TOP THREE UNSOLVED MYSTERIES OF 2025

2025 has been a year full of technological breakthroughs, geopolitical shifts, and scientific discoveries. Yet, amidst all the progress, a few chilling mysteries have emerged that continue to puzzle experts and captivate the public. Here are the top three unsolved mysteries of the year:

1. The Disappearance of Daniel Dadfar

In June 2025, Daniel "Danny" Dadfar vanished in Redding, California under circumstances that remain unexplained. His car was discovered abandoned near Sequoia Middle School, with his wallet and phone still inside. No surveillance footage captured the vehicle being parked, and no signs of foul play were found. Despite extensive searches and appeals to the public, no credible leads have surfaced. The case has drawn national attention, with many speculating about possible abduction, foul play, or even voluntary disappearance. Yet, the truth remains elusive.

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2. The Alien Countdown and 3I/ATLAS

A mysterious interstellar object named 3I/ATLAS entered our solar system in early 2025, exhibiting behavior that defies known physics—such as sudden speed changes and directional shifts. Some theorists believe the object is under intelligent control, possibly signaling extraterrestrial contact. Theories have intensified due to unexplained electromagnetic signals and a spike in UAP sightings near military installations. NASA has maintained a calm stance, but the lack of transparency has only fueled speculation. With November 2025 rumored to be a key date for "disclosure," the world watches with bated breath.

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3. The Reopened Cold Case of Kathy Wilson

The murder of Kathy Wilson, originally investigated in 1989, was reopened in 2025 after a new witness came forward with a tip. Her skeletal remains had been found in the Pennsylvania Wilds, and the case had gone cold after a trial ended in acquittal. The renewed investigation has sparked interest in other unsolved cases in the region, with local author James T. Baumgratz documenting over 40 such mysteries. The Wilson case stands out for its eerie longevity and the possibility that a long-overlooked clue could finally bring justice.

These mysteries remind us that even in an age of advanced technology and global connectivity, some questions remain unanswered. Whether they are solved in the coming months or continue to haunt us for years, they have already left a lasting mark on 2025.

WHERE ARE THE BONES OF BIGFOOT?

It’s a question that lingers in the minds of skeptics and believers alike. A question whispered around campfires, debated in online forums, and pondered by anyone who’s ever been captivated by the legend of Bigfoot:

Let’s imagine for a moment that Bigfoot does exist — a towering, elusive creature roaming the misty forests of the Pacific Northwest or the shadowy hollows of the Appalachian Mountains. Surely, at some point, one of them must have died. And yet, no skeletons. No skulls. Not even a femur.

So where are they?

Nature has a way of cleaning up after itself. In the wild, death is not a static event — it’s a process. When an animal dies, its body becomes part of the ecosystem almost immediately. Scavengers arrive first, followed by insects, bacteria, and fungi. Within weeks, soft tissue is gone. Within months or years, even bones can break down, especially in damp, acidic soil like that found in many of Bigfoot’s supposed habitats.

It’s not uncommon for hikers to go their entire lives without stumbling across the bones of a bear, a cougar, or even a deer. So if Bigfoot is rare — and perhaps intelligent enough to avoid detection — it’s not so far-fetched to think its remains might vanish without a trace.

Now picture the kind of places Bigfoot is said to inhabit: vast, rugged, and remote. These are not your average hiking trails. We’re talking about deep wilderness — places where GPS signals fade and human footprints are few and far between.

If a Bigfoot were to die in such a place, the odds of someone finding its remains are astronomically low. And even if someone did stumble upon a bone or two, would they recognize it for what it was? Or would it be mistaken for a bear, a moose, or simply left behind?

Over the years, there have been countless claims of Bigfoot hair, scat, and even blood. But none have held up under scientific scrutiny. DNA tests usually come back as bear, human, or inconclusive. Without bones or fossils, science has nothing solid to work with — and that’s a problem for those hoping to prove Bigfoot’s existence. Skeptics argue that this lack of physical evidence is the strongest case against Bigfoot. After all, how could a species — especially one so large — leave behind no trace of its dead?

And then there are the whispers. The stories that suggest someone knows the truth — and is hiding it. Some believe governments or shadowy organizations are suppressing evidence of Bigfoot to avoid public panic, protect the creature, or for reasons more mysterious still. There’s no proof of such cover-ups, of course. But in the world of cryptids, the absence of evidence often fuels the fire rather than extinguishing it.

In the end, the mystery of Bigfoot’s missing bones might be exactly what keeps the legend alive. It’s the unanswered questions, the what-ifs, the tantalizing possibility that just beyond the next ridge, something ancient and unknown still walks among the trees.

And maybe — just maybe — the bones are out there, waiting to be found...

THE MYSTERY OF SANTA CLAUS: A LEGEND THAT REFUSES TO DIE

Every Christmas Eve, millions of children around the world go to bed believing in a man who defies time, space, and logic. He travels the globe in a single night, slides down chimneys, and leaves gifts beneath trees. His name is Santa Claus—and while he’s a symbol of joy and generosity, his origins are wrapped in layers of mystery that span centuries.

The story begins with St. Nicholas of Myra, a 4th-century bishop known for his kindness and secret gift-giving. He reportedly saved three impoverished sisters from slavery by dropping bags of gold down their chimney—an act that would echo through time. After his death, tales of his miracles spread across Europe, and he became the patron saint of children.

But how did a solemn bishop become the jolly figure in a red suit?

