Monsters and Mysteries in America (2013–…): Season 2, Episode 8 - Flying Creatures - full transcript

Narrator: MONSTERS SOARING
STRAIGHT OUT OF A NIGHTMARE.

THERE ARE A SURPRISING NUMBER
OF ACCOUNTS

OF THESE FLYING HUMANOIDS
CHASING CARS

AT INCREDIBLY FAST SPEEDS.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

AFTER THE ACCIDENT

AND MY BROTHER
WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE HOSPITAL,

I KNEW SOMETHING HORRIBLE
HAD TRIED TO GET US.

Narrator: IMAGINE THE TERROR
OF A BIGFOOT WITH WINGS.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

HE SAW HIS FATHER
BEING JERKED TO HIS FEET



AND LIFTED INTO THE AIR.

John: AND I'LL TELL YOU,

THAT WAS THE SPOOKIEST THING
I EVER SAW IN MY LIFE.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

I'M GONNA GO CHECK IT OUT.

Narrator: AMBUSHED IN THE PINE
BARRENS BY THE DEVIL'S SPAWN.

Dubois: I HAVE NEVER BEEN
SO SCARED IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

MY HEART WAS POUNDING,
I COULDN'T BREATHE.

IT WAS PURE, UNADULTERATED FEAR.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
ALONG THE NORTHERN EDGE

OF MISSOURI'S OZARK MOUNTAINS,
THE TURKEY CREEK WATERSHED --

THICK WOODS,
MEANDERING STREAMS,



AND A REPUTATION FOR HARBORING
A MYSTERIOUS WINGED DEMON.

TURKEY CREEK, IT'S A PLACE
THAT'S WAY OUT IN THE COUNTRY,

AND WHEN YOU'RE OUT THERE,
IT JUST KIND OF FEELS EERIE

'CAUSE IT'S DARK
AND NOTHING AROUND.

Brian:
THE DENSE WOODS WE HAVE

IN THE MOUNTAIN REGION
OF THE OZARK MOUNTAINS,

IT'S REALLY A GOOD PLACE
FOR MYSTERIOUS ACTIVITY

AND PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

I DON'T CARE
WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,

YOU'LL PROBABLY FIND IT
IN MISSOURI.

Narrator: AND EVERY ONCE
IN A WHILE IN THE OZARKS,

AN UNKNOWN FLYING FIEND

LAUNCHES A SHOCKING ATTACK
FROM THE SKIES.

[ ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ]

Gerhard: ONE ELEMENT OF THE
PHENOMENON THAT'S VERY STRIKING

IS THE VULNERABILITY
THAT PEOPLE FEEL

BECAUSE THEY'RE BASICALLY
COMING FROM HIGH UP IN THE AIR.

SO, HOW ARE YOU AND GEORGE?

WE'RE REALLY GOOD.
[ CHUCKLES ]

PEOPLE REALLY DON'T LOOK UP
IN THE SKY MUCH ANYMORE.

WE'VE BECOME FOCUSED ON THE HERE
AND NOW, WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US.

[ GIGGLES ]

[ WINGS FLAP ]

DID YOU HEAR THAT?
HEAR WHAT?

THE NOISE.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

[ SCREAMS ]
[ SCREAMS ]

AND THEN, THEY SWOOP DOWN
FROM THE SKY

OUT OF NOWHERE IN A MOMENT.

[ SCREAMS ]

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

Narrator: SINCE THE BEGINNING
OF TIME, PEOPLE HAVE CLAIMED

TO CATCH SIGHT
OF FLYING MONSTERS --

ONES THAT GO WELL BEYOND
THE SIZE AND BEHAVIOR

OF ORDINARY BIRDS.

I THINK THE IDEA OF WINGED --

ESPECIALLY WINGED HUMANOIDS
PATROLLING THE SKIES,

ABLE TO SWOOP DOWN
AT ANY MOMENT,

REALLY, IT TOUCHES US
IN A PRIMITIVE PLACE

BECAUSE YOU CAN'T REALLY PROTECT
YOURSELF FROM DEATH FROM ABOVE.

Narrator: DON OVERTON GREW UP
IN NEVADA, MISSOURI,

A SMALL TOWN CLOSE
TO TURKEY CREEK.

MISSOURI IS VERY QUIET.

YOU'D HAVE TO GO OUT
AND SEARCH FOR THINGS TO DO.

Narrator:
BOREDOM WAS NEVER AN ISSUE

FOR DON AND HIS BROTHER, DAN.

THEY WERE ALWAYS LOOKING
FOR SOME KIND OF ADVENTURE.

ONE JULY NIGHT IN 1998,
A PLAN WAS HATCHING FOR A TRIP

INTO THE DARK WOODS
OF TURKEY CREEK.

YEP, THE COSGROVE FARM.
PRETTY SCARY PLACE.

OH, AND THEN
THERE'S TURKEY CREEK.

REMEMBER THAT PLACE?

OLD INDIAN BURIAL GROUND?

[ CHUCKLES ]

THEY SAY THERE'S SOMETHING
OUT THERE

PROTECTING THE DEAD.

OOOOOOH.

THE REASON WHY I WANTED TO GO
TO TURKEY CREEK WAS

THERE WAS A INDIAN BURIAL GROUND
CLOSE BY

THAT THERE WAS SOME REPORTED
MYSTERIOUS ACTIVITY

HAPPENING THERE.

I DON'T WANT TO GO
OUT THERE.

PEOPLE SAY THERE'S
SOME SCARY STUFF OUT THERE.

COME ON.
LET'S TAKE A RIDE.

ALL RIGHT.

THERE YOU GO.
THAT'S THE SPIRIT.

Narrator:
THEY WERE RIGHT TO BE WARY.

[ BOTTLE SHATTERS ]

THEY'D BARELY MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.

SO, WE DECIDED TO GET
IN A VEHICLE

AND TAKE OFF
AND GO CHECK IT OUT.

[ SIGHS ]

WELL, IT'S PLENTY CREEPY
OUT HERE, HUH?

YEAH, IT IS.

THERE'S SOMETHING
OUT HERE, MAN.

I CAN FEEL IT.

NOPE.
I CANNOT FEEL IT.

MY BROTHER WAS A SKEPTIC.

HE REALLY DIDN'T THINK TOO MUCH

ABOUT ANY MYSTERIOUS
HAPPENINGS AROUND.

THERE'S NOTHING OUT HERE.

