Monsters and Mysteries in America (2013–…): Season 2, Episode 7 - Black Swamp - full transcript

Narrator:
A YOUNG MOTHER CAUGHT IN THE
CLUTCHES OF A WATER-BORN BEAST.

SHE DID A BIG [GASPS]
AND THEN SHE WENT DOWN SO FAST.

IT WAS LIKE,
"OH, MY GOD. SHE'S GONE."

Narrator:
A MYSTERY THAT ATTRACTED
NATIONAL INTEREST

AND, SOME CLAIM,
GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.

YOU'D THINK THAT IF SOMETHING'S
GRABBING PEOPLE IN THE RIVER

THEY'D WANT
EVERYBODY TO KNOW ABOUT IT.

YOU NEED TO FORGET
THIS EVER HAPPENED.

BUT THEY SAID,
"NEVER REPEAT IT."

Narrator:
NIGHT WATCH TURNS TO NIGHTMARE
AS A MONSTER BREAKS IN.

Reiman: I LOOKED IN ITS EYES,



AND I THOUGHT,
"WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?"

MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS, "IS THIS
THING GONNA TEAR ME APART?"

Narrator: A FAMILY ON A HIKE,

THEIR KIDS STALKED
BY THE LEGENDARY GRASSMAN.

Bob: THE WAY THAT MY KIDS ACTED,

THERE'S NO DOUBT IN MY MIND
THAT THEY SAW SOMETHING.

THEY SAW SOMETHING BIG.

[ GROWLING ]

[ SCREAMS ]

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: THE OHIO RIVER
WINDS ITS WAY WEST

FOR NEARLY A THOUSAND MILES,

ONE OF
THE GREAT AMERICAN WATERWAYS,

A CONDUIT FOR COMMERCIAL CRAFT
AND LEISURE-TIME BOATING.



YET RESIDENTS
AROUND EVANSVILLE, INDIANA,

TELL A DIFFERENT STORY
ABOUT THE RIVER,

ONE WITH A MONSTER LASHING OUT
FROM THE MUDDY DEEP.

McDaniel: AROUND THE OHIO RIVER,

I THINK A LOT OF STRANGE THINGS
DO TAKE PLACE THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS
THAT YOU CAN'T EXPLAIN.

Darwin: IT'S A BEAUTIFUL PLACE,
BEAUTIFUL TREES.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE DISAPPEAR
FROM THE OHIO RIVER

AND NOBODY NEVER KNOWS
WHERE THEY WENT.

THEY'RE JUST GONE.

THIS IS SO CRAZY.

[ LAUGHS ]

COME ON.
YOU READY?

YEAH.
COME ON.

OKAY.

ONE, TWO, THREE!

DID YOU FEEL THAT?

SOMETHING'S IN HERE.
WHAT?

OH, MY GOD!

[ SCREAMS ]

Narrator:
FOR DARRELL AND DARWIN JOHNSON,

THE OHIO RIVER
IS A PLACE OF FEAR.

Darrell:
MY MOM MADE ME PROMISE HER

THAT I WOULD NEVER
GET INTO THE RIVER

BECAUSE OF SOMETHING
THAT SCARED HER SO BAD.

I'VE ALWAYS GOT A GUN WITH ME
WHEN I'M AT THE RIVER --

ALWAYS GOT A GUN.

Narrator: WHEN THEY WERE YOUNG,
THE JOHNSON BROTHERS,

ALONG WITH THEIR SISTER, SANDRA,
NEARLY LOST THEIR MOTHER

TO SOMETHING
LURKING IN THE DEPTHS.

I WAS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD
AT THE TIME.

WHEN IT'S SOMETHING
THAT TRAUMATIC,

I THINK IT HELPS YOU
REMEMBER MORE.

Narrator:
IT ALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 14, 1955.

NAOMI JOHNSON TOOK HER CHILDREN
AND HER BEST FRIEND, LOUISE,

TO A SWIMMING BEACH
ALONG THE OHIO RIVER.

SO, MISS SANDRA, YOU GONNA BUILD
ANOTHER SAND CASTLE?

SUMMER WAS IN FULL SWING,
AND ON HOT OHIO DAYS,

THE RIVER'S COOL CURRENT
WAS JUST THE TONIC.

MY MOTHER
WAS A REALLY STRONG SWIMMER.

SHE HAD FOUR OLDER BROTHERS,
AND THEY MADE HER TOUGH.

NEVER SEEN HER BACK DOWN
FROM ANYBODY.

Narrator:
ON THAT SUMMER DAY, HOWEVER,

NAOMI JOHNSON
WASN'T FEELING VERY CONFIDENT.

ALL RIGHT,
YOU GUYS STAY HERE.

WE'RE GONNA GO
IN THE WATER.

Darwin: SHE HAD
A STRANGE FEELING THAT DAY

THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG,

AND SHE WOULDN'T LET ME
GO IN THE WATER,

AND I WAS MAD ABOUT IT.

Narrator:
NAOMI'S DAUGHTER, SANDRA,

WAS ALSO ALONG WITH HER MOM
THAT DAY.

SHE'LL NEVER FORGET IT.

Bickwermert:
IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL SUNNY DAY.

SHE TOLD ME TO STAY ON THE BANK,
LIKE SHE ALWAYS DID,

SO I JUST WAS THERE PLAYING.

Darwin:
AND LOUISE -- SHE COULDN'T SWIM,

SO SHE HAD A BIG INNER TUBE
SHE WOULD ALWAYS GET IN.

WELL, MOM WOULD DRAG HER
OUT IN THE RIVER,

AND THEY WERE OUT IN THE RIVER
PROBABLY 15 OR 16 FEET.

Narrator: AT 16 FEET FROM SHORE,
THE WOMEN FELT SAFE

FROM THE FAST CURRENTS RUNNING
IN THE CENTER OF THE RIVER.

NAOMI!

NAOMI'S DAUGHTER, SANDRA,
WAS PLAYING ON THE BEACH

WHEN SHE GOT THE FIRST SIGN
OF TROUBLE.

NAOMI! NAOMI!
SOMEBODY HELP!

I HEARD LOUISE SCREAMING
AND HITTING THE WATER,

AND I LOOKED UP,
AND MOM WASN'T THERE.

SOMEBODY HELP!

WHEN SHE JERKED
OUT OF THE WATER,

SHE DID A BIG [GASPS]
AND THEN SHE WENT DOWN SO FAST.

IT WAS LIKE,
"OH, MY GOD. SHE'S GONE."

OH, I WAS HORRIFIED.

SOMETHING GRABBED HER
BY THE LEG.