In the 1800s, Dutch settlers brought the legend of “Sinterklaas” to America. Writers like Washington Irving and Clement Clarke Moore reshaped him into a magical gift-giver. Moore’s 1823 poem, “A Visit from St. Nicholas” (better known as “’Twas the Night Before Christmas”), introduced the sleigh, reindeer, and chimney descent. Yet even Moore’s poem left questions: How could one man visit every home in one night? Where did he live? How did he know who was naughty or nice?

In the 20th century, Coca-Cola’s advertising campaigns cemented Santa’s modern image—rosy cheeks, twinkling eyes, and a red suit. But the mystery deepened. NORAD began tracking Santa’s flight in 1955, claiming radar detection of an unidentified sleigh-shaped object. Each year, they report his progress across the globe, adding a surreal layer of official recognition to the myth.

Despite the commercialization, Santa remains elusive. No one has ever seen him in action. Children leave out cookies and milk, and somehow, gifts appear. Parents play along, but even they can’t explain how the tradition persists so powerfully, generation after generation.

Psychologists suggest Santa is a cultural construct—a way to teach morality, reward kindness, and preserve wonder. But others see something deeper: a shared mystery that unites people across languages and borders. In a world often divided, Santa is a universal figure of hope.

And so, each Christmas, the mystery continues. Is Santa real? Where does he come from? How does he do it?

No one knows for sure. But perhaps that’s the point. In believing, we keep the magic alive...

VISITORS AT CHRISTMAS: SANTA OR UFOS?

It was Christmas Eve, and the world was wrapped in quiet anticipation. Snow fell gently across rooftops, and the glow of holiday lights shimmered in windows. But in the skies above, something else stirred—something not found in any carol or Christmas tale.

In 1971, over Cam Ranh Bay in Vietnam, a U.S. Air Force airman stood watch under a star-filled sky. The war had dulled the magic of the season, but that night, something extraordinary happened. A brilliant light streaked across the sky, stopped mid-air, and hovered silently. It wasn’t a flare, nor a plane. It was something else—something that defied explanation. The airman kept the sighting to himself for years, fearing ridicule, but he never forgot the way it moved, as if watching.

Four years later, in Alamogordo, New Mexico, another serviceman named Charles L. Moody had a Christmas Eve encounter that would haunt him forever. He saw a glowing object descend from the sky, and as he approached, everything went dark. Hours passed, and when he awoke, he was alone—confused, disoriented, and missing time. He would later claim he had been taken aboard a craft, examined, and returned. His story became one of the most detailed accounts of an alleged abduction in UFO lore.

In more recent years, the sightings continued.

On Christmas Eve in 2012, a couple driving through Kanata, Ontario, spotted a square-shaped object with pulsating red lights. It hovered above the trees, silent and still, before vanishing into the night. They pulled over, shaken, unable to explain what they had seen.

Five years later, in Quebec, a driver witnessed a triangular craft with visible turbines flying overhead in the early hours of Christmas Day. It emitted a flash—like a camera—and disappeared without a sound. The witness described it as mechanical, not magical, and unlike anything known to aviation.

Even across the Atlantic, strange lights appeared. In Germany, on Christmas Eve 2011, hundreds of people reported glowing orbs moving across the sky. The lights were later identified as space debris from a Soyuz rocket, but for those who saw them, the moment felt otherworldly.

Researchers like Chris Rutkowski and organizations like MUFON have noted a curious trend: UFO sightings spike during the holidays. Perhaps it’s because people are outside more, looking up at the stars. Or maybe, in a season filled with wonder and mystery, we’re simply more open to the unknown.

Whatever the reason, the skies of Christmas have long held secrets. And while some may dismiss the sightings as tricks of light or festive imagination, others believe that something truly extraordinary visits us—not just in sleighs, but in silence, from the stars...

HOLIDAY MYSTERIES: THE CHRISTMAS TREE LADY

On December 19, 1996, a woman who became known as "The Christmas Tree Lady" was discovered dead, lying on a plastic sheet in Annandale, Virginia at the Pleasant Valley Memorial Park cemetery. She was approximately 60 years old and had never been identified.

Police discovered beside her body a Christmas tree, a tape player, and a note that read: "Deceased by own hand...prefer no autopsy" and was signed "Jane Doe."

The note also requested that she be cremated and included money to cover the cost. Her cause of death was ruled as asphyxiation and investigators believed she had taken her own life. However, for almost two decades, nobody came forward to identify Jane Doe and the motivation behind her death remains unknown.

Earlier this year, DNA and genealogy research led to "The Christmas Tree Lady" being identified. She was Joyce Marilyn Meyer Sommers, originally from Davenport, Iowa. She was the oldest of five siblings, according to DNASolves.com.

At the time of her death, Meyer had not been reported missing and did not have family in the immediate area. Relatives had hired a private detective to look for her but had no success...

NEWS BREAK: HOLLYWOOD CHRISTMAS PARTY HORROR

It was meant to be an evening of good cheer.

A group of powerful Hollywood creatives and executives gathered on Saturday night for a holiday party at the home of Conan O’Brien. The estate is nestled in a section of the Pacific Palisades spared by the fires that decimated the affluent neighborhood almost a year prior.

O’Brien had to evacuate during that terrifying time. For him and the guests in attendance, this was a chance to shake off the bad mojo of 2025 and look toward a happier and more hopeful new year.

But as the night progressed, a different kind of dark energy filled the room.

An erratic male figure wandered around the party and interrupted conversations, demanding to know who attendees were and if they were “famous.” Many, like Jane Fonda and Bill Hader, in fact were.

Whispers begin to ripple. The imposing man — 6-foot-3, approximately 230 pounds — had not wandered in off the street, though many wondered if he had. The man was the son of Rob and Michele Reiner.

