A reader wrote to me about various cryptid and unexplained encounters that her family, neighbors, and herself had experienced while living in the mountains of West Virginia.
I received the following account:
"I'm writing today because I just read the story from the lady who is claiming the Mothman lived in her backyard. I don't completely disbelieve her claims as I'm in no position to do so. That's up to you and your investigators. I do know we have lots of underground creatures and many unexplained things in the woods.
I wanted to tell you about an experience I had when I still lived back home in Wayne, West Virginia. It was around 2003. It was Fall, I think.
Being that I grew up in the WV mountains, I've always been aware of the stories of the Mothman, creatures similar to the Mothman, and what my great-grandmother called 'panthers.' I don't know what these 'panthers' really were, but she had a ton of stories about her father having to outsmart them and keep them away while traveling through the woods to get to town. I know she wasn't describing a mountain lion or bobcat. We all know what those are, and as far as I know, those hills aren't roaming grounds for mountain lions.
They always said these creatures were vicious! They'd snatch who and whatever they could. However, they were afraid of fire.
So, it's Fall. My ex-husband and I had been at my aunt's house for a birthday party. She lives on a country road with the mountains behind the house. For miles, there's nothing but woods back there.
We were the 1st to leave. It was around dusk, and I was following my ex-husband out to the car while carrying my 2-year-old son. Right before we reached the car we were stopped dead in our tracks by the creepiest sound I have ever heard! It was so loud, echoing off the hills. It sounded very similar to a woman screaming bloody murder (just like the stories my great-grandmother told) but was definitely NOT a woman. It was one of those sounds that just feels ominous and sends those cold chills down your spine.
I looked at my ex-husband and could tell it frightened him (that's what scared me more than anything). He was an avid woodsman and hunter. He knew the woods, could happily live in a tent in the woods, and wasn't afraid of much in life in general.
I started searching the tree line with my eyes just trying to see if I could see it. I could feel it staring right down at us. Yet, we were both kind of frozen in shock.
Then, he gave me a look and told me to get my son and myself in the car immediately. I did but thought we probably should have told everyone in the house to be careful when they went to leave.
That was the only time in the 25 years I lived in WV that I heard that sound. Though, I continued to hear stories over the years. I don't know what that thing really is, and I don't want to find out personally.
I also had a neighbor in 2006 that told me some pretty scary stuff. She said she was living in a house on Buffalo Creek Rd. in Wayne County, WV.
This is a backroad. Woods and mountains on both sides. My family owned quite a bit of land out there. There were mounds up on the mountains where the Native Americans buried their dead.
She said there was an old cabin a little ways behind and to the right of the house. She was there alone. It was dark and getting late, so she decided to go to bed. She said as soon as she turned the lights off, she started hearing lots of racket coming from the cabin. Like pots and pans clanging together, glass breaking, etc. She thought it was a group of rowdy teens messing around in there. So, she went out on the porch and yelled to tell them to hit the road. The noise stopped, but she didn't see any kids. She went back in to grab a flashlight and went closer to the cabin to investigate. She could see something dark move passed the windows. She shined the light in and it apparently looked right out the window at her. She booked it back to the house and locked herself in.
She described it as 'Mothman-like' but she didn't think for sure that's what it was. She said it was pure evil. You could feel it. She said it was taller than her. All dark in color. Red eyes. Walked upright.
I believed her. She wasn't one to make things up, and she was clearly frightened to tell the story.
To make matters worse, that wasn't the last encounter that she had with the creature.
There was another night when she was babysitting her nieces and nephews. She said it came up on the porch and started pacing back and forth. You could hear the boards creek with every step.
They locked everything up, and all ran into her bedroom and locked themselves in. They all were huddled together on the bed when it came around to the window. I guess it rapped on the window and scratched at it. They literally all hid under the covers.
I guess they were all screaming and freaking out. She said it eventually went back to the front porch and was there until close to dawn.
It wasn't long after that they moved. Now, I will say that I loved being in those woods on Buffalo Creek. During the day. We always had fun. We'd find arrowheads and all kinds of different treasures the Indians left behind. At night, however, we wanted to be inside. I hated the back room. Closest to the woods (my great-grandfather built several houses on that road. My family still lives there). It just always felt like there was something out there at night. The natural noises would get quiet all of a sudden. It just always seemed scary at night. Even as an adult, I would run from the car to the house. I don't know what's out there, but I'd say there are too many stories and witnesses to discount it.
Take care, Lon." C
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