator: THE SHADOWS WE KNOW
ARE CAST BY LIGHT,

BUT SHADOW PEOPLE ARE CREATURES
OF THE DARK,

ON THE PROWL FOR VICTIMS,

AND ONE HAS PLAGUED CODY LILLY
SINCE HE WAS YOUNG.

[ THUNDER CRACKING ]

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
I WOKE UP, JUST FREEZING.

JUST HAD THIS REALLY TIGHT
FEELING IN MY CHEST.

STANDING IN THE FAR CORNER
OF THE ROOM,

THERE IT WAS, STARING AT ME.

IT HAD FAINTLY GLOWING RED EYES,

AND IT WAS DARKER
THAN THE DARKNESS AROUND IT.

I SAT THERE, JUST SCARED,

STARING AT THIS THING
PRETTY MUCH ALL NIGHT.

THROUGHOUT HIGH SCHOOL,
I SAW IT REGULARLY.

ALWAYS IN THE SAME AREA,
ALWAYS LOOKED THE SAME.

THE WIDE, FLAT-BRIMMED HAT,
THE RED EYES.

Narrator:
HE SAW THE SHADOW MAN SO OFTEN,
HE NAMED IT "THE COWBOY."

THERE'S A TYPE OF SHADOW PERSON
CALLED THE HAT MAN,

WHO IS WEARING A FEDORA,
OF ALL THINGS.

I'VE TALKED TO MANY PEOPLE
WHO'VE ENCOUNTERED THAT

OVER AND OVER AND OVER,

AND IT'S GOT TO BE
THE SAME THING.

Narrator: BY THE LATE 1990s,

THE INTERNET WAS AWASH
WITH REPORTS OF SHADOW PEOPLE.

MESSAGE BOARDS FILLED
WITH HUNDREDS OF WITNESSES

AND DOZENS OF VARIATIONS.

IN CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD,

SCARY, SHADOWY BEINGS
ARE A STAPLE.

THE ANCIENT HEBREWS
BELIEVED IN DEATH SHADOWS

THAT STALKED THE UNDERWORLD.

IN ISLAM, THE SUPERNATURAL DJINN

CAN BE A COMPANION
OR A KILLER IN THE SHADOWS.

THE OBJECT OF CODY LILLY'S FEAR

FITS ONE
OF THE PREVAILING PATTERNS --

TALL, DARK FIGURE,
WIDE-BRIMMED HAT,

PURSUING ITS VICTIM
RELENTLESSLY.

Lilly:
AFTER I GRADUATED HIGH SCHOOL,
I MOVED OUT, WENT TO COLLEGE.

IT WAS A HUGE SPAN OF TIME
WHERE IT JUST WASN'T THERE,

BUT IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,

I WAS ALWAYS WAITING
FOR IT TO SHOW UP AGAIN.

Narrator: JUST WHEN HE THOUGHT

THE DARK SHADOWS OF HIS PAST
WERE BEHIND, THEY STRUCK AGAIN.

Lilly:
I WAS DRIVING AROUND IN MY CAR.

I HEARD A LOUD NOISE
COMING FROM THE ENGINE.

STEAM STARTED SPEWING OUT.

SO, I PULLED OVER
INTO THE APARTMENT PARKING LOT

THAT I WAS LIVING AT
AT THE TIME.

I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.

[ CELLPHONE BEEPS ]

SO, I'M ON THE PHONE,

SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT,
BROAD DAYLIGHT.

THEN I SEE SOMETHING MOVE
OUT OF THE CORNER OF MY EYE,

AND THERE'S MY COWBOY.

HE BENDS DOWN TO LOOK AT ME...

AND KNOCKS ON THE WINDOW.

[ KNOCKING ]

I WAS COMPLETELY TERRIFIED.

I WAS SHAKING,

AND THEN IT JUST DISSOLVED LIKE
A FILM REEL WAS BLOWING APART.

IT WAS INSANE.

I THINK IT CAME BACK SAYING,
"HEY, I HAVEN'T LEFT YOU.

I'M STILL AROUND.
I'M STILL WATCHING."

Narrator:
IT'S BEEN TWO YEARS SINCE
THAT DAY IN THE PARKING LOT.

CODY LIVES WITH HIS WIFE

IN THEIR HOME
OUTSIDE OF KANSAS CITY.

HE STILL DREADS
THE SHADOW'S NEXT VISIT.