His name was Nick. He was troubled. A lifetime of drug issues. Compassion was quietly urged. Sympathies and concerns for his parents, one of whom was a Hollywood giant, were expressed.

Nick’s name was not on the invitation. But his parents asked O’Brien if he could tag along. His behavior, which had often been extreme and stressful, had grown degrees even more concerning in recent weeks. They were reluctant to leave him home alone, in the guesthouse of their Brentwood home, where he was currently living under their watchful supervision.

Nick kept on interrupting the guests and he broke in to a private conversation that comedian Bill Hader was having. Hader calmly responded to Nick that he was engaged in a private conversation, according to someone with knowledge of the situation. Nick glared at him for what felt like an uncomfortable amount of time.

Some time later, shouts echoed. All conversations stopped and turned toward the racket. Two men, arguing. It was Rob and his son, having it out over Nick’s asocial and unsettling behavior.

Minutes later, the Reiners, mortified, apologized to O’Brien and left the party. It has not been determined if Nick left with them. The conversational din returned to the room, but the mood of the evening was altered.

At 4 a.m., Nick checked into the Pierside Santa Monica, where staff later discovered a shower “full of blood” and bedsheets hanging over the window.

Rob and Michele were discovered slain, victims of knife wounds, in their home at 3:30 p.m. Sunday by their daughter, Romy.

Time of death has yet to be determined. But according to law enforcement, they had already been dead for several hours, and could have been killed as early as Saturday night or early Sunday morning, once they returned from O’Brien’s party.

Nick, 32, was later taken into custody at a subway station in Exposition Park near USC, 15 miles from his parents’ home. Prosecutors said on Tuesday they intend to charge him with two counts of first degree murder with special circumstances in the death of his parents. Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman said his office has not yet decided whether to pursue the death penalty or life in prison without the possibility of parole in the criminal murder case...

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF GLENN MILLER

December 15, 1944. The war in Europe was grinding toward its climax. Paris had been liberated, and Allied forces were pushing eastward. Amid the chaos, music still found its way into the hearts of soldiers—none more so than the swing of Glenn Miller, whose orchestra had become the soundtrack of wartime America.

Major Glenn Miller, once the king of the big band era, had traded his tuxedo for a military uniform. His mission: to boost morale among troops through music. That day, he was scheduled to fly from RAF Twinwood Farm in Bedfordshire, England, to Paris, where his Army Air Forces Band was preparing a Christmas performance for the troops.

The aircraft was a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman, a small, single-engine plane. It lifted off into the foggy afternoon sky with three souls aboard: Miller, pilot John Morgan, and Lt. Col. Norman Baessell. The weather was poor—visibility low, temperatures freezing. And then, somewhere over the English Channel, the plane vanished.

No distress call. No wreckage. No survivors.

The world was stunned. Glenn Miller, the man behind “In the Mood,” “Moonlight Serenade,” and “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” had disappeared without a trace.
Theories and Speculation

In the absence of answers, theories bloomed like wildflowers:

Friendly Fire: One popular theory suggested the Norseman was accidentally struck by bombs jettisoned by returning RAF bombers. But later evidence, including a teenage plane spotter’s diary, indicated Miller’s flight path didn’t intersect with the bombers. 

Espionage and Secret Missions: Some believed Miller was on a covert diplomatic mission, sent by Eisenhower to negotiate with Nazi officials. Others whispered of a death in a Parisian bordello—scandalous and unsubstantiated. 

Mechanical Failure: The most credible explanation came decades later. Dennis Spragg, a researcher with the Glenn Miller Archive, uncovered long-forgotten military documents. They pointed to a tragic but mundane cause: the plane’s fuel lines likely froze mid-flight, causing the engine to fail. The Norseman, made of lightweight materials, would have disintegrated on impact with the icy waters. 

Though Miller’s body was never recovered, his legacy endured. His music continued to echo through the decades, a reminder of joy in dark times. President Truman and General Eisenhower paid tribute to him. His widow, Helen, received his Bronze Star in 1945.

And while the mystery of his disappearance may never be fully solved, the story of Glenn Miller remains one of the most poignant chapters in the annals of wartime history—a tale of swing, sacrifice, and silence over the sea...

FINAL CUT: THE MYSTERY BEHIND ROB REINER'S MURDER

On December 14, Hollywood was shaken to its core. Rob Reiner—the legendary director behind When Harry Met Sally, A Few Good Men, and Stand By Me—was found dead in his Brentwood home alongside his wife, Michele Singer Reiner. Both had suffered fatal stab wounds. The news spread like wildfire, leaving fans and industry insiders stunned.

Police have classified the case as an apparent double homicide. The LAPD’s Robbery-Homicide Division is leading the investigation, but details remain scarce. No arrests have been made, and no official suspects have been named. The home showed no signs of forced entry, fueling speculation that the killer was someone they knew.

Reiner wasn’t just a director—he was a storyteller who shaped generations of cinema. His sudden, violent death feels like a cruel twist in a narrative no one saw coming. Tributes poured in from across the globe, with Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and countless Hollywood figures expressing grief and disbelief.

As the investigation unfolds, rumors swirl. Was this a targeted attack? A robbery gone wrong? Or something far more personal? Several media outlets have reported, citing unnamed sources, that Nick Reiner, the couple’s son, is a person of interest. These claims remain unverified—the LAPD has not publicly named a suspect or made an arrest. Officials have stated only that the case is ongoing and no one is in custody. Nick’s past struggles with addiction have been mentioned in some reports, adding fuel to speculation. But until law enforcement confirms, these remain rumors—not facts.

For now, the case remains shrouded in mystery. Hollywood waits for answers, but one thing is certain: the final chapter of Rob Reiner’s life has left a haunting question mark...