I CAN'T BELIEVE
WE'RE REALLY OUT HERE

LOOKING FOR
GHOOOOOOOOOOSTS.

SHUT UP, MAN.
SHUT UP.

[ SIGHS ]

[ CHUCKLES ]
THERE'S SOMETHING OUT HERE.

HEY, THERE'S NOTHING
OUT HERE, BROTHER.

[ WINGS FLAP ]

AND THAT'S WHEN THE VEHICLE
LIFTED OFF THE GROUND.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

WHAT THE...?
[ GRUNTS ]

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]
WHAT --

SOME FORCE STARTED SHAKING
OUR VEHICLE VIOLENTLY,

AND WE WERE GETTING ROCKED
AROUND.

IT WAS SOMETHING THAT HAD
A GREAT DEAL OF POWER,

GREAT DEAL OF STRENGTH.

IT JUST FELT LIKE
IT WAS ALL AROUND US.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

Narrator: WHEN THEIR CAR
FELL BACK ON THE ROAD...

GO! GO, MAN!
GO, GO, GO, GO, GO!

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

...THEY HAD A CHANCE TO ESCAPE.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

IT WAS A VERY SCARY FEELING NOT
TO BE ABLE TO SEE THIS THING

BECAUSE YOU COULD FEEL IT,
YOU KNOW, COMING BEHIND YOU.

THE FEAR LEVEL WAS INTENSIFYING
THAT IT WAS GOING TO CATCH US.

WHERE IS THAT THING?!

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

Narrator: THEY WERE DRIVING ON
A TREACHEROUS, HIGH-BANKED ROAD.

IT'S BEHIND US, MAN!

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

THERE IT IS! WATCH OUT!
[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

THEY'D BEEN LOOKING
FOR A BIT OF ADVENTURE.

THIS MONSTER HAS SERVED ONE UP.

Don: I DON'T KNOW
HOW MANY TIMES IT ROLLED,

BUT WE WERE UPSIDE DOWN
WHEN THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST.

IT FELT LIKE I WAS FROZEN
IN TIME FOR A MOMENT.

DANNY? DANNY?

DANNY, TALK TO ME, MAN.

Narrator: DON HAD BEEN WEARING
HIS SEAT BELT

AND ESCAPED SERIOUS INJURY.

I CAN'T GET --

HIS BROTHER DANNY
WASN'T SO LUCKY.

MY BROTHER WAS VERY INJURED,
IN VERY BAD SHAPE.

HE BROKE HIS NECK,
AND HE WASN'T RESPONDING.

DAN. DAN!

DANNY, I'M GONNA GO GET HELP,
ALL RIGHT?

EVEN THOUGH I WAS FEARFUL OF
WHAT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE

THAT COULD BE OUT THERE,

WHATEVER IT WAS OUT THERE
THAT CAUSED THIS,

I WAS MORE FEARFUL FOR MY --
YOU KNOW, MY BROTHER MIGHT DIE.

SO, I CLIMBED OUT THE WINDOW
AND OVERCAME THAT FEAR

AND WENT FOR HELP.

IT WAS A VERY RURAL AREA,
SO I HAD TO RUN A VERY LONG WAY.

FINALLY, I REACHED A HOUSE
THAT WOULD HELP ME.

I'VE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED
IN MY LIFE.

Narrator:
WHAT KIND OF CREATURE
COULD DELIVER

SUCH A DEVASTATING
AIRBORNE ASSAULT?

THE FLYING MONSTER FROM MISSOURI

TENDS TO FIT THE MOLD OF
THE SO-CALLED FLYING HUMANOIDS.

THERE ARE A SURPRISING NUMBER
OF ACCOUNTS

OF THESE FLYING HUMANOIDS

CHASING CARS
AT INCREDIBLY FAST SPEEDS

AND ALSO MANY ACCOUNTS OF THEM

ACTUALLY SWOOPING DOWN
AT PEOPLE'S WINDSHIELDS.

Narrator: A SUPERHUMAN
EQUIPPED WITH WINGS,

AND THIS FLYING FIEND
SEEMS BUILT FOR BATTLE.

Gerhard: THERE'S SOME MALEVOLENT
NATURE TO THESE CREATURES,

AND THEY SEEM TO BE
VERY AGGRESSIVE AGAINST US.

Narrator:
OVER THE LAST 50 YEARS,

ACROSS THE CONTINENTAL U.S.,

FLYING HUMANOIDS HAVE BEEN
REPORTED DOZENS OF TIMES.

Gerhard:
ACCOUNTS OF FLYING HUMANOIDS

ACTUALLY DATE BACK CENTURIES
TO 900 B.C.

THERE ARE ANCIENT MYTHOLOGIES
AND FOLKLORES ALL OVER THE WORLD

THAT SPEAK
OF THESE FLYING-HUMANOID

OR WINGED-HUMANOID TYPES
OF BEINGS.

Narrator: DON AND DANNY OVERTON
NARROWLY ESCAPED DEATH

AT THE HANDS
OF A FLYING MONSTER.

Don:
AFTER THE ACCIDENT

AND MY BROTHER WAS ON HIS WAY
TO THE HOSPITAL,

IN THE BACK OF MY MIND,
I KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

I KNEW SOMETHING HORRIBLE
HAD TRIED TO GET US.

Narrator:
DESPITE THE CLOSE CALL,

DON STILL HOPED TO FIND ANSWERS
ABOUT THE ATTACK.

HE'D GET THEM 12 YEARS LATER ON
A RETURN TRIP TO TURKEY CREEK.

WE HAD NO IDEA THAT WE WERE
GONNA EXPERIENCE WHAT WE DID.

Brian: ALL OF A SUDDEN,
IN THE WOODS BEHIND ME,

THE NOISE GETS
MORE AND MORE INTENSE.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

IT'S COMING
FROM THE BACK OF THE WOODS,

RUNNING DIRECTLY TOWARDS US,
AND WE'RE LOOKING INTO DARKNESS.

AND IT'S COMING.
DAD, WHAT'S THAT?

RUN. RUN, RUN!
RUN!

Narrator: IN A REMOTE CORNER
OF THE MISSOURI OZARKS,

RUMORS PERSIST ABOUT
A BIZARRE AERIAL CREATURE --

A FLYING HUMANOID
LURKING WITHIN THE TREETOPS,

READY TO POUNCE.

WE'RE BASICALLY TALKING
ABOUT THINGS

THAT ARE MUCH, MUCH LARGER

THAN ANYTHING
THAT'S RECOGNIZED BY SCIENCE.