EVERY NIGHT WHEN I GO TO BED,
I STILL LOOK AT THE SHADOWS,

JUST WAITING FOR IT TO POP OUT.

[ BIRDS TWEETING ]

Narrator: JUST A FEW MILES
ACROSS TOWN FROM CODY,

ANOTHER MARYVILLE FAMILY
WAS ALSO WAGING A BATTLE

AGAINST THESE SHADOW FORCES.

BRANDON WHITE,
HIS WIFE, AND TWO SONS

LIVED A HAPPY LIFE TOGETHER.

WHEN TRAVIS
WAS 9 YEARS OLD...

DAD, WHERE ARE
MY VIDEO GAMES?

...THE FAMILY MOVED
TO AN OLD, VICTORIAN HOUSE

JUST OUTSIDE OF TOWN.

Travis: WE LIVED OUT
IN THE MIDDLE OF NOWHERE.

YOU COULD SEE THE STARS,

IT WAS THAT FAR AWAY
FROM THE GLOW OF SOCIETY.

DAD, I'M GONNA
GO SEE MY NEW ROOM.

Narrator:
TRAVIS WAS THE OLDEST SON --

A CHEERFUL, SPIRITED CHILD
THAT LOVED TO READ.

HE WAS A REALLY GOOD KID.
PEOPLE LOVED HIM.

HE WAS OUTGOING,
FUNNY, INTELLIGENT,

AND JUST SMART AS A WHIP.

Narrator: INSIDE THIS BIG HOUSE
ON THE PRAIRIE,

THE SHADOWS WERE GATHERING.

Brandon:
WE ACTUALLY WERE SEEING STRANGE
GOINGS-ON AROUND THE HOUSE.

JUST THINGS
THAT WE COULDN'T EXPLAIN,

YOU KNOW, JUST BY SAYING,
"IT'S AN OLD HOUSE."

Travis: IT'S LIKE THE FEELING OF
THERE'S SOMETHING WATCHING YOU,

OR THERE'S SOMETHING
OUT OF PLACE.

I WOKE UP
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,

HAD A STRANGE FEELING,

AND I LOOKED AT
THE FOOT OF MY BED,

AND I SAW A FIGURE --
A VERY SHADOWY FIGURE.

DAD!!

IT FELT VERY REAL.

DAD!!

I WAS JUST SCARED.

DAD!!

Narrator:
IN MARYVILLE, MISSOURI, THERE
ARE RUMORS ABOUT SHADOW PEOPLE.

ONE NIGHT,
9-YEAR-OLD TRAVIS WHITE

WOKE UP TO THIS
SINISTER WORLD OF SHADOWS.

I WAS SCARED.
I WAS INCONSOLABLY SCARED.

I HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON,

AND I COULDN'T
EVEN RATIONALIZE IT.

THE SHADOW PEOPLE EXPERIENCE

IS AS REAL AS YOU'RE SITTING
IN A ROOM TALKING TO SOMEONE

OR LOOMING OVER THE BED
OR LEANING THROUGH DOORWAYS.

THEY HAVE BLOODRED,
BLAZING EYES,

AND THEY SEEM TO ELICIT
AN UNNATURAL FEAR IN PEOPLE.

Travis: DAD!!

DAD?
I SAW THE SHADOW AGAIN.

Travis: MY DAD TOLD ME
IT WAS PROBABLY A BAD DREAM.

HE DID THE WHOLE FATHER,

"MAKE SURE THERE WAS NOTHING
IN THE CLOSET OR UNDER THE BED,"

AND TOLD ME
TO GO BACK TO SLEEP.

Narrator:
TRAVIS' FATHER THOUGHT IT WAS
JUST A BAD DREAM

UNTIL HIS OWN
HORROR STORY BEGAN.

Brandon: I STARTED SEEING
FULL-FIGURE SHADOW PEOPLE

WALKING AROUND THE HOUSE,

AND I DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT TO MAKE OF IT.

I THOUGHT MAYBE
I WAS SEEING THINGS

'CAUSE I REALLY DIDN'T KNOW
HOW TO EXPLAIN THAT.

Narrator:
AS THE YEARS WENT BY, BRANDON
DIDN'T WANT TO ALARM HIS SON.

LITTLE DID HE KNOW,

TRAVIS WAS ONLY BARELY
HOLDING THE SHADOWS AT BAY.

