Monsters and Mysteries in America (2013–…): Season 3, Episode 3 - Sabine Thing - Lightening Psychics - full transcript

Narrator: IN LOUISIANA,

A LEGENDARY MONSTER,

AN EXTRAORDINARY ENCOUNTER...

Stewart:
IT STOOD UP.

IT STOOD UP ON TWO LEGS.

I WAS TERRIFIED.

I SAW IT.
I HEARD IT.

IT'S REAL.

Narrator: A HUNTER LUCKY
TO MAKE IT OUT ALIVE.

I'VE NEVER, IN MY LIFE,

HAD SOMETHING STARE INTO MY EYES
THAT EVIL, NEVER.



Narrator:
LIGHTNING SURVIVORS

MYSTERIOUSLY TRANSFORMED
INTO SUPER PSYCHICS.

I DIDN'T WANT TO BE ABLE TO SEE
ALL THESE SPIRITS.

I DIDN'T KNOW
WHETHER THEY WERE DANGEROUS.

Benser:
IT'S A VERY EERIE FEELING.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO LEAVE YOU
ALONE UNTIL YOU HELP THEM.

[ SCREAMS ]

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator: TWO STATES,
TEXAS AND LOUISIANA,

JOINED AT THE HIP

BY AN OLD CROOKED WATERWAY

SNAKING ITS WAY
THROUGH BAYOU COUNTRY,

THE SABINE RIVER,

WHERE THICK WOODS
AND CYPRUS SWAMPS CONVERGE.



STRANGE SIGHTINGS HAVE COME TO
LIGHT,

REPORTS OF AN UNKNOWN
WATERBORNE BEAST --

POWERFUL, PREDATORY,

STALKING ANY THAT VENTURES
TOO CLOSE TO ITS TURF.

Moore: YOU HAVE REPORTS OF
PEOPLE SEEING SOMETHING STRANGE.

CREDIBLE PEOPLE REPORTING
INCREDIBLE THINGS.

Wooley: THEY'VE HEARD SCREAMING,
HAD STUFF THROWN AT THEM,

STOMPING, TREE SHAKING --

THERE'S SOME PRETTY WILD THINGS
GO ON DOWN THERE.

Stewart:
I KNOW PEOPLE THAT FISH

THAT WILL NOT GO UP AND DOWN
THAT RIVER AT NIGHT

BECAUSE OF THEIR FEAR.

BECAUSE THEY'VE EITHER
SEEN SOMETHING

OR THEY'VE HEARD SOMETHING

THAT HAS JUST SCARED THEM
TO DEATH.

Narrator: LEGENDS OF
THE CREATURE GO BACK

TO THE EARLY
CHOCTAW NATIVE AMERICANS

LIVING ALONG THE RIVER.

THEIR WORD
WAS "NALUSA FALAYA" --

THE LONG, BLACK, EVIL BEING.

Moore:
THERE ARE LEGENDS AND REPORTS

OF THESE MYSTERIOUS
SORT OF APE-LIKE,

HUMANOID TYPE CREATURES

GOING BACK FOR HUNDREDS
AND HUNDREDS OF YEARS.

Blackburn: IT'S ASSOCIATED
WITH THE SABINE RIVER.

A LOT OF SIGHTINGS
OF THIS CREATURE OCCUR

IN AND AROUND
THAT BODY OF WATER,

AND, OF COURSE,
ONCE THE MEDIA OR THE LOCALS

PICK UP ON THIS,

THEY DUBBED IT
"THE SABINE THING."

Narrator: EVEN TODAY, RESIDENTS
SWEAR THERE'S SOMETHING

IN THIS RIVER BASIN --

A CREATURE STILL UNIDENTIFIED
AND DANGEROUS.

Moore: YOU HAVE PEOPLE REPORTING
FINDING FIVE-TOED TRACKS.

SOME ARE BIGGER THAN YOU HAVE
ANY OTHER CREATURE TO BE

OUT IN THE WOODS

OF SOMETHING THAT LOOKS
ESSENTIALLY LIKE A HUMAN FOOT,

THAT'S NOT MATCHING
ANY OF THE NATIVE WILDLIFE.

Narrator: NEAR THE NORTHERN END
OF THE SABINE NATIONAL FOREST,

ONE EXPERT OUTDOORSMAN

HAS HAD TWO STARTLING ENCOUNTERS
WITH THE SABINE THING.

Stewart:
WHEN I GREW UP,

IT WAS ALWAYS REFERRED TO
AS "CROQUE MITAINE,"

WHICH IS A CAJUN WORD
THAT MEANS "BOOGEYMAN."

Narrator: JEFF STEWART IS A
LIFELONG RESIDENT OF EAST TEXAS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE AROUND HERE
DON'T WANT TO ADMIT

THAT THEY BELIEVE
IN THE SABINE THING.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO
GET RIDICULED,

THEY DON'T WANT TO
GET MADE FUN OF,

THEY DON'T WANT TO
BE BELITTLED,

BUT IN SECRET,
THEY BELIEVE.

Narrator: IN 1986,

JEFF WAS CAMPING
AT THE SABINE RIVER WITH FRIENDS

WHEN HE HAD AN EXPERIENCE

THAT WOULD CHANGE HIS VIEW
OF THE MONSTER

FROM FAIRY TALE TO FACT.

Stewart:
WE'D FISHED ALL DAY,

AND WE HAD CAUGHT
QUITE A NUMBER.

OOH, DINNER!

AND WE WOULD SKIN OUR FISH
AT THAT HAND PUMP WELL.

THAT'S FOR THE HOGS.

AND WE WOULD LEAVE THE ENTRAILS
ON THE GROUND

FOR RACCOONS OR HOGS
OR WHATEVER

TO COME AND EAT
DURING THE NIGHT,

AND WE WOULD SLIP BACK
OVER THERE WITH A FLASHLIGHT

AND SHINE THEM
AND WE'D SHOOT THEM.

YEAH, TARGET PRACTICE,
RIGHT?

POOR HOGS,
THEY'RE ONLY HUNGRY.

ALL RIGHT, COME ONE,
LET'S GO FRY THESE UP.

WE'LL BE BACK, HOGS.