NAOMI!
SOMEBODY HELP!

LOUISE WAS HITTING THE WATER

AND KICKING AND SCREAMING
AT THE TOP OF HER LUNGS.

I LOOK AROUND THAT WATER

TO TRY TO SEE
IF I COULD SEE MOM,

AND SHE WASN'T THERE.

IT WAS AWFUL.

Narrator: FOR MINUTES ON END,

NAOMI JOHNSON
WAS IN A DEATH STRUGGLE

WITH AN UNDERWATER BEAST.

PLEASE. NAOMI.

MY MOTHER CLAWED HER WAY
BACK TO THE SURFACE,

AND SHE SAID,
"SOMETHING'S GOT AHOLD OF ME."

AND IT YANKED HER DOWN AGAIN.

Narrator: AGAIN AND AGAIN,
NAOMI WAS DRAGGED BELOW.

NAOMI.

SHE MIGHT NEVER
HAVE BEEN SEEN AGAIN

IF LOUISE HADN'T
PADDLED HER INNER TUBE

DIRECTLY OVER THE SPOT.

LOUISE WAS TRYING TO
SCARE THE THING AWAY

AND TO MAKE IT LET HER GO.

Narrator: WHEN NAOMI RESURFACED,

SHE MADE ONE LAST,
DESPERATE REACH.

THAT'S WHEN THE CREATURE
TURNED HER LOOSE.

OH, MY GOD.
WE'VE GOT TO GET BACK TO SHORE.

MOM!

Narrator: THOUGH NAOMI
HAD NARROWLY ESCAPED DROWNING,

SHE COURAGEOUSLY TURNED
TO HELPING HER FRIEND LOUISE.

DID YOU SEE IT?

MOM TOWED HER BACK IN WITH HER.

Darwin:
SHE GRABBED LOUISE'S INNER TUBE,

AND THEY SWAM TO THE BANK
AND GOT OUT OF THE WATER.

OH, MY GOD.

Narrator: WHILE NAOMI
HAD ESCAPED WITH HER LIFE,

HER BODY WAS BRUISED,
HER LEGS CLAWED AND BLEEDING.

Bickwermert: SHE COULD
BARELY GET OUT OF THE WATER.

SOMEONE HAD CALLED AN AMBULANCE.

Darwin: RIGHT AWAY,
THEY LOOKED AT HER LEG,

AND THEY SEEN PRETTY BIG
SCRATCHES.

YOU'RE PRETTY TORN UP, LADY.
SOMETHING GOT YOU GOOD.

THREE SCRATCHES,
LIKE THREE CLAWS.

AND IT WENT FROM HER KNEE,
CLOSE TO HER ANKLE.

I LOOKED AT HER LEGS,
AND SHE HAD MARKS, BLUE MARKS,

AND IT SWIRLED DOWN BOTH LEGS.

THE MAN
WHO DROVE THE AMBULANCE --

HE HAD SOME RUBBING ALCOHOL,

AND HE WAS TRYING TO GET
THE BLUE MARKS OFF OF HER LEGS,

AND IT WAS DYED ON.

I MEAN,
THE DIRT AND STUFF CAME OFF,

BUT THOSE MARKS DIDN'T.

AND I REMEMBER HER SAYING
THAT IT WAS BURNING HER

BECAUSE OF THE SCRATCHES.

Darrell:
HE TRIED ALL KINDS OF STUFF

TRYING TO GET THE COLOR
OFF THE LEG,

BUT IT JUST STAYED ON IT.

McDaniel: AND WHEN THEY
TOOK SAMPLES OF THIS MUD

AND THEY SENT IT TO PENNSYLVANIA
TO A UNIVERSITY --

AND THIS UNIVERSITY CAME BACK
AND TOLD THE JOHNSONS

THAT THIS MUD, THIS BLUE MUD

COMES FROM
THE DEEPEST OF RIVERS.

IT ACTUALLY COMES FROM CAVES.

IT MAKES YOU WONDER IF
MAYBE IF THERE'S NOT CAVES

IN THE OHIO RIVER
THAT MIGHT HAVE SOME TYPE OF

AN AQUATIC CRYPTID CREATURE
LIVING IN IT.

Narrator: THE ATTACK DREW
HEADLINES AND NATIONAL INTEREST,

AND ADDING TO THE MYSTERY,

RUMORS OF THE U.S. GOVERNMENT
SECRETLY INVOLVED IN THE CASE.

MISS JOHNSON,
I'M FROM THE AIR FORCE.

Darwin: A MAN CAME TO OUR HOUSE,

AND HE SAID
HE WAS AN AIR FORCE COLONEL.

BIG QUESTION IS
WHY WOULD THE AIR FORCE

HAVE ANY INTEREST WHATSOEVER
IN NAOMI JOHNSON'S STORY?

MISS JOHNSON, IT'S OVER.

YOU CAN NEVER
REPEAT THIS STORY TO ANYONE.

Narrator:
IN EVANSVILLE, INDIANA,

DURING THE HOT SUMMER,
SWIMMING BEACHES

ALONG THE BANKS
OF THE OHIO RIVER

CAN OFFER REFRESHING RELIEF.

AUGUST 14, 1955, SEEMED LIKE
THE PERFECT KIND OF DAY

FOR NAOMI JOHNSON
TO TAKE HER CHILDREN

TO PLAY ALONG THE SHORE

WHILE NAOMI
AND HER FRIEND LOUISE RELAXED,

FLOATING IN THE SHALLOWS
OF THE RIVER.

MY MOM WAS SWIMMING IN THE OHIO,

AND SOMETHING HAD GRABBED HER
AND PULLED HER UNDER THE WATER.

SHE FOUGHT HER WAY
BACK TO THE TOP,

AND IT GRABBED HER AGAIN.

NAOMI!

Bickwermert:
AND TO LOOK AROUND THAT WATER

TO TRY TO SEE
IF I COULD SEE MOM,

AND SHE WASN'T THERE --
IT WAS AWFUL.

Narrator: NAOMI JOHNSON
NARROWLY ESCAPED DROWNING.

IN ALL THE TURMOIL,
SHE MANAGED TO CATCH

ONE FLEETING IMPRESSION
OF THE MONSTER.

A HAIRY PALM
WITH CLAWS THAT GRABBED HER,

AND IT WAS REALLY STRONG.

Narrator: EVER SINCE THEN,

IT'S BEEN KNOWN
AS THE GREEN-CLAWED BEAST,

A CREATURE THAT MAKES
NO BIOLOGICAL SENSE --

GREEN SCALES OF AN AMPHIBIAN,
FURRY FRINGE OF A MAMMAL,

LETHAL CLAWS OF A LIZARD.