Travis: EVERYTHING SEEMED TO
BE GOING WELL.

I WAS CONSIDERING
GOING TO A SEMINARY.

I HAD A GIRLFRIEND.

I HAD A LOT OF THINGS
THAT I WAS LOOKING FORWARD TO.

DISEMBODIED VOICE:
Here. Here I am.

[ EVIL LAUGHTER ]

No. [ LAUGHING ]

Here I am.

IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
I KEPT THINKING,

"IT'S GONNA SHOW UP AGAIN."

Narrator:
EVENTUALLY, THE SHADOW MONSTER
STEPPED INTO THE LIGHT.

[ GHOSTLY SCREAM ]

WHEN I WAS 17 YEARS OLD,

I WOULD WAKE UP, AND THIS FACE
WOULD KIND OF BE THERE.

AND THAT STARTED HAPPENING
MORE AND MORE FREQUENTLY

TO THE POINT
WHERE IT WAS ALMOST NIGHTLY.

[ SCREAMING ]

THE SHADOW
HAD TAKEN A STEP CLOSER,

REVEALING ITS AWFUL FACE.

IT'S WHEN PEOPLE
CAN SEE THEM STRAIGHT ON

WHEN IT GETS REALLY SCARY.

[ SCREAMING ]

WHAT I SAW HAD A DARK,
BLOODRED-COLORED FACE,

VERY SCARRED.

IT LOOKED LIKE
IT HAD BEEN BURNT.

ITS EYES WERE BLACK.

ITS NOSE
WAS VERY OBVIOUSLY BROKEN.

IT WAS BENT OUT OF SHAPE.

THE FACE WAS VERY DISFIGURED.

[ SCREAMING ]

Narrator:
AND THEN THERE WAS THE VOICE.

Disembodied Voice:
TRAVIS.

IT WAS TELLING ME
TO DO THINGS.

THE FACE TOLD ME
TO CUT PEOPLE OUT OF MY LIFE.

TOLD ME TO IGNORE MY FAMILY,

TO IGNORE MY GIRLFRIEND,
TO IGNORE MY BEST FRIENDS,

AND WHEN THAT DIDN'T WORK,

THE FACE STARTED TELLING ME
TO HURT THEM.

Disembodied Voice:
YOUR FATHER.

Narrator:
TRAVIS WAS LOSING CONTROL,
THE SHADOW TAKING OVER.

I DEFINITELY FELT FEAR

FOR THE SAFETY OF THE PEOPLE
I CARED ABOUT.

Narrator:
FINALLY, ONE NIGHT, TRAVIS KNEW
HE WAS AT THE CROSSROADS.

Brandon: IT WAS FRIGHTENING
WATCHING THIS PERSON

THAT YOU HAD KNOWN
HIS WHOLE LIFE

TURN INTO SOMEBODY
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

IT'S SCARY.

I SAW
THE SHADOW AGAIN...

IT TOLD ME
TO KILL YOU.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU COULD
JUST SEE HIS EYES FIXATE.

I COULD LITERALLY SEE THE BLOOD
RUSH FROM HIS FACE.

HE BECAME PALE,
AND HE STARTED SHAKING.

Travis: OFF IN THE DISTANCE,
I SEE THIS SHADOWY FIGURE.

Brandon:
AND I COULD ACTUALLY SEE
TWO DARK FIGURES STANDING THERE.

ONE OF THEM WAS JUST
THE FAINTEST ORANGE GLOW

WHERE HIS FACE SHOULD BE.

THAT REALLY FREAKED ME OUT.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS THE PART
IN THE HORROR MOVIES

WHERE YOU DO SOMETHING STUPID
AND GET YOURSELF KILLED.

I SHOULDN'T HAVE DONE THIS,

BUT I TURNED AROUND,
AND I WAS JUST ANGRY.

YOU'RE
NOT WELCOME HERE!

YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY SON.
GO AWAY!

Narrator:
BRANDON UNLEASHED ALL HIS FURY

AT THE DARK MONSTER
THAT HAD TORMENTED HIS SON.

Brandon:
AND I TOLD THEM TO GO AWAY,
AND THEY DID.

Narrator:
AND IN THAT MOMENT, THE SHADOWS
BLASTED THROUGH THE TREES.

