NUMBER 10 THIRD QUARTER-1980 $ 1.50 THE PROJECT STIGMA REPORT ON THE CONTINUING INVESTIGATION INTO THE OCCURRENCE OF ANIMAL MUTILATIONS STIGMATA - Published quarterly in 1980* Cost for all four 1980 issues: $5.00 (for Numbers 8, 9, 10 and 11). Single copies. Num¬ ber 8: $1.00. Single copies. Numbers 9 and 10: $1.50 each. Any three 1980 issues are available for a total of $4.00. 1981 - Subscription price: $5.00; see page 24 (back page). BACK ISSUES - Numbers 1,2 & 3: No longer available. Numbers 4 and 5 will continue to be available until further notice. Numbers 6 and 7 will not be available after September 1, 1980 (al¬ though they may become available once again in the future). And, all 1980 issues (8-9-10) are, of course, available. Issues 6 and 7 are $1.00 each. THE CHOPPERS. .. AND THE CHOPPERS - A very limited number of these special mutilation/mystery helicopter reports is still available at a cost of $5.00 each. They will be available only until September 1, 1980, and the supply could be exhausted before then. IMPORTANT - SPECIAL NOTICE FOR OUR FOREIGN SUBSCRIBERS : We regret that we have had to make some changes in regard to the type of payment we will accept for subscriptions to countries other than the United States. For Canada : We will accept only U.S,caSh, Canadian cash or checks drawn on U.S. banks. For all other countries : We will accept only U.S. cash or checks drawn on U.S. banks. If this is not possible, please get in touch with us. We will attempt to work out some kind of exchange agreement with you. Address for all above: PROJECT STIGMA - P.O. BOX 1094 - PARIS, TEXAS 75460 U.S.A. -1 151 THE SILENT SIEGE We have sought to discern the difference between the overall attitude toward the mutilation problem now and that prevalent back in 1974 or 1975. One trend that is apparent is an unfortunate one and bodes ill for the prospect of prompt meaningful progress in the mutilation in¬ vestigation, at least where primary data-gathering is concerned. Throughout the term of the phenomenon - for however long it has gone on and for however long it will continue - there have been and there are those victimized livestock owners who do not report muti¬ lation incidents. It has been suspected by Project Stigma and others that the percentage of unreported cases could well be substantial. We might be fortunate to be aware of half of the mutilations that have actually occurred. In the early-to-mid seventies, many victimized ranchers and farmers reported mutilations to law enforcement bodies and/or to the press, not only because of a sense of civic "duty" but also because of a real desire to learn who was responsible, how the mutes were accomplished, and why. But once reported, appallingly little could be done in most cases. Some sheriffs, at least, waded in¬ to the investigation with enthusiasm; but that enthusiasm waned with the inability to obtain substantive evidence. Many sheriffs, perhaps most, were not overly aggressive in their investigations; and some refused to investigate mutilations altogether. There may not have been as many mutilations in the last couple of years as in 1975 or 1976; but the overriding reason for the apparent decline in mutilation activity may be the refusal of livestock owners to report mutilations, rather than the actual drop in the number of attacks. Stockmen fail to report because they view it as futile, a waste of time. So why bother? The sheriff would not be any more likely to provide answers now than in years past. And if the poten¬ tial mutilation is reported to the press, there's always a chance it could be sensationalized or blown out of proportion, or it could pro¬ vide a busy farm or ranch family with unwanted and distracting pub¬ licity, attention or even some ridicule. Linda Moulton Howe of KMGH-TV in Denver is the producer-writer- director-editor of the excellent ground-breaking documentary on mu¬ tilations, "A Strange Harvest", first aired in May of 1980. While 152 3 preparing updated material to be broadcast with "A Strange Harvest" later this year, she has uncovered a startling number of unreported mutilations in an area of the West that has endured mutilations in the past. In fact, several ranchers who were victimized in years past are being hit again in this "silent siege". We've learned of a similar area in Kansas where many mutes have occurred but few, if any, are ever reported. And what about other states, especially a- reas in which mutilations have occurred steadily over the years? Are these areas where unreported mutes are going on more the except¬ ion or the rule? The ranchers see no point in reporting their cases. And to add to the morass, many sheriffs are simply sitting on mute information, either not knowing what to do with it or simply being re¬ luctant to get further involved in a matter so out-of-the-ordinary and alien to their world-view. Hopefully public education will eventually aid us in extracting informa¬ tion from this "silent siege" of mutilations. With a number of books and magazine articles in the works, and the hope that more people will in time be able to see "A Strange Harvest" - perhaps this airing out of the subject will prompt livestock owners who have suffered mu¬ tilations to report them to responsive law agencies, the press and to the private investigations such as Project Stigma, Animal Mutilation Probe and Study on Animal Mutilations. Report mutilations : We depend upon our readers, from whom we have learned of a great many cases. This Issue will go to numerous farm¬ ers, ranchers, veterinarians and sheriffs, with whom we will hope to establish information exchanges. If you hear of a possible mutilation in your area, even a rumor, write Project Stigma - Box 1094 - Paris, Texas 75460 or call (214) 784-5922. K the remains are fresh, we'll attempt to find someone in your area who can go to the site. THE ROMMEL REPORT: The animal mutilation investigative project of the District Attorney's office in Santa Fe, New Mexico, under the direction of ex-FBI agent Kenneth Rommel, released its final report in the second week of July 1980. We have not yet seen the approx. -300-page volume, but will hope to do so before the pub¬ lication of our next issue. 