THE NORMAL RULES OF NATURE
NO LONGER SEEM TO APPLY.

NAOMI JOHNSON
WAS THE ONLY VICTIM IN 1955

THAT REPORTED AN ATTACK BY
THE CREATURE IN THE OHIO RIVER.

YET HER CASE WAS ONE MORE STORY
IN A SERIES OF OUTLANDISH TALES,

AT A TIME
WHEN AMERICA WAS ANXIOUS

ABOUT ALIENS FROM SPACE AND
MUTANT MONSTERS HERE ON EARTH.

1954, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS
RELEASED A FILM KNOWN AS

THE "CREATURE
FROM THE BLACK LAGOON"...

...THAT PORTRAYS A REPTILIAN
HUMANOID-TYPE CREATURE

THAT LURKS IN THE MURKY WATER,

REACHING UP TO GRAB THE VICTIMS
WITH A WEBBED, CLAW-LIKE HAND.

Narrator: HOLLYWOOD WAS
CAUGHT UP WITH MONSTER MANIA,

BUT FOR THE JOHNSON FAMILY,
THE ATTACK WASN'T ENTERTAINMENT.

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

APPARENTLY, THE U.S. MILITARY
DIDN'T THINK SO EITHER.

MISS JOHNSON,
I'M FROM THE AIR FORCE.

THE AIR FORCE?

I UNDERSTAND
THERE WAS SOMETHING

THAT HAPPENED TO YOU
IN THE OHIO RIVER.

Darwin: A MAN CAME TO OUR HOUSE,

AND HE SAID HE WAS
AN AIR FORCE COLONEL.

AND HE TALKED TO HER,
AND SHE TOLD THE WHOLE STORY.

...AND ALL OF A SUDDEN,
A MONSTER --

WELL, SOMETHING
PULLED ME DOWN.

McDaniel: DURING THE MEETING,

THIS COLONEL
HAD TAKEN SUBSTANTIAL NOTES

ABOUT HER ENCOUNTER.

I WAS UNDERWATER.
I WAS ABLE TO SEE.

I KNOW IT WASN'T AN ALLIGATOR.
IT WASN'T A BIG FISH.

IT HAD ME BY MY LEGS.
IT WAS A MONSTER.

BIG QUESTION IS
WHY WOULD THE AIR FORCE

HAVE ANY INTEREST WHATSOEVER
IN NAOMI JOHNSON'S STORY?

IT WAS NOTHING
I'VE EVER SEEN BEFORE.

MISS JOHNSON, IT'S OVER.

YOU CAN NEVER
REPEAT THIS TO ANYONE.

YOU NEED TO
FORGET THIS EVER HAPPENED.

Darwin:
HE SAID, "NOW, DON'T EVER
REPEAT THE STORY TO ANYONE."

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND
WHAT THAT WAS ALL ABOUT.

YOU'D THINK IF SOMETHING'S
GRABBING PEOPLE IN THE RIVER,

THEY'D WANT EVERYBODY
TO KNOW ABOUT IT,

BUT HE SAID, "NEVER REPEAT IT."

Narrator:
THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HASN'T
ACKNOWLEDGED THE INCIDENT.

PARANORMAL GROUPS
AND UFO RESEARCHERS

AREN'T CONVINCED.

THE UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
BELIEVED THAT NAOMI JOHNSON

MAY HAVE ENCOUNTERED
SOMETHING UNEARTHLY,

MAYBE AN ALIEN,
MAYBE A CRYPTID CREATURE.

WE DON'T KNOW.

Narrator: THE EXCITEMENT
OVER THE GREEN-CLAWED BEAST

CAME AND WENT.

FOR MOST FOLKS,
THE OHIO FLOWED ONWARD,

BUT NOT FOR THE JOHNSON FAMILY.

IT'S AS IF THE RIVER HASN'T
MOVED SINCE THAT SUMMER IN 1955.

HAD IT GRABBED ME,
I WOULDN'T BE HERE TODAY.

I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN STRONG
ENOUGH TO GET AWAY FROM IT.

IT WAS REALLY STRONG.

Darrell:
SCARED HER REALLY, REALLY BAD.

SHE DIDN'T WANT TO
EVER GO BACK INTO THE RIVER.

Bickwermert: WE HAD TO PROMISE
WE'D NEVER GO TO THE RIVER.

WE HAD TO STAY
FAR AWAY FROM THE RIVER.

SHE COULDN'T SWIM ANYMORE,
AND IT WAS JUST --

SHE WAS SO TERRIFIED
FROM BEING CAUGHT IN THE RIVER.

Narrator:
THE OHIO ISN'T THE ONLY
WATERWAY HIDING SECRETS.

JUST A HUNDRED MILES
TO THE WEST, IN ILLINOIS,

THE BIG MUDDY RIVER CHURNS
WITH A MYSTERY ALL ITS OWN.

THE BIG MUDDY RIVER RUNS
JUST OUTSIDE OF MURPHYSBORO.

SMALL RIVER.
IT'S AN ERRATIC RIVER.

IT FREQUENTLY
REACHES FLOOD STAGE.

IT GOES UP AND DOWN
AND UP AND DOWN.

Narrator: ACCORDING TO LOCALS,
EVERY NOW AND THEN,

SOMETHING MONSTROUS
EMERGES FROM THE RIVER MUCK.

SOME 40 YEARS AGO,
RON MANWARING WAS POLICE CHIEF.

HE REMEMBERS THE NIGHT IN JUNE
OF 1973 LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

Manwaring: IT WAS A HOT,
HUMID NIGHT IN MURPHYSBORO,

TYPICAL SUMMER NIGHT.

THERE WAS A COUPLE
PARKED NEAR THE BOAT-RAMP AREA

AT RIVERSIDE PARK.

YOU HAVE RANDY NEEDHAM
AND JUDY JOHNSON LATE AT NIGHT.

AND WHO KNOWS
WHAT THEY'RE DOING THERE?

DO YOU THINK
ANYBODY WILL SEE US?

NO. I DON'T THINK SO.

THEY WERE MARRIED,
BUT NOT TO EACH OTHER.

[ LAUGHS ]
I MISSED YOU.

[ GROWLING ]

WHAT WAS THAT?

AND THEY HEAR SOMETHING
COMING OUT OF THE RIVER.

THEY DON'T KNOW
WHAT IT IS AT FIRST,

BUT IT'S COMING TOWARD THE CAR.

WHAT IS IT?
I DON'T KNOW.

[ GROWLS ]

OH!
[ LOUD HOWL ]

WHAT WAS THAT?