Travis:
PART OF ME IS AFRAID

OF THE FACE COMING BACK
WITH THAT KIND OF STRENGTH,

BUT AT THE SAME TIME,

I FEEL LIKE, IF I BEAT IT ONCE,
I CAN BEAT IT AGAIN.

Brandon:
I DON'T THINK THAT YOU CAN
EVER GET RID OF THESE THINGS.

YOU KNOW,
THEY'RE STILL OUT THERE,

AND THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS THAT,
YOU KNOW,

IF YOU'RE NOT CAREFUL,
AT ANY TIME,

YOU COULD OPEN YOURSELF UP
TO THEM.

[ TRAIN WHISTLE BLOWS ]

Narrator: FAR FROM
THE DARK SHADOWS OF MARYVILLE,

ACROSS STATE LINES INTO IOWA,
SITS A SMALL PRAIRIE TOWN

WITH A SUPERNATURAL HISTORY
ALL ITS OWN.

Lewis:
WHEN YOU THINK OF RURAL IOWA,
YOU PROBABLY PICTURE VAN METER.

A COUPLE MAIN STREETS,

LESS THAN A THOUSAND PEOPLE
WANDERING AROUND.

Welker:
THE VAN METER DOWNTOWN AREA
IS STILL, ESSENTIALLY,

ONE BLOCK BY ONE BLOCK,

AND NOT A LOT
HAS CHANGED SINCE 1903.

Narrator: 1903.

THAT WAS A TURNING POINT
FOR VAN METER

WHEN THE VISITOR CAME TO TOWN.

VAN METER WAS IN A FRENZY.

PEOPLE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THIS MONSTER.

NOT ONLY TALKING,
PEOPLE WERE SHOOTING AT IT.

IT MUST HAVE SEEMED LIKE
SOMETHING OUT OF THE WILD WEST.

Narrator:
A TIME SO FRENZIED,

RESIDENTS BANDED TOGETHER
FOR THEIR VERY SURVIVAL.

THE TROUBLE BEGAN

AT A COAL-MINING OPERATION
ON THE EDGE OF TOWN.

THERE WERE A LOT OF REPORTS
OF THE OLD MINE BEING HAUNTED

BY SOUNDS,
BY MYSTERIOUS NOISES.

[ GUTTURAL NOISES ]

THE OLD GENERATION AHEAD OF ME

WAS AFRAID FOR THEIR KIDS
TO GO UP THERE.

THERE WAS A BIG SHAFT,

AND WE WERE TOLD NOT TO GO OVER
THERE BECAUSE OF THE MONSTER.

Narrator: ONCE, FROM DEEP
INSIDE THIS GROUND,

A BIZARRE BAT CREATURE
EMERGED -- FANTASTICALLY HUGE.

SOME OF THE MOST RECOGNIZED
AND MOST RESPECTED BUSINESSMEN

WERE THE ONES
WHO WITNESSED

THIS GIANT,
8-FOOT BAT-LIKE CREATURE

THAT WAS TERRORIZING THE TOWN
FOR AT LEAST FIVE NIGHTS.

Welker: YOU HAD A DOCTOR,
A SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT,

A HARDWARE STORE OWNER,
AN IMPLEMENT DEALER,

ONE THAT WORKED AT THE BANK.

THESE WERE MACHO MEN
AT THE TIME, CARRIED WEAPONS,

THEY PRIDED THEMSELVES
ON THEIR BRAVERY AND CONFIDENCE.

BUT THEY WERE HELPLESS
AGAINST IT.

IT SEEMED TO BE IMPERVIOUS
TO THEIR WEAPONS.

THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING

TO FIGHT OFF
THIS MYSTERIOUS MONSTER.

THIS CREATURE
TERRIFIED THIS TOWN.

I MEAN, THEY ALMOST
LOST ALL CONTROL

BECAUSE THEY WERE
AFRAID OF THIS MONSTER.

THEY'RE AFRAID --
"WHAT CAN IT DO TO OUR KIDS?"

IT CHANGED THIS TOWN FOREVER.

[ HIGH-PITCHED SQUEALING ]

Narrator:
BURIED IN THE HISTORICAL RECORD
FOR THE FALL OF 1903

IN VAN METER, IOWA,
IS ONE EXTRAORDINARY WEEK

WHEN A GIANT-WINGED CREATURE

CREPT OUT OF A COAL MINE
AND TERRORIZED THE TOWN.