THE CHARACTERISTICS
OF A FLYING HUMANOID

ARE GENERALLY A HUMANOID FORM.

PEOPLE HAVE DESCRIBED
GLOWING, RED EYES.

AND, OF COURSE, THE GREAT
WINGSPANS THAT ARE REPORTED.

WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT STORIES
OF A AVIAN HUMANOID

GO BACK THOUSANDS OF YEARS --

THE MAYANS TALKED ABOUT
THE CAMAZOTZ --

HUGE BAT CREATURES
THAT PLAGUED SOUTHERN MEXICO.

WHEN YOU THINK

OF ALL THE STORIES
OF SHAPE-SHIFTING CREATURES,

WINGED HUMAN BEINGS,
YOU HAVE TO ASK YOURSELF,

"HOW FAR BACK DOES THIS GO?

"ARE WE TALKING ABOUT
A SUPPOSEDLY EXTINCT CREATURE

THAT SURVIVED
INTO THE MODERN AGE?"

Narrator:
IT'S THE KIND OF QUESTION

BROTHERS DON AND DANNY OVERTON
DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE

AFTER HEARING RUMORS
OF FLYING MONSTERS

AT TURKEY CREEK, MISSOURI.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

THEY HAD AN ENCOUNTER
THAT NEARLY ENDED IN DEATH.

WHATEVER ATTACKED THEM

HAD STRENGTH FAR BEYOND
ANY EARTHLY CREATURE.

THIS EXPERIENCE OF THE CREATURE
AT TURKEY CREEK

WAS THE MOST TERRIFYING
EXPERIENCE I'VE EVER HAD.

Becky:
IT WAS VERY TRAUMATIC.

FOR A LONG TIME, HE COULDN'T
EVEN TALK ABOUT TURKEY CREEK.

IT WAS SOMEWHERE THAT HE WOULD
NOT WANT TO GO BACK TO.

HE AVOIDED CONVERSATION
ABOUT IT.

Narrator:
12 YEARS AFTER THE ACCIDENT,

DON MUSTERED THE COURAGE
TO RETURN TO TURKEY CREEK.

HIS CLOSE FRIEND BRIAN LILE
ENCOURAGED DON

TO SEARCH FOR THE TRUTH
ABOUT THAT TRAGIC NIGHT.

Brian: DON HAD TOLD ME ABOUT
THE ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED,

AND IT WAS SO INTRIGUING

BECAUSE IT INCLUDED A LOT
OF SUPERNATURAL ACTIVITY.

I TRIED TALKING HIM INTO GOING
BACK THERE FOR THE LONGEST TIME,

AND FINALLY, HE GAVE IN.

Don:
I WAS AFRAID TO TAKE THEM BACK

FOR THE FEAR OF SOMETHING
MIGHT HAPPEN TO THEM.

I THINK IT COULD BE A CREATURE

THAT COULD HARM YOU
AT ANY MOMENT AT ANY TIME.

Narrator:
IN THE SUMMER OF 2010,

DON, BRIAN,
AND BRIAN'S TEENAGE SON, DEREK,

MADE THE TREK
INTO TURKEY CREEK,

A REMOTE OZARK TERRITORY
UNDERLAYING WITH SINKHOLES,

SPRINGS, AND CAVES.

IMAGINE GOING DOWN
A COUNTRY ROAD,

BARELY ENOUGH ROOM FOR ONE CAR.

YOU FEEL CONFINED AND CLOSED IN,
AND YOU LOOK AROUND,

YOU FEEL THIS SENSE
OF BEING TRAPPED,

LIKE THERE'S NOWHERE TO RUN.

WHEN WE FIRST PULLED UP
TO TURKEY CREEK,

THERE WAS A DEEP, DEEP,
CAVE-LIKE HOLE.

IT WENT 6-FOOT DEEP,

BUT IT WAS PROBABLY 8 FOOT
IN DIAMETER, MAYBE 10 FOOT.

Narrator: THE CAVE
APPEARED TO BE FRESHLY DUG.

Derek:
I HAD A FLASHLIGHT.

WENT OVER THERE,
I WAS LOOKING FOR FOOTPRINTS,

CLAW MARKS, HANDPRINTS
FOR PEOPLE.

I DIDN'T SEE NOTHING.

SO, YOU KNOW SOMETHING BIG
HAD TO DO IT.

AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS
AT HOME OR IF IT WAS A TRAP.

I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE IT.

Narrator: FINDING NOTHING,
DEREK HEADED BACK TO THE TRUCK.

Don: THAT'S WHEN WE HEARD
SOMETHING COMING TOWARDS US,

SOMETHING COMING THROUGH
THE WOODS, SOMETHING LARGE.

Brian: WE HEARD THIS GROWL,
SCREAM-TYPE THING,

AND NONE OF US
COULD IDENTIFY IT.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

IT HIT THE TRUCK

AND THEN WENT THROUGH THE WOODS
BESIDE THE ROAD.

Narrator: THE MEN TRIED
TO FATHOM WHAT HAD STREAKED BY.

AND THEN A CLUE.

Brian: I LOOK DOWN,
I SEE THIS DRAG MARK,

ALMOST LIKE IF YOU WERE
TO TAKE, LIKE, A CANE

AND JUST STICK IT IN THE SAND
AND PULL IT ACROSS THE SAND.

IT'S JUST BEEN MADE.

Narrator:
WHATEVER ROCKED THE VEHICLE

HAD LEFT A BAFFLING MARK --

A FORCEFUL SCRAPE
CUTTING INTO THE DIRT.

Brian: THIS DRAG MARK
WAS OVER OUR TIRE TRACKS,

SO THIS OCCURRED AFTER I PARKED.

SO, IT KIND OF
GOT US A LITTLE WONDERING,

"WHAT THE HECK
ARE WE DEALING WITH?"

Narrator: DON HAD COME ARMED
WITH A VIDEO CAMERA.

HE WANTED EVIDENCE.

CONDITIONS WEREN'T COOPERATING.

Don: IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT
TO FILM WITH A CAMERA

BECAUSE OF THE DENSE WOODED AREA

AND THE COMPLETE DARKNESS
THAT WE WERE IN.

Narrator: IT MAY HAVE BEEN
DIFFICULT TO SEE,

BUT FROM THE MENACING SOUNDS
ALL AROUND THEM,

THEY WONDERED
IF THEY HAD ATTRACTED

THE ATTENTION OF A MONSTER.