153 A MUTILATION DOCUMENTARY Over the years several reporters who have become familiar with the mutilation topic and everything that attends it have asked how it is possible that the national media has not "latched onto" the mutilations with more fervor or at least given the matter more attention. And we have long wondered why someone in the broadcast-film-tape media hasn't undertaken a documentary on the subject of animal (primarily livestock) mutilations. It has it all - mystery, controversy, subter¬ fuge, symplicity juxtaposed with complexity, paranoia, fear and, yes, loathing. Now - the first "full-length" mutilation documentary has been completed (although a shorter Canadian program has been pro¬ duced; and the first-inown mutilation film was Charles Cranston's "Death of An Appaloosa", on the "Snippy” case) - it's a very impres¬ sive piece of work titled "A Strange Harvest". The 75-minute (90- minutes with commercials) video tape was written, produced, direct¬ ed and edited by Linda Moulton Howe, an award-winning documentar- ian and Director of Special Projects at KMGH-TV in Denver, a Mc¬ Graw-Hill station with a CBS affiliation. It's simple, really. Just an objective, straight-away presentation of evidence, with pro-&-con comment & opinion from those involved in mute affairs in Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. No embellishment. No sensationalism. None required. It works because it is finely-crafted, knowledgeably - written, sparely and effectively scored with synthesizer and superbly photographed by Richard Lerner. The film primarily explores the mutilation problem in Colorado, Wy¬ oming and New Mexico (certainly the hardest-hit three-state area). Among the interviewed are names known to mutilation-followers: Da¬ vid Perkins, Tex Graves, Sheriff George Yarnell, Bill Waugh, Dr. A. E. McChesney, Carl Whiteside, Senator Harrison Schmitt, Gabe Val¬ dez, Robert Schoenfeld and, yes, Kenneth Rommel. Laser surgery is discussed and demonstrated by Dr. Arlen Myers of Denver. Ufolo¬ gist Richard Sigismond of Boulder, Colorado offers commentary, as does a very effective Lou Girodo, Chief Investigator for the District Attorney’s office in Trinidad, Colorado. The helicopter connection is briefly explored at the Army’s Fort Carson; and livestock removal service owner Drexel Lawson talks of unreported mutilated carcasses 154 5 he has retrieved. Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle of the University of Wyoming guides two subjects through hypnotic regression sessions and gleans details of their experiences. First, Pat McGuire, a Wyoming rancher, who (with his relatives) had been exposed to events suggestive of a UFO-mutilation link. Then - Judy Doraty, a woman who not only des¬ cribes her apparent abduction onto a UFO in Texas, but her obser¬ vance of a calf on board the craft as it was mutilated and samples were taken from it by the UFO occupants (we referred briefly to this case on p. 10 of STIGMATA No. 5). In the May 1973 incident, Mrs. Doraty and other members of her family, while driving between Web¬ ster and Alta Loma, Texas (south of Houston), observed a UFO that followed their car. They watched as a calf was "sucked" up through a beam of light (in which dust & debris could be seen swirling) to¬ ward the craft. Somehow, Mrs. Doraty found herself - or at least her consciousness - on board the UFO, where "little men" perform¬ ed experiments on the calf. Then, as she is guided through her re¬ call by Dr. Sprinkle, Mrs. Doraty finds that her daughter Cindy is on board with her, and the ufonauts begin to examine Cindy. Captur¬ ed in "A Strange Harvest" is Mrs. Doraty's very real anguish when she fears that they may do to Cindy what was done to the calf. All ends well, though, and both women have moved to other states. Ef¬ forts are being made to obtain objective substantiation for the Dora¬ ty case. The investigation continues, although Cindy remains reluc¬ tant to relive her experience under hypnosis. "Harvest" can easily be criticized for the "good stuff' left out, but no 75-minute work can do more than scratch the surface. And Ms. Howe has been accused of leaning too heavily toward a UFO/mute link in lieu of other "evidence" suggesting possible "terrestrial" causation. But, if an apparent UFO/mute link is suggested by events, it should not be ignored. "Harvest" was first aired in Denver in May and was shown (and pro¬ voked considerable interest) to gathered conferees at the 1980 Mutual UFO Network Symposium near Houston in June Oust down the road from the scene of the Doraty experience). We hope that anyone with any interest in this phenomenon will eventually be able to see "A Strange Harvest". Congratulations to Linda Howe and her crew for a very commendable achievement. 155 Mutes: A Global Phenomenon While mutilation attacks on animals have continued wl abeyance in the United States and Canada, Project StJ. attempting to determine whether the variously-describ tions” and "vampire attacks” on animals in other coun be somehow linked to those in the U.S* and Canada, Un: accounts are sketchy and details are few. The follow-, mary of some of the events we have become aware of iiji lected countries: BRAZIL After the flimsiest of rumors of possible animal mut:L been filtering out of Brazil for years, it was anno July 1979 issue of INTERNATIONAL UFO REPORTER (Evans^b that a very "active” UFO group in Salvadore, State o very concerned with cattle mutilation cases. Efforts this group by writing in both English and Portugese with success. The following summary of accounts was us by reporter Bob Pratt of the NATIONAL ENQUIRER, the information in February 1980 from UFO investigate Rosario Real of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, Nelza Muller as interpreter; win San tin A mutilated cow was found dying on a farm near toria (state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern BrazijL dering Uruguay) in 1975, Its udder was gone and near the udder had been removed, all with perfect This occurred within 100 meters of the farmhouse noise was heard and the dogs did not bark. Other were in the field at the time. There was no blood ground nor near the animal. The cow died soon afr£: discovered. There was no examination to determine of death. On the same farm in 1973, more than 300 sheep wer^ dead or dying (all eventually died). They all had ture marks, like a sting, in the necks. The first found was surrounded by a circle of her own blood farm manager decided to barbeque one of the animajL the body was still warm but when he hung it up it open he found no blood in the animal. In the s many circles of burnt grass were found. During thi one of the farm owners, a lawyer, heard noises anp and thout total gma has been ed "mutila- tries could fortunately, ng is a sum— a few se- lations had ced in the on,Illinois) Bahia, was to contact have not met provided to o obtained r Luiz do idth Miss ita Vic¬ tor- e veins surgery, hut no pnimais on the r being cause 156 7 someone was using a truck to steal sheep. He and two nephews took their guns and ran out but what they saw was a UFO, a disc with many rotating lights, going up. This was about the same time as when the sheep were killed. After the sheep died circles of burnt grass were found. This was in winter, probably June or July. The state's Secretary of Agriculture went to the farm and he and his aides thought wild dogs were responsible but no teeth marks were found on the animals. After this, a group of farmers who jointly owned the sheep took police dogs and guns and stationed themselves around the flock one night. Th _ y didn't see or hear anything but in the morning two sheep were found dead. They happened to be the fattest sheep in the flock. One pregnant sheep almost ready to give birth was found one morning with a circular hole in her side and the fetus was gone. On the same farm in 1973 a calf was found dead with a piece of its tongue cut off and no blood in the carcass. The face looked as though something had suctioned off all the blood through the face* Near Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, a number of pigs were found with holes in their necks and elsewhere. They were dead and there was no blood. It was assumed mid dogs were responsible but none were ever seen. And, in perhaps 1975, an ox was found with burns on it. The burns grew and even- * tually the animal weakened and died. Some of the above material was discussed in the Jan.