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00:00:01,234 --> 00:00:03,068
[Josh] On this episode
of Expedition X,
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00:00:04,204 --> 00:00:07,373
Phil and Jess venture deep
into the Appalachian Mountains.
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00:00:07,375 --> 00:00:09,508
- [Phil] Look at this place.
- For over a century,
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00:00:09,510 --> 00:00:12,277
there have been reports
of something grotesque
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00:00:12,279 --> 00:00:13,345
prowling these woods.
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00:00:13,347 --> 00:00:17,049
I actually saw bloody flesh
hanging out of his mouth.
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00:00:17,051 --> 00:00:20,452
New eyewitnesses indicate
the stories could be true.
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00:00:20,454 --> 00:00:22,287
- You were scared?
- [both] Scared?
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00:00:22,289 --> 00:00:24,023
- Terrified?
- Yes.
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00:00:24,557 --> 00:00:26,091
At the edge of the waterfall.
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00:00:26,093 --> 00:00:28,127
Do you see any cave?
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00:00:28,129 --> 00:00:30,462
[Josh] And the danger is real.
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00:00:30,464 --> 00:00:31,964
[grunts]
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- Are you okay?
- [bleep]
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00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,334
- Tell somebody where you're at.
- And so they'll know where
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00:00:35,336 --> 00:00:37,069
to come hunt the bodies.
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00:00:37,071 --> 00:00:39,071
[Josh] Could mysterious
creatures be the cause
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00:00:39,073 --> 00:00:40,939
of countless disappearances?
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00:00:40,941 --> 00:00:43,342
[reporter] Breaking news out
of the Great Smoky Mountains.
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Another hiker has gone missing.
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00:00:45,246 --> 00:00:47,312
[man] Someone will go into
the mountains alone,
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00:00:47,314 --> 00:00:50,115
and you will never hear
from them ever again.
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00:00:50,117 --> 00:00:51,917
[Josh] Some say
they're monsters.
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00:00:51,919 --> 00:00:53,919
Something's around here
for sure.
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00:00:53,921 --> 00:00:57,389
Others say it's something
far more horrifying.
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00:00:57,391 --> 00:01:00,659
It's fast and deep right
in the middle. Oh, [bleep].
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00:01:02,128 --> 00:01:03,295
- [gasps]
- [yells]
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00:01:03,396 --> 00:01:05,508
- Look over there, right over there.
- [man] What is that?
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[Josh] Terror in Appalachia.
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00:01:09,135 --> 00:01:11,437
My name is Josh Gates.
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00:01:11,439 --> 00:01:14,573
In my travels, I've
experienced strange things
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00:01:14,575 --> 00:01:18,110
that defy logic and made me
question everything.
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00:01:18,112 --> 00:01:19,878
Oh, my God.
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00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,915
Now, I've put together a team
to investigate
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00:01:22,917 --> 00:01:25,117
the stranger side
of the unknown.
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Let's go.
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00:01:27,188 --> 00:01:31,290
Phil Torres is a scientist who
hunts for rational explanations.
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[Jessica speaking]
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00:01:35,195 --> 00:01:37,396
Jessica Chobot's
paranormal research
40
00:01:37,398 --> 00:01:39,398
has made her a true believer.
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00:01:40,767 --> 00:01:41,934
Let's go.
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00:01:41,936 --> 00:01:44,103
[Josh] Together,
we're searching for answers...
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00:01:44,105 --> 00:01:45,537
What is that?
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00:01:45,539 --> 00:01:48,941
to the world's
most extraordinary mysteries.
45
00:01:48,943 --> 00:01:52,277
This is Expedition X.
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00:01:55,782 --> 00:01:57,883
All right, what if I were
to tell you that there is
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00:01:57,885 --> 00:02:01,520
a bipedal, hairy creature
terrorizing folks
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00:02:01,522 --> 00:02:03,322
in the mountains of Appalachia?
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00:02:03,324 --> 00:02:06,158
- Bigfoot.
- It's a great guess, but no.
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00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:07,926
All right, well,
if we're talking Appalachia.
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00:02:07,928 --> 00:02:10,929
Yeah, so Smoky Mountains,
border of Tennessee,
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00:02:10,931 --> 00:02:13,298
- North Carolina area.
- And it's not Bigfoot,
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00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:15,300
- so, oh, okay, I think...
- She's got it.
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00:02:15,302 --> 00:02:17,236
- I know what we're talking about.
- She's got it.