Manwaring:
THEY'D HEARD A LOUD SCREAM,

SOMETHING THAT
THEY'D NEVER HEARD BEFORE...

[ GROWLS ]

...AND LOOKED UP
AND SAW THIS BIG CREATURE

THAT SCARED THEM TO DEATH.

WE GOT TO GO!
AAH!

Narrator: AT THE RIVER'S EDGE
OF MURPHYSBORO, ILLINOIS,

A BIG MUDDY MONSTER
HAS LONG BEEN RUMORED TO LURK.

ON THE NIGHT OF JUNE 25, 1973,

ONE COUPLE PLANNED AN ILLICIT
RENDEZVOUS BY THE RIVER.

JUST WHEN THEY THOUGHT
THEY HAD MANAGED A MOMENT ALONE,

A MUD-SPLATTERED BEAST
EMERGED FROM THE DARK WATER.

[ SNIFFS ] OH, MY GOD.

OH.

THE SMELL
IS WHAT EVERYBODY SEEMS TO

ALWAYS COME BACK TO WITH IT.

IT JUST SMELLED PUTRID.

IS SOMEBODY
OUT THERE?

I DON'T KNOW.

[ GROWLING ]

WHAT IS THAT?

Manwaring:
AND THEY SAW THIS CREATURE

STANDING WITHIN A FEW FEET
OF THEIR CAR.

NO! NO!
AAH!

Ritter: IT WAS 7 FEET TALL,
WEIGHED 400 POUNDS.

AND IT JUST STINKS.

GO! GO!
RANDY!

THE EYES JUST GLOWED
AND STARED AT THEM.

[ GROWLING CONTINUES ]

AND THEY'RE FREAKED OUT.

[ SCREAMING INDISTINCTLY ]

PUT THE CAR IN GEAR,
AND THEY GET OUT OF THERE.

Narrator:
PANICKED BY THE MONSTER,

THEY DROVE TO THE LAST PLACE

A COUPLE HAVING AN AFFAIR
WOULD GO.

YEAH, WE NEED
SOME HELP.

YEAH, WE NEED TO REPORT
SOMETHING.

Ritter: YOU'D HAVE TO BE
FRIGHTENED FOR YOUR LIFE

TO GO TO THE POLICE,
I MEAN, OF ALL PLACES TO GO.

YOU'RE DOWN HERE HAVING
AN AFFAIR BY THE RIVER?

YEAH. WE WERE --

MURPHYSBORO IS A SMALL TOWN.

EVERYBODY KNOWS EACH OTHER.

THERE'S
SOMETHING OUT THERE.

IT NEEDS TO BE
DEALT WITH.

WE'LL LOOK INTO IT.

SO, THE COPS GO DOWN.
THEY CHECK IT OUT.

THEY GO DOWN INTO THE WOODS.

THEY START SEEING FOOTPRINTS,
WHICH ARE MAYBE A FOOT LONG.

THEY'RE DEFINITELY ODD-LOOKING.

Manwaring:
WHILE THEY WERE DOWN THERE,

THE OFFICERS
HEARD THIS CREATURE.

[ GROWLING ]

AND THEY DESCRIBED IT AS NOTHING
LIKE THEY'D EVER HEARD BEFORE.

AND IT SCARED
THE ONE DEPUTY SO BAD

THAT HE HAD DROPPED HIS GUN

AND DIDN'T WANT TO GO BACK
AND GET IT.

THEY WERE GENUINELY FRIGHTENED
BY WHAT THEY'D HEARD.

Narrator: THE LEGEND OF THE BIG
MUDDY MONSTER WAS BORN.

Ritter: ANYTIME ANYTHING WEIRD,
UNEXPLAINED

HAPPENS AROUND MURPHYSBORO,

THE BIG MUDDY MONSTER
IS PROBABLY

WITHIN THE TOP-FIVE EXPLANATIONS
FOR WHAT IT COULD HAVE BEEN.

Narrator:
THAT'S EXACTLY THE EXPLANATION
THAT BOB REIMAN PREFERS TO USE.

ACCORDING TO BOB, THE BIG MUDDY
CHURNED AGAIN IN 1988,

AND THE MONSTER CAME FORWARD.

Reiman:
IT HAPPENED 30 YEARS AGO,

AND I REMEMBER IT
JUST LIKE IT WAS YESTERDAY.

Narrator: BOB REIMAN
OWNED A SALVAGE BUSINESS

ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF MURPHYSBORO.

THE YARD BACKED RIGHT UP
TO THE RIVER'S EDGE.

Reiman: WE HAD A FEW THIEVES.

YOU KNOW,
KIDS WOULD GET IN THERE,

SO I DECIDED TO GET SOMEBODY
TO DO SOME SECURITY WORK FOR ME.

Narrator: ONE CHILLY NIGHT
IN JUNE 1988...

[ RUSTLING ]

...THE SECURITY GUARD HEARD
SOMETHING MOVING ABOUT OUTSIDE.

HE GAVE BOB A CALL.

Reiman: MY SECURITY OFFICER,
CHARLIE STRAUB, SAID,

"BOB, THERE'S SOMEBODY
IN THE YARD."

SO I GOT UP OUT OF BED
AND GOT DRESSED

AND DROVE OVER TO THE SHOP.

ALL RIGHT,
WHAT'S GOING ON?

THERE'S DEFINITELY
SOMETHING OUT HERE, MAN.

SO, WE WALKED DOWN ALL THE WAY
TO THE BACK OF THE YARD.

WE DIDN'T SEE ANY FLASHLIGHTS

OR ANY SIGN
OF ANYBODY STEALING PARTS.

BUT WE HEARD A NOISE.

Narrator:
AND THEN A TERRIBLE ODOR.

WHAT'S THAT SMELL?

IT SMELLS HORRIBLE.

IT WAS KIND OF A CROSS BETWEEN
ROTTEN EGGS AND A SKUNK.

IT WOULD BURN YOUR EYES,

AND IT KIND OF
BURNED THE BACK OF YOUR THROAT

AND YOUR NOSTRILS.

Narrator: THEY DIDN'T REALIZE

THE SCORCHING SMELL
WAS A WARNING.

[ CLATTER ]

[ GROWLS ]

Reiman:
WE SEEN THIS HUMONGOUS CREATURE.

[ GROWLS ]

AND IT LET OUT A SCREAM
THAT WOULD SET YOUR HAIR ON END.

AND ITS EYES WERE GLOWING

JUST AS RED AS TWO TAILLIGHTS
ON A CAR.

[ GROWLING ]

HE'S VERY HUGE.

MY FIRST THOUGHT WAS...