HOLIDAY MYSTERIES: THE MISSING SODDER CHILDREN

On Christmas Eve in 1945, five children from the large Sodder family disappeared and were never seen again.

Their family home in Fayetteville, West Virginia was the site of a huge fire and while parents George and Jennie and four of their children managed to escape the burning building, five of their children were unaccounted for, and their remains were never recovered.

They were 4-year-old Maurice Sodder, 12-year-old Martha, 9-year-old Louis, 8-year-old Jennie, and 5-year-old Betty.

In a strange and upsetting twist of events, a significant amount of unexplained problems arose when George Sodder tried to rescue his children, including a ladder being missing, windows not opening and no operator at the fire station working that night.

How the fire started and what happened to the Sodder children remains unknown today but according to several true-crime podcasts such as Casefile True Crime, a possible motive relates to George's criticism of Italian fascist leader, Benito Mussolini. George was an Italian immigrant and his opposition made him a vulnerable target of the Sicilian mafia.

George demolished the house before it could be established whether his children were dead or missing.

According to the Press, the surviving Sodder family believed for the rest of their lives that their relatives had survived the fire. A billboard was erected in the 1950s with images of the children, and a reward was offered for information. It remained standing until Jennie Sodder's death in 1989...

THE STRANGE MURDER OF MARTHA MCKAY

Martha McKay, a member of the Snowden family, was found dead on a Wednesday morning in 2020 at the historic Snowden house in Horseshoe Lake, Arkansas. The alleged suspect, Travis Santay Lewis, had been convicted of killing Martha’s mother Sally Snowden McKay and her mother’s nephew Lee Baker in September 1996. He was paroled in 2018. When police responded to the scene on Wednesday, Lewis jumped into the lake and never resurfaced. His body was later recovered. The Crittenden County Sheriff’s Office is investigating.

Martha McKay, 63, a member of the Snowden family, was found dead on Wednesday inside the colonial-style house at Horseshoe Lake in Crittenden County, Arkansas.

The intruder, later identified as 39-year-old Travis Santay Lewis, ran to a nearby car and attempted to drive away, but authorities said the vehicle got stuck in the yard. That’s when Lewis ran from the car and ran into the lake.

“He was observed going under the water and never came back up,” Sheriff Allen said in a news release. “The Arkansas Game and Fish and Crittenden County Search and Rescue were called, and Game and Fish used their sonar equipment and Search and Rescue was able to locate and recover the body of the suspect.”

The bodies of the victim and the suspect have been sent to the Arkansas Medical Examiner’s Office for cause and manner of death.

According to Sheriff Allen, Lewis was 16 when he pleaded guilty to the September 10, 1996 Horseshoe Lake murders of Martha’s mother, Sally Snowden McKay, and Sally’s nephew, Joseph Lee Baker, who was a well-known Memphis blues/rock guitarist. It was believed Lewis shot Sally and Lee because they startled him as he attempted to rob the house. The building was then set on fire, Sheriff Allen added.Travis Santay LewisCrittenden County Sheriff

Lewis was sentenced to 28 ½ years in prison and ordered to serve at least 70 percent of it, according to the plea bargain. After spending 23 years behind bars, Lewis was paroled in 2018, Sheriff Allen said.

Martha McKay, who moved to Horseshoe Lake from San Francisco after her mother’s murder, had turned Snowden House into a high-end bed-and-breakfast and wedding venue.

“I met her a few times and she was a nice, interesting lady. She really restored that place back to its original beauty,” Sheriff Allen said. “It’s such a tragedy, and, well, mind-boggling that a 16-year-old would commit these murders and then you know, allegedly come back and do something so horrible again.”

Sheriff Allen told the press there were reports that Martha had been in touch with Travis Lewis during his time in prison, as well as after he was released.

“I think it was her mission to find out what happened to her mother, and to find out if someone else was involved,” Sheriff Allen said.

Unfortunately, what started as Martha's quest for redemption for a prisoner turned into tragedy...

VIDEO BREAK: THE LOBSTER BOY SAGA

THE MURDER OF THE LOBSTER BOY

Grady Franklin Stiles Jr. was an American freak show performer whose life ended in murder. He was born with the genetic condition ectrodactyly; his fingers and toes were fused together to form claw-like extremities, earning him the stage name "Lobster Boy."

Stiles was the fourth generation of his family to be born with the malformation. For the Stiles family, this condition spelled opportunity rather than handicap, as they had performed in circuses since the 1800s. Born in Pittsburgh in 1937, Grady joined his father's established "freak show" circuit.

Beyond his circus career, Stiles had a dark side marked by violence and alcoholism. In 1978, he shot and killed his daughter's 19-year-old fiancé, Jack Layne, on the eve of their wedding. Stiles disapproved of the engagement and gunned down Layne on the family's front porch. Despite the cold-blooded nature of the crime, he was convicted only of third-degree murder and sentenced to 15 years probation, as no prison could accommodate his disability.

His violent behaviour continued throughout his life with systematic abuse of his family. Stiles was verbally and physically abusive to everyone in the community and random strangers, constantly hitting, choking, and head-butting people out of anger. He would use his upper body strength to violently throw himself on the floor, then use his claw-like fingers as weapons to choke, beat and slam his wife and children in the face, often targeting their eyes.

When he returned to drinking, all three children and his wife Mary were beaten with belts and threatened with murder, with Stiles telling Mary, "I'm going to kill you but the timing's just not right."