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00:02:17,238 --> 00:02:19,238
- It is scary.
- Okay, what are we talking about?
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00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,240
So, it is scary.
And that's because
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00:02:21,242 --> 00:02:24,710
this terrifying mystery might
be much more than a legend,
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00:02:24,712 --> 00:02:26,545
it might be very real.
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00:02:30,150 --> 00:02:34,286
The Appalachian Mountain Range
runs along the eastern United States.
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00:02:34,288 --> 00:02:36,822
Toward its southern end
is the sub range
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00:02:36,824 --> 00:02:38,457
known as
the Great Smoky Mountains.
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00:02:38,459 --> 00:02:41,326
Beneath the mist
is a wild place,
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00:02:41,328 --> 00:02:45,731
over 500,000 acres,
much of it largely unexplored
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00:02:45,733 --> 00:02:47,933
and all of it uninhabited,
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00:02:47,935 --> 00:02:50,502
or at least,
it's supposed to be.
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00:02:50,504 --> 00:02:53,805
1838, the native
Cherokee tribes who live here
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00:02:53,807 --> 00:02:55,440
are forcibly displaced.
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00:02:55,442 --> 00:02:58,143
And over the next century
the government kicks out
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00:02:58,145 --> 00:03:00,412
any remaining landowners.
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00:03:00,414 --> 00:03:03,182
Empty of residence, it becomes
the perfect hideout
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00:03:03,184 --> 00:03:05,017
for criminals fleeing the law.
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00:03:05,019 --> 00:03:08,787
Hermits shunning society,
moonshiners operating
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00:03:08,789 --> 00:03:13,392
illegal stills and, maybe,
something even more dangerous.
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00:03:13,394 --> 00:03:17,396
1896, Forest and Stream
magazine publishes
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00:03:17,398 --> 00:03:20,699
a frighteningly descriptive
story about four hunters
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00:03:20,701 --> 00:03:22,834
who had a violent encounter
in the mountains
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00:03:22,836 --> 00:03:25,170
with a disheveled,
naked creature.
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00:03:25,172 --> 00:03:28,140
According to the article, the
four men tried to capture him,
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00:03:28,142 --> 00:03:30,742
but were physically no match
for his brute strength.
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00:03:30,744 --> 00:03:32,978
He overpowered them and escaped.
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00:03:32,980 --> 00:03:35,180
Since then, hundreds
of witnesses have come forward
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00:03:35,182 --> 00:03:36,915
with reports.
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00:03:36,917 --> 00:03:38,717
The descriptions
are eerily similar,
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00:03:38,719 --> 00:03:41,687
human like, but with malformed
facial features,
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00:03:41,689 --> 00:03:45,257
long matted hair,
no clothes, covered in filth,
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00:03:45,259 --> 00:03:46,825
a putrid smell.
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00:03:46,827 --> 00:03:49,761
Some believe the sightings
can be attributed to recluses
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00:03:49,763 --> 00:03:52,164
who reverted
to a primitive state.
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00:03:52,166 --> 00:03:55,300
Others believe the creatures
are another breed entirely
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00:03:55,302 --> 00:03:57,869
with a hunger for raw flesh.
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00:03:57,871 --> 00:03:59,705
Whatever they are,
they've become known
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00:03:59,707 --> 00:04:01,340
as feral people.
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00:04:01,342 --> 00:04:03,175
And there are those
who believe that they could
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00:04:03,177 --> 00:04:07,079
be responsible for hikers
going missing in these woods.
95
00:04:07,081 --> 00:04:11,216
Now, a recent dramatic uptick
in sightings of feral people
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00:04:11,218 --> 00:04:14,386
makes this the critical time
to investigate.
97
00:04:19,058 --> 00:04:21,293
So, all right, Phil,
what do you think?
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00:04:21,295 --> 00:04:23,795
As crazy as it sounds,
there is precedent
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00:04:23,797 --> 00:04:26,231
for some of this. For example,
there's a family in Siberia
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00:04:26,233 --> 00:04:29,201
- that lived off the grid for 40 years, I think.
- [Josh] Right. Yeah.
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00:04:29,203 --> 00:04:32,037
And just a few years ago,
they found a father and son
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00:04:32,039 --> 00:04:33,872
that had been living
in the wilds of Vietnam
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00:04:33,874 --> 00:04:35,774
since the early 1970s.