Lewis: THE CREATURE WAS SAID
TO BE HALF-HUMAN, HALF-BAT.

IT STOOD OVER 8-FEET TALL

AND HAD THESE GIANT,
FEATHERLESS WINGS LIKE A BIRD.

Narrator: IT ALL BEGAN HERE,

WHERE THE TOWN'S BRICK AND TILE
FACTORY STILL SITS,

ABANDONED AND CRUMBLING.

Lewis:
IT IS AN EERIE PLACE.

JUST BEING OUT THERE,
YOU CAN GET A SENSE

OF WHAT THESE PEOPLE
WENT THROUGH IN 1903,

AND IT'S NOT HARD
TO IMAGINE, AT ALL,

A GIANT, BAT-LIKE CREATURE
FLYING OUT THERE TODAY.

Narrator: AUTHOR CHAD LEWIS
CAME TO VAN METER

TO UNCOVER THE TRUE STORY
BEHIND THE LEGEND.

I THOUGHT, "WELL,
THIS IS GOING TO BE A FUN CASE,

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE VERY SHORT

BECAUSE IT WAS
OBVIOUSLY A HOAX."

BUT AS WE STARTED DIGGING,

WE FOUND THERE WAS
A LOT MORE TO IT.

Narrator:
AS LEWIS WOULD DISCOVER,

THE ARRIVAL OF THE VISITOR
BEGAN SUDDENLY,

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT,
ON SEPTEMBER 29, 1903.

Lewis:
APPROXIMATELY 1:00 A.M.,

LOCAL BUSINESSMAN U.G. GRIFFITH
WAS COMING BACK TO VAN METER

AFTER A DAY OF TRAVEL.

AND HE NOTICED
A MYSTERIOUS LIGHT

HOVERING OVER THE BUILDING.

HE THOUGHT IT WAS A ROBBER.

THE PEOPLE
THAT ACTUALLY SAW THIS MONSTER,

THEY CLAIMED THAT HE COULD JUMP

FROM THIS BUILDING
TO THAT BUILDING.

Lewis: IT DISAPPEARED, ONLY
TO REAPPEAR ACROSS THE STREET,

AND U.G. GRIFFITH
WAS AMAZED BY THIS,

HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS GOING ON.

PEOPLE THOUGHT THE LIGHT

WAS NOTHING MORE
THAN ROBBERS WITH LANTERNS

TRYING TO SCOPE OUT THE BANK.

BUT THEY SOON FOUND OUT
IT WASN'T.

Narrator: THE FOLLOWING NIGHT,
FEARING THE BANK WAS IN DANGER,

PETER DUNN, THE BANK MANAGER,

ARRIVED TO PROTECT
THE TOWN'S FUNDS.

Lewis: ABOUT 1:00 A.M., HE HEARD
THE SOUND OF SOMEONE STRANGLING.

[ GAGGING SOUNDS ]

AT THAT MOMENT, A BRIGHT LIGHT
STARTED SHINING INTO HIS ROOM.

MR. DUNN GRABBED HIS SHOTGUN
LOADED WITH BUCKSHOT...

[ INHUMAN SCREAMING ]

...AND BLASTED AT THIS CREATURE,
SHOOTING OUT THE BANK WINDOW.

IN ORDER FOR MR. DUNN,
A WELL-RESPECTED BUSINESSMAN,

TO BLOW OUT THE FRONT WINDOW
OF THE BANK,

SOMETHING MUST HAVE
TERRIFIED HIM.

PETER DUNN WAS THE BOSS.
HE RUN THE TOWN, PETE DUNN DID.

WHATEVER HE SAID,
THAT WAS IT,

SO IF HE BELIEVED IN
THE MONSTER, EVERYBODY DID.

Narrator:
IN 1903, WHEN PRAIRIE TOWNS
LIKE VAN METER

HAD NO EXPERIENCE
WITH ELECTRIC STREET LIGHTS...

THIS NIGHT TIME ILLUMINATION
MUST HAVE SEEMED REMARKABLE.

Lewis:
NEXT NIGHT, DR. ALCOTT,

WHO WAS SLEEPING ABOVE
HIS OFFICE IN THE BUILDING,

HE WAS AWOKEN
AT APPROXIMATELY 1:00 A.M.,

AS WELL, WITH A BRIGHT LIGHT,

AND THIS WAS SO BRIGHT,
IT NEARLY BLINDED HIM.