In 1992, Teresa, together with her son from a previous marriage, Harry Glenn Newman Jr., hired a seventeen-year-old sideshow performer named Chris Wyant to kill Stiles for $1,500 (equivalent to $3,361 in 2024). As Stiles smoked a cigarette on the sofa while watching the video Monkey Boy, Wyant entered his home with a semi-automatic pistol and shot him in the head twice, killing him. Stiles was reportedly widely disliked in his community, so much so that only 10 people came to his funeral, and nobody volunteered as a pallbearer to carry his coffin.

Stiles' son, Grady Stiles III, disputes the claim that Mary Teresa had him murdered. According to him, his mother, Mary Teresa, and father were arguing. Mary Teresa had said 'Something needs to be done.' Teresa's son overheard this, and went to a neighbor and repeated those words. Mary Teresa was convicted of manslaughter; Harry Newman Jr. was convicted of first-degree murder and received a life sentence, and Wyant was convicted of second-degree murder and received a 27-year sentence....

THE THANKSGIVING BOMBING OF 1985

On the night of November 28th, 1985, several members of the Blount Family had gathered at a family trailer in the Hilltop Mobile Home Park that lay in the suburbs of Fort Worth, Texas. The gathering consisted of Joe Blount, a skilled mechanic, Joe’s wife Susan, Robert who was Joe and Susan’s teenaged son, Joe’s daughter Angela, Joe’s brother Carl Blount and Carl’s estranged son Michael Columbus.

The family sat down and ate dinner between 4 and 5pm, after dinner was finished, Carl went home. At 9pm that night Susan went for a lie down while Joe drove Angela, Robert and Michael to a local convenience store about half a mile away so the kids could grab ice-creams, and he could pick up some beer.

While the others were out, Susan later said she heard a knock at the door but when she looked outside, she didn’t see anyone and went back to sleep. When the others returned to the trailer around 20 minutes after they had left, they found a tan briefcase sitting at the door. The three teenagers were excited that the briefcase might contain valuables or money and brought it inside. At a minimum, they figured they could find out who it belonged to and return it. Angela immediately set it down in the living room, opened it and the bomb inside detonated.

Joe Blount aged 44, Angela aged 15 and Michael aged 18 were all killed instantly by the blast.

Even though a suspect was tried and convicted, they were eventually cleared of all charges and the case remains unsolved to this day.

Who bombed the Blount family? As of today, the case remains unsolved, though investigators do believe that it was a targeted attack, probably related to drug activity that was happening in the mobile home community, that accidentally landed on the Blount’s porch...

JIMMY CARTER AND HIS UFO STORY

Jimmy Carter, United States president from 1977 until 1981, reported seeing an unidentified flying object while at Leary, Georgia, in 1969. While serving as governor of Georgia, Carter was asked (on September 14, 1973) by the International UFO Bureau in Oklahoma City to file a report of the sighting, and he filed a statement on September 18, mailed September 20. Since its writing, the report has been discussed several times by both ufologists and by members of the mainstream media.

One evening in 1969, two years before he became Governor of Georgia, Carter was preparing to give a speech at a Lions Club meeting. He reported that at about 7:15 pm, one of the guests called his attention to a strange bright white object, about as bright as the moon, that was about 30 degrees above the horizon to the west of where they were standing. It moved toward their direction, but stopped beyond a stand of pine trees some distance from them. The object then changed color, first to blue, then to red, then back to white, before appearing to recede into the distance.

Carter felt that the object was self-illuminated, and not solid in nature. Carter's report indicates that it was witnessed by about 10 or 12 other people, and was in view for 10 to 12 minutes before it passed out of sight.

In 1973, Carter reiterated:
"There were about twenty of us standing outside of a little restaurant, I believe, a high school lunch room, and a kind of green light appeared in the western sky. This was right after sundown. It got brighter and brighter. And then it eventually disappeared. It didn't have any solid substance to it, it was just a very peculiar-looking light. None of us could understand what it was."

Speaking in a 2005 interview, Carter said:

"All of a sudden, one of the men looked up and said, 'Look, over in the west!' And there was a bright light in the sky. We all saw it. And then the light, it got closer and closer to us. And then it stopped, I don't know how far away, but it stopped beyond the pine trees. And all of a sudden it changed color to blue, and then it changed to red, then back to white. And we were trying to figure out what in the world it could be, and then it receded into the distance."

The exact date on which the sighting occurred has been called into question by investigators. According to the report that he filed with the International UFO Bureau four years after the incident, Carter saw the UFO in October 1969. However, investigators have cited Lions Club records as evidence that it occurred nine months earlier.

According to a meeting report that he filed with the Lions Club, Carter gave his Leary speech on January 6, 1969, not in October. The setting of his January meeting as described in his report to the Lions Club also matches the setting that he would later describe to the media when speaking about his sighting. His report to the Lions Club made no mention of the sighting itself...

MYSTERIOUS CREATURES: PENNSYLVANIA

Monsters. Creatures. Unexplained animals. People report them in the forest all the time. Though they go by several names, the most all-inclusive one is “cryptids.” The field of discovering them is known as cryptozoology. And for anyone interested in cryptozoology, Pennsylvania is an excellent place. Not only are there a lot of sightings but the sheer variety of creatures is impressive.

No matter what area of the state you’re in, there’s some sort of local cryptid to watch for. They range from the popular to the obscure, all of them on a scale of more-or-less likely to exist, though none of them have yet been proven.

BIGFOOT

Arguably the most well-known cryptid is Bigfoot, who clearly loves the attention, and Pennsylvania is no stranger to Bigfoot sightings. One of the likely areas to spot Bigfoot is near the border of Centre and Clinton Counties.

“I saw something in Beech Creek in February of 2023,” said Sonia Rodriguez, of Clinton County. “It was huge, maybe 10 feet tall.”