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00:04:35,776 --> 00:04:38,076
But what you're talking about
here, people have been seeing
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00:04:38,078 --> 00:04:41,713
this since the 1800s. That means
multiple generations of people
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00:04:41,715 --> 00:04:43,915
living out in the wild
in the eastern US.
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00:04:43,917 --> 00:04:46,718
- I don't know.
- Yeah, but what about those uncontacted tribes
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00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,221
that live out in the middle
of the Amazonian rainforest?
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00:04:49,223 --> 00:04:52,090
- I mean, that's generational.
- Sure, but what we're talking about here
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00:04:52,092 --> 00:04:54,893
is something that seems
to be living completely wild,
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00:04:54,895 --> 00:04:57,429
like an animal, and how do we
account for these missing hikers?
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00:04:57,431 --> 00:04:59,398
Great Smoky Mountains
is one of the most visited
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00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,800
wilderness areas in the US.
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00:05:01,802 --> 00:05:03,368
There's a lot of trails
they can get lost on,
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00:05:03,370 --> 00:05:06,338
fall off a ledge,
people disappear out there.
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00:05:06,340 --> 00:05:09,408
- It happens.
- Okay, but what are these eyewitnesses seeing, then?
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00:05:09,410 --> 00:05:12,944
Most likely explanation is
a case of misidentification,
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00:05:12,946 --> 00:05:15,080
like a bear. There's a lot
of them out there.
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00:05:15,082 --> 00:05:17,249
Normally, I would agree
with you but the eyewitnesses
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00:05:17,251 --> 00:05:20,152
in this case seem so clear
that what they're seeing
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00:05:20,154 --> 00:05:21,720
is not something like a bear.
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00:05:22,188 --> 00:05:23,488
So, here's the mission.
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First off, get to
the Great Smoky Mountains
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00:05:25,392 --> 00:05:28,060
and start by talking
to these eyewitnesses.
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00:05:28,062 --> 00:05:30,529
I think you've got to find out
what these people really saw.
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00:05:30,531 --> 00:05:33,265
And then you're gonna have
to get deep in the wilderness
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00:05:33,267 --> 00:05:35,200
on this one. Whatever this is,
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00:05:35,202 --> 00:05:37,035
it's obviously figured out
a way to stay hidden,
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00:05:37,037 --> 00:05:39,137
so if you're going to collect evidence,
you're going to have to get really
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00:05:39,139 --> 00:05:40,572
off the grid here.
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00:05:40,574 --> 00:05:43,041
Phil, if this is a case
of misidentification,
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00:05:43,043 --> 00:05:44,109
and it might be,
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00:05:44,111 --> 00:05:44,910
prove it.
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00:05:44,912 --> 00:05:46,511
What are people really seeing?
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00:05:46,513 --> 00:05:49,915
There is a real mystery here.
Folks have gone missing
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00:05:49,917 --> 00:05:52,050
and we've got real eyewitnesses.
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00:05:52,052 --> 00:05:53,785
So, figure out what's going on.
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00:05:53,787 --> 00:05:55,821
- Will do.
- We're on it.
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00:05:55,823 --> 00:05:58,290
[Josh] Phil and Jess hop
a flight from New York City
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00:05:58,292 --> 00:06:00,225
to Nashville, Tennessee.
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00:06:00,227 --> 00:06:02,227
From the country music
capital, it's another
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00:06:02,229 --> 00:06:05,497
four hours in the car heading
east toward the mountains.
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00:06:08,401 --> 00:06:11,269
[Phil] These woods
just keep on going.
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00:06:11,271 --> 00:06:13,305
This is my first time
in the Great Smoky Mountains,
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00:06:13,307 --> 00:06:15,140
and look at that.
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00:06:15,142 --> 00:06:18,844
- You can, like, see that kind of haze.
- That makes it look smoky.
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00:06:18,846 --> 00:06:20,145
Yeah.
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00:06:20,147 --> 00:06:23,248
[Josh] There are over
187,000 acres
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00:06:23,250 --> 00:06:25,717
of thick old-growth forest here.
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00:06:25,719 --> 00:06:30,322
It's home to black bears,
wild hogs, even bobcats.
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00:06:30,324 --> 00:06:33,191
And, even though they supposedly
no longer live in the region,
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00:06:33,193 --> 00:06:36,962
there are also occasional
reported sightings of cougars.
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00:06:36,964 --> 00:06:39,197
Which begs the question,
could there be other
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00:06:39,199 --> 00:06:41,700
rarely seen creatures
in this forest?