SO, HE GRABBED HIS GUN
AND BRAVELY RAN OUTSIDE

TO CONFRONT WHAT HE MUST HAVE
THOUGHT WERE ROBBERS, AS WELL.

THAT'S WHEN HE CAME FACE-TO-FACE
WITH THIS GIANT, WHAT HE CALLED

HALF-HUMAN, HALF-BAT-LIKE
CREATURE

WITH FEATHERLESS WINGS
LIKE A BAT

WITH A BLUNT HORN
ON ITS FOREHEAD

AND A LIGHT THAT WOULD
EMANATE FROM THE HORN.

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ GUNSHOTS ]

DR. ALCOTT SHOT
FIVE OF HIS SIX ROUNDS

AT THIS CREATURE,

AND EITHER HE MISSED
ALL FIVE ROUNDS,

OR THEY HAD NO EFFECT
ON THE BEAST,

AND DR. ALCOTT RETREATED.

YOU CAN ONLY IMAGINE THE TERROR
GOING THROUGH HIS MIND.

Narrator:
IN 1903, THE SMALL, MIDWESTERN
COMMUNITY OF VAN METER, IOWA,

AWOKE TO FIND
THEMSELVES CONFRONTED

WITH A GIGANTIC,
BAT-LIKE CREATURE.

THERE'S BEEN REPORTS
OF THESE TYPES OF CREATURES

ALL OVER THE PLACE,

FROM AS EARLY AS WE CAN
GO BACK TO, UP 'TIL NOW.

THERE'S MOTHMAN,
JERSEY DEVIL, ON AND ON.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY CULTURE
AND EVERY PART OF THE COUNTRY

HAS THIS ANIMAL
THAT'S VERY SIMILAR TO THIS.

[ GUNSHOT ]

Lewis: BY ALL ACCOUNTS,
IT WAS A PREHISTORIC MONSTER,

A TERRIFYING CREATURE

THAT NOBODY HAD SEEN
THE LIKES OF BEFORE.

Welker: THE NEIGHBORS,
THE SMALL BUSINESSMEN,

THEY WERE ALL TALKING ABOUT IT,
AND FEAR WAS BUILDING.

Narrator:
THE SIEGE HAD ALREADY GRIPPED
THE TOWN FOR THREE DAYS RUNNING.

Welker:
THEY WERE TERRIFIED.

THEY WERE LOCKING DOORS, THEY
WERE PULLING THEIR SHUTTERS.

PEOPLE WERE MORE CAREFUL
OF THEIR CHILDREN,

MAKING SURE THEY WERE IN.

JUST A FEELING OF FEAR.

Lewis: THE NEXT EVENING,
LOCAL BUSINESSMAN O.V. WHITE,

WHO RAN THE HARDWARE STORE,
WAS AWOKEN AT 1:00 A.M.

BY THE SOUND
OF SCREECHING AND GRINDING.

[ SCREECHING, GRINDING ]

HE WALKED OVER TO THE WINDOW
TO TAKE A LOOK.

HE SAW THIS GIANT
VISITOR BAT CREATURE.

O.V. WHITE WAS KNOWN
AS A GREAT SHOT.

HE TOOK DELIBERATE AIM...

SHOT THIS GIANT
VISITOR BAT CREATURE...

AND ALL IT DID WAS ANGER IT.

THE CREATURE TURNED ITS LIGHT
RIGHT ON MR. WHITE

WHILE RELEASING
SOME TYPE OF ODOR.

MR. WHITE SAID
WHEN HE WAS HIT BY IT,

IT ERASED HIS MEMORY,

AND HE HAS NO IDEA
WHAT HAPPENED

AFTER HE WAS HIT
BY THAT MYSTERIOUS ODOR.

Narrator:
ON THE FOURTH DAY,

THE TERROR MOVED TO
THE TILE AND BRICK FACTORY.

WORKERS ON THE NIGHT SHIFT
WERE STRUCK DUMB

BY THE SOUNDS
OF HORRENDOUS SHRIEKING.

THESE WERE HARD CORE WORKERS,

MANLY MEN WHO YOU WOULDN'T THINK
WOULD GET SPOOKED BY ANYTHING.

YET, THEY WERE TOO AFRAID
TO GO INVESTIGATE THIS MINE.