While Rodriguez was driving home from work, she spotted the shape of what may have been Bigfoot, thrown into relief by the local streetlights. She described it as very clearly defined, not blurry, and of an impressive size.

“I see this dark silhouette,” she said. “It took two steps, and I was shocked. It was huge! I was like, all panicking.”

Bigfoot has repeatedly been spotted in that area, including multiple sightings in Bald Eagle State Park, because Bigfoot enjoys a recreational campout as much as anyone else.

THE SQUONK

The Squonk is a uniquely Pennsylvania cryptid, first appearing in the 1910 book “Fearsome Creatures of the Lumberwoods.” Described as an ugly pig-like creature living in the hemlock forests, the Squonk cries almost continuously. The Squonk was said to have emigrated from a desert area to Pennsylvania, and avoids people, because it knows how ugly it is. If you happen to see a Squonk while hiking, stop and give the poor thing a hug. It needs one.

GIWOGGLE

Clinton County has an official monster, and its name is the Giwoggle. The Giwoggle was from rural legends told by Belle Confer of Keating Township to her grandchildren. One of them, George Rhone, grew up to write these in “Keystone Folklore Quarterly” in 1956.

A werewolf-like creature, the Giwoggle had the hands of a bird and the feet of a horse, confusing anyone attempting to track it. According to the legends, they could be conjured by the local witches and were seen throughout Clinton and Clearfield Counties.

In July of 2011, the Clinton County Commissioners decreed the Giwoggle to be the official monster of the county. Not that there was a whole lot of competition.

                                  

THE JERSEY DEVIL

The Jersey Devil? But this is an article about Pennsylvania cryptids! What’s a creature from New Jersey doing here?

The Jersey Devil, a flying monster sighted in New Jersey, has been known to travel into Pennsylvania occasionally. In 1909, it was reportedly seen in Williamsport and Lock Haven.

On January 28, 1909, the Clinton Democrat reported that the Jersey Devil had been seen in Williamsport. The article said,”The footprints appear in the snow in the rear yard of a West Fourth Street residence, first on one side of the tennis net and then the other. It is reported that the same mysterious tracks were discovered on the golf links north of the city.”

A few days later, the Lock Haven Express reported that the Jersey Devil had been spotted on the roof of a Grove Street house by resident Charles Poorman, who later propped a ladder up and allowed people to see the tracks in the snow on his roof. The Express reported,”Several persons have again come forward with statements that they saw this strange creature, which has sent terror into the hearts of the timid.” And it just goes to show that even the Jersey Devil prefers Pennsylvania to New Jersey sometimes.

THE POTTER

One of the most obscure cryptids was said to inhabit southern Potter County, according to articles in the “Potter Enterprise” in the spring of 1897. Described as a hairy, bipedal creature about six feet tall, it was said to have tusks that measured six or seven inches long.

“It is also reported that a fisherman was run out of Nelson Run by some kind of animal,” reported the Enterprise on April 12. “The animal stood upon its hind feet and struck its breast with its forepaws, causing a noise like a roll of many drums, and screamed like a panther.”

Later, resident William Butler had come forward with information. The newspaper said, “Though under the circumstances his eyes might have magnified a little, he thinks the animal was fully six feet high when standing on its hind legs. It was quite hairy about the head and had tusks from six to seven inches long, which the animal seemed proud to show, and another such mouth was never seen.”

The newspaper gave the creature its name, stating, “Bill looked at the Potter County Nondescript fully a minute or more.”

MORBIT TIDBITS: FAMILY FEUD MURDER

During an episode of Family Feud in 2020, contestant Tim Bliefnick joked that his biggest regret in life was marrying his wife. Three years later, in February of 2023, he sh*t and k*lled her, firing a total of 14 times...

In May, Timothy Bliefnick was convicted of first-degree murder and home invasion in the Feb. 23 attack in Quincy. In August of 2024, Judge Robert Adrian sentenced the defendant to spend his life behind bars, essentially the state's toughest punishment.

“Mr. Bliefnick, you researched this murder, you planned this murder, you practiced this murder," the circuit court judge said. "You broke into her house and you shot her one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 times."

THE MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF THOMAS INCE

The mystery surrounding the death of silent-era film producer Thomas Ince revolves around the conflicting reports and rumors surrounding his death in November 1924, after falling ill on a yacht owned by William Randolph Hearst. While the official cause of death was heart failure, the circumstances, including the presence of Hearst's mistress Marion Davies and Charlie Chaplin, led to speculation that Ince was accidentally shot by a jealous Hearst or died from foul play, though no official charges were ever filed.

Ince revolutionized the motion picture industry by creating the first major Hollywood studio facility and invented movie production by introducing the "assembly line" system of filmmaking. He was the first mogul to build his own film studio, dubbed "Inceville" in Palisades Highlands. Ince was also instrumental in developing the role of the producer in motion pictures. Three of his films, The Italian (1915), for which he wrote the screenplay, Hell's Hinges (1916) and Civilization (1916), which he directed, were selected for preservation by the National Film Registry. He later entered into a partnership with D. W. Griffith and Mack Sennett to form the Triangle Motion Picture Company, whose studios are the present-day site of Sony Pictures.

 Ince became ill on November 19, 1924, while aboard Hearst's yacht, the Oneida, during a trip intended to celebrate Ince's 42nd birthday. Guests on the yacht included Hearst's mistress, actress Marion Davies, and her close friend Charlie Chaplin. Ince became violently ill, was taken off the yacht in San Diego, and died three days later. The official report stated Ince died from heart failure, possibly related to acute indigestion. Media reports initially circulated that Ince had been shot.