Narrator:
THE LEFTOVER CATFISH

ATTRACTED
SOME UNWANTED ATTENTION.

LATER THAT NIGHT, JEFF DECIDED
TO GO BACK TO THE WELL

TO SEE IF ANY SCAVENGERS
HAD TURNED UP.

Stewart:
I TOLD MY FRIENDS,

"COME ON, LET'S GO OVER
AND CHECK OUT THE GUT PILE

AND SEE WHAT'S HITTING
THE GUTS."

AND, OF COURSE,
NOBODY WANTED TO GO.

Narrator: HE WASN'T EXPECTING
ANYTHING BIGGER

THAN A RACCOON OR A HOG.

I COULD SEE THAT THERE WAS
SOMETHING EATING AT THE GUTS.

AND I RAISED MY RIFLE.

AND WHEN I GOT PROBABLY ABOUT
20 YARDS,

IT STOOD UP.

IT STOOD UP ON TWO LEGS.

[ GROWLING ]

I WAS TERRIFIED.

IT WAS LOOKING ME DEAD
IN MY EYES.

IT WAS VERY SIMILAR
TO HUMAN EYES.

I NEVER -- I'VE BEEN HUNTING
THESE WOODS

EVER SINCE I WAS BORN.

I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING
LIKE THIS.

Narrator: INTERRUPTING
THE CREATURE'S MEAL,

JEFF WONDERED,
WAS HE NEXT ON THE MENU?

Stewart:
IT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER,

BUT IT COULD ONLY HAVE BEEN
JUST A MATTER OF SECONDS.

Narrator: JEFF RAN BACK TO CAMP
AND TRIED TO WARN HIS FRIENDS.

THEY THOUGHT
HE WAS PULLING A PRANK.

Stewart:
I WAS REALLY SCARED.

I STAYED AWAKE ALL NIGHT LONG,
CLUTCHING THAT .22 RIFLE,

WAITING FOR THE SUN TO COME UP.

Narrator:
THE NEXT MORNING,

JEFF FINALLY GOT HIS FRIENDS
TO GO BACK TO THE WELL SITE.

SEE, GUYS --
THE GUTS ARE GONE.

THEY'RE NOT EVEN HERE.
COMPLETELY GONE.

YEAH,
MUST BE THE SABINE THING.

AND ON THE GROUND
RIGHT BY THE GUT PILE,

THERE WERE TRACKS.

AND I WEAR A SIZE 14EEE,

AND WITH MY SHOE ON,

I COULD STEP IN THE FOOTPRINT
OF A BAREFOOT TRACK.

LOOK AT THESE FOOTPRINTS,
SERIOUSLY, GUYS.

HERE'S ONE RIGHT HERE, TOO.

Stewart: MY FRIENDS
STILL WOULDN'T BELIEVE ME.

SO, AT THAT MOMENT, I DECIDED
NOT TO TELL ANOTHER PERSON.

I KEPT MY ENCOUNTER
WITH THE SABINE THING A SECRET.

I DIDN'T TELL A SOUL.

Narrator: JEFF'S ENCOUNTER

WITH THE INFAMOUS CREATURE
OF THE SABINE

LEFT HIM WARY.

I THOUGHT ABOUT IT EVERY TIME
I WENT IN THE WOODS,

EVERY TIME I WENT HUNTING.

I NEVER WENT OUTSIDE WITH
MY CHILDREN WITHOUT BEING ARMED.

Narrator: HE KNEW
THESE CREATURES WERE OUT THERE.

MANY LOCALS WOULD READILY AGREE.

ONE MAN WHO VENTURED
INTO THESE WOODS

WILL NEVER GO BACK AGAIN.

Wooley: I FELT LIKE
I NEEDED TO DO SOMETHING.

[ RUSTLING ]

HE'S TEARING THE WOODS DOWN
TO GET TO ME.

HE WAS MOWING DOWN BRIARS,

AND HE WAS JUST LETTING OUT
A GOD-AWFUL SCREAM,

HOLLERING.

I'M HAVING TO RUN
FOR MY LIFE.

Narrator:
THE SABINE THING --

TERRIFYING, TWO-LEGGED,
HAIRY BEAST

RUMORED TO ROAM
THE SABINE RIVER BASIN

ALONG THE TEXAS-LOUISIANA
BORDER.

Blackburn: IF YOU LOOK AT
THE AREA WHERE IT'S SIGHTED,

ALONG THE SABINE RIVER,

WHICH RUNS ALONG THE BORDER
OF TEXAS AND LOUISIANA,

THERE'S BEEN HUNDREDS
OF SIGHTINGS OVER THE YEARS.

Narrator: ONE COLD EVENING
IN FEBRUARY OF 1996,

JEFF STEWART AND HIS FATHER
WERE FISHING.

Stewart: WE HAD CAUGHT
QUITE A LARGE NUMBER --

PROBABLY ABOUT 100,
150 POUNDS' WORTH OF FISH.

Narrator:
IT WAS GETTING DARK,

SO THEY DECIDED TO KEEP THEIR
CATCH IN THE RIVER OVERNIGHT.

WELL, I'M TIRED.

WE'LL COME BACK,
CLEAN UP TOMORROW.

Stewart: WE HAD PUT OUR FISH
IN THIS COOP,

AND WE HAD FLOATED IT PROBABLY
20 FEET OUT INTO THE WATER.

WE WERE TIRED
FROM THE DAYS' FISHING,

SO WE WE WENT HOME.

[ GRUNTING ]

THE NEXT MORNING

WHEN WE PULLED UP TO WHERE
WE HAD HAD THE FISH TIED OFF...

...THE BOX WAS PULLED COMPLETELY
OUT OF THE WATER.

SOMETHING HAD UNTIED A KNOT --
DIDN'T GNAW INTO IT --

AND THEN IT HAD DEPRESSED
THE SPRING LATCH

AND OPENED IT...

THIS THING
WAS TIED TIGHT.

...REACHED IN,
PULLED OUT FISH,

EATEN THE SOFT, FLESHY PARTS
FROM THEIR SIDE,

AND THREW THE BONES AND HEADS
ON THE GROUND.

SOMEBODY UNTIED IT.