"ARE WE GONNA DIE TONIGHT?"

Narrator:
THE TOWN OF MURPHYSBORO
IN SOUTHWEST ILLINOIS.

SINCE THE EARLY 1970s,

IT'S BECOME AN EPICENTER

OF ENCOUNTERS
WITH A MYSTERIOUS MONSTER --

A LONGHAIRED BEAST,
VERY BIG AND VERY MUDDY.

IT'S THOUGHT TO BE
A VARIETY OF BIG FOOT,

BUT ONE THAT SEEMS TO USE
THE BIG MUDDY RIVER

AS ITS PRIMARY MEANS
OF MIGRATING.

AFTER MORE THAN
A DOZEN SIGHTINGS

ALL AROUND MURPHYSBORO,

IT APPEARED
AS IF THE BIZARRE BRUTE

WAS TURNING THE TOWN
UPSIDE DOWN.

YOU DON'T SEE
A 7-FOOT WHITE MONSTER

COME CRAWLING OUT OF THE RIVER
EVERY DAY.

Narrator:
BOB REIMAN CLAIMS HE DID.

ALERTED THERE WAS AN INTRUDER
AT HIS SALVAGE YARD,

BOB AND HIS SECURITY GUARD,
CHARLIE, WENT TO INVESTIGATE.

THAT'S WHEN
THEY HEARD THE SCREAM.

[ GROWLS, SCREAMS ]

Reiman:
IT COME OUT LIKE A SIREN.

IT WAS LIKE A "OH!"
AND RAISED TO A REAL HIGH PITCH.

[ GROWLS ]

THAT ALONE
WAS ENOUGH TO SCARE YOU.

YOU KNOW HOW SOMEBODY
SAYS THEY'RE IN AWE.

I WAS SO PETRIFIED,
IT WAS LIKE I WAS IN AWE.

[ GROWLS ]

I MANAGED TO GET THE WORDS OUT
TO CHARLIE --

"SHOULD I SHOOT IT?"

AND HE SAID, "NO, DON'T."
NO!

AS BIG AS THIS THING WAS,

IT WOULD PROBABLY
JUST MAKE IT MAD.

[ GROWLING ]

Narrator: THEY GOT AWAY
AND REGROUPED AT THE SHOP.

THE PHONE RUNG, AND IT WAS
BOBBY JOE ON THE PHONE,

AND HE SAID FOR US
TO COME DOWN THERE,

THAT HE THINKS HE SEEN
THE BIG MUDDY MONSTER.

Narrator:
BOB'S SISTER AND MOTHER WERE SO
CERTAIN HE WAS PLAYING A PRANK,

THEY PRESENTED HIM WITH A GIFT.

THIS IS FOR ALL THE B.S.
YOU'RE FEEDING US.

WE THOUGHT
THEY WERE JUST JOKING.

THEY LOOKED LIKE
THEY WERE REALLY SCARED.

I MEAN, BOB'S EYES WAS VERY BIG,

AND HE SAID, "I'M TELLING YOU.
IT'S FOR REAL."

YOU PROBABLY
JUST SAW YOUR OWN SHADOW.

Narrator: AT THE VERY LEAST,
THEY THOUGHT IT WAS OVER.

[ THUD ]
[ SCREAMS ]

Reiman: OUT OF NOWHERE
COMES THIS BIG BANG

ON THE BACK OF THE BUILDING,

SCARED THE HELL OUT OF
EVERY ONE OF US.

[ GROWLS ]

IT SOUNDED LIKE
SOMEBODY HAD SHOT A GUN

AND IT HIT THE BUILDING.

I HEARD THAT BANG,
AND I THOUGHT I WAS A GONER.

Reiman: YOU KNOW, WE KIND OF
ALL LOOKED AT EACH OTHER.

WE DIDN'T KNOW
WHAT WAS GONNA TAKE PLACE.

THIS THING SOUNDED LIKE

IT REALLY WANTED
TO GET INSIDE THE BUILDING.

EVERYBODY THERE
WAS KIND OF PETRIFIED.

THE CREATURE COULD HAVE HAD
SOME ILL WILL TOWARDS US.

HE COULD HAVE BEEN
TRYING TO WANT TO HURT US.

[ GROWLING ]

I WAS SCARED TO DEATH.

I THINK THE BIG MUDDY MONSTER
COULD RIP YOUR LEG OFF OF YOU

AND BEAT YOU TO DEATH WITH IT.

THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT I THINK HE COULD DO.

Narrator: AFTER THE BIG MUDDY
LEFT HIS MARK ON THE BUILDING,

IT DISAPPEARED
BACK INTO THE NIGHT.

[ HOWL ]

Juenger: WE DIDN'T TELL ANYBODY

BECAUSE WE DIDN'T THINK
ANYBODY WOULD BELIEVE US,

AND SO WE LEFT IT AT THAT.

Ritter: IS IT AN APE?

[ GROWLING ]
IS IT SOME MISSING LINK?

IS IT SOMETHING THAT JUST GOT
COMPLETELY LEFT OUT OF EVOLUTION

AND WAS HIDING OUT IN A CAVE?

YOU DON'T REALLY KNOW
WHAT IT IS.

THAT'S PROBABLY PART OF
WHAT MAKES IT SO SCARY.

Narrator: SALT FORK STATE PARK,

OHIO'S LARGEST
RECREATIONAL WILDERNESS.

WHILE CITIES AND SUBURBS
COVER MUCH OF THE STATE,

SALT FORK REMAINS OPEN,

A FRAGMENT OF BACKCOUNTRY
HIDDEN AWAY IN EASTERN OHIO.

WITHIN THESE NATURAL SPACES,

RUMORS PERSIST
ABOUT A LEGENDARY BEAST.

[ EAGLE SCREECHES ]

I HAD ALWAYS HEARD LEGENDS
AND STORIES OF IT,

BUT WE JUST ALWAYS THOUGHT
IT WAS, YOU KNOW,

SOMETHING TO SCARE THE KIDS.

SALT FORK IS THE GROUND ZERO
OF GRASSMAN SIGHTINGS

IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

IF YOU LOOK AT
THE AMOUNT OF SIGHTINGS,

IT'S OUTRAGEOUS WHAT WE'VE GOT.

EVERY TIME I COME TO SALT FORK,

SOMETHING HAPPENS
THAT'S UNEXPLAINABLE TO ME.

AT NIGHT, SOMETIMES
WHEN I'M BY THE CAMPFIRE,

I HEAR THEM THROUGH THE WOODS.

Narrator: THE LEGENDS DATE BACK
TO THE MID-1800s.