-March 1980 edition of the Brazilian UFO publication QVNI D0CUMENT0 (address: Caixa Postal 363 - Rio de Janeiro (RJ) - CEP 20,040 - Brasil). (Credit: Dr. P.M.H* Edwards) Another Brazilian account of interest appears in issue number 29 (1980) of the French journal 0URAN03 (address: B.P, 38, 02110 Bohain, France) in an article by editor Pierre Delval and Enrique Banchs* The date (year) may be in question, since Luiz do Rosario Real mentioned the case to Bob Pratt, saying it had occurred in 1963* But we'll present the version from 0URAN0S as translated by George Andrews of Drury, Missouri: This happened on either the 25th, 26th or 27th of October, 1970, towards the end of the afternoon (around 4:00 o'clock) under a rather cloudy sky. Pedro Trajano Machado, who at 66 years of age does not know how to read or write, and his 23 year old son Euripides de Jesus Trindade were on their farm 157 s about 15 miles from Palma (in the Alegrete area, again in the state of Rio Grande do Sul) taking care of some cattle. They had shut up 18 head in a corral. They separated a red Jersey cow from her month-old calf, which weighed about 60 pounds- The cow was led off to be worked on and the calf was not tied up but left loose in the corral about fifteen feet from where they were working. They noticed that the other cattle had suddenly become quite nervous and upset, and particularly the red cow. At first they didn't pay any attention, as these cattle were used to being out in the fields at liberty. But the cattle were getting more and more jumpy and panicking. The red cow was bellowing as if something was wrong and kept trying to turn her head to look in the direction of the calf, Pedro Machado decided to see if something was wrong with the calf, and turned his head in that direction. The calf was also bawling at this point, but it was no longer on the ground. It was suspend¬ ed about three feet high in the air, in its normal position, not tipped over one way or the other. Pedro called his son Euripides, and they both watched what happened: the calf was being moved along parallel to the ground at this same height of about three feet in the direction of the fields. The other animals bellowed and gave every sign of panic. The two witnesses remained rooted on the spot, incapable of taking effective action. After having continued to float about three feet above the ground for about sixty feet, the calf began to rise vertically, so slowly that it took three or four minutes before it was so high in the sky as to look about a quarter of its size, at which point it suddenly dis¬ appeared as if behind a curtain, though at a height we11 be¬ low the level of the clouds. When the calf started to rise vertically, it stopped bawling. No other phenomena v/ere no¬ ticed, such as noises, heat, wind, suspension ropes,etc. When this extraordinary event had ended with the disappear¬ ance of the calf, the two witnesses carried on with their work, BOLIVIA (See n 0dd Entities" in STIGMATA Number 5, Fall-Winter 1978, pages 15-16) COLOMBIA Few reports originate from here. One item of interest was passed along by adventurer-lecturer-radio personality Danhy Li ska of Med¬ ellin, Colombia, Liska has learned of a series of "vampire" at- ————————————————————————— i 5 8 9 tacks on humans. Apparently the victims are not killed, but blood is removed from them, seemingly by a syringe. A "black magic" cult is believed to be responsible. MEXICO As with Brazil, rumors of mutilations (of livestock ~ and humans) have emanated from Mexico - but with almost a total lack of details or substantiating evidence. Salvador Freixedo of Puerto Rico wrote of his investigations in Mexico, in "Tributo de Sangre" in the pub¬ lication MUNDO DESCONOCIDO (Barcelona, Spain; May 1978), Among the items mentioned in the article, as translated from the Spanish by Jean Sider of Buisson, France, are the following; Several UFO sightings (including landings and observations of occu¬ pants) Had been reported near the town of Queretaro, in the state of Queretaro. Freixedo conducted investigations in the area, and near the "tracks" resulting from a UFO landing, he found the with¬ ered and twisted body of a coyote. Though the carcass had been wrung and twisted, the bones and skeleton remained essentially in¬ tact, A local resident reported finding the carcass of an opossum in a similar condition near another UFO landing site in the area. Also in the state of Queretaro, Freixedo encountered reports of bloodless human infants - though no "mutilation 11 of the bodies was involved. An unknown number of such "bloodless babies 11 were re¬ ported to Freixedo, and he was able to learn the names of two of the mothers: Josefa Jasso de Martinez and Maria Nieves Marquez, In both cases (as in all such reports), the mothers fell into an ab¬ normally deep sleep (some of the mothers slept for days) with the infants at their sides. The babies - all a few days old - were then found beside their sleeping mothers, drained of blood and without any marks or wounds on their bodies. These events apparently occur¬ red in 1977, or shortly before that year, PANAMA Danny Li ska, originally from Niobrara, Nebraska, currently lives in Medellin, Colombia where, with his wife Regina, he conducts a popular radio program. As a result of broadcasts in which they mentioned "classic" mutilations, Mr. Liska received several reports of mutilation-like animal attacks in Panama, which adjoins Colom¬ bia on the northwest. Several years ago - in the iSSO’s - "vampire killings" of cattle (with the removal of tongues from the carcasses) were plaguing the 159 10 Panamanian province of Chitre. A medicine man had been called up¬ on to exorcise the area and drive out the evil spirits blamed for the attacks. Shortly thereafter, the mutilations ceased. Liska was contacted by Jose Prieto, a university student at Pana¬ ma City's Instituto Nacional, about an incident that occurred on the farm of his father, Ovideo Prieto, about 