OR SOME THING.

THERE'S NO CREATURE THAT LIVES
IN EAST TEXAS THAT COULD PULL --

WE'RE TALKING
150 POUNDS' WORTH OF FISH

AND MAYBE ANOTHER
40 OR 50 POUNDS' WORTH OF BOX.

AND I NEVER WILL FORGET.

MY DAD TURNED
AND HE LOOKED AT ME

AND HE SAID,
"IT'S TRUE. IT'S REAL."

Narrator:
AFTER 10 YEARS OF DOUBT,

A GIANT WEIGHT
HAD BEEN LIFTED.

Stewart:
THERE'S BEEN SO MANY NIGHTS

I'VE CAMPED OUT DOWN THERE
AND HEARD STRANGE SCREAMS,

AND IT WILL MAKE
THE HAIR STAND UP

ON THE BACK OF YOUR NECK.

THE SCREAMS THAT I'VE HEARD
IN THE PAST

ARE DEFINITELY
FROM THE SABINE THING.

I SAW IT.

I HEARD IT.

IT'S REAL.

I KNOW IT'S REAL.

Narrator:
JEFF STEWART WAS FORTUNATE.

THE BEAST HE ENCOUNTERED
WASN'T DIRECTLY CONFRONTATIONAL.

OTHERS HAVEN'T BEEN SO LUCKY.

CAJUN COUNTRY NATIVE MIKE WOOLEY
WAS A LIFELONG HUNTER.

ONE NIGHT IN THE WOODS
COMPLETELY CHANGED HIS VIEW

OF THE REGION
IN WHICH HE LIVES.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
HE'S COME FORWARD ON TV

TO SHARE HIS STORY.

Wooley: FOR 20 YEARS,

I KEPT MY ENCOUNTER
WITH THE SABINE THING

PRETTY MUCH TO MYSELF

BECAUSE I WAS AFRAID
OF RIDICULE.

I JUST DIDN'T WANT TO BE LABELED
AS A CRAZY.

Narrator:
DECEMBER 1981, 3:00 A.M.

ON THAT CHILLY NIGHT,

MIKE WOOLEY WAS SETTLING
INTO HIS DEER STAND

NEAR THE EASTERN BANK
OF THE SABINE RIVER.

RIGHT OFF THE BAT, HE COULD TELL
SOMETHING WASN'T RIGHT.

Wooley: I NOTICED THAT THE WOODS
WERE REAL QUIET THAT DAY.

I MEAN, YOU COULD HEAR
A PIN FALL.

THERE WAS NO CROWS CALLING,
NOTHING.

I MEAN, JUST TOTALLY DEAD.

[ RUSTLING ]

THIS LITTLE, YOUNG DOE,

SHE COME RUNNING UP
THROUGH THIS THICKET.

SHE COME STRAIGHT
TO MY DEER STAND

AND LAID DOWN AT THE BOTTOM
OF MY DEER STAND.

SHE WAS ACTUALLY TOUCHING
THE BOTTOM OF MY DEER STAND.

BREATHING HARD.
SHE HAD BEEN RUN.

Narrator: MIKE FIGURED
A BUCK WAS PURSUING THE DOE.

[ RUSTLING ]

THEN I SAW SOMETHING COME UP,

AND IT GOT BEHIND A TREE
ABOUT 2:00 POSITION.

IT WAS A BIG, TALL,
BLACK, HAIRY CREATURE

OR SOMETHING.

8 FOOT TALL, 500 POUNDS,
3 1/2 FOOT SHOULDERS.

IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.

SOMETHING AIN'T RIGHT.

HE'S A MONSTER.

[ GROWLING ]

I WAS AFRAID IF I TOOK MY EYES
OFF HIM FOR A SPLIT SECOND,

HE WOULD CHARGE ME.

[ ROARING ]

Narrator:
THE SABINE RIVER, LOUISIANA.

IN DECEMBER 1981,

DEER HUNTER MIKE WOOLEY
WAS DEEP IN THE WOODS.

AFTER AN EXHAUSTED DOE COLLAPSED
AT HIS TREE STAND,

MIKE IS CONFRONTED
WITH A PREDATORY BEAST...

...THE LEGENDARY
SABINE THING.

FOR MIKE,
IT WAS KILL OR BE KILLED.

[ RUSTLING, GROWLING ]

Wooley: I HAD A PRETTY GOOD,
HIGH-POWERED DEER RIFLE,

BUT I WAS AFRAID
THAT IF I SHOT THE THING,

I'D MAKE IT MADDER
AND I WOULD BE IN TROUBLE.

THE EYES WERE JUST --
THEY WERE HORRIFYING.

THEY WERE DEMONIC.

I'VE NEVER IN MY LIFE

HAD SOMETHING STARE INTO MY EYES
THAT EVIL.

HE LET ME KNOW
THAT HE WASN'T INTIMIDATED,

THAT HE WAS READY FOR WAR.

HE WAS, LIKE, IF I WANTED
TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE,

DO IT, AND HE'D FINISH IT.

I WAS BRINGING MY FINGER AROUND
TOWARD THE TRIGGER

AND HE LET OUT A GROWL,
A SCREAM.

[ HOWLING ]

IT FELT LIKE GETTING HIT
BY A 70-MILE-PER-HOUR WIND.

[ HOWLING ]

Wooley: I JUST AUTOMATICALLY
DROPPED MY RIFLE.

I KNEW RIGHT THEN

THAT THAT WAS
SOME KIND OF COMMUNICATION.

I KNEW SOMETHING'S COMING
TO JOIN HIM.

[ HOWLING ]

Wooley: I KNEW THAT WHEN YOU GOT
TWO ON ONE,

THE DECK'S STACKED AGAINST YOU.

YOU AIN'T GOT A CHANCE.

THAT WAS THE TURNING POINT

THAT I KNEW THAT I MIGHT NOT
MAKE IT OUT OF THERE.

I FELT LIKE I NEEDED
TO DO SOMETHING.

Narrator: MIKE MADE A MAD DASH
FROM THE TREE STAND...

...HOPING HE COULD OUTRUN
THE THING.

Wooley:
HE WAS COMING AFTER ME.