Brian: ALL OF A SUDDEN,
YOU HEAR IT CRASHING,

LIKE BIG LIMBS BEING BROKE,

LIKE SOMEBODY'S
INTENSELY BREAKING

THESE SIX-, SEVEN-INCH LIMBS...

[ BRANCHES CRACKING ]

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

...AND THUDS INTO THE GROUND,

LIKE SOMEBODY HAD JUMPED
FROM A 20-FOOT TREE.

IT WAS THAT LOUD OF A THUD.

Don: I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING
QUITE THAT BIG

THAT COULD MOVE THAT FAST.

AND IT JUST KEEPS GETTING
MORE INTENSE AND TENSE,

AND I'M FOLLOWING THE SOUND
WITH MY FLASHLIGHT.

I'M ALMOST IN SHOCK AT FIRST.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]
THERE IT IS.

Narrator: ONCE AGAIN

CONFRONTED WITH THE FLYING
HUMANOID OF TURKEY CREEK.

IT'S ANOTHER
TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE

THAT I DIDN'T WANT
TO RELIVE AGAIN,

AND I WANTED TO GET
OUT OF THERE.

THIS THING
WAS HERE FOR ONE REASON.

IT WAS HERE TO HURT.

Narrator:
FLYING HUMANOID --

A MONSTROUS MASH-UP
OF HUMAN AND AVIAN ANATOMY.

THAT'S WHAT WAS WAITING
FOR THREE MISSOURI MEN

WHO WENT INTO THE WOODS
AT TURKEY CREEK.

AFTER TREADING UPON
A MYSTERIOUS CAVE,

THE TREES AROUND THEM
CAME ALIVE.

WE HEARD A WHOOSHING SOUND,

LIKE A BIRD FLAPPING ITS WINGS
BUT REALLY LOUD.

[ WINGS FLAPPING ]

AND WE'RE ALL WAITING.

AND THEN,
I'LL NEVER FORGET THE NOISE.

IT WAS JUST SO UNBELIEVABLE,
SO LOUD, SO PIERCING.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

Narrator:
THEY WERE FACE-TO-FACE

WITH AN UNGODLY, WINGED BEAST.

Brian: IT WAS PROBABLY
7 FEET TALL. NO HAIR.

THE WAY IT LOOKED,

IT WASN'T MEANT
FOR A PEACEFUL CONFRONTATION,

I CAN TELL YOU THAT.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

I DON'T KNOW WHERE IT WENT.

IT JUST DISAPPEARED
AND TOOK OFF.

Narrator:
CAUGHT UP IN THE MOMENT,

THEY PURSUED THE CREATURE

UNTIL THEY REALIZED THEY WERE
IN OVER THEIR HEADS.

DAD, WHAT'S THAT?

RUN. RUN!

IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS COMING
LIKE A FREIGHT TRAIN AT YOU.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

YOU JUST HEARD A WHOOSH,
AND IT WAS GONE.

Brian:
I WAS AFRAID FOR MY SON.

THAT'S ALL THAT MATTERED --

MAKING SURE HE GOES HOME
THAT NIGHT.

Narrator:
AS QUICKLY AS IT HAD COME,

THE FLYING HUMANOID DISAPPEARED.

Brian: WHEN I SEEN THIS,
I KNEW THE ANSWER.

DON KNEW THE ANSWER.

WE KNEW WHAT HAPPENED
12 YEARS AGO.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

Narrator: THIS TIME, THE GROUP
ESCAPED WITHOUT INJURY.

I THINK THIS ENTITY
WANTED TO HARM US

BECAUSE OF THE FACT
THAT WE WERE IN ITS TERRITORY.

I THINK IT'S STILL THERE TODAY.

SOMETIMES, YOU FIND THINGS
THAT YOU LOOK FOR,

AND SOMETIMES, YOU REGRET
THE THINGS YOU FIND.

Narrator:
ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD,

IN SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY,

THERE'S AN EXTENSIVE PATCH
OF WILDERNESS --

THE PINE BARRENS.

Dubois: WHEN YOU'RE BACK
IN THE PINE BARRENS,

THE FEELING THAT YOU GET
IS ALONENESS.

YOU'RE ALONE.

YOU'RE IN THE MIDDLE
OF THESE MASSIVE WOODS.

YOUR SENSES, I THINK,
ARE HEIGHTENED --

YOUR HEARING, YOUR VISION,
EVERYTHING.

Pedersen:
IT IS AMAZINGLY QUIET.

YOU CAN HEAR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING

IN SOME PARTS
OF THE PINE BARRENS.

IT'S ALMOST TO THE POINT

WHERE YOU CAN HEAR YOUR BLOOD
RUN THROUGH YOUR VEINS.

Narrator: OVER THE YEARS,

THE PINE BARRENS HAS PLAYED HOST
TO MANY NEW JERSEY LEGENDS.

PIRATES HAVE HIDDEN
TREASURE THERE,

RUNAWAY SLAVES HAVE HIDDEN
IN THE PINE BARRENS,

AND EVEN THE MAFIA HAS DISPOSED
OF BODIES IN THE PINE BARRENS.

AND SO, IT'S ALWAYS BEEN
A MYSTERIOUS PLACE.

Narrator: NONE OF ITS MYSTERIES
COMPARE TO THE TALE

OF THE PINE BARRENS'
INFAMOUS FLYING BEAST.

BY MOST ACCOUNTS,
THE STORY BEGAN A LONG TIME AGO,

WHEN AMERICA WAS JUST
13 COLONIES

AND SETTLERS LABORED
TO MAKE THEIR WAY

IN A STRANGE NEW WORLD.

IT HAPPENED IN 1735...

[ WOMAN SCREAMING ]

...AND A WOMAN WHOM
EVERYONE CALLED MOTHER LEEDS

WAS ABOUT TO GIVE BIRTH.

OF COURSE,
MIDWIVES WERE CALLED IN.

NOW, IT WAS REPORTED
THAT MOTHER LEEDS

ALREADY HAD 12 CHILDREN AND SHE
DID NOT WANT THIS 13th CHILD.

[ SCREAMS ]

MAY IT BE WITH THE DEVIL!

[ SCREAMS ]

[ WINGS FLAPPING ]

Narrator: WITH THAT CURSE,

EVIL STEPPED FORTH
TO ROCK THE CRADLE.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]
[ SCREAMS ]

* THE FOLKS THAT LIVE
IN THE BARRENS *

* HAVE A STORY THEY TELL *

* THEY SAY
THE OLD LEEDS WOMAN *

* SHE BORE A CHILD FROM HELL *

MUSICIAN AND REPORTER
PAUL EVANS PEDERSEN GREW UP

IN SOUTH JERSEY ALONGSIDE THE
PINE BARRENS AND ITS LEGENDS.