20 kilometers from Panama City, on June 17, 1978. About 1:00 AM on the 17th, Senor Prieto and his neighbors observed a brilliant light which slowly descended to the ground on the Prieto pasture. After daylight he went out to the pasture and found: (1) A saddle horse dead, with both eyes and one hoof missing, but with no sign of bleeding; (2) Two dead cows with the tongues missing, again with no sign of bleeding. Jose reported to Liska that some internal organs had been removed; (3) Returning to his house, Senor Prieto found the carcass of his dog. One hind leg and the tail was missing, again with no bleeding. Despite the appearance of the unidenti¬ fied descending object, many residents of the area seemed to sus¬ pect that a hostile neighbor may have killed the animals. On another occasion, a woman told Liska that her brother-in-law had become disenchanted about going into the cattle business be¬ cause of the numerous cattle mutilations taking place in Panama, A Panamanian government veterinarian told Regina Liska that he had examined the tongueless (with no bleeding) carcasses of livestock that had been brought to him by pickup from the areas of Sona, Santiago and the Tonosi Valley,. Johnny Lloyd, a Panamanian employed in security in the American Embassy in Panama City, reported to Danny Liska that a heifer had been mutilated on his parents':ranch. The tongue, roots and all, was missing and when the carcass was opened up, the heart and the lungs were found to be missing. Dannly Liska also furnished Project Stigma with the following 2 articles from the newspaper CRITICA of Panama City, as translated from the Spanish: Friday, April 27, 1979 — Reporter: Toti Urriola - The cattle ranchers of the Cerro Cama region, in the La Chorrera district, are greatly alarmed and concerned by the mysterious ways in which their animals are dying. The residents of Cerro Cama state that during the last six weeks strange things have been happening in their fields. In the 160 afternoon (usually) the cattle become spooky and down, bellowing for no apparent reason. Everytime happened, on the following day a dead animal is fc corral or a field. On being examined by the owner, no bruise or cut, is to be found on the body, nor of blood. The only thing missing is the tongue. TH of the dead animals have discarded the possibility thieves, since thieves would take the whole carcas : ers are extremely concerned because already thirte have died in the same mysterious manner. Some ranc gone to local priests and to religious sects, inve the possibility of H evil spirits 1 *, Others are ale distic people who might be poisoning the cattle, ting out the tongues just to create a mystery. un up and this has und in a no wound, any trace e owners of cattle s» The own- en head hers have stigating for sa- hen cut- rt n g;u Saturday, June 2, 1979 - Reporter: Adan Urena - The bellowing of the cattle has ceased. Their to been removed, root and all, \d_th a precision that expert veterinarians and country people alike. No find a logical explanation for the strange situati information was suspected of being just sensation, peal to readers and sell more newspapers; but aftei tigations, the authorities have confirmed the weir Piedras Gordas is an area near La Pintada in the of Code, where the majority of the inhabitants aih ted to working the land for agriculture. From time they will buy a baby cow on which they lavish care so they may obtain milk and cheese from it. For s months, whenever country people meet, the converse; have centered on the curious deaths, and there is jecture, Always in the wee hours, someone or some-tj;] been cutting out the animals’ tongues. Always the mal is chosen, as though carefully picked out, and to be found at dawn, stretched out in a field. The sign of struggle or resistance, Piedras Gordas May bino Benitez says that the several cows that have found dead, without tongues and bloodless have ard theories and speculation. Some eyewitnesses affirm they have seen a human shape or silhouette above ( cow, and when the figure appears to realize it is served, it simply fades away. (Some of this information regarding Panamanian events eluded in Danny Liska's projected publication, THE NIfE 11 es have amazes one can on. The to ap- r inves- d reports, rovince e devo- to time and food ^veral .tions much con- hing has best arti- is left re is no or Bal— been used that r on a being ob- has been in- 3RASKA FLY- 161 12 ING SAUCER NEWS). PUERTO RICO A case might be made for the irrelevance of the incl Puerto Rico in this survey* Since Puerto Rico is a Un; possession, any truly "classic" mutilations occurring not be properly considered among the "international" of our readers are already aware of the wave of animi and mutilations that swept the island in the mid-1970 ially as a result of the articles on the Puerto Ricaxli by Sebastian Robiou Lamarche which have appeared in CER REVIEW (England) (and reprinted in the U.S. in P journal of the Society For The Investigation Of The Winter 1980), CANADIAN UFO REPORT and LUMERES DANS A chapter of Robiou^ book MANXFIEEETO OVNI deals witlji tilations, and Robiou has accumulated many interesti lesion of ited States there might cases. Many 1 killings s - espec- phenomena FLYING SAU- 1JRSUIT, the Unexplained; lU NUIT (Fr.), animal mu- rig accounts* fo Also, Salvador Freixedo, in his "Tribute de Sangre" MUNDO DESC0N0CID0 (see "Mexico"), refers to the evenl|; native Puerto Rico (our thanks again to Jean Sider lation). In September 1974 a UFO flap occurred in we southwestern Puerto Rico. During this period, Freixecjl* gated the strange deaths of eleven animals on a farm area. Included were two hogs, two geese, one or two the rest were goats* Each animal was bloodless (appajj' exhibited a mark or wound or the neck, but no other sign of struggle. Freixedo reported on a cow mutilati tigated: "...the poor beast had a clean cut on the ri the head, through which one could see the bone." The circular, "perfectly carved Uf :and extended from the si neck, but with no evident blood-flow. Freixedo reports that several unusual phenomena occiuj'; to Rico in late 1974 - not only a rash of both UFOs tions - but "apparitions of the Blessed Virgin, reli shedding tears and leaking drops of blood, mysteriou4 ances of people, strange noises and explosions". In know from Robiou and other sources that reports also large unknown birds, something which looked like a hair that rolled along the ground, humanoids, and not zombie-like and ape-like dwarves, (see also "Odd Enti STIGMATA No. 5). ba particle in s in his r his trans- ^tern and o invest!