NEWSPAPERS INCLUDE STORIES
ABOUT GIANT WILD MEN

HARASSING FAMILIES
AND THEIR FARMS.

JANUARY 1869,
GALLIA COUNTY, OHIO.

A MAN AND HIS DAUGHTER
WERE RETURNING HOME FROM TOWN.

[ GROWLING ]

[ SCREAMING ]

[ SCREAMS ]

[ GRUNTS ]

THE GIRL
MANAGED TO SAVE HER FATHER.

NEARLY 150 YEARS LATER,

THE GRASSMAN'S VIOLENT
REPUTATION IS STILL DISCUSSED.

Cook:
I THINK IT COULD, YOU KNOW,

VERY WELL SNAP YOUR BACK,
SNAP YOUR NECK.

I THINK THE FACT OF SOMETHING
THAT LARGE COMING AT YOU

PROBABLY WOULD GIVE YOU
A HEART ATTACK

AND YOU WOULD DIE
AND HIT THE GROUND

BEFORE IT EVEN GOT TO YOU.

IN A LINEUP OF THE HAIRY APE-MEN
BELIEVED TO EXIST,

IT'S BIGFOOT'S SHORTER,
STOCKIER, ANGRIER COUSIN.

Cook: THE SIZE IS PROBABLY
RIGHT AROUND 6 TO 7 FEET,

ABOUT 300 POUNDS,
EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE.

Narrator: THEIR NAME MAY DERIVE
FROM LARGE, MYSTERIOUS NESTS

MADE OF GRASS,
FOUND IN THE REGION --

BIG NEST, BIG BEAST.

I'VE HEARD GRUNTS.
I'VE HAD STICKS THROWN AT ME.

I HAVE HAD ROCKS THROWN AT ME.

IT'S A VERY ODD FEELING
THAT YOU HAVE

WHEN YOU'RE HERE AT THIS PARK.

YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S SOMETHING
DEFINITELY HERE.

Narrator: AND THAT SOMETHING

WOULD MAKE ITSELF KNOWN
TO THE EDDY FAMILY.

THEIR DAY HIKE
THROUGH SALT FORK PARK

TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE.

IT WAS VERY TERRIFYING
KNOWING THAT THE GRASSMAN

WAS WITHIN 60 FEET
FROM MY CHILDREN.

WHAT'S THE MATTER?
WHAT IS IT?

IT WAS SCARY.

IT WAS SO TERRIFYING.

SCARIEST MOMENT IN MY LIFE.

WHERE'S JERSEY?!

Narrator: AND SCARIER STILL,
THE EDDYS' YOUNGEST ONE,

LITTLE JERSEY,
WAS ALL ALONE WITH THE BEAST.

[ GROWLS ]

Narrator: SOME 90 MILES
SOUTH OF CLEVELAND, OHIO,

A SECLUDED REGION OF THE STATE,
THE SASQUATCH TRIANGLE,

HOME TO THE HIGHEST NUMBER
OF SIGHTINGS OF THE GRASSMAN,

A WILD APE-MAN BEAST, KNOWN
FOR AN AGGRESSIVE DISPOSITION.

Cook:
THEY'RE EXTREMELY MUSCULAR.

THEIR ARMS ARE VERY LONG,
LEGS ARE VERY LONG.

I BELIEVE THEY CAN KILL YOU
IF THEY WANT TO.

Narrator:
UNFORTUNATELY, THE EDDY FAMILY

HADN'T HEARD MUCH
ABOUT THE GRASSMAN LEGENDS.

THE EDDYS OF CAMBRIDGE, OHIO,

ARE A MIDWESTERN,
MINIVAN-DRIVING AMERICAN FAMILY.

MELISSA AND HER HUSBAND, BOB,
HAVE FOUR CHILDREN,

RANGING IN AGE FROM 5 TO 16.

Melissa: MY KIDS ARE GOOD KIDS.

THEY HAVE GOOD GRADES --
STRAIGHT A's.

THESE ARE TOUGH KIDS.
THEY DON'T CRY IN THE WOODS.

EVEN IF THEY WOULD GET LOST,
THEY WOULD TURN AROUND.

THEY WOULD TRY TO
FIND THEIR WAY OUT.

THEY WOULD
KEEP WALKING FOR MILES

BEFORE THEY WOULD EVEN
YELL FOR HELP.

THAT'S HOW
THEY'VE BEEN BROUGHT UP.

Narrator: RECENTLY, THE EDDYS
DECIDED TO GO OUT FOR A HIKE.

THEIR PLANS
TOOK THEM TO SALT FORK PARK,

OHIO'S HOT SPOT
FOR GRASSMAN SIGHTINGS.

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY --
SUNNY, WARM.

AND WE GET THERE AND GO OUT

AND BEGIN OUR HIKE
ON MORGAN'S TRAIL.

Narrator: AT JUST UNDER A MILE,
WITH SLOPING HILLS AND RAVINES,

MORGAN'S LOOP TRAIL
IS CONSIDERED

ONLY A MODERATELY DIFFICULT
HIKE -- GOOD FOR FAMILIES.

BE CAREFUL, GUYS!
SLOW DOWN!

Bob: I DON'T THINK ANY OF US
HAD BEEN ON MORGAN'S TRAIL.

IT WAS NEW TO US,
SO WE JUST FOLLOWED THE PATH

TO SEE WHERE IT WOULD LEAD.

Andrew: ALL RIGHT,
WHICH WAY YOU GUYS WANT TO GO?

THAT WAY.
OVER THERE?

Melissa:
BE CAREFUL, GUYS!

YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT'S OVER THERE!

THEY'RE IN A HURRY.

YEAH, THEY ARE.

Narrator:
EMILY, HER BROTHER, ANDREW,
AND LITTLE SISTER, JERSEY,

WENT OFF INTO THE WOODS
TO PLAY...ON THEIR OWN.

HEY, MOM.
YEAH?

WHERE'S DAD AT?

I DON'T KNOW.

AFTER SOME TIME PASSED,
MELISSA BEGAN TO FEEL UNEASY.

Melissa: MY DAUGHTER
KEPT SAYING, "WHERE'S DAD AT?"

AND I KIND OF GOT SCARED

'CAUSE I DIDN'T KNOW
WHERE MY HUSBAND WAS.

IT WAS A HARD TRAIL TO WALK ON,

AND I COULDN'T
KEEP UP WITH THE KIDS.

AAH! OH, GOD.

[ LAUGHS ]

FINALLY HE CAUGHT UP TO US

AND TOLD US
WE WEREN'T ON MORGAN'S TRAIL.

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU GUYS?
IT'S NOT EVEN THE MAIN TRAIL.