IF YOU LIVED HERE,
IF YOU WERE BORN HERE,

YOU HEARD ABOUT
THE JERSEY DEVIL --

PROBABLY THE FIRST STORY
YOU EVER HEARD.

AND FINALLY, AFTER ALL
THESE YEARS OF HEARING IT,

THERE IT WAS IN MY YARD,

AND MY HOUSE IS 100 YARDS
FROM THE WESTERN PART

OF THE WOODEN TRACT
WHICH IS THE PINE BARRENS.

Narrator: PAUL'S ENCOUNTER
WITH THE MONSTER

TOOK PLACE SOME 50 YEARS AGO...

...THE NIGHT
HE WAS LEFT IN CHARGE

OF WATCHING HIS LITTLE SISTER.

I'LL BE BACK IN A FEW MINUTES.
YOU GUYS BE GOOD.

LISTEN TO YOUR BROTHER,
OKAY?

BYE.

BYE, MOM.

Pedersen: MY MOTHER HAD LEFT ME
AND MY SISTER

SO SHE COULD GO PICK MY DAD UP
AT WORK.

JUST A COUPLE MINUTES
AFTER SHE LEFT...

[ CLATTERING ]

...I HEARD SOMETHING
IN THE BASEMENT...

...SOME KIND OF COMMOTION GOING
ON, STUFF BEING KNOCKED OVER.

I HEAR SOMETHING
IN THE BASEMENT.

I'M GONNA GO CHECK IT OUT.

I WALKED OVER TO THE CELLAR DOOR

AND HEARD SOMETHING
COMING UP THE STEPS

IN A REALLY STRANGE WAY,

NOT LIKE A MAN WOULD WALK UP
THE STEPS --

SOMETHING, LIKE,
HOPPING UP THE STEPS,

MAKING A GOD-AWFUL NOISE,

ALMOST LIKE WINGS FLAPPING
OR SOME KIND OF COMMOTION.

I HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND,
THANK GOD, TO LOCK THE DOOR.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

IT WAS GETTING CLOSER
AND CLOSER,

AND I WAS SCARED TO DEATH.

Narrator: SOUTHERN NEW JERSEY'S
PINE BARRENS.

IT'S NAMED FOR THE UNUSUAL PINE
FOREST THAT GROWS MIRACULOUSLY

ON A BARREN PLAIN
OF SANDY, ACIDIC SOIL.

COUPLED WITH THIS CURIOSITY

IS THE HIDEOUS MONSTER THAT
SUPPOSEDLY HAUNTS THESE WOODS --

THE JERSEY DEVIL.

OVER THE PAST 300 YEARS,
WITNESSES TOO NUMEROUS TO COUNT

SWEAR THEY'VE SEEN
THE MYTHICAL CREATURE.

IN COLONIAL DAYS, IF A WELL WENT
DRY OR HENS DIDN'T LAY EGGS

OR MILK WENT SOUR, THEY ALWAYS
BLAMED IT ON THE JERSEY DEVIL.

EVEN LARGER THINGS WERE BLAMED,
LIKE FAILURE OF CROPS.

THE BIGGEST OUTBREAK
OF THE JERSEY DEVIL SIGHTINGS

WAS IN 1909,

WHEN, LIKE, ALMOST EVERYBODY
IN SOUTH JERSEY SAW IT.

Hakes Noble: THERE WERE MANY
FRONT-PAGE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES

WRITTEN ABOUT THIS,
POSSES WERE SENT OUT,

CHILDREN WERE KEPT INDOORS,

SCHOOLS WERE CLOSED,
FACTORIES WERE CLOSED

BECAUSE OF THIS ONE
NOTORIOUS WEEK.

Pedersen:
THE COPS, THE MAYORS --

I MEAN, YOU KNOW,
LEGITIMATE PEOPLE --

SAW THIS THING FLYING, AND
IT'S ALL DESCRIBED THE SAME WAY.

IT HAS THE BONY HEAD OF A HORSE.

THE WINGS OF A BAT.

BRIGHT, RED, PIERCING,
EVIL EYES.

Gerhard:
IT'S A MIXTURE, A MISHMASH

OF DIFFERENT ANIMAL
CHARACTERISTICS --

VERY UNEXPECTED.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING
IN THE NATURAL WORLD

THAT CONTAINS ALL OF THESE
DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

Narrator:
IT'S HARD TO IMAGINE

SUCH A JUMBLE
OF MONSTER ANATOMY,

LET ALONE DISCOVER IT
IN YOUR BASEMENT.

THAT WAS PAUL PEDERSEN'S
SITUATION BACK IN 1963.

I HEARD SOMETHING
IN THE BASEMENT.

IT WAS GETTING CLOSER
AND CLOSER.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

AND IT JUST STARTED SCREECHING
THIS INCREDIBLE SOUND.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

AND I GRABBED MY SISTER AND
RAN OUT ONTO THE FRONT LAWN.

Narrator: THE PEDERSEN KIDS
WERE FORCED OUTSIDE,

WAITING IN THE COLDS
FOR THEIR PARENTS' RETURN.

IT'S OKAY.
[ SOBS ]

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
WHY AREN'T YOU GUYS IN BED?

DAD, THERE'S SOMETHING
IN THE BASEMENT.

Pedersen: WHEN MY MOTHER
AND FATHER GOT HOME,

I TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

YOU KNOW, MY FATHER WAS KIND OF,
LIKE, DISBELIEVING IT --

YOU KNOW, "THERE'S NOTHING
DOWN THAT CELLAR."

Narrator:
HIS FATHER WAS IN FOR A SHOCK.

[ GLASS SHATTERS ]

Pedersen: ALL THE CHRISTMAS
BALLS WERE BROKEN,

ALL THE TINSEL'S
ALL OVER THE PLACE,

ALL THE TOOLS ARE SCATTERED
ALL OVER THE BASEMENT.

SOMETHING WAS DOWN THERE.

ALL THE WINDOWS IN THE BASEMENT
WERE NAILED SHUT.

THE ONLY WAY IN OR OUT
OF THAT BASEMENT,

OTHER THAN THE CELLAR STEPS FROM
THE KITCHEN, WAS THE COAL CHUTE.