- in the flap halves and ently) and founds and no on he inves- ght side of wound was rtout down the red in Puer- ^nd mutila- ious statues disappear- Addition, we included 11 of fur or -so-humanoid ties" in 162 THE CANARY ISLANDS th: These Spanish possessions (comprising, in fact, two Sp vinces) are situated rather inconspicuously off the no coast of Africa, The largest islands in the group of Tenerife, Gran Canaria (Grand Canary) and Fuerteventuri aries are blessed with a mild climate and a substantia rugged, mountainous terrain. World attention was focus Canaries a few years ago when a major airline crash-di red on Tenerife, It has been on Tenerife that most of that will interest us have occurred, 1979 was a year f[< ing events in, around and over the Canaries, Although marily concerned with the strange animal deaths that o we'll touch on a few other items that should be mentio no conclusions in regard to relationships can be drawn anish pro- rthwest irteen are a. The Can- 1 amount of sed on the saster occur- the incidents or interest- we are pri- ccurred here, ned, though Visible from at least three of the larger islands - Gr Tenerife and Gomera - a brilliant, ascending light was at least hundreds, perhaps thousands, of witnesses on at about 8:00 that night. Depending upon from which is observed, the light-object was variously described as "pyramid-shaped' 1 or "cup-shaped" plus leaving a "defin wake". Many prayed, some fainted, certain that the end was at hand. Motorists complained of headlights and e: ing as the object appeared. According to the NATIONAL Lantana, Florida (7-24-79), the Spanish government la secret" investigation into the incident. mi Ge Then, with March's dazzling UFO display still on the some seemingly out-of-the-ordinary animal deaths occur: nights of April 30-May 1 and May 2-3 on the Island of near the little town of Taco. Six trained, ferocious herd guard dogs were enclosed on the grounds of a fact occasions, on the morning of the 1st and 3rd, one of t found dead outside their enclosure. There were no trac dence of struggle and no sign of bleeding. However, ea hole in its chest, through which it was thought the he had been removed. The Tenerife department of health se not interested in investigating, as the killings were be the work of "human hands". The speculation was that cult" might have sought the heart and blood for use in ter in the first half of May, near Icod (still in the the carcasses of two goats were discovered* According count in the newspaper DIARIO DE AVISOS, both goats we and exsanguinated. Then, during the same period of tim 13 and Canary, observed by March 5,1979 land It was "cylindrical", ite, V-shaped of the world ;ines fail- ENQUIRER of iched a "top ng: un inds of many, red on the Tenerife, rman shep— ory. On two he dogs was ks, no evi- ch dog had a art and lungs rvices was considered to a "religious rituals. La- Taco area), to the ac¬ re beheaded e, in the 163 14 Guamasa area, a hog was with ita liver "seeming in v and the carcass was reportedly missing some "viscera 1 that the hog v/as in a condition similar to the dogs there was no sign of blood. Then, near Garachico, ses of rabbits and goats were discovered. A veterinaj|?: Silos thought dogs might have been responsible and that the beheadings were related to the Taco killing^ Tenerife, on a ranch at Puerto de la Cruz, a few b found broken, reportedly as though something had d the air. belli fry bad state" Police said it Taco., Again eaded carcas- ian at Los doubted Back on a trees were ed them from anan amag tin According to information obtained by the staff of D SOS, the Guardia Civil (police) conducted "intensive tions" into the animal killings, while all the while assuring the population in an attempt to "diminish of the incidents". And the newspaper LA PROVTNCIA co circumstances which surround these strange happening^ of organs from the bodies, removal of blood, lack of lence) could indicate that the deaths v/ere caused by well prepared and with scientific interest." In passjL be noted that LA PROVINGIA also reported that during period (early-to-mid May) a purple rain fell on the rasburgo (on Grand Canary Is.) and in February a blu been reported in Lyon. ur The next siege of anomalous animal deaths would occ tumn of 1979, but on July 10th, the nev/spaper EL DIA de Tenerife) reported the following (Trans, from the AIRCRAFT ON FLIGHT TO TENERIFE REGISTERED STRANGE SIGNALS- The crew of an aurcraft on a flight from a European city to Tenerife registered a surprising and seemingly unexplain¬ able action of the aircraft's radar, which, in mid-flight, gave strange signals in regard to something occurring in the vicinity of the aircraft. Although the causes of the astonishment of the crew have not yet been determined, the possibility that the occurrence might have been due to the presence of a fleet of "UFOs" has not been completely re¬ jected. There are also theories regarding the actions as possibly being the result of some very peculiar climatolo¬ gical conditions. Then, with the onset of October, the strange animal jdeaths began IARIO DE AVI- investiga- they were re— e importance deluded: "The (extraction signs of vio- something ng it should this same town of Est- rain had in the au- (Santa Cruz Spanish): 164 to recur on Tenerife. The events were investigated by AVISOS reporter Jorge Bethencourt. We'll quote a subs cerpt from his article of October 4, 1979 (translation) th« C:L ‘aini EIGHT SHEEP, WITH THEIR BLOOD DRAINED, IN BARRANC In a small corral, a plastic bag covers the bodies^ sheep. The bodies present the same syptoms that victims (there have been a total of eight) did: holes in the sides, no blood inside the bodies an' of violence around. Hie account of Antonio Reman bias: "My father was alerted by the sheep bellow! the dog barking. He went to the door but didn't g< cause the dog quit barking as soon as he saw a f person. Mr. Hernandez went back to sleep. The ne: ing he went to the corral to find his three sheep dead. The bodies were on the ground in a symmetric two of them with their feet against the right wal corral, the other one with her feet in the opposijt ion. Blood spots were all over. The and 3feet high from the floor was like somebody held himself against the door befor^ out. The hair around the holes (on the sheep) seei it was cut with scissors or some very sharp instr Sheep's hair was all over." corral's door a bloody hand "The murderers - and I will explain why I think there were more than one - used a box that was in the corral for sit¬ ting in and they put into it the instruments they used for the surgery, plus the animal parts and blood. On ;a side¬ walk near the corral, I could see blood spots and also a bloody hand mark on a stone. I think the murderer was car¬ rying the box in one hand while using the other ope to steady himself to keep from falling." "Lost Sunday six sheep were killed beside the Himalaya Cookie Factory (STIGMATA note: that would mean at least 9 cases In the area, not eight). They did a good jo's in there. Now let me tell you why I think there is more than one murderer and why I think they are persons. First of all, to steal a box, probably in which to put the instru¬ ments, viscera and blood, as I said; well, the act of ste¬ aling is a human action. To operate those fine instruments, the mark of the bloody hand on the door and stone - all are human traces. To subdue the animal and operate on him at the 15 DIARIO DE itantial ex- GRANDE- of three e other rcular no signs ,tiez Cu- ng and out be- liar kt morn- were line, of the e direct— was open print, going flns like 'iment. 