WHERE ARE THE KIDS?
I THOUGHT THEY WERE WITH YOU.

WHERE ARE THEY?

MY THREE YOUNGEST KIDS
WERE STILL WAY AHEAD OF US.

WE WERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS,

AND YOU DON'T KNOW
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA MEET OR SEE.

AND THAT SCARED US.

Narrator: ACCORDING TO GRASSMAN
RESEARCHERS, THE DANGER IS REAL.

I WOULD NEVER HAVE ANY KIDS
RUN IN THE WOODS

BY THEMSELVES IN SOUTH FORK.

Narrator:
WHEN THE EDDYS HEARD THEIR
CHILDREN IN THE DISTANCE...

Melissa: YOU HEAR THAT?
YES.

...THEY THOUGHT
THEY COULD RELAX.

WE COULD STILL HEAR THEM
GIGGLING, YOU KNOW, RUNNING,

THROWING ROCKS AND STICKS
AND STUFF.

Narrator: THEIR KIDS
WERE HAVING A GOOD TIME...

UNTIL THEY WEREN'T.

[ SCREAMS ]

Andrew:
EMILY, WHAT'S WRONG?

[ SPEAKS INDISTINCTLY ]

[ SCREAM IN DISTANCE ]

WHAT WAS THAT?

SUDDENLY, THEIR DAUGHTER EMILY
BURST OUT OF THE TREES

IN A BLIND PANIC.

I JUST WANT TO
GO HOME NOW.

Melissa: HERE COMES EMILY
RUNNING, SPRINTING UP THE HILL,

CRYING AND SCREAMING.

AND SHE GOES,
"MOM, I WANT TO GO HOME NOW."

SHE WANTED OUT OF THE WOODS.
SHE WANTED TO GO HOME.

CALM DOWN.
TELL ME EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED.

EMILY WAS IN HYSTERICAL TEARS
AND CRYING.

YOU COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HER.

I TOLD HER TO CALM DOWN,
AND SHE FINALLY SAID,

"THERE WAS SOMETHING
IN THE WOODS,

SOMETHING THAT
PEEKED AROUND THE TREE AT ME."

Narrator: FOR TOUGH KIDS
USED TO THE OUTDOORS,

THIS WAS UNEXPECTED.

SOMETHING EXTRAORDINARY
WAS UNFOLDING.

WHEN SHE FINALLY CALMED DOWN,
EMILY RECOUNTED WHAT HAPPENED.

ME AND MY BROTHER AND SISTER
WENT AHEAD AND...

THERE'S A SPIDER
IN YOUR HAIR.

WHAT?!
I'M JUST KIDDING.

WE WERE PLAYING IN THE WOODS.

IT WAS A FUN DAY UNTIL WE LOOKED
OVER AND SAW THIS DEER.

Narrator:
ONLY SOMETHING SPOOKED THE DEER.

AND THEN NEXT THING YOU KNOW,

BEHIND THE TREE,
THERE'S A BIG BLACK SHADOW.

AND IT KIND OF LEANED OVER,
AND IT WAS REALLY TALL.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS
WHEN YOU'RE SO SCARED,

YOU JUST STAND THERE.

I WAS FROZEN.

I WAS TERRIFIED OF IT, LIKE,
WALKING, THROW SOMETHING,

OR DO SOMETHING TO ME.

IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A PERSON --
JUST REALLY BIG AND BLACK.

Narrator:
EMILY'S BROTHER, ANDREW,

WAS NEARBY WHEN SHE SCREAMED.

Andrew: ALL OF A SUDDEN,
SHE STARTED FREAKING OUT,

AND SHE SAYS SHE SEES SOMETHING.

IT WAS FAR AWAY.

THERE WAS A NOT A LOT OF DETAIL,

BUT IT WAS A LARGE SHADOWY
FIGURE WALKING ON TWO LEGS.

I'VE NEVER SEEN SOMETHING
THAT SCARY BEFORE IN MY LIFE.

Narrator:
ANDREW TORE OUT AFTER EMILY.

UNFORTUNATELY, THAT LEFT
THEIR LITTLE SISTER, JERSEY,

ALL ALONE.

INNOCENCE CAME FACE-TO-FACE
WITH THE MONSTER.

WE WERE JUST SITTING THERE,
PLAYING AROUND,

AND WE JUST SAW
A BIG BLACK SHADOW.

IT'S A PARENT'S
WORST NIGHTMARE...

WHERE'S JERSEY?!

...A CHILD MISSING.

SECONDS FEEL LIKE HOURS,

BUT FOR JERSEY,
TIME MUST HAVE STOOD STILL.

HE WAS PEEKING BEHIND THE TREE,
AND HE WAS LOOKING AT ME.

COULDN'T SEE HIS EYES,
BUT HE'S BLACK.

[ GROWLS ]

Narrator: IN THE NICK OF TIME,
HER BROTHER RETURNED.

WHEN I SAW JERSEY CRYING,

I GRABBED HER
AND RAN UP THE HILL.

[ GROWLS ]

YOU'RE OKAY.

Narrator: THE EDDY FAMILY
WERE ALL SAFE -- FOR THE MOMENT.

[ CLANG ]

Bob: ALL OF A SUDDEN,
THERE WAS A LARGE KNOCK

ON THE TREE TO OUR LEFT...

[ CLANG ]

...AND THEN AGAIN
TO THE CENTER...

[ CLANG ]

...AND THEN AGAIN TO THE RIGHT.

IT'S QUITE OBVIOUS
SOMETHING WAS STRIKING A TREE.

Melissa:
WHEN EMILY GRABBED ONTO HER DAD

AND WAS SCREAMING
SHE WANTED TO GO HOME,

SHE WANTS TO GO HOME NOW,

IT SCARED ME.

IT SCARED THE KIDS.

EVERYBODY, BACK TO THE CAR.
NOW. LET'S GO.

[ GROWLS ]

Narrator:
WAS THIS HUNGRY, HULKING BEAST
TRACKING THE CHILDREN?

Bob:
I WAS FEARFUL FOR OUR SAFETY,

HAVING EVIDENCE
THAT THERE IS POSSIBLY ONE HERE

IS FRIGHTENING.

Nowakowski: I THINK THE KIDS
SAW THAT WILD GRASSMAN.

THAT GRASSMAN
WAS WATCHING THOSE KIDS.

Girl: HIGHER THAN THAT.

Melissa: I THINK KIDS
ARE LIKE A PREY TO THEM.

THE GRASSMAN
WAS JUST STARING AT THEM

LIKE IT WAS PREYING ON THEM.