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00:06:43,669 --> 00:06:47,272
I feel like I could survive
out here. There's enough food
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00:06:47,274 --> 00:06:50,876
you could forage. I saw a dead
raccoon back there looked delicious.
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00:06:50,878 --> 00:06:53,044
What is wrong with you?
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00:06:54,213 --> 00:06:56,415
[Jessica] As part of our
investigation, we make a stop
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00:06:56,417 --> 00:06:57,816
in Newport, Tennessee,
160
00:06:57,818 --> 00:06:59,317
where we're meeting
an old buddy of mine who knows
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00:06:59,319 --> 00:07:01,987
the nearby woods
like the back of his hand.
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00:07:05,958 --> 00:07:08,627
- Was that like a secret knock?
- Yeah, it's a secret knock.
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00:07:09,262 --> 00:07:11,096
- Hi.
- Hey, guys. Welcome.
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00:07:11,098 --> 00:07:12,631
- Thank you.
- Thank you.
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00:07:12,633 --> 00:07:14,466
I shake men's hands, but I still
hug the women. How are you doing?
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00:07:14,468 --> 00:07:16,368
-Oh, I'll give you a hug. Good, how are you doing?
-Good to see you.
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00:07:16,370 --> 00:07:17,803
Nice to see you too.
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00:07:18,204 --> 00:07:21,406
[Jessica] Digger Manes and Mark
Ramsey are moonshining legends.
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00:07:21,408 --> 00:07:23,575
Both grew up in the hills
and learned their craft
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00:07:23,577 --> 00:07:25,944
from Appalachia's
old-school masters.
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00:07:25,946 --> 00:07:27,412
Hi.
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00:07:27,414 --> 00:07:30,134
If anyone knows the secrets of
the Smoky Mountains, it's these two.
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00:07:31,784 --> 00:07:34,686
So, we've read some reports
from people in the area
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00:07:34,688 --> 00:07:37,355
that say they're convinced
they have seen,
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00:07:37,357 --> 00:07:39,391
like, a feral-looking man
out there,
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00:07:39,393 --> 00:07:42,160
walking around
naked, raggedy hair.
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00:07:42,162 --> 00:07:44,830
We've been in the woods
a lot in our life,
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00:07:44,832 --> 00:07:46,965
making moonshine and, you know,
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00:07:46,967 --> 00:07:49,701
we've heard stories
our whole life about creatures
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00:07:49,703 --> 00:07:53,772
and, you know, just things
that were not explained.
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00:07:53,774 --> 00:07:55,106
- Oh, yeah.
- Really?
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00:07:55,108 --> 00:07:56,975
Yeah, oh, we've heard tales
of people wandering
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00:07:56,977 --> 00:07:58,410
these mountains for years.
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00:07:58,412 --> 00:08:00,679
They've been some ugly
sons-of-bitches grew up
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00:08:00,681 --> 00:08:04,015
in these mountains up here.
They, they fit the bill.
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00:08:04,017 --> 00:08:06,184
- Really?
- I mean, I'm not including us in that,
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00:08:06,186 --> 00:08:08,119
- but...
- [both laughing]
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00:08:08,921 --> 00:08:11,490
I feel like we always
associate moonshine
189
00:08:11,492 --> 00:08:14,259
with, kind of, like, doing it
in secret out in the woods.
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00:08:14,261 --> 00:08:16,795
You know, these old boys,
when they found a prime spot,
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00:08:16,797 --> 00:08:19,531
they protected it to no end
no matter what they had to do,
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00:08:19,533 --> 00:08:20,899
- whether they had to boobytrap it.
- Exactly.
193
00:08:20,901 --> 00:08:23,435
- Yeah.
- Or, you know, make them up a little back story
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00:08:23,437 --> 00:08:25,270
that, you know,
somebody is going to get hurt
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00:08:25,272 --> 00:08:27,506
if they went in. There's
no doubt there's a lot
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00:08:27,508 --> 00:08:29,174
of mysterious things out there.
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00:08:29,176 --> 00:08:31,977
It's just how you want to
rationalize them in your own head.
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00:08:31,979 --> 00:08:34,079
- So, we just got here.
- Uh-huh.
199
00:08:34,081 --> 00:08:36,281
We're trying to figure out
where we should start.
200
00:08:36,283 --> 00:08:38,683
To look for something
that mysterious,
201
00:08:38,685 --> 00:08:40,552
- where do you think we should go?
- North Carolina.