A prominent theory suggested that a jealous William Randolph Hearst, concerned about his mistress Marion Davies' relationship with Charlie Chaplin, attempted to shoot Chaplin but accidentally shot Ince instead. Confusion surrounding the events and a lack of communication from those on board fueled speculation about a cover-up. The District Attorney of San Diego, Chester C. Kempley, investigated the death and publicly stated that Ince died of heart failure caused by indigestion.  Despite the extensive rumors of murder, no charges were ever filed.

Years later, Hearst spoke to a journalist about the rumor that he had murdered Ince. "Not only am I innocent of this Ince murder," he said, "So is everybody else." Nell herself was increasingly frustrated over the rumors surrounding her husband's death and remarked: "Do you think I would have done nothing if I even suspected that my husband had been victim of foul play on anyone's part?" Still, the myth of Ince's death overshadowed his reputation as a pioneering filmmaker and his role in the growth of the film industry. His studio was sold soon after he died. His final film, Enticement, a romance set in the French Alps, was released posthumously in 1925.

The true story of Ince's final days remains a subject of debate and mystery, inspiring books and films like the 2002 movie The Cat's Meow. Ince's untimely death at the height of his career marked a significant shift in the industry, accelerating the decline of independent producers as the studio system consolidated power...

THE DISAPPEARANCE OF JENNIFER KESSE

On 24 January 2006, the life of 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse took a mysterious and tragic turn in Central Florida. Jennifer was a vibrant young woman with a promising career, a loving family, and a steady relationship. On the evening of 23 January, she left work around 6:00 pm and later spoke with both her father and her boyfriend before going to bed. By all accounts, nothing seemed unusual. However, the next morning she failed to show up for work, which was completely out of character for her. Concerned, her family rushed to her Orlando apartment and found everything seemingly normal—her belongings neatly in place, with no signs of struggle. The only thing missing was Jennifer herself and her car.

A few days later, investigators located her car abandoned about a mile away from her apartment. Security cameras from the area captured footage of an unknown individual parking the vehicle and walking away. Frustratingly, the images were obscured by a fence post, leaving the figure unidentifiable. This grainy video became one of the most haunting elements of the case, as it suggested someone else had been behind the wheel, yet their identity has remained a mystery.

Despite extensive searches, interviews, and media appeals, no clear answers have emerged. Friends, family, and investigators have combed through every lead, yet Jennifer’s fate remains unresolved nearly two decades later. Her disappearance has drawn national attention and sparked conversations about personal safety, missing persons investigations, and the anguish of families left without closure.
The case of Jennifer Kesse is a chilling reminder of how someone can vanish without explanation in the middle of an ordinary day. For her loved ones, the hope for answers endures, as they continue to seek justice and keep her memory alive in the absence of truth...

UNSOLVED FLASHBACK: JANUARY 14, 1982

On January 14, 1982, 11-year-old Jon Michael Dabkowski and 10-year-old Gabriel Minarcin disappeared while walking the short distance between their homes in Tarentum, Pennsylvania. Jon(11) and Gabriel(10) were school friends, and they lived 3 houses away from each other. The boys were at Jon's house for dinner. When they were done eating, they decided to take the short walk to Gabriel's house to play around 5:30pm.

Jon's mother became worried when Jon did not return around 8:30pm. Assuming her son was still at his friend's house, she called the Minarcin home to discover that neither of the boys had made it to Gabriel's house at all that night.

It was reported that a neighbor had seen them walking across the ice of the Allegheny River earlier that night. When police investigated, they determined that all sets of footprints on the ice returned to the shore safely (except Jon's page on Charleyproject claims that no footprints were found leading away from the river bank)

Regardless, divers and police searched the river just to turn up nothing. Weeks, months, years went by. 42 years later, and no evidence has ever been found of either boys. (Minus a man that had stolen Jon's identity in 1998, who coincidentally had the same handwriting as Jon).

Police do not agree on what happened to them. It is most likely believed the boys drowned in the river, or that they were abducted by someone.

Jon's father, Johnathan Dabkowski, died in 2012. Jon's mother still hasn't given up hope, but all I saw on the Minarcin family is that they moved to a remote location in California years ago. The Minarcin home in Tarentum was torn down. They declined to participate in a DNA sample update in recent years. Seems like they just want to move on. I don't have the impression that they are guilty of anything, but I could be wrong. There's limited info...

MYSTERIOUS ORBS AT MILITARY BASES

Pentagon baffled by 8,000 mysterious UFO orbs hovering over US military bases. An invasion of small metallic orbs has been spotted hovering over the US in recent years, leaving the Pentagon scrambling to identify these mysterious UFOs.

A new report from the crowdsourced platform Enigma, which allows people to report sightings of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), reveals more than 8,000 sightings across the US between December 2022 and June 2025.

Among these, 422 reports specifically describe metallic orbs, with the majority observed between 1am and 4am near military installations in New York, California, and Arizona.

Eyewitnesses, including civilians, pilots, and military personnel, reported seeing the spheres hover silently before moving at extreme speeds, leaving no trace of their departure. Some of the sightings have been captured on video or radar, though many remain unexplained.

'I was walking into work when I looked up and saw two metallic liquid-like objects hovering for about two minutes,' said one witness over Brooklyn's Fort Hamilton in June 2024.

Another in California described seeing a metallic orb above Los Angeles shortly after a squadron of planes flew by.

The Pentagon's All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) has been charged with investigating claims of UFOs and has dismissed many as natural phenomena like flocks of birds, conventional aircraft, drones, balloons, or other explainable objects. However, some cases have remained unsolved, reportedly due to a lack of data. Of the 757 UFO cases between May 2023 and June 2024 released in AARO's annual report, 21 cases were classified as unresolved sightings.