HE'S TEARING THE WOODS DOWN
TO GET TO ME.

HE WAS MOWING DOWN BRIARS,

AND HE WAS JUST LETTING OUT
A GOD-AWFUL SCREAM, HOLLERING.

I'M HAVING TO RUN FOR MY LIFE.

Narrator:
WITH HIS TRUCK IN SIGHT,

MIKE STOPPED,
READY TO TAKE A STAND.

AND I SWING AROUND,
AND I JUST POP A SHOT OFF.

[ GUNSHOT ]
[ HOWLING ]

Narrator: IT GAVE MIKE
THE TIME HE NEEDED

TO GET TO HIS TRUCK
AND HIT THE ROAD.

[ TIRES SQUEALING ]

Wooley: I JUST HAMMERED HARD
AS I COULD TO GET OUT OF THERE.

I KNEW RIGHT THEN THAT THE
CREATURE WAS TRYING TO KILL ME.

Narrator:
MANY HAVE WONDERED

IF THE STORIES
ABOUT THESE CREATURES ARE REAL.

RECENTLY, ONE TEXAS RESIDENT,

THIS TIME ARMED WITH
HIGH-TECH SURVEILLANCE GEAR,

SET ABOUT PROVING ITS EXISTENCE
ONCE AND FOR ALL.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY EXPERT
BRUCE DENSFORD

THOUGHT HIS HIGH-TECH SKILLS

COULD BE USEFUL
FOR BIGFOOT RESEARCH.

Densford:
BEING THAT I WAS IN I.T.,

I HAVE KIND OF A FINGER
ON WHAT WAS COMING DOWN THE PIKE

AS FAR AS NEW TECHNOLOGY
COMING IN.

Narrator:
MONSTERS LIKE THE SABINE

ARE NOTORIOUSLY TOUGH TO TRACK.

WHAT IF WE GAVE THEM
A DOSE OF BIG BROTHER?

Densford:
WITH MODERN TECHNOLOGY,

WE CAN NOW PUT CAMERAS ON THAT,
WE CAN PUT AUDIO THERE.

WE MAY HAVE AS MANY
AS 15 RECORDERS IN THE FIELD

ON ANY GIVEN NIGHT.

AND IT PUTS US IN A WHOLE BUNCH
OF DIFFERENT PLACES

AT THE SAME TIME, EFFECTIVELY.

Narrator: RECENTLY, BRUCE
AND A RESEARCH TEAM WENT OUT

IN HOPES OF DOCUMENTING
CREATURES LIKE THE SABINE THING.

TAKE THIS GOPRO RIGHT HERE
THAT'S ON,

AND I WANT YOU
TO SET IT UP...

THEY QUICKLY GOT TO WORK

INSTALLING AN ARRAY
OF SURVEILLANCE GEAR.

Densford: THE THOUGHTS ARE THAT
MOST OF THE ACTIVITY DOES HAPPEN

BETWEEN, LIKE,
8:00 IN THE EVENING

UNTIL, YOU KNOW, MAYBE 6:00
OR 7:00 IN THE MORNING.

CAN YOU HAND ME
THOSE SILVER BOXES?

WE ALL DISPERSE AT THAT POINT
AND GO PUT OUR STUFF OUT.

WE USE GAME CAMERAS,

WHICH ARE KIND OF
A COMMON STAPLE

OF PRETTY MUCH
ALL THE RESEARCH GROUPS.

BUT WE HAVE HAD INCIDENTS,
IN FACT, SEVERAL INCIDENTS,

WHERE WE'VE HAD BAIT TAKEN

THAT A GAME CAMERA
WAS DEAD SOLID ON IT

AND IT'S GONE IN THE MORNING
AND WE DON'T HAVE ANY PICTURES.

AND THAT HAS US
A LITTLE BAFFLED.

Narrator: BUT BRUCE HAD
A BACKUP PLAN.

HE ALSO INSTALLED
AUDIO RECORDERS TO RUN

THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT.

WHEN THE REST OF THE TEAM
TURNED IN,

BRUCE STAYED UP --

HIS EYES AND EARS
ON HIGH ALERT.

Densford: I WAS SITTING THERE IN
THE CAR, JUST KIND OF LISTENING.

I WAS GONNA BASICALLY BE
THE SENTRY

TO FIND OUT, YOU KNOW,
WHAT HAPPENS, IF ANYTHING.

[ YELPING ]

IT WAS CERTAINLY SOMETHING
I'D NEVER HEARD BEFORE.

ONE OF THE OTHER GUYS YELLED
AT ME,

SAYING,
"HEY, DID YOU HEAR THAT?"

AND I SAID,
"YEAH, I HEARD IT.

HEY, WE GOT SOMETHING
THAT'S CLOSE."

GET THAT LIGHT OFF.

AND IT SCREAMED AGAIN.

[ HOWLING ]

KIND OF A RASPY SCREAM.

SO IT'S KIND OF LIKE A...

[ IMITATES HOWLING ]

KIND OF LIKE THAT.

WE GOT THAT ONE.

[ HOWLING ]

YEAH, WE DEFINITELY GOT
THAT ONE.

IT LASTED LONG ENOUGH

THAT IT WOULDN'T BE
ANYTHING REALLY SMALL

'CAUSE THE LUNG CAPACITY
WAS GREATER.

Narrator: TEXAS WILDLIFE EXPERTS
EXAMINING THESE AUDIO RECORDINGS

BELIEVE THEY SIGNIFICANTLY
DEPART FROM VOCALIZATIONS MADE

BY THE AREA'S
NOCTURNAL COYOTES OR OWLS.

THESE ANIMAL CALLS
HAVE NO KNOWN IDENTITY.

THE SABINE THING HAS BEEN
A LEGEND FOR CENTURIES.

NOW WITH MONSTER HUNTERS
COLLECTING EVIDENCE

USING SURVEILLANCE GEAR,

PERHAPS WE'RE CLOSER
TO FINALLY CATCHING ONE.

Wooley: BEFORE, I'D HAVE TO SAY
I WAS A SKEPTIC.

NOW, AFTER WHAT I'VE SEEN,

I DON'T GO HUNTING ANYMORE.