202
00:08:40,554 --> 00:08:44,322
That's where I would go. There's
a lot of... thousands and thousands
203
00:08:44,324 --> 00:08:46,057
of acres up there.
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00:08:46,059 --> 00:08:48,093
But tell somebody
where you're at in case
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00:08:48,095 --> 00:08:49,861
you don't show up
for the next day or two.
206
00:08:49,863 --> 00:08:52,130
So they'll know where
to come hunt the bodies.
207
00:08:52,132 --> 00:08:55,100
I mean I feel like we might
need some liquid courage,
208
00:08:55,102 --> 00:08:56,935
- personally.
- I think we could use some liquid courage
209
00:08:56,937 --> 00:08:59,104
- before get out into the woods.
- Like, just throwing that out.
210
00:08:59,106 --> 00:09:00,405
Did we come to the right place?
211
00:09:00,407 --> 00:09:02,007
I think we might be able
to help you.
212
00:09:02,009 --> 00:09:03,141
[Jessica laughs] [whoops]
213
00:09:03,143 --> 00:09:04,676
- Straight out of the barrel?
- Thank you.
214
00:09:04,678 --> 00:09:05,777
- Yeah.
- Come on.
215
00:09:05,779 --> 00:09:07,479
Tighten them up there.
216
00:09:07,481 --> 00:09:09,881
[Jessica] No visit with the
Moonshiners would be complete
217
00:09:09,883 --> 00:09:12,617
without a small taste
of their finest shine.
218
00:09:15,121 --> 00:09:16,888
[grunts, whoops]
219
00:09:16,890 --> 00:09:19,357
- That's not bad.
- I gotta try this.
220
00:09:24,430 --> 00:09:26,064
I like that. That's good.
221
00:09:26,066 --> 00:09:29,401
I will say, I feel a little
more courageous right now.
222
00:09:29,403 --> 00:09:30,802
- I'm ready to go out in the woods.
- I feel...
223
00:09:30,804 --> 00:09:32,270
Oh, you be able to whoop
a damn bobcat
224
00:09:32,272 --> 00:09:34,439
- after about two more drinks.
- [Jessica] I feel really warm.
225
00:09:34,441 --> 00:09:36,708
[Jessica] We leave the Moonshiners,
with a couple jars of hooch
226
00:09:36,710 --> 00:09:38,209
and some good advice,
227
00:09:39,078 --> 00:09:42,013
setting our GPS
for the North Carolina border.
228
00:09:42,982 --> 00:09:45,116
Well, I'll tell you,
if you go into these woods...
229
00:09:45,118 --> 00:09:46,818
- Uh-huh.
- 100 feet.
230
00:09:46,820 --> 00:09:50,021
Close your eyes, spin around, you
can get lost so easily out here. Like,
231
00:09:50,023 --> 00:09:53,892
it looks easy on the road right
now, but it is dense out there.
232
00:09:53,894 --> 00:09:55,961
What is a little surprising
to me is the fact that
233
00:09:55,963 --> 00:09:58,697
the Park Service
doesn't really publicly
234
00:09:58,699 --> 00:10:01,566
announce how many people
have disappeared around here.
235
00:10:01,568 --> 00:10:03,702
- Yeah. Why is that?
- I don't know.
236
00:10:03,704 --> 00:10:06,605
Is it 'cause they don't want
to scare people away?
237
00:10:06,607 --> 00:10:08,106
Maybe.
238
00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:09,441
Whoa, there.
239
00:10:09,443 --> 00:10:12,544
Sorry, I mean, I don't really
have a lot of options
240
00:10:12,546 --> 00:10:15,447
- on this road.
- This road is insane.
241
00:10:22,922 --> 00:10:24,122
- Hi.
- Hey, how are you?
242
00:10:24,124 --> 00:10:25,323
- Hi, guys.
- Hey.
243
00:10:25,358 --> 00:10:27,392
[Josh] I've connected Phil
and Jess with Eric Taylor,
244
00:10:27,394 --> 00:10:29,694
a local researcher
who has been analyzing
245
00:10:29,696 --> 00:10:33,098
eyewitness reports
of feral people for 15 years,
246
00:10:33,100 --> 00:10:35,900
and Pam Watson,
an eyewitness who says
247
00:10:35,902 --> 00:10:37,869
she'd never even heard
of feral humans
248
00:10:37,871 --> 00:10:40,105
until she came face
to face with one.