165 16 same time is a very hard job for only one person. But why they do it — I have no explanation." Antonio continued: "One hundred meters away from our cor¬ ral is Raymundo's corral. Five sheep were found dead there (we're up to 14-ed.). Their backs were shaved, showing the dry, flesh-colored skin. One of the sheep had a little hole, still bleeding, in her neck under the throat. Blood spots were all over the corral and, on the door, the same bloody hand print. On the path from the corral to the back— . yard fence were five-toed footprints, like a dog or a ti¬ ger's footprint. The marks were all along the path, show¬ ing an undecided course, and I found many more near the corral. Just to compare, I printed my feet into the ground and I think that an animal, to print those tracks, has to weigh around 40 or 50 kilos (approx. 90 to 110 lbs.). Now that I've seen the dead bodies and the perfect work of the murderers, I'm sure they were persons and not animals. No animal can open doors or use a box for sitting or like a container — and also, no animal can cut perfect circles. It's possible the murderers had dogs with them to lend mystery to the act." No one in the neighborhood heard any noise or bellowing that night, but all are afraid because "anyone who kills sheep in such a horrible way can also kill people". The police told the people that the murderers are rats;, but people do not listen to the police anymore, unless the rats weighed 40 or 50 kilos, which is Impossible. Then, another article by Bethencourt, published by DIARI0 DE AVI¬ SOS in Its edition of October 7, 1979: THE TACO AND BARRANC0 GRANDE KILLERS ARE PEOPLE - RESULTS OF AUTOPSIES KEPT SECRET BY POLICE - We had come to the Regional Agrarian Laboratory seeking information on the autopsies performed on the bodies of a goat and rabbit found under strange circumstances Thursday night. The bo¬ dies had been kept under refrigeration. Veterinarian Joa¬ quin Quilos is director of the laboratory. Although he re¬ ceived us in a friendly way, he refused to provide us with any data until three police Inspectors arrived. Later the inspector in charge of the case told us personally that the results of the autopsies were to be kept secret and 166 17 that DIARXO DE AVISOS - although a public servant - should not hinder the police investigation. That evening DIARXO DE AVISOS already had some Information on the results of the autopsies. Usually well informed sources confirmed what had been rumored that morning: the goats were strangled, probably with some metal instrument having several sharp points, shoved down the throat, which was perforated* The wounds on the animals 1 sides, the autopsy revealed, were not made by an animal but by a cutting instrument. The doctor doing the dissection told the police that these wounds pierced the carcass in an attempt to reach the chest cavi¬ ty, Who would do this and why? In numerous African tribes - If our memory serves us, among the Masai - it is customary to drink the blood of animals; they think of it as a reli¬ gious rite, to strengthen body and soul. Certain religious sects connected with devil worship appreciate the physical and spiritual qualities of blood. Someone connected with Africa could have brought with him the paw of a panther or wolf or jackal to make tracks where the killings took place, thus misleading the investigators* We know that one or several human beings are the killers; we know what me¬ thods they employed. The forensic examination by the police will reveal more details, such as if drugs were used in the killing or if the animals were first poisoned (which we doubt if the killers intended to drink the blood). For those who had thought that the above represented the final word on the findings, the following article (no byline, so may not have been authored by Bethencourt) appeared in DIARIG DE AVISOS just two days later, on October 9th: Superior Police Headquarters have begun an in depth investi¬ gation to determine the cause of the recent deaths of ani¬ mals in the area of Barranco Grande. DLARIO DE AVISOS Is informed that three departments are participating in the in¬ vestigation: the department of city security, the department of identification and the department of criminal investiga¬ tion, with its second chief in charge* The first indications following examination of the carcasses of the goats by a veterinarian revealed that almost all exhibited bites in the throat, evidently done to drain the blood from the ani¬ mal, Only carnivores like panthers, wolves or wild dogs act in this way. In regard to the holes In the carcasses, the veterinarian thinks they are caused by bites made in order to 167 18 tear out the internal organs* It is supposed that the non- visceral meat of the victims is rejected by the killers* Even though the police do not discard any hypothesis, at this point they do not seem to be considering the possibility of the killers being people* But the same edition (October 9th) of DIARIO DE AVISOS also inclu¬ ded the following article by Jorge Bethencourt The carcasses of two goats have been added to the long list of victims of the "vampires of Taco" that struck yesterday in the Tincer area. The animals, found in a gully, had had their throats torn open with the usual lack of blood. The police conducted an investigation on the spot and made a thorough examination of the slaughtered animals* Accord¬ ing to a reliable source, the instrument used by the vam¬ pires was "metal and extremely sharp 11 , possibly a scalpel* More than fifteen policemen are assigned to the investiga¬ tion which, considering the mobility of the unknown butch¬ ers and the large area involved, presents great difficul¬ ties* It appears that the blood of the animals was carried away in containers, traces of which have been found. It seems certain that the "vampires" - as we pointed out the other day - are accompanied by a dog. This - as we indica¬ ted elsewhere - would serve two purposes: the dog tracks would mislead the investigators; the smell of the dog, fam¬ iliar to the goats, wot * Id keep them quiet. Then, in an article published on October 11th, Bethencourt reported on Senora Barbara Guanche Qtazo, who observed two enormous wolf¬ like dogs killing three of her goats by biting them on the necks* This occurred in the Taco area, and the area of Vistabella, two huge dogs were again seen attacking a goat, tearing