I DON'T GO IN THE WOODS
ANYMORE.

BECAUSE I KNOW
WHAT THESE CREATURES CAN DO.

THESE CREATURES ARE THERE,

THEY'RE ALIVE AND WELL,

AND THEY WILL HURT YOU BAD.

[ THUNDER CRASHING ]

Narrator:
A BLAST OF LIGHTNING --

NATURE AT ITS MOST VIOLENT
AND LETHAL.

WHILE THE ODDS OF BEING STRUCK
ARE EXTREMELY RARE --

ONE IN A MILLION...

[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLES ]

...EACH YEAR, WORLDWIDE,

SOME 20,000 PEOPLE DIE
FROM LIGHTNING.

THEN,
THERE ARE THE MYSTERY CASES --

PEOPLE WHO SURVIVED
A BOLT OF LIGHTNING...

...AND WERE TRANSFORMED
IN THE MOST BAFFLING WAYS.

Benser:
EVEN THOUGH I WASN'T HAPPY

THAT I WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING,

IT ENHANCED MY ABILITY
TO SEE WHAT I SEE.

Narrator: PSYCHICS WHO CAN
SOMEHOW SENSE THE DEAD.

Shane:
FEELING HOW SOMEONE DIED

IS THE MOST TERRIBLE FEELING
YOU COULD FEEL.

[ SCREAMING ]

I SENSED HER BEING BEING BEATEN,
KICKED.

EVERY HORRIBLE ACT POSSIBLE.

AND THE FEAR
THAT THE VICTIM HAD...

[ SCREAMS ]

...I COULD FEEL.

[ THUNDER CRASHING ]

Narrator:
ALONG COLORADO'S FRONT RANGE,

IN AN AREA
NEAR HORSETOOTH ROCK,

LIGHTNING STORMS ARE KNOWN
TO ERUPT WITH SUDDEN FURY.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

JULY 7, 1997.

UNAWARE
OF ANY POTENTIAL DANGER,

SHANE SMITH
AND HIS FRIEND KERSTI MACK

WERE HIKING
NEAR HORSETOOTH ROCK.

THE DAY WAS BEAUTIFUL.

IT WAS CLEAR, SUNNY,

SO WE DECIDED IT'S
A GREAT DAY TO GO HIKING.

WHEW.

WOW.

HEY,
STORM'S MOVING IN QUICK.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO HEAD DOWN
SOON.

YEAH,
WE'LL KEEP OUR EYES OPEN.

THANKS.
[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]

WE SAW THE LIGHTNING SORT OF
DANCING AROUND IN THE DISTANCE.

[ THUNDER CRASHING ]

THE VIEW WAS AMAZING.

WE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING
ABOUT IT.

Mack: WE EVEN SAW LIGHTNING
BOLTS GOING ON AROUND US.

I WAS JUST KIND OF AWESTRICKEN
HOW BEAUTIFUL IT WAS

AND HOW MAGNIFICENT,

SO IT WAS JUST LIKE IN...
IN A THEATER TAKING IT ALL IN.

[ THUNDER RUMBLING ]

SO CRAZY.
IT'S FREEZING ALL OF A SUDDEN.

Narrator:
SUDDENLY, THE COUPLE FELT

AN ODD VIBRATION IN THE AIR.

MAYBE WE SHOULD GET
OUT OF HERE.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

THAT'S WHEN I STARTED TO GET
A LITTLE AFRAID,

AND WE THOUGHT IT WOULD BE
A GOOD IDEA TO GET DOWN

AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

BUT IT WAS TOO LATE.

THERE WAS A BOOM SOUND,
AND SUDDENLY...

AND FOR A SPLIT SECOND

I SAW SHANE TURNING
INTO A WHITE, MOLTEN BEING.

I'D NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING LIKE THIS.

[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]

I THOUGHT,
"OH, MY GOD, I COULD DIE."

AND I CAN'T REMEMBER
ANYTHING ELSE BUT THAT.

Narrator: SHANE WAS UNDER
DOCTORS' CARE FOR MONTHS.

Shane: I COULDN'T PUT A SENTENCE
TOGETHER.

I COULDN'T READ.

I WENT THROUGH A LOT OF PAIN.

Narrator: THE STRIKE
HAD ROTATED HIS PELVIS,

PUSHED VERTEBRAE
INTO HIS HEAD,

DISRUPTING THE FLOW
OF SPINAL FLUID IN HIS BRAIN.

LIGHTNING HAD DEVASTATED
SHANE'S BODY.

KERSTI.

YOU'RE GONNA BE OKAY.

BUT WITHIN HIS MIND,
THERE WERE CHANGES AS WELL.

SHANE HAD ALWAYS BEEN
AN INTUITIVE PERSON.

NOW THOSE PERCEPTIVE POWERS
TOOK OFF.

Shane: I NOTICED
SOMETHING WAS DIFFERENT.

I STARTED TO SENSE THINGS
MORE DEEPLY.

I STARTED TO SEE SPIRITS.

I KNEW THEY WERE
IN THE SPIRIT WORLD,

BUT I WAS JUST SHOCKED

THAT I WAS ABLE TO SEE THEM
SO CLEARLY.

I COULDN'T CONTROL ANY OF IT,

WHEN I SAW IT
OR WHEN IT HAPPENED.

[ THUNDER CRASHING ]

Narrator: SHANE'S UNUSUAL
ABILITIES WOULD BECOME OBVIOUS

TO HIS BUSINESS PARTNER,
BRUCE SMITH.

AS REAL-ESTATE INVESTORS,

WE'RE OFTEN GOING TO HOUSES

TO JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THEM

AND SEE, YOU KNOW,
WHAT THEY LOOK LIKE.

Narrator: BRUCE REMEMBERS ONE
ENCOUNTER WITH SHANE'S ABILITIES

THAT WAS PARTICULARLY EERIE.

Bruce: WE HAD JUST ACQUIRED
A NEW HOME

AND WE WERE GOING TO REHAB IT,

AND WE WERE IN THE MOBILE HOME
WITH OUR INSPECTOR.

Narrator:
ONCE SHANE ENTERED,

HE KNEW RIGHT AWAY
THEY WEREN'T ALONE.