249
00:10:40,107 --> 00:10:43,742
If she's to be believed, it may
be one of the closest encounters,
250
00:10:43,744 --> 00:10:45,377
anyone has ever had.
251
00:10:45,379 --> 00:10:48,446
So, what are these feral people.
Where do they come from?
252
00:10:48,448 --> 00:10:50,315
Since the 1840s,
253
00:10:50,317 --> 00:10:53,518
there's been reports
of feral, wild people
254
00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:55,987
in the woods,
and the people here
255
00:10:55,989 --> 00:10:58,023
believe a large number
of missing people
256
00:10:58,025 --> 00:11:02,060
in the Great Smoky Mountains
is due to feral people.
257
00:11:02,062 --> 00:11:05,063
But what evidence is there
that it's feral people?
258
00:11:05,065 --> 00:11:06,164
I mean, look around these woods.
259
00:11:06,166 --> 00:11:08,900
It seems like it'd be easy
to just disappear.
260
00:11:08,902 --> 00:11:11,469
You fall off a cliff,
you fall onto a stream.
261
00:11:11,471 --> 00:11:12,404
How do we know
it's feral people?
262
00:11:12,406 --> 00:11:14,472
Eyewitness testimonies.
263
00:11:14,474 --> 00:11:16,708
[Jessica] So, Pam
has actually seen one?
264
00:11:16,710 --> 00:11:18,977
I have, we had gone
on a family vacation,
265
00:11:18,979 --> 00:11:20,578
myself, my brother
and my parents.
266
00:11:21,747 --> 00:11:24,015
My brother and I had gone up
into the woods,
267
00:11:24,017 --> 00:11:27,519
and we had veered off
this path a little bit
268
00:11:27,521 --> 00:11:29,187
and, when we did,
269
00:11:29,189 --> 00:11:30,522
we saw something.
270
00:11:30,956 --> 00:11:34,759
It was a man,
271
00:11:34,761 --> 00:11:39,964
squatted down, eating
something like a deer.
272
00:11:41,133 --> 00:11:45,203
And I actually saw bloody
flesh hanging out of his mouth,
273
00:11:45,805 --> 00:11:47,505
blood all over his chest.
274
00:11:47,507 --> 00:11:52,077
Untamed beard, nasty looking.
275
00:11:52,079 --> 00:11:54,312
I was terrified.
276
00:11:54,314 --> 00:11:58,083
He had a really big forehead
that was kind of lumpy and stuff,
277
00:11:58,085 --> 00:12:00,485
one side of his nose
was a little bit bigger,
278
00:12:00,487 --> 00:12:02,287
I mean he was just...
He was deformed
279
00:12:02,289 --> 00:12:06,157
and he looked at us
with a demonic look.
280
00:12:06,159 --> 00:12:07,892
- Was he wearing clothes?
- No.
281
00:12:07,894 --> 00:12:11,496
Eyewitness accounts
describe a very putrid smell
282
00:12:11,498 --> 00:12:14,065
like garbage, and that's, kind
of, a precursor, usually,
283
00:12:14,067 --> 00:12:15,767
to a sighting,
284
00:12:15,769 --> 00:12:18,770
and they will click
[clicks tongue] back and forth
285
00:12:18,772 --> 00:12:20,839
and that is their form
of communication.
286
00:12:20,841 --> 00:12:24,142
So, did you hear any clicking or
anything when you stumbled upon this one?
287
00:12:24,144 --> 00:12:26,711
- We did.
- Have you been back to that area since then?
288
00:12:26,713 --> 00:12:28,179
No, I have not.
289
00:12:28,181 --> 00:12:31,015
These stories are that someone
will go into the mountains alone,
290
00:12:31,017 --> 00:12:33,118
perhaps, and veer off
from the trail.
291
00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:35,019
They may fall into one
of their traps
292
00:12:35,021 --> 00:12:36,321
that they've made.
293
00:12:36,323 --> 00:12:40,091
People actually say,
"Do not go into certain areas
294
00:12:40,093 --> 00:12:41,826
-in the Great Smoky
Mountains," -So...
295
00:12:41,828 --> 00:12:43,194
- Wow.
- I think we got to ask,
296
00:12:43,196 --> 00:12:45,930
like, where are those areas
that we shouldn't,
297
00:12:45,932 --> 00:12:48,032
- but probably should, go?
- Yeah, that we're...
298
00:12:48,034 --> 00:12:50,101
That we shouldn't go, but
we're absolutely headed towards.
