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 by VITAC -- www.vitac.com
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!
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 ]