Narrator: TO ESCAPE,
IT WOULD HAVE HAD TO FLY.

IS EVERYTHING ALL RIGHT
DOWN THERE, HONEY?

Pedersen: IT SHOOK MY FATHER UP
PRETTY GOOD.

AFTER THAT NIGHT,
THEY TORE THE COAL BIN

AND THE COAL CHUTE OUT
OF THE CELLAR

AND DISMANTLED IT
AND THREW IT AWAY.

AFTER IT HAPPENED,
EVEN OUR NEIGHBORS SAID,

"YOU HAD A VISIT
FROM THE JERSEY DEVIL."

Narrator: HE MIGHT HAVE JUST
DISMISSED THE WHOLE THING

AS AN ODD CURIOSITY,

ONLY, YEARS LATER,

PAUL FINALLY LAID EYES
ON THE MONSTER.

ONCE AGAIN, IT HAPPENED
RIGHT IN HIS OWN HOME.

[ INDISTINCT TV CHATTER ]

A COUPLE YEARS AGO, I WAS
WATCHING TV ONE NIGHT...

...TURNED THE TV OFF,
AND WAS GOING UPSTAIRS TO BED.

AND AT THE TOP OF MY STEPS,
THERE'S A WINDOW,

AND I NOTICED A MOVEMENT
OUT THE WINDOW.

AND I LOOKED DOWN...
[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

...AND I SAW THIS THING
THE SIZE OF A SMALL ELEPHANT.

[ WINGS FLAP ]

IT HOPPED, AND IT HAD
THE HEAD OF A HORSE.

AND I LOOKED BACK,
AND IT WAS GONE, THAT FAST.

I'M SURE I SAW THE JERSEY DEVIL.

IT IS REAL.

Narrator: AND PAUL PEDERSEN
HAS LOTS OF COMPANY.

RECENTLY, DENISE DUBOIS HAD
HER OWN FRIGHTENING ENCOUNTER

WITH THE PINE BARRENS'
NOTORIOUS BEAST.

I'VE BEEN TO THE PINE BARRENS
A MILLION TIMES,

BUT THIS NIGHT
WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

IT WAS LATE 2008,

AND MY THEN BOYFRIEND
PURCHASED A NEW HANDGUN.

AND WE WANTED TO GO SHOOT IT,
AND I KNEW THE PERFECT PLACE.

Narrator:
AFTER A 40-MINUTE DRIVE,

THEY WERE IN THE THICK
OF THE PINE BARRENS.

YOU KNOW, I BET I COULD HIT IT
ON THE FIRST SHOT.

Dubois: SO, WE GET BACK THERE,
AND WE SET UP THE TARGET.

AND WE'RE MAYBE ABOUT 10 FEET
FROM THE CAR.

SHOW ME WHAT YOU GOT.

[ GUNSHOT ]

AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW...

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

...I HEAR
THIS BLOOD-CURDLING SQUAWK.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

IT SOUNDED LIKE AN EAGLE
BUT INTENSIFIED BY 50.

I'VE NEVER HEARD ANYTHING
LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE.

NEVER.

AND YOU CAN ACTUALLY HEAR
THE WINGS FLAP.

[ WINGS FLAPPING,
MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

OH, MY, GOD, THIS THING,
IT'S GOT TO BE HUGE.

COME ON!
WE GOT TO GET IN THE CAR!

WE GOT TO GET IN THE CAR!

AND IT'S COMING FOR US.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

WE FELT LIKE PREY.

IT HIT THE TOP OF MY CAR.

BOOM!
THERE WAS A HUGE DENT ON MY CAR.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

I FEEL THE JERSEY DEVIL
WAS UPSET

BECAUSE WE WERE SHOOTING
THE GUN.

WE WERE IMPOSING
ON HIS TERRITORY.

Pedersen: THERE'S DEFINITELY
SOMETHING OUT THERE.

TOO MANY PEOPLE REPORT THE SAME,
EXACT-LOOKING CREATURE

FOR IT NOT TO BE REAL.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

Dubois:
I'LL NEVER FORGET THAT SCREAM.

I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED
IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.

NEVER.

Narrator: IN TEXAS,
THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY --

A VAST, FERTILE FLOODPLAIN

RUNNING ALONG THE NORTHERN BANK
OF THE RIO GRANDE RIVER.

THIS REMOTE, LARGELY
UNCLAIMED LAND IS WELL KNOWN

FOR ATTRACTING A HUGE VARIETY
OF MIGRATING BIRDS.

AND WITHIN THIS SAME VALLEY,
THERE IS A LEGEND

ABOUT A WINGED CREATURE
OF MONSTROUS PROPORTIONS,

A BIZARRE AND TERRIFYING
AMALGAMATION OF BAT AND BIGFOOT.

RUMORS ABOUT THE FLYING CREATURE
CAME TO LIFE IN THE 1970s

WITH AN OUTBREAK OF SIGHTINGS

IN COMMUNITIES
IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

THE BUZZ ALL STARTED IN
THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS OF 1976.

THINGS CAME TO A HEAD
WHEN A MAN IN RAYMONDVILLE

OUT IN HIS FRONT YARD
WAS ATTACKED BY A CREATURE

THAT HE CLAIMED HAD SIMIAN
AND BAT-LIKE FEATURES

AND LEATHERY WINGS.

Narrator: AS THE STORY GOES,
ON JANUARY 14, 1976,

ARMANDO GRIMALDO STEPPED OUTSIDE
TO ENJOY THE QUIET EVENING.

HE HEARD A PAPERY FLAPPING NOISE
ABOVE HIM

AND FELT A STRANGE DRAFT.

BY THE TIME HE LOOKED UP...

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

...IT WAS TOO LATE.

GRABBED BY THE MONSTER, GRIMALDO
FINALLY MANAGED TO BREAK FREE.

HE REPORTED THE ATTACK
TO THE POLICE.

AND HIS STORY WAS CORROBORATED
BY HIS NEIGHBORS

BECAUSE THE BACK OF HIS JACKET
AND HIS SHIRT HAD BEEN SHREDDED

BY WHAT APPEARED TO BE TALONS.

AFTER THAT ATTACK,
THE STORY WENT WILD.

ALL OF THE NEWSPAPERS
WERE REPORTING IT.

OTHER REPORTS BEGAN TO POUR IN.

PEOPLE WERE MAKING
THEIR CHILDREN STAY INDOORS.