out virtually all of the viscera. Bethencourt's report continues, as follows: At the same time, in certain districts of the area of La Torre de San Matias were fou^d the carcasses of three goats* They resembled the victims of what used to be called "the vampires of Taco"* Are animals alone causing these deaths? We believe Senora Guanche's story. We also think that the wounds of a dead goat that we observed in Taco could have been caused by an animal. We are not experts in this kind of thing but we have listened to the advice of those who are more experienced* But we are thoroughly convinced that 168 19 In certain deaths, such as some which took place on Wed. , October 3 in the Taco area, the hand of man, using extreme¬ ly sharp instruments, was responsible for the wounds on the carcasses of eight animals. We cannot deny that dogs are the cause of some of the deaths. But we would not be honest with ourselves, nor faithful to our observations, if we did not hold the firm opinion that a group of people were the perpetrators of M the exploits of Taco 11 * The motive is obs¬ cure; it defies logic. The deeds are always done in the same area, and repeated frequently.lt would be a real work of detection to find the killers. Finally, the last report we have on the animal killings appeared in DIARXO DE AVISOS on October 16, 1979. In the article, Bethen- court and B* Morales report that the Taco "vampires 1 ? had struck at least fourteen animals within a month. Two different corrals had suffered an attack on Sunday, October 14th. One sheep was found dead in each corral. A distance of 100 meters separated the cor¬ rals, with a third unaffected corral in between. The victimized sheep were left with Circular holes in their bodies and necks, and no blood. The article does not state whether an autopsy was conducted on both or either animal, but it is reported that, in this case, each sheep was missing its kidneys. In a case we Ml use to close our account of the Canary Islands 1 saga of strangeness for 1979, the event did not occurred directly over the islands, from all accounts. But on Sunday, November 11, 1979, passengers aboard a Caravelle jet bound from Austria to Tene¬ rife were awed and terrified when a number of pulsating red objects appeared to be on a collision course with the airplane. One pass¬ enger collapsed as the objects zoomed away. The shaken pilot then made an emergency landing at Valencia on the Spanish mainland. The Spanish Transport Ministry opened a "secret investigation" into the event. SOME NOTES AND "CONCLUSIONS" ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE "Conclusions 11 , because at this juncture there are few, if any. We cannot conclusively resolve the question of whether the occurrence of "classic" animal mutilations as we know them in the United Sta¬ tes and Canada is a truly global phenomenon. 0h f there are some in¬ triguing bits of data among the international reports, and it makes us long for more details. There are certainly some characteristics which seem compellingly reminiscent of the U,S, and Canadian cases, 169 20 but these similarities could be superficial. The causative ele¬ ment (s) might not be the same. The Brasilian account of the floating-ascending-disappearing calf brings to mind a report from a county in the Western U,S,, an area plagued off-and-on by mutilations throughout the mid to late 1970*5, The story, unconfirmed though it may be, suggests that 2 law officers, while driving on a highway, encountered a cow or a calf which was said to have been in the process of floating across the highway at an altitude of several feet. Then there is the Judy Doraty UFO abduction case (see review of IT A Strange Harvest"), There are other countries, beyond those surveyed in this issue, in which possible mutilations or at least unusual deaths of animals have been reported. If time, space and circumstances permit, we 1 11 provide information on these at a later date. We'll continue to monitor the international scene and report the findings as they become available, SOURCES: For providing information used in these summaries, our thanks to - Fernando Cerda Guardia, Bob Pratt, Dr. P,M.H, Edwards, Danny Liska and Donald Boates, And we owe a very special debt of gratitude to our translators, without whom this survey would not have been possible: Barbara C, Mathey, Leslie H, Johnson, Jean Sider and Roger Arguello. And thanks also to Howard and Lovola Burgess for translations they provided. BRIEFS HIGH TIMES magazine (Trans-High Corporation; Dept, B154, P.0* Box 4824; Church Street Station;New York,NY 10249 - back issues: $2,50 each) - The May 1980 edition featured a cover article by John A* Keel titled "UFOs, Mothman and Me" in which Keel mentions mutila¬ tions briefly and claims that both classic animal and human mutes have occurred in Mexico, It r s an interesting article, nonetheless; good to have Keel back again. And, the current issue of HIGH TIMES, as we go to press, includes an in-depth piece on mutilations by Tom Clark and Animal Mutilation Probe Director David Perkins. And - it is said that an article on mutes will appear in LIFE very shortly; likewise NEW WEST Magazine. PENTHOUSE, it is rumored, is set to publish a mute piece by David Rorvik. 170 Update: 1980 CANADA and There has been confusion over Just how many livestock haw occurred in Canada in 1980. For one thing, there press coverage (as there was in 1979) because the Royal Mounted Police (RCMP) has clamped a secure lid on the Lyn Lauber of Calgary is still directing the RCMP invest: apparently feel that the press blew the situation out of p year, and they are preferring to conduct the present pr tie furor as possible. The RCMP is doing their job (some of whom are very upset over the RCMP news blad ing to do theirs - no good/bad guys, no black/white dicty fully the RCMP will eventually release more details. As determine, the "official" count of confirmed mutilations (primarily Alberta & Saskatchewan) from mid-1979 throuj is approx, thirty, with from 10 to 12 occurring in 1980 uncertain just how many of those 10 or 12 are "confirme RCMP). Last year, the mounties have been looking at thi of cultist involvement. The latest rumors making the ro that they may be thinking differently now, possibly in teb volvement of a foreign power. Mutilations s not much Canadian matter (Cpl, igation). They roportion last qbe with as lit— the media kout) is try- otomy. Hope - best we can in Canada .jjh mid-1980 (though it's d" by the The latest Canadian mutilation occurred - not in Alberta wan - but in Manitoba, and it has been brought to our ai vestigator Tommy R. Blann of Lewisville, Texas, who tensive Canadian contacts. We'll quote from a portion though the names and locations are being withheld: Dr. Carroll (ed.note: a pseudonym;a veterinary patho|l vealed that an apparent mute case had occurred on Ji near a town in Manitoba. Dr. Carroll's examination had been transported to his lab) had found that the le scrotum, testicles, tail and anus had been cut and r There were also two cuts on the left flank. Dr. Carbi ted that the cause of death was determined to be per: and the mutilation was done after the death of the an i: Dr. (a local veterinarian) indicated that the male cal: found in an alfalfa pasture amongst the rest of the he possibility ijrnds suggest ms of the in- or Saskatche- i Mention by in- aintains ex- his report. m o:: ogist) re- line 10, 1980 (the carcass ft ear, amoved. oil rela- toniiis. 