299
00:12:50,103 --> 00:12:52,170
Yeah.
300
00:12:52,172 --> 00:12:55,006
[Jessica] Pam shows us on a
map where she had her encounter
301
00:12:55,008 --> 00:12:57,675
and Eric points out an area
nearby where there have been
302
00:12:57,677 --> 00:13:00,445
dozens of other
reported sightings.
303
00:13:00,447 --> 00:13:02,881
[Phil] Running right through
this cluster is something
304
00:13:02,883 --> 00:13:06,417
that every big animal needs,
a major water source.
305
00:13:06,419 --> 00:13:08,319
There's no doubt
this remote location
306
00:13:08,321 --> 00:13:10,722
could sustain all sorts
of wildlife.
307
00:13:10,724 --> 00:13:12,690
- Well, thank you guys.
- Thank you so much.
308
00:13:12,692 --> 00:13:14,392
- You're welcome.
- Great information,
309
00:13:14,394 --> 00:13:15,860
- I think we got to really get started.
- Yeah.
310
00:13:15,862 --> 00:13:18,062
[Phil] Pam's encounter
is unique because of how close
311
00:13:18,064 --> 00:13:19,964
she claims she got
to the creature.
312
00:13:19,966 --> 00:13:22,834
So we've asked her to work
with a forensic sketch artist
313
00:13:22,836 --> 00:13:25,537
to try to get an accurate
picture of what she saw.
314
00:13:26,906 --> 00:13:28,840
[Jessica] We won't have
the results until morning.
315
00:13:28,842 --> 00:13:32,210
In the meantime, we follow
Eric's map deep into the woods.
316
00:13:32,212 --> 00:13:34,312
If feral people
are living out here,
317
00:13:34,314 --> 00:13:36,681
Pam believes we're more likely
to find them at dusk
318
00:13:36,683 --> 00:13:39,684
or dark, away
from day hikers and tourists.
319
00:13:42,087 --> 00:13:44,789
[Phil] I don't think anyone's
driven this road in quite a while.
320
00:13:44,791 --> 00:13:46,024
[Jessica] Yeah, no,
I would agree.
321
00:13:46,026 --> 00:13:48,193
- [Jessica] Oh, jeez. Hang on.
- [Phil] Oh.
322
00:13:50,095 --> 00:13:51,729
- [exclaims]
- You good?
323
00:13:51,731 --> 00:13:53,231
I'm good.
324
00:13:53,233 --> 00:13:55,466
[Phil] The roads here
are barely passable.
325
00:13:55,468 --> 00:13:57,368
The recent heavy rains
have made them
326
00:13:57,370 --> 00:13:58,703
downright treacherous.
327
00:13:58,705 --> 00:14:00,371
- Oh.
- Okay.
328
00:14:02,241 --> 00:14:04,409
You've got the right spot.
329
00:14:04,411 --> 00:14:05,877
[Jessica] Let's take a look.
330
00:14:05,879 --> 00:14:07,946
[Phil] I see road
on the other side.
331
00:14:07,948 --> 00:14:10,014
- Yeah.
- You think the jeep can make it?
332
00:14:10,683 --> 00:14:12,550
I don't know, man, I mean, look,
333
00:14:12,552 --> 00:14:14,519
you can see it gets pretty
deep there in the middle
334
00:14:14,521 --> 00:14:16,254
and if we get the engine wet,
335
00:14:16,256 --> 00:14:17,689
- we're stuck. We're done.
- Yeah.
336
00:14:23,128 --> 00:14:24,529
It's pretty deep there
in the middle
337
00:14:24,531 --> 00:14:27,532
and if we get the engine wet,
we're stuck, we're done.
338
00:14:27,534 --> 00:14:29,400
Okay, well,
339
00:14:30,135 --> 00:14:31,903
cameras, everybody.
340
00:14:31,905 --> 00:14:33,004
Looks like we're going swimming.
341
00:14:33,006 --> 00:14:35,406
- Let's grab our waders.
- Grab your waders, guys.
342
00:14:35,408 --> 00:14:37,041
We gotta cross.
343
00:14:37,043 --> 00:14:39,711
[Phil] Getting ourselves
across the river is one thing,
344
00:14:39,713 --> 00:14:42,013
but our crew will have
to make this crossing
345
00:14:42,015 --> 00:14:43,214
while carrying heavy gear.
346
00:14:43,216 --> 00:14:45,149
All right, let's go.
347
00:14:46,318 --> 00:14:49,254
All right, cameras, I think Jess
and I are going to cross first.