I HEARD A NOISE,
AND I FELT AN EXTRA PRESENCE.

I LOOKED UP AND NOTICED

THAT THERE WAS A SPIRIT
OF A YOUNG MAN.

HE TOLD ME THAT HE WANTED ME
TO GIVE A MESSAGE TO HIS MOTHER.

TELL MY MOTHER
NOT TO BE IN ANGUISH ANYMORE.

I'M OKAY.

I'M OKAY.

Narrator:
A WEEK LATER,

THE TRAILER PARK MANAGER
CONFIRMED SHANE'S VISION.

THERE WAS AN INCIDENT WHERE
A YOUNG MAN WHO HAD LIVED THERE

JUST GOT HIS DRIVER'S LICENSE

AND IT WAS AN ICY DAY

AND HE HAD SPUN OUT
AND HE HAD HIT SOMETHING

AND DIED
RIGHT THERE ON THE LOT.

AND IT WAS EXACTLY
WHAT SHANE HAD DESCRIBED.

Narrator:
IT WASN'T LONG

BEFORE WORD OF SHANE SMITH'S
PSYCHIC ABILITIES

STARTED TO SPREAD.

IN AUGUST 2012,

SHANE RECEIVED A CALL

FROM FORMER SHERIFFS DEPUTY
TODD BAKER.

BAKER WAS WORKING ON A CASE

INVOLVING THE DISAPPEARANCE
OF A TEENAGE GIRL.

IT WAS A YOUNG FEMALE
WHO HAD BEEN MISSING

FOR ABOUT FIVE MONTHS
AT THIS POINT IN TIME.

THE POLICE HAD LABELED
THIS CASE

AS A TROUBLED TEEN
THAT JUST RAN AWAY.

Narrator:
WITH THE INVESTIGATION STALLED,

TODD BAKER SUGGESTED
THE FAMILY TAKE A CHANCE

ON A PSYCHIC LIKE SHANE SMITH.

[ SCREAMS ]

I FELT HER PAIN.
I SAW HER INCREDIBLE FEAR.

THE ONLY THING SHE WANTED TO DO
WAS ESCAPE,

AND THERE WAS NO ESCAPE.

[ SCREAMING ]

Narrator: IN 1997,
NEAR FORT COLLINS, COLORADO,

SHANE SMITH NARROWLY SURVIVED
GETTING HIT BY LIGHTNING.

SOON, HE NOTICED
A SUPERNATURAL SIDE-EFFECT,

LEADING SHANE TO TAKE ON
AN EXTRAORDINARY CALLING

AS A PSYCHIC INVESTIGATOR

HELPING FAMILIES
TRAUMATIZED BY CRIME.

Shane:
I GOT A CALL FROM TODD.

HE SAID,
"HE HAVE AN INVESTIGATION."

HE DIDN'T TELL ME WHAT IT WAS.

HE TOLD ME NOTHING ABOUT IT.

HE JUST BASICALLY HAD ME GET
IN THE CAR, AND WE WENT.

Narrator: FORMER SHERIFFS DEPUTY
TODD BAKER

STARTED OFF SHOWING SHANE
AN AERIAL MAP OF THE REGION.

YOU READY FOR THIS?

YEAH.

I ASKED SHANE, I SAID,
"BY LOOKING AT THIS MAP,

"IS THERE ANYTHING
YOU CAN TELL ME?

DO YOU FEEL ANYTHING?"

YEAH, I FEEL LIKE
THESE TWO AREAS.

OKAY, SO, LIKE...

THERE WERE TWO AREAS
ON THE MAP

HE INDICATED
THAT HE FELT SOMETHING.

THIS ONE HERE?
THAT'S WHAT I SAW.

THAT THESE TWO AREAS WERE
QUITE IMPORTANT TO THE CASE.

Narrator: THE FIRST AREA WAS
A WOODED AREA

NEAR THE AIRPORT --

A LOCATION NOT KNOWN TO BE
CONNECTED TO THE CASE.

THE SECOND AREA HE PINPOINTS
IS UNCANNY --

A DOWNTOWN INTERSECTION,

THE LAST PLACE
THE MISSING GIRL WAS SEEN.

I REALLY APPRECIATE
YOUR HARD WORK.

YOU'VE DONE
AN AMAZING JOB.

SHANE WAS TAKEN TO THE HOME
OF THE MISSING TEENAGER...

[ KNOCK ON DOOR ]

HI.

GOOD EVENING.
HOW ARE YOU?

I BROUGHT SHANE WITH ME.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO BE
A GREAT ASSET.

PLEASE FIND
MY LITTLE GIRL.

MAY I?

Man: YOU'RE WELCOME.
DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO.

Baker: WE ALLOWED SHANE TO MOVE
THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE,

TOUCHING PERSONAL ARTIFACTS --

DIARIES, BOOKS,

A SHIRT IN THE CLOSET.

THINGS THAT WERE CLOSE
TO THIS GIRL.

Narrator: SHANE STILL HAD
NEXT TO NO INFORMATION

ABOUT THE CASE.

THAT WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

AND SUDDENLY I FELT LIKE
I WAS BEING STRANGLED.

[ GIRL SCREAMING ]

I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING HIT
IN THE HEAD OVER AND OVER.

I SAW A TREE
WITH A LONG, OVERHANGING BRANCH.

MOM.

PLEASE HELP ME.

Shane:
I SAW HER FEAR.

HER INCREDIBLE FEAR.

ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?

IT WAS EXTREMELY PAINFUL

TO GO THROUGH
WHAT SHE WAS GOING THROUGH.

WHAT DID YOU SEE?

I SAW A TREE.

I DESCRIBED THE AREA
THAT IT WAS IN,

DESCRIBED THE TREE,

KNEW IT WAS BY A ROAD.

OH, THAT TREE.

LET ME SEE THE PHOTOS.

Narrator: WHEN SHANE DESCRIBED
THE PLACE,

THE GIRL'S MOTHER REMEMBERED
A PICTURE SHE HAD OF THE AREA.

THIS IS THE TREE!
THIS IS IT!

[ SOBBING ]

THEY KNEW
WHERE THEY NEEDED TO GO NEXT.