Although the Pentagon and civilian groups like the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) have also been cataloging these incidents, many have continued to baffle military officials, who have no way of explaining what was seen. While the new report focused on the thousands of sightings in the US over the last three years, strange orbs have been documented all over the world, from Puerto Rico to the Middle East. Moreover, these tiny craft have apparently been visiting our skies for decades, with pilots during World War II reporting similar orbs over the skies of Europe.

Enigma revealed that more than 360 'metallic orb' reports took place within a few miles of military bases here on US soil. In three of those cases, witnesses revealed that the orbs got within five miles of Fort Hamilton in New York, Papago Military Reserve in Arizona, and Los Angeles Air Force Base on multiple occasions. These mystery orb sightings include one shocking encounter revealed by Dr Sean Kirkpatrick, the former director of AARO, which was captured on a MQ-9 Reaper drone's camera in the Middle East in 2022.

Kirkpatrick warned that if these videos didn't prove that aliens exist, then they're evidence that a rival foreign power could be 'doing stuff in our backyard.'

URBAN LEGEND: THE STORY OF BLOODY MARY

Remember that annoying little story of Bloody Mary? You know ... that light a candle in your bathroom with the lights out late at night, look in the mirror and say her name three time in a row “Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary, Bloody Mary” and hope you won’t be found dead with your eyes scratched out? Or with claw marks all over your body? Or the possibility that you will be forever trapped behind the glass of the mirror for all eternity?

There are hundreds of backstories on how Bloody Mary came to be. But one of the most reasonable (as reasonable as it can get when a reflection kills you) is the tale of her demise.

In the 1800s there lived a young girl named Mary. An illiness washed over the place where they lived, making people drop dead after a short period of time. When physicians couldn’t find a pulse or when they put a mirror under the nose of the seemingly dead, there might not always be condensation on it from their breaths. So the fallen would be easily assumed to be dead. But were they?

Cases of people who were pronounced dead - but weren't - happened often. So when one would die, people would put a small hole in the coffin, and put a piece of string through the hole that was attached to a bell. The bell would hang on a stick by the homes of the deceased, and if they woke up they would simply pull the string, ring the bell and would be dug up.

Of course, when Mary was to bedridden and slowly died, she was laid in a coffin in her grave. She wasn’t to be buried under just yet it would be easier to un nail the coffin she was put away in, the string and the bell was of course on hand. Days past then up to a week. Her parents never left the house wishing with their very being that their sweet Mary would awaken again.
Friends of the parents claimed that if she had not awoken yet then she never would. That day the parents left the house with their friends at their behalf.

When her parents had gone a neighbor came and began to fill her grave (string and all.) Just in case she would wake up if she was still alive and if so before she suffocated. The neighbor had said his remorse and walked to his home.

Not soon after Mary awoken from her slumber. She pulled the string. The string to the bell that wouldn’t be heard from her parents who were out and the neighbor who was too far away. She pulled and pulled the string until the bell fell and so did the stick. She began clawing and scratching at her wooden prison until her fingers bled then she cut scratching till she breathed her last breath.

When the parents arrived home the father soon realized that the bell as yards away from it originally was and soon called for his wife to come and help him dig up their daughter. When dug threw they unlatched the coffin and found mary in a Petrified state her hands like claws covered in blood same with her white dress she was buried in. They put a mirror under her nose to see if her breaths would show. Condensation was shown on the mirror but even so she was dead. Her spirit is said to have attach to the mirror. And now whenever one says calls “Bloody Mary” three times she come and claws at the unknowing victim.

This is just one of the said stories to be about her demise. There are plenty and their might not even be fact behind the year. But still It’s a gory story that can still kids and you still have your heart beat up every time you say her name...

BIGFOOT SIGHTINGS IN WEST VIRGINA

Many West Virginians believe the woods and mountains are home to cryptids such as Mothman or the Flatwoods Monster. So, it is no surprise that Mountain State residents have also reported possible Bigfoot sightings over the years.

The Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization documents reported sightings in each state. According to the data, the three West Virginia counties with the most Bigfoot sightings are Pendleton, Randolph and Pocahontas.

In Pendleton County, there are 14 Bigfoot sightings reported. The first was in November 1994 when cave explorers had bizarre experiences while camping in the Seneca Creek backcountry. The most recent was in November 2012 when hunters said they possibly heard voices and saw a large head peaking behind boulders near Franklin.

There are 10 reported Bigfoot sightings in Randolph County. In November 1989, two people first reported seeing the creature while they were hunting in treestands near Elkwater. Most recently in the county, a fisherman said he saw Bigfoot about six miles from Elkins in July 2017.

Eight Bigfoot sightings have been reported in Pocahontas County. The first was a daylight sighting reported by a person deer hunting near the Greenbrier River in November 1969. The most recent was a September 2016 report from motorists traveling near the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center.

There are two sightings reported in Kanawha County, which is home to the capital city of Charleston. The first was a Summer 1990 report from a man who said he saw a large, hairy creature near a Marmet cemetery. The second report was from a deer hunter who believed he saw Bigfoot near Cabin Creek in November 2009.

People have also reported possible sightings in many other areas of West Virginia. Sightings and evidence, including footprints and casts, are reported statewide, with a concentration in Braxton County, particularly near Sutton Lake. The state's mountain regions are rich with local legends, such as the "old man of the mountain" and the 1919 Flatwoods Monster sighting, further contributing to its reputation as a Bigfoot hotspot...