Strange Wilderness

Sometimes, we see things out of the corner of our eye, but it’s just a quick flicker, leading you simply think, “Okay brain, can we not?” Other times it happens in complete darkness, where you see odd shadows forming as you fall asleep, possibly in the corner or on the wall. Maybe they’re rising up at the foot of your bed, or worse, on the bed next to you. What if we told you it was all in your head... Quite literally? Would you believe that? Okay, what if we told you what you are seeing is a being of sorts known as a Shadow Person? Would you believe that? Today, we’re going to talk about Shadow People, and boy, is this going to be a fun ride.

Resources:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2013/10/30/241906619/seeing-in-the-pitch-dark-is-all-in-your-head

https://www.sleepfoundation.org/parasomnias/sleep-paralysis

https://www.science.org/content/article/illuminating-shadow-people

https://the-line-up.com/creepy-encounters-shadow-people

https://www.shadowpeople.org/

On a cool October day, in the fall of 1974, 41 year old Carl Higdon embarked on a weekend long hunting trip through the Medicine Bow National Forest in Carbon County, Wyoming. An experienced hunter in a new and unfamiliar area, Carl was amazed to note that the area was incredibly remote and seemed completely untouched by human presence. Upon encountering a group of deer, Carl would eventually come to find that his hunting trip would be cut short. For, as he fired on one of the deer, he would encounter a being not of this Earth. This being would then take Carl on an interstellar voyage, 163,000 lightyears from our pale blue dot. Today, let’s examine the case behind the being known as Ausso One.

This is a story many of you may be familiar with, considering it’s been covered by a certain man who enjoys force feeding the like button liver and artichoke birthday cake with a side of carbonated goat milk, but it’s also been viewed quite a bit on Reddit, accumulating almost 2000 upvotes since it was posted last year. It was posted to the LetsNotMeet subreddit, which is one of our favourite subreddits to browse when we're in the mood for some creepy, allegedly true stories. Anyway, this is a story that we're calling: “The Bell Man”.

Original Story written by Reddit user WilheimBaudelaire.

Welcome to the Archive, a bi-weekly series adding to the Strange Wilderness Podcast's catalogue of creepy content. Join Ginge and dive into cases lost to time, exploring the depths of true crime history. These cases stray toward the darker, terrifying, and mysterious, and as such won’t be for the faint of heart. But, if you enjoy listening to deep dives into all things true crime: Sit back, turn off the lights, and enjoy. In our introduction to this series, Ginge goes into the archives to explore the history, controversy and eerie encounters surrounding Cheesman Park.

Resources:

https://www.legendsofamerica.com/co-cheesemanpark/

https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/3ohkg9/best_cheesman_park_ghost_stories/

On a cold and dark December night in the winter of 1978, then 26 year old night watch security officer Pier Zanfretta was on a routine patrol along the streets of Torriglia, a village in the metropolitan city of Genoa in Italy, when he encountered something that would both confuse and terrify him. While investigating what he initially thought was an attempted break in at his client’s property, Zanfretta encountered the extraterrestrial. For, on this moonless night, Zanfretta would stumble on a group of what could only be described as grotesque creatures from out of this world. Today, let’s examine the first part in a series of horrific and potentially extraterrestrial events, also known as the Pier Zanfretta Encounter.

Hauntings don’t just happen in your home or at the local cemetery. In fact, one of the most common places are the roads we travel on almost every day. Whether it’s a highway, road, bridge, and so on, there’s bound to be a story or two. Today, we’re going to talk about a road from Ginge's home state called Jeremy Swamp Road, located in Southbury, Connecticut. There may be nothing to this, but there may be something sinister, or even paranormal, surrounding this road and many others on this strange planet we call home.

On the evening of October 11, 1973, Calvin Parker and Charles Hickson set out on a fishing excursion. They set up shop on their most resourceful fishing spot, located near an old shipyard in Pascagoula, Mississippi. The trip was standard fare for the men, as they were both experienced fishermen who had set out on similar trips numerous times before. However, on this October night, they would encounter something that would change their lives, and go down in history as one of the most credible UFO sightings and alien abductions. Today, let’s examine what is considered one of the most credible and traumatic extraterrestrial encounters, known as the Pascagoula Abduction.

There’s no question that there are a number of mysterious deaths that have occurred throughout history, some even featuring what could be considered supernatural elements or forces. Having said that, it is also possible that there may genuinely be a legitimate, real world, logical explanation behind these deaths, and the events that took place leading up to them are weird enough to cause people to look to the paranormal as the culprit. There is definitely a valid argument to be made in that direction. But when a healthy, good spirited and mild mannered man is found dead in his apartment, with a series of letters, as well as the scene itself painting a picture of curses and the occult, we are left with more questions than answers, especially when trying to use a logical approach to rationalize everything. This is the story surrounding the mysterious death of Christopher Case.

Resources:

https://www.bedtime-stories.uk/project/christopher-case-peculiar-death

http://www.spineonline.ca/screams-from-the-basement/2019/10/9/the-witch-that-killed-christopher-case

https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19910504&slug=1281135

https://mysteriousuniverse.org/2020/01/the-mysterious-paranormal-death-of-christopher-case/

Throughout recent history, there have been numerous stories detailing the alleged encounter and subsequent abductions by extraterrestrial forces that individuals have been the subject of. However, almost all these cases include a distinct lack of substantial, credible evidence, despite the fact that many leave their encounters with specific details, markings and implants on the body, as well as a variety of physical injuries. That said, if the case of Jim Sparks is to be believed, then what will be discussed today can be considered the only case of an individual being abducted, and returning with nearly 100 percent of their memories surrounding the ordeal. Today, let’s examine the story later dubbed: The Keepers.

In 1994, Debora Hoyt felt an incredibly strong pull to leave her family’s home and drive into the mountains. This journey, along with her husband would take them onto Highway 50 to a part known as Bullion Bend. Unbeknownst to her, a mother Christine and her child Nicky had gone missing about 5 days earlier. They’d left their home but never arrived at their destination, thus causing their relatives to report them missing. As Debora and her husband were coming up to Bullion Bend, she noticed something on the side of the road. As they grew closer, she realized that something was in fact a naked women lying on the side of the road who she believed to be dead. The series of events that follow are unexplained to this day, and may be one of the most credible instances of the phenomenon known as Guardian Angels.

Resources:

Unsolved Mysteries - Season 9, Episode 15

https://edcadventures.com/magazines/adventures-2016-winter-1994-ghostly-apparition-saves-sons-life-near-pollock-pines/