Narrator: PETRIFIED WITH FEAR,
YET MUSTERING ALL THEIR COURAGE,

THE TOWN BANDED TOGETHER WITH
ALL AVAILABLE GUNS AND AMMO.

THEY BELIEVED THE COAL MINE
HAD RELEASED THE CREATURE,

SO THAT'S WHERE THEY HEADED.

A FINAL FACE-OFF
WITH THE MONSTER.

Lewis:
AND AT THIS POINT, THE PEOPLE
OF VAN METER HAD HAD ENOUGH.

Houser: AND THEY GATHERED
ALL THE DYNAMITE,

BLEW UP THE MOUTH OF THIS CAVE,
BLOCKING THE ENTRANCE,

AND NEVER SEEN OR HEARD
FROM IT AGAIN.

Narrator: FINALLY, THE BEAST
THAT HAD VISITED THE TOWN

AND SPREAD SO MUCH FEAR
WAS BANISHED,

ITS REIGN OF TERROR ENDED.

THE OLD MINE NEVER REOPENED.

Houser: THE AREA TODAY,
WHERE THE MINE SITS,

IS COVERED OVER WITH GRASS.

WALKING ON THOSE GROUNDS,

YOU'RE JUST IMAGINING
WHAT IS BELOW YOU.

ARE THESE DEEP CAVERNS

FULL OF THESE CREATURES
STILL ALIVE TODAY,

OR ARE THEY
JUST MERELY CLOSED OFF

AND A COUPLE BODIES
STILL UNDERNEATH?

Narrator:
CURRENT VAN METER LIBRARIAN
JOLENA WELKER HAS HEARD

ALL THE OLD STORIES ABOUT
THE TOWN'S INFAMOUS VISITOR.

SHE NEVER THOUGHT
SHE'D HAVE A VISIT OF HER OWN.

I'VE LIVED HERE JUST SINCE 1983,
ALTHOUGH I GREW UP NEAR HERE.

NOW THAT I'M THE LIBRARIAN,

I PRETTY MUCH KNOW
EVERYBODY IN TOWN.

Narrator: YET, JOLENA FELT
SHE DIDN'T KNOW ENOUGH

ABOUT THE 1903 TOWN PANIC.

ONE EVENING, SHE SET OUT FOR THE
SITE OF THE MONSTER ENCOUNTER,

WHERE THE TOWN'S OLD
BRICK AND TILE FACTORY

STILL SITS ABANDONED.

I DROVE MY VEHICLE DOWN TO THE
SITE AS CLOSE AS I COULD GET.

[ BRAKES SQUEALING ]

AND I JUST THOUGHT
I'D GO OUT AND LOOK AT IT.

I DID THINK
I MIGHT SEE SOMETHING.

THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE
HOW I FELT

WAS A VERY STRONG SENSE OF EVIL.

[ GROWLING ]

[ SCREECHING ]

AND I GOT VERY AFRAID.

Narrator:
JUST WHEN JOLENA WAS READY
TO FLEE, HER CAR WOULDN'T GO.

Welker: AND I START PRAYING.

OH, MY GOD,
PLEASE START!

Narrator:
JOLENA, SHAKING WITH FEAR,
TRIES ONE MORE TIME.

[ ENGINE STARTS ]

FINALLY, I AM ABLE TO
BACK MY VEHICLE UP AND GO HOME.

[ SCREECHING ]

Lewis: I'VE SPENT MANY NIGHTS
OUT BY THE OLD MINE,

AND IT IS TRULY A CREEPY
ATMOSPHERE OUT THERE.

IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH TO IMAGINE

THAT THESE CREATURES
ARE STILL LIVING THERE,

AND THAT IF YOU LOOK UP
INTO THE SKY,

YOU MIGHT JUST SEE
AN 8-FOOT MONSTER

COMING DOWN AFTER YOU.

Narrator: 100 YEARS AGO,
SOME UNIMAGINABLE MONSTER

VISITED
THIS MIDWEST PRAIRIE TOWN.

WHAT IT EXACTLY WAS AND WHETHER
IT MIGHT STILL BE AROUND

REMAINS A MYSTERY.

IN THE HEARTLAND,
IF YOU'RE LIVING OUT ON A FARM,

YOUR NEAREST NEIGHBOR MIGHT BE
TOO FAR AWAY TO HEAR YOU SCREAM.