Shane:
WHEN WE GOT TO THE LOCATION,

IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I HAD SEEN
IN MY VISION.

I HEARD THE GIRL SAYING,
"MOM, MOM, PLEASE HELP ME."

Girl: [ Echoing ]
MOM, MOM, PLEASE HELP ME.

THIS IS WHERE
YOUR LITTLE GIRL WAS.

[ MUFFLED SCREAMING ]

[ SCREAMING ]

I KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO HER.
I KNEW HOW IT HAPPENED.

I COULD EXPLAIN IT ALL JUST
AS IF IT WERE HAPPENING THEN.

THE HARDEST THING
WAS TO TELL THAT MOTHER

THAT HER CHILD WAS DEAD.

[ SOBBING ]

AND IT WAS ALMOST LIKE SHE JUST
KIND OF ALREADY KNEW IT.

Baker: THE FAMILY THEN TOOK
THE INFORMATION

THAT WE HAD GOTTEN FROM SHANE

AND THEY PROVIDED
THAT INFORMATION

TO THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

Narrator:
SEVERAL MONTHS LATER,

THE GIRL'S BODY WAS DISCOVERED
SOUTH OF THE AIRPORT...

...THE LOCATION THAT SHANE
HAD POINTED OUT ON THE MAP.

THAT MADE ME FEEL AMAZING,

KNOWING THAT I HELPED THIS WOMAN
GET SOME KIND OF CLOSURE

WITH HER POOR DAUGHTER.

Narrator: AS BAFFLING
AS THESE CASES ARE,

THERE MAY BE
A PHYSIOLOGICAL EXPLANATION.

PEOPLE GAIN NEW ABILITIES AS
A RESULT OF A LIGHTNING STRIKE

BECAUSE LIGHTNING DAMAGES
BRAIN CELLS.

[ THUNDER CRASHES ]

A HUGE AMOUNT
OF NEUROTRANSMITTERS

RELEASED ALL AT ONCE,

SO IT'S FLOODING THE BRAIN
WITH THESE NEUROTRANSMITTERS

THAT ARE BASICALLY
EXCITING THE BRAIN.

OVER A PERIOD
OF ABOUT FOUR WEEKS,

IT CAN CREATE NEW CONNECTIONS
IN THE BRAIN,

AND THOSE NEW CONNECTIONS
CAN GIVE PEOPLE ABILITIES

THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE BEFORE.

Narrator:
SHANE'S IS NOT THE ONLY CASE

OF LIGHTNING INDUCING
DRAMATIC TRANSFORMATIONS.

IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND,
IN 1952,

15-YEAR-OLD SONIA BENSER
WAS ON THE BEACH

WHEN A STORM
SUDDENLY ROLLED IN.

LET'S GO.
LET'S GET HOME.

UNFORTUNATELY,
THE ONLY THING CLOSE BY

WAS A METAL ROOF
WITH SOME POLES.

SO WE RAN A LINE.

AND I WAS ON THE END,
AND MY FRIEND WAS NEXT TO ME.

THERE'S THIS TERRIBLE
CRACKING SOUND.

[ ELECTRICITY CRACKLING ]

AND THEN THE NEXT THING
I KNOW,

MY LEGS WERE KNOCKED OUT
FROM UNDER ME

AND I WAS LYING ON THE GROUND.

Narrator: SOMEHOW, SONIA
SURVIVED THE LIGHTNING STRIKE.

EVEN STRANGER,

HER NATURAL INTUITION
INTENSIFIED

AS IF SUPERCHARGED.

Benser: IT ENHANCED A GIFT
THAT I HAD WHEN I WAS BORN.

IT GETS STRONGER AND STRONGER.

AND I'VE FOUND
I CAN DO THINGS

SOMETIMES I DIDN'T KNOW
I COULD DO.

Narrator:
AN EXPERIENCE WOULD OCCUR

THAT CONFIRM THESE GIFTS.

ALL DRESSED UP TONIGHT,
SWEETHEART?

I WAS INVITED TO A PARTY.

THANKS FOR STOPPING.

SO I CALLED A CAB.

524 DOVER, PLEASE.

I GOT IN THE TAXI,

AND I GUESS WE WERE MAYBE
HALFWAY THERE...

WELL, IT'S SUPPOSED TO GET
BETTER OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

WE'LL SEE HOW IT GOES.

...AND I STARTED GETTING
THIS TERRIBLE FEELING.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A BELL CLANGING
IN MY HEAD.

IT'S TELLING ME,
"SOMETHING BAD'S COMING.

SOMETHING BAD'S COMING."

[ BELL RINGING ]
AND THEN...

IT'S ALMOST LIKE
A MOTION PICTURE IN MY HEAD,

AND IT'S MOVING AND IT'S
SHOWING ME ALL THESE THINGS.

[ SCREAMS ]

SIR!

Narrator:
UNABLE TO ENDURE IT ANY LONGER,

SONIA TOLD THE DRIVER TO STOP
AND LET HER OUT.

TURN AROUND!

STOP!

WHAT WERE ALL THOSE
TERRIFYING IMAGES?

A FATAL CAR CRASH

JUST AFTER
THE TAXI HAD DROPPED HER OFF.

Benser: WHEN I SAW ON THE NEWS
WHAT HAD OCCURRED,

I JUST THANKED GOD
THAT I WASN'T IN IT.

BECAUSE OF MY ABILITY,

BECAUSE OF MY PSYCHIC FEELINGS,

IT PROTECTED ME.

Narrator: FIVE DECADES
AFTER THE LIGHTNING STRUCK,

SONIA BENSER'S TELEPATHIC GIFTS
HAVE MADE HER FAMOUS.

SONIA'S PSYCHIC ABILITIES
WOULD ONE DAY PUT HER

IN THE MIDST
OF A VIOLENT CRIME CASE

PLAYED OUT
IN THE VIRGINIA SWAMPS.

Benser:
THEY HADN'T FOUND THE BODY,

SO THEY WEREN'T SURE
WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.

MAYBE YOU COULD HELP US...

FIND SOMEONE?

HE'S IN THE WATER.