Narrator: THE EDDY CHILDREN
ARE ONLY THE LATEST

TO RUN FOR THEIR LIVES FROM
AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE GRASSMAN.

SINCE THE 1970s,

HUNDREDS HAVE REPORTED
SEEING THE MYSTERIOUS BEAST.

ONE MAN
CAME UNDER DIRECT ATTACK.

I WAS A GONER.
I KNEW THAT WAS IT.

I WAS FINISHED.

[ GROWLING ]

Narrator: 30 MILES WEST
OF SALT FORK PARK

SITS ZANESVILLE, OHIO.

STORIES HAVE LONG CIRCULATED
ABOUT HAIRY MONSTERS

RESIDING IN THE GRASS HILLS
OUTSIDE OF TOWN.

THEY WERE THE KIND OF STORIES

THAT HUNTER AND TRAPPER
HAWK SPEARMAN

NEVER PAID MUCH ATTENTION TO.

Spearman: YOU KNOW, I REALLY
DIDN'T BELIEVE IN IT MYSELF.

THE GRASSMAN,
TO ME, WAS A RUMOR.

MY FIANCéE AT THAT TIME TOLD ME
SHE HAD AN ENCOUNTER WITH ONE

WHEN WE FIRST GOT TOGETHER,
AND I LAUGHED IT OFF.

I THOUGHT
SHE WAS JUST YANKING MY CHAIN.

Narrator:
HAWK'S ATTITUDE WOULD CHANGE

AFTER THE COUPLE
MOVED TO A HOUSE

ON THE EDGE
OF THE WOODBURY WILDLIFE AREA.

I WASN'T CRAZY ABOUT IT.
IT MADE ME VERY NERVOUS.

BUT HE TALKED ME INTO
MOVING OUT THERE.

I TOLD HER, YOU KNOW,
EVERYTHING WOULD BE ALL RIGHT.

Dotson:
THINGS WERE GREAT AT FIRST.

AFTER I GOT OUT THERE,
I LOVED IT.

Spearman: IT REALLY WAS
A DREAM HOME FOR ME AND HER.

Narrator: WITH THE MOVE
TO THE COUNTRYSIDE,

LIFE FOR HAWK AND KAREN
APPEARED FULL OF OPPORTUNITIES.

IT WAS EARLY SPRING.

HAWK FIGURED WILD GAME
WOULD BE STARTING TO STIR.

Spearman: WE GOT A BEAGLE

BECAUSE OF THE WAY
I LIKE TO HUNT IN THAT AREA.

HE WAS TRAINED TO HUNT
AND CHASE DOWN

PRETTY MUCH ANY ANIMAL
YOU COULD FIND.

I TOOK HIM UP ON A HILLSIDE
TO GO HUNTING.

[ DOG WHINING ]

AND THAT'S WHEN WE SMELLED
A VERY STRONG URINE SCENT

WITH A MUSKY SMELL.

IT WAS VERY, VERY STRONG --

ALMOST TO
THE POINT OF GAGGING YOU STRONG.

AND WHEN I COME THROUGH
THE GRASS,

COME UP ON THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE BRUSH,

THAT'S WHEN I SEEN A
6 1/2- TO 7-FOOT-TALL CREATURE.

IT HAD WIDE SHOULDERS.

IT HAD MASSIVE, HUGE,
BOWLING-PIN-LIKE ARMS.

LOOKED HUMAN,
BUT COVERED IN HAIR --

LIKE A NEANDERTHAL IN THE FACE.

[ GROWLS ]

THE MINUTE IT DID NOTICE ME,
I KNEW THAT WAS IT.

I THOUGHT
I WAS FINISHED FOR SURE.

[ GROWLING ]

THE ROCK LANDED
IN FRONT OF MY TOES.

I TURNED, AND I RAN
BACK DOWN THE HILLSIDE.

[ SCREAMS ]

Dotson: WHEN HE COME BACK DOWN,

HE HAD THIS ASHEN LOOK
ON HIS FACE,

AND IT TOOK ME ABOUT THREE DAYS

TO GET OUT OF HIM
WHAT HE'D SEEN.

I COULD TELL THE WAY
HE'D TOLD ME ABOUT HIS SIGHTING

THAT HE WASN'T JOKING.

Narrator:
AND THAT WAS ONLY THE BEGINNING.

THE GRASSMAN
HAD TRACKED HAWK BACK HOME.

WE STARTED HEARING GRUNTS
AND GROWLS AND HOLLERS.

AND WE'D SEE SILHOUETTES
OF WHAT LOOKED TO BE

UPRIGHT WALKING PEOPLE GOING
PAST THE WINDOWS AND STUFF.

AT NIGHTTIME,
IT GOT KIND OF SPOOKY.

HE WOULD SIT UP
WITH THE GUN ALL NIGHT,

WAITING TO SEE
WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN.

Narrator:
KAREN BEGGED HAWK TO LEAVE.

HE KEPT SAYING
THE CREATURES WOULD MOVE ON.

I PROMISE.

THEY DIDN'T.

[ GROWLS ]

[ GROWLS ]

[ KAREN SCREAMING ]

THEN ONE NIGHT,

THEY WERE AWAKENED
BY A TERRIFYING SOUND.

Dotson: THERE WAS
A REALLY LOUD RACKET OUT THERE,

AND YOU COULD HEAR IT
HITTING AGAINST THE TRAILER.

[ SCREAMING CONTINUES ]

WHAT IS IT?

Cook: THE GRASSMEN
ARE VERY TERRITORIAL

AND EXTREMELY AGGRESSIVE.

IF THEY DON'T WANT YOU THERE,

THEY'RE GONNA SIT THERE
AND HARASS YOU TILL YOU LEAVE.

IT'S GONE NOW.
WHATEVER IT WAS.

LOOK.

Dotson: THE LAST STRAW WAS WHEN
WE FOUND A GASH ABOVE THE DOOR

PROBABLY 8 FEET OFF THE GROUND.

IT LOOKED LIKE A CLAW MARK
TORE THROUGH THE TRAILER,

AND THAT WAS THE LAST STRAW
FOR ME.

Spearman: I KNEW THEN THERE WAS
NOTHING THAT I COULD DO

TO PROTECT MY FAMILY
IF I NEEDED TO,

SO I SAID
IT WAS TIME FOR US TO GO.

Dotson: WE PACKED UP,
AND WE GOT OUT OF THERE.

Spearman: THE GRASSMAN
DEFINITELY TERRIFIED US.

I'M STUNNED, YOU KNOW,
TO KNOW THAT SOMETHING LIKE THAT

ACTUALLY EXISTS.