171 22 were no marks to be found on the ground to indicate the perpetrators affected the mutilation. He also rei4 that the parts removed presented an "unusual collect coincidences", and that predators seemed an unlikely though possible, explanation. He also said that the c found in a not easily accessible location. There had any publicity about mutilations in this area to encour pranksters. The RCMP investigated the incident, ta tos, etc., but did not make any public statements... how arked on of , al¬ ii if was not been age g pho¬ to ni THE UNITED STATES - KANSAS Fortean researcher Steve Hicks advises us that an acqua his visited the Atchison County, Kansas, Sheriff's Offices February 1980. Though occasional accounts have trickled the press, the investigator was informed that, in the p: up until early February 1980, 25 mutilations had been r Atchison County - 8 cows, 15 sheep and 2 goats. The a student para-medic, was taken to view the two freshe es, from which the rectums and genitalia had been remi cally". To the west, in Ellsworth and Russell Counties, tilations occurred between August 1979 and April 1980. Bureau of Investigation, it was announced, offered to aid in their investigations, but "no hard evidence" had been Summing up the recent mutilation problems in the KANS TIMES (March 13, 1980), reporter Tom Ramstack inter searcher in the toxicology department of a Kansas City requested anonymity but told Ramstack about mutes he ...most mutilated cattle he has examined have been ... strange precision (with) no clues left to follow. . mens from cattle that died under mysterious circum^ are frequently sent to the hospital for tests to deter cause of death. Typically, the researcher said, sevi ternal organs have been removed with a precision ti few surgeons could accomplish. The cattle have beei| ed of blood, and their bodies sometimes are found areas where only their hoofprints are visible. The tracks precludes the possibility of predators having intance of in early out through rleceding year, eported in investigator, st carcass- nved "surgi- 7 known mu- iThe Kansas the sheriffs uncovered. AS CITY i/iewed a re- hospltal. He has known: cut with ..Speci- tances inine a eral in- .t very drain- muddy .ck of 1 tilled the hal in lsu 172 23 animals, the researcher said. In fact, predatory and scaven¬ ging animals reportedly avoid the carcasses of cattle that die under such circumstances. Even after the specimens are tes¬ ted, the researcher said, the cause of death usually remains a mystery. COLORADO The "busiest" state for mutilations thus far this year - At least three horse mutilations occurred in the El Paso County-Elbert County area and there have been many accounts leaking out regarding unreported mutilations in the state (see pp. 2 & 3). There have been at least two apparent cattle mutilations in western Colorado - in Mesa County in April and near Meeker in Rio Blanco County in late May. IOWA A classic cow mutilation ("definitely not predators"..."There is no doubt in my mind. ..that humans were involved") occurred in Washing¬ ton County on or about May 11th. The remains underwent analysis by Dr. Vaughn Seaton and his staff at Iowa State University's College of Veterinary Medicine. The best veterinary surgeons at the college at¬ tempted to produce the same effects on another cow carcass, but after a couple of hours it was decided that the mutilation could not be dup¬ licated. And, in Washington County, at least two encounters with uni¬ dentified helicopters were reported. Other States Mutilations have also been reported this year in South Dakota, Texas, Washington and North Carolina. And Canadian mutilations have occur¬ red in Alberta and, as detailed above, in Manitoba. In the next STIG¬ MATA we'll take a closer look at all the 1980 U.S. and Canadian mu¬ tilations. Credit: Thanks to Mr. &Mrs.Bill Allan,Dwight Whalen, Dr. N.J. Smith, Leo Quigley, Kenneth Pawson, Helen E. Ball, Tommy Blann, Steve Hicks, Linda M. Howe, Dorothy Aldridge, Elsie Dummer, Bob Silva, Grant Callison,Joe Motsinger, Peter Jordan, David Brewer, Linda Williford. 173 Stigmata —1981 For a while we were uncertain whether STIGMATA would continue to be published in 1981. We would like to devote what spare time we have to more basic in-depth research, intensive data analysis and per¬ haps the preparation of a book-length work. After deliberation, we have decided to continue publishing. We'll roll right along, whether the mutes do or not. Though our subscription price will be the same: $5.00, we have not decided whether to continue with the present format or to go to more frequent issues (perhaps bi-monthly) which would mean smaller issues and perhaps a return to our original 85 " X 11" newsletter. Whatever it turns out to be, we'll attempt to make it worth your five dollars. MISCELLANY Linda Moulton Howe's documentary, "A Strange Harvest" is scheduled for airing on Indianapolis, Indiana TV station WRTV on Thursday, Ju¬ ly 31, 1980 -New Yorkers Ian Summers and Daniel Ka¬ gan have contracted with Bantam Books to do an investigative/journal¬ istic book on the mutilation scene. They're currently gathering raw da¬ ta, will make a big swing through the west in August and they have a deadline in Winter (early 1981)-Meanwhile, Michael Albers of Minneapolis has authored a tome "provisionally titled 'THE TERROR'" and it is scheduled for publication this fall (from Manor Books)- -Word has it that Manor Books also has a fictional book based on mutilations scheduled for publication in the near future. - — Despite the RCMP's news blackout, a couple of Canadian publica¬ tions are pursuing the mute saga. ALBERTA REPORT news magazine has already published an article this year, and Project Stigma has been contacted by a writer preparing a feature for MACLEANS magazine — - .. Rumors are rampant about a recent UFO abduction incident in the western U.S., wherein a woman is taken aboard a craft where she subsequently witnesses a livestock mutilation. Disturbing aspects have emerged from the investigation, which is being conducted with utmost secrecy-We thank Tom Bearden's SPECULA and J.W. Burke, Jr.'s GRASSY KNOLL GAZETTE for their recent kind words a- bout STIGMATA and THE CHOPPERS.. .AND THE CHOPPERS. Copyright 1980 by Thomas R. Adams 174