Narrator:
GETTING STRUCK BY LIGHTNING

OFTEN MEANS INSTANT DEATH.

SONIA BENSER IS ONE OF
THE MYSTERIOUS EXCEPTIONS.

SHE NOT ONLY SURVIVED
THE STRIKE,

SONIA DEVELOPED
A PSYCHIC SIXTH SENSE.

OVER THE YEARS,

SHE'S USED
HER LIGHTNING POWERS

TO HELP SOLVE CRIMES THAT HAVE
STYMIED LAW ENFORCEMENT.

PATRICK McGUIRE,

A FORMER REPORTER
FOR THE BALTIMORE SUN,

WAS A WITNESS TO ONE OF
SONIA'S MOST REMARKABLE CASES.

THE NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, REGIONAL
OFFICE OF THE SECRET SERVICE

HAD BEEN INVESTIGATING
A COUNTERFEITING CASE

FOR QUITE A WHILE.

Narrator: THE CRIME INVOLVED
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS

IN COUNTERFEIT BILLS,

AND, PERHAPS, A MURDER.

THREE PEOPLE HAD BEEN CONVICTED
OF COUNTERFEITING

AND WERE IN PRISON.

THE ONLY LOOSE END

WAS THAT ONE OF THE SUSPECTS
THEY COULDN'T FIND,

AND HE SEEMED TO HAVE
DISAPPEARED.

Narrator: A KEY SUSPECT,
WHEREABOUTS UNKNOWN.

THAT'S WHERE SONIA BENSER
COMES IN.

HAVE A SEAT.

McGuire: THE AGENT IN CHARGE
TOLD HER

THAT HE NEEDED HER HELP

IN FINDING THIS FELLOW
THEY WERE LOOKING FOR.

THAT'S ALL HE SAID.
HE DIDN'T MENTION ANYTHING ELSE.

AND SHE SAID,

"I GET THE FEELING THAT
YOU'RE FROM THE GOVERNMENT."

Benser: WHEN HE FIRST ASKED ME
ABOUT THE CASE,

I GAVE HIM THE INITIALS,
FIRST AND LAST, OF THE VICTIM.

Narrator:
WITH SONIA'S HELP,

THE INVESTIGATION TURNED
TO AN AREA OF SWAMPLAND

IN SOUTHERN VIRGINIA.

Benser: I SAW THE SWAMP,
AND I KNEW IT WAS VERY ISOLATED.

I KNEW THAT THERE WAS
A HUNTING LODGE.

I KNEW THERE WERE DOGS THERE.

AND I SEE
THE LETTER "P."

THE AGENT IN CHARGE --

THIS DIDN'T MAKE
ANY SENSE TO HIM --

"P" AND THE BARKING DOGS.

AND THEN SHE SAID, "ABOUT THIS
FELLOW YOU'RE LOOKING FOR,

HE'S DEAD, ISN'T HE?"

AND SHE SAID,
"HE'S IN THE WATER."

Narrator: THE SEARCH TOOK THEM
DOWN A LONG, WINDING ROAD.

McGuire: THEY'RE DRIVING
INTO THE SWAMP,

AND OUT OF THE BLUE,
SONIA SAYS, "HE'S WITH US."

AND THE AGENT IN CHARGE SAID,
"WHO'S WITH US?"

AND SHE MENTIONS THE NAME
OF THIS MISSING MAN.

"HE'S IN THE CAR."

Benser: AND HE KEPT ON
APPEARING TO ME,

AND IT'S A VERY EERIE FEELING.

YOU'RE NOT ALONE,

AND THIS PERSON'S THERE --

OR THE SPIRIT, SOUL.

AND THEY WANT HELP,

AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO
LEAVE YOU ALONE

UNTIL YOU HELP THEM.

STOP. WE'RE HERE.

Narrator: SPREAD BEFORE THEM
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WOODS

WAS A LARGE, OPEN,
SWAMPY AREA.

[ DOGS BARKING ]

THAT'S WHEN THEY SAW
THE KENNEL

WITH THE DOGS BARKING.

AND UP ABOVE THE KENNELS,
THERE IS A SIGN.

Benser:
THE NAME BEGAN WITH A "P."

AND THAT'S WHERE
THE LOCATION WAS.

Narrator:
SONIA FOUND THE PLACE

WHERE THE SECRET SERVICE
NOW BELIEVE

THE VICTIM WAS KILLED.

HE HAD DEFINITELY
BEEN TIED AND BOUND,

AND I FELT ALL THE THINGS
HE HAD EXPERIENCED,

LIKE I DO WITH EVERY CASE
THAT I GET LIKE THIS.

AND IT WAS ALMOST LIKE
LIVING IT AGAIN WITH HIM,

LIKE I WAS THERE
WHEN IT HAPPENED.

HE'S TIED UP IN THE WATER.

McGuire:
SHE GOT THIS FEELING

THAT THE BODY WAS CONNECTED
SOMEHOW TO SOMETHING ROUND.

AT ONE POINT,
SHE SAID MAYBE A WELL.

AND SHE SAID, "THAT'S IT.

THAT'S IT.
HE'S IN A CULVERT."

IT WAS RIGHT THERE
IN FRONT OF ME.

EVERYTHING I HAD VISUALIZED
WAS THERE.

IT GIVES YOU
A FEELING OF SATISFACTION

THAT YOU WERE ABLE TO HELP
SOMEONE.

Narrator: SOMEHOW, SONIA
WAS ABLE TO CONNECT THE AGENTS

TO A STRING OF CLUES --

PEOPLE'S NAMES, INITIALS,
AND DETAILS ABOUT A MURDER

IN THE MIDDLE
OF A DESOLATE VIRGINIA SWAMP.

ANOTHER REMARKABLE DISPLAY
OF SONIA'S PSYCHIC GIFTS.

A MYSTERIOUS LEGACY

OF THE LIGHTNING SHE ENCOUNTERED
DECADES EARLIER.

YOU CAN'T REALLY EXPLAIN IT

BECAUSE SOME THINGS
ARE INEXPLAINABLE.

THE LOGIC SAYS,
"THIS IS CRAZY,"

BUT THEN,
HOW DO THESE THINGS HAPPEN?