THEY WERE AFRAID THAT
THE CREATURE MIGHT ATTACK THEM.

THERE WAS A GENERAL PANIC

THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE
RIO GRANDE VALLEY AT THAT POINT.

THE MEDIA IMMEDIATELY SEIZED
UPON THE NAME OF "BIG BIRD"

FOR THIS CREATURE.

BUT I WILL TELL YOU WHAT --
THIS CREATURE WAS NOT FUZZY,

IT WAS NOT YELLOW, IT DIDN'T
HAVE A FUNNY-LOOKING BEAK.

IT WAS HIDEOUS.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

Narrator: A MONTH
AFTER THE SIGHTINGS BEGAN,

BROTHERS JOHN AND DAVID DAUT

WITNESSED A FLYING-MONSTER
ATTACK FIRSTHAND.

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME
THAT I HAVE TOLD THE STORY

ABOUT MY ENCOUNTER
WITH THIS FLYING CREATURE.

IT'S TIME FOR THERE TO BE
AN ACCOUNTING OF THESE THINGS.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

David: APPEARED TO BE
PROBABLY 8 TO 10 FEET TALL.

HOLY CRAP.

AND ALL I SAW WAS BIG,
GLOWING, RED EYES.

THIS WASN'T ANYTHING
LIKE I'D EVER SEEN.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

John: AND IT TOOK THREE OR FOUR
STEPS TOWARDS THE CAR.

BACK UP. BACK UP!
GET US OUT OF HERE!

I WAS BRACING FOR IMPACT.
I THOUGHT THIS WAS IT.

GET US OUT OF HERE!
[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

GET US OUT OF HERE!
[ SCREAMS ]

Narrator: JANUARY 1976,
THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY OF TEXAS.

LIKE WILDFIRE IN A WHEAT FIELD,
FEAR WAS SPREADING.

A BIZARRE FLYING MONSTER WAS
RAINING DOWN TERROR FROM ABOVE.

Dr. Bowles:
THE IDEA OF WINGED ATTACKERS
IS ESPECIALLY FRIGHTENING

IN A PLACE LIKE
THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY --

SUCH AN OPEN PLACE WITH NO CAVES
OR FOREST TO HIDE IN.

THE IDEA THAT YOU MIGHT BE
ATTACKED AT ANY MOMENT,

THAT THOSE TALONS
COULD REACH DOWN

AND YANK YOU OFF THE GROUND,

WAS ENOUGH TO MAKE PEOPLE
WANT TO STAY INSIDE

AND GIVE UP
THEIR DAILY ROUTINES.

Narrator:
IN A FEW SHORT WEEKS,

MORE THAN 10 DIFFERENT WITNESSES
IN SOUTH TEXAS

REPORTED THE WINGED CREATURE.

IN FEBRUARY OF 1976,

IT WAS ABOUT TO MAKE
TWO MORE BELIEVERS.

ALMOST FOUR DECADES
AFTER AN INCIDENT

ON AN OUTLYING ROAD
NORTH OF HOUSTON,

BROTHERS DAVID AND JOHN DAUT

HAVE COME FORWARD
TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE.

IT WAS FEBRUARY 1976.

I WAS 23, AND MY BROTHER WAS 21.

[ HORN HONKS ]

[ ROCK MUSIC PLAYS ]

MAN, COME ON.

MY BROTHER, DAVID, WAS DRIVING.

IT WAS A NICE LITTLE CAR.

WE WERE ON OUR WAY TO WORK
ON THE NIGHT SHIFT

AT A LOCAL
MANUFACTURING COMPANY.

BYE, HON.

HEY, COME ON, WE'RE LATE.

COME ON, MAN,
WE'RE ALWAYS LATE.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

WE TOOK THE USUAL ROUTE
THAT WE ALWAYS TAKE,

AND WE WENT ABOUT A MILE OR SO
DOWN THE ROAD

WHERE IT WAS JUST PASTURES
ON BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD.

WE WERE LISTENING, OF COURSE,
TO ROCK 'N' ROLL MUSIC,

AS WE ALWAYS DID.

MAN, WHAT IS THIS JUNK
YOU'RE ALWAYS LISTENING TO?

WHEN ARE YOU GONNA GET
SOME DECENT MUSIC IN HERE?

ALL OF A SUDDEN, HE SAID,
"LOOK UP AHEAD."

WHAT?

THERE WAS SOMETHING STANDING
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

HE AIN'T GONNA MOVE.
YOU NEED TO SLOW DOWN.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

IT WAS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US.

THERE WAS NOTHING BUT THAT
CREATURE IN THE HEADLIGHTS.

YOU COULD ABSOLUTELY SEE IT.

AND IT HAD REALLY INTENSE,
RED EYES.

THE WINGS WERE MORE
LIKE BAT WINGS --

NOT FEATHERS BUT MORE
LIKE A BAT LOOK TO IT.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

AND IT TOOK THREE OR FOUR STEPS
TOWARDS THE CAR.

BACK UP. BACK UP!

I JUST FREAKED.

GET US OUT OF HERE!
[ SCREAMING ]

AND THEN IT JUST FLEW RIGHT
OVER THE TOP OF THE CAR.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

AND AS WE LOOKED UP
THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD,

ALL I CAN REMEMBER IS THESE
HUGE, RED, GLOWING EYES

STARING DOWN AT US
AS IT FLEW OVER THE CAR.

[ WINGS FLAPPING ]

IT WAS A HORRIBLE,
LOUD FLAPPING NOISE.

WHAT WAS THAT?
I DON'T KNOW.

THERE IT GOES.

BUT WHAT THE HELL IS IT?

John:
WE LOOKED AT EACH OTHER

AND SAID, "NOBODY'S GONNA
BELIEVE US."

JOHN,
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

YEAH.

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

David: AND ALL I WAS ABOUT
IS GETTING OUT OF THERE.

I DROVE ABOUT THE LIMIT
THE CAR WOULD DRIVE

SO I COULD GET BACK
TO CIVILIZATION.

Narrator:
THE BROTHERS WERE SO CONVINCED
NO ONE WOULD BELIEVE THEM

THEY NEVER DISCUSSED IT AGAIN.

John: WE ACTUALLY NEVER SAID A
THING TO EACH OTHER, IT SEEMED.

I DON'T REMEMBER
SAYING ANYTHING.

WE WERE BOTH IN SHOCK.

David: IT'S BEEN PROBABLY
38 YEARS SINCE THIS HAPPENED,

AND I PROMISED
I'D NEVER TELL ANYBODY.

