Reports from the Void: 'I'm Scared to Death to Even Talk about This'

On February 7th, 2019, the Singular Fortean Society received the following email.

I'm scared to death to even talk about this. But I feel I have seen the red-eyed humanoid in Merrillville, Indiana. I seen it back in the end of October 2018, when I was leaving my mother's house. It wasn't till about three months later that I read something about a humanoid sighting.
I have had anxiety and a heavy chest ever since I seen those red eyes in my front windshield. I tried and tried so hard in my head to figure out what the hell it was without telling anyone I know. No doubt in my mind that people would think I was seeing things.
When I first read about the humanoid, I mentioned it to a friend if she's heard anything about it. She looked confused and said no. Next thing you know, we're on another subject. I am overcome with fear and not sure what I should do. Not even sure if I should talk about it after I send this message even. I can't get those red eyes that looked right at me out of my head.

Investigator Tobias Wayland responded, “I'm sorry, I know how difficult it can be to talk about these things—especially when your friends and family are dismissive of them. If you feel you'd like to talk about it, then I'm happy to set up a phone interview or to continue to correspond by email. If it helps, I don't believe you're in any danger from what you've seen.”

The witness did not reply.

It is not unusual for witnesses, especially throughout the Lake Michigan Mothman investigation, to be so terrified by their experience that they are highly reluctant to recount it. Many witnesses have expressed a fear of social ridicule, but others have also spoken of being afraid that talking about what they’ve seen will somehow summon the creature back into their life. This particular fear, that of reprisal from the creature, is less common but more strongly felt by the witness when it exists.

Merrillville is just south of Gary, Indiana, and less than 10 miles from Lake Michigan.

Gary was the site of several sightings of a “big, grayish prehistoric bird” reported by a husband and wife between 2015 and 2016, and in January of 2019 a man reported seeing a “grayish” flying creature “with large wings that were similar to bat wings” in the city.

Given the description provided by the witness and the sighting location, this encounter could be related to the string of ‘Mothman’ sightings from within a few hundred mile radius surrounding Lake Michigan, including every state bordering the great lake. The sightings ostensibly began in the spring of 2017, but more historical accounts are being reported as more people become aware of the phenomenon. Sightings of weird winged beings around Lake Michigan have been reported at all hours, often in or near a park, and around water. Witnesses consistently describe a large, gray or black bat or bird-like creature—although in a small number of cases the creature was described as insect-like—sometimes with glowing or reflective red, yellow, or orange eyes; and humanoid features such as arms and legs are often reported. A feeling of stark fear is commonly reported by witnesses, sometimes beginning prior to the sighting itself. Many of the sightings are also of something seen only briefly or are described only as a flying creature with few details, which leaves open the possibility that a large avian being could explain some encounters. Sightings of anomalous avians, including thunderbirds and pterosaurs, are often reported in or near the same locations as those where witnesses have reported winged humanoids. A number of associated high strangeness incidents have also occurred alongside the creature sightings; including reports of UFOs, other anomalous flying creatures and mysterious humanoids, parapsychological phenomena, and bizarre events experienced by those investigating the sightings.

To report a sighting, reach out to us directly at the Singular Fortean Society through our contact page.

You can view a timeline of the Lake Michigan Mothman sightings so far here, and an interactive map here.

Reports from the Void is a repository to share those stories for which we do not have enough information to make a full report. This is usually because of little or no communication from the witness following their initial submission. The Singular Fortean Society will always provide as much information as possible regarding any correspondence during our attempts to speak with those involved.

This series is meant only to present you with the full breadth of the information sent to us, and makes no judgments towards the veracity of any stories shared within it.

To report your own encounter with the impossible, reach out to us directly at the Singular Fortean Society through our contact page.

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