BUT MAYBE IT'S TIME THAT PEOPLE
HEARD THIS STORY.

Dr. Bowles: I SUSPECT

THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
WHO SEE CREATURES LIKE THIS

KEEP THE STORY TO THEMSELVES.

I'M SURE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE
JUST KEEP THEIR MOUTHS SHUT

FOR FEAR OF WHAT PEOPLE
MIGHT SAY.

Gerhard:
IT'S UNDERSTANDABLE

THAT THEY'RE VERY HESITANT TO
TALK ABOUT THESE THINGS PUBLICLY

BECAUSE THEY'VE OBVIOUSLY SEEN
SOMETHING THAT IS UNEXPLAINABLE,

SOMETHING YOU CAN'T FIND
IN SCIENCE BOOKS.

John: BACK IN 1976,
WE WERE PRETTY YOUNG --

FULL OF PISS AND VINEGAR,
AS THEY SAY.

SO, WHEN YOU SEE THIS HUGE
CREATURE FLYING AT YOU...

JOHN,
LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

YEAH.
...LET ME TELL YOU WHAT...

[ ENGINE TURNS OVER ]

...THAT CHANGED OUR ATTITUDE.

WE WEREN'T SO FULL
OF OURSELVES AFTER THIS.

Narrator: HUNDREDS OF MILES

SOUTHWEST FROM
THE DAUT BROTHERS' ENCOUNTER,

A FLYING MONSTER'S ATTACK THAT
SAME YEAR IN HIDALGO COUNTY

WOULD TRANSFORM A YOUNG BOY
INTO A HERO.

DAD!
[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

Dr. Bowles:
HE SAW HIS FATHER

GRIPPED BY THE TALONS
OF AN ENORMOUS AVIAN HUMANOID

THAT FLAPPED ITS WINGS

AND TRIED TO LIFT THE MAN
OUT OF THE DEER STAND.

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

MANUEL PERALES STRUGGLED
TO GET FREE.

DANNY KNEW HE HAD TO ACT.

Narrator: IN THE 1970s,

WITNESSES CLAIM A BIZARRE FLYING
FRANKENBEAST, BATSQUATCH,

UNLEASHED TERRIFYING AIR STRIKES
FROM THE SKIES OF SOUTH TEXAS.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

DAVID BOWLES GREW UP
IN THE RIO GRANDE VALLEY.

HE HAS COLLECTED MONSTER STORIES
THROUGHOUT THE REGION.

ONE OF THE MOST NAIL-BITING
ENCOUNTERS WAS THE ONE

THAT MANUEL PERALES AND HIS
12-YEAR-OLD SON, DANNY, HAD

IN THE MONTH OF JANUARY
OF THAT YEAR.

IT WAS AN UNCOMMONLY COLD
JANUARY MORNING...

HEY, DANNY, HELP ME OUT.

...WHEN FATHER AND SON ARRIVED
IN THEIR RATTY, OLD PICKUP

AT A FRIEND'S RANCH
IN NORTHERN HIDALGO COUNTY.

IT WAS EARLY IN THE MORNING...

LET'S GO.
ALL RIGHT, DANNY.

...WHEN FATHER AND SON
PULLED THEIR RIFLES OUT

WITH THEIR COOLER
FULL OF SANDWICHES

AND CLIMBED UP INTO THE DEER
STAND AND BEGAN THE LONG WAIT.

AFTER A FEW HOURS,
A DEER DID ARRIVE --

JUST THE SORT THAT HIS FATHER
WANTED TO BAG THAT DAY.

MANUEL NUDGED HIS SON,

INDICATING THAT HE SHOULD
GO AHEAD AND TAKE THE SHOT.

BUT AS DANNY SIGHTED AND LOOKED
INTO THE EYES OF THE DEER,

HE REALIZED HE COULDN'T DO IT.

HE TURNED TO HIS FATHER
AND SIMPLY SHOOK HIS HEAD.

GIVE ME THAT.

HIS FATHER WAS CLEARLY UPSET

AND TOOK AIM
TO TAKE THE SHOT HIMSELF.

HOWEVER, HIS RIFLE JAMMED,

AND AT THAT VERY MOMENT,
THE DEER BOLTED.

HIS FATHER TURNED TO DANNY
AND ASKED HIM,

"WHY COULDN'T YOU
TAKE THE SHOT?"

DANNY, BEFORE HE COULD REPLY,

WAS STARTLED TO SEE HIS FATHER
SUDDENLY PULLED TO HIS FEET.

AAH!
[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

DAD!
[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

HE SAW HIS FATHER

GRIPPED BY THE TALONS
OF AN ENORMOUS AVIAN HUMANOID

THAT FLAPPED ITS WINGS

AND TRIED TO LIFT THE MAN
OUT OF THE DEER STAND.

AND DANNY, WITHOUT THINKING,

STOOD, LIFTED HIS RIFLE
TO HIS SHOULDER,

AIMED FOR THE BEAST'S EYE,
TOOK THE SHOT.

[ GUNSHOT ]

[ MONSTER SHRIEKS ]

IT HOWLED IN PAIN, RELEASED
HIS FATHER WHO FELL -- THUD --

AND THEN IT WHEELED AWAY THROUGH
THE SKY, SCREECHING IN PAIN.

DAD! DAD.
YOU ALL RIGHT?

MANUEL PERALES REALIZED THAT HE
WAS LUCKY TO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.

HE SUFFERED ONLY CRACKED RIBS,
WHICH HEALED WITH TIME.

MANUEL NEVER FORGOT
THE ACTIONS OF THE SON --

THE WAY THE BOY
HAD SAVED HIS LIFE.

Narrator: AFTER TWO FRIGHTENING
MONTHS IN SOUTH TEXAS,

THE FLYING FIEND
ABRUPTLY DISAPPEARED.

THOUGH FOR ANYONE
THAT CROSSED ITS PATH,

THE MEMORY OF THE ENCOUNTER
BURNS BRIGHT.

[ TIRES SCREECH ]

John: THAT 15 OR 20 SECONDS
THAT WE SAW THAT CREATURE...

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]

...IS ENGRAINED FOREVER
IN MY MEMORIES.

TODAY, IF I CLOSE MY EYES,
I CAN SEE THAT THING.

I DO REMEMBER THOSE EYES, AND
THAT WILL TAKE ME TO MY GRAVE --

THOSE GLOWING, RED EYES.

[ MONSTER GROWLS ]