348
00:14:49,488 --> 00:14:51,456
See how deep it is.
349
00:14:51,458 --> 00:14:53,258
Make sure you're good
with your gear.
350
00:14:58,998 --> 00:15:01,532
A little rocky, so be careful
where you're stepping.
351
00:15:02,701 --> 00:15:05,069
Oh, [bleep]. Oh.
352
00:15:05,071 --> 00:15:08,273
It also gets a little fast
right here.
353
00:15:08,275 --> 00:15:10,174
[Phil] The temperature
of this water is hovering
354
00:15:10,176 --> 00:15:11,442
just above freezing.
355
00:15:11,444 --> 00:15:13,278
If anyone falls in...
356
00:15:13,280 --> 00:15:16,114
Yeah, we really don't want
anyone to fall in.
357
00:15:16,116 --> 00:15:18,383
It's fast and deep
right in the middle.
358
00:15:20,085 --> 00:15:21,552
Easy, Jess.
359
00:15:24,023 --> 00:15:25,556
[water splashing]
360
00:15:25,558 --> 00:15:27,358
Oh, [bleep]. [grunts]
361
00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:29,360
I'm good. Good, good.
362
00:15:32,031 --> 00:15:34,265
I don't think the jeep
would have made it.
363
00:15:34,267 --> 00:15:37,135
[Jessica] Okay, be very
careful with the current right here
364
00:15:37,137 --> 00:15:38,202
in the middle.
365
00:15:43,809 --> 00:15:45,476
All right, guys,
366
00:15:45,478 --> 00:15:47,578
looking like it's going uphill
from here.
367
00:15:47,580 --> 00:15:49,314
So I think we can
take the waders off.
368
00:15:49,316 --> 00:15:50,982
[Jessica] Yeah.
369
00:15:50,984 --> 00:15:53,351
[Jessica] We trek about a
half a mile, following the stream,
370
00:15:53,353 --> 00:15:55,153
until we reach our destination,
371
00:15:55,155 --> 00:15:57,255
an area where there have been
several recent
372
00:15:57,257 --> 00:15:59,057
eyewitness sightings
and near where Pam
373
00:15:59,059 --> 00:16:00,625
reported seeing a feral man.
374
00:16:00,627 --> 00:16:03,294
We'll focus our investigation
close to the water.
375
00:16:04,997 --> 00:16:08,099
[Phil] Heavy rains have turned
this small stream into a river.
376
00:16:08,101 --> 00:16:11,235
We need to stay on alert
because, based on our map,
377
00:16:11,237 --> 00:16:14,973
it's the closest water source
for any big animal out here,
378
00:16:14,975 --> 00:16:16,574
including bears.
379
00:16:17,409 --> 00:16:19,143
Look at this.
380
00:16:21,013 --> 00:16:22,880
[whispering indistinctly]
381
00:16:22,882 --> 00:16:25,083
Does not seem like
it's been used recently.
382
00:16:29,021 --> 00:16:31,322
[Phil] Why is there a bathtub
in the middle of the woods?
383
00:16:31,324 --> 00:16:32,357
[Jessica] That's disgusting.
384
00:16:32,359 --> 00:16:35,026
[Phil] That is really gross.
385
00:16:35,028 --> 00:16:37,128
[Jessica] This does not look
like it's been used for bathing.
386
00:16:37,130 --> 00:16:39,263
Oh, no.
And look at the age of this.
387
00:16:39,265 --> 00:16:42,967
Yeah, this is like
a moonshine spot.
388
00:16:42,969 --> 00:16:46,704
- And that's why this is all, like,
supported... - You might be right.
389
00:16:46,706 --> 00:16:48,206
-In the middle of the woods,
-Mm-hmm.
390
00:16:48,208 --> 00:16:51,109
- The most random place.
- That's why they call it bathtub gin.
391
00:16:52,077 --> 00:16:53,678
[Phil] You might be
on to something.
392
00:16:57,883 --> 00:17:01,986
So, I'm thinking we could use
this as, kind of, our base,
393
00:17:01,988 --> 00:17:04,822
because we got stream
on this side,
394
00:17:04,824 --> 00:17:07,558
we got really steep ridge
up there,
395
00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:09,727
just gives us a really
good corridor,
396
00:17:09,729 --> 00:17:12,263
a really good opportunity
to set up camera traps.
397
00:17:12,265 --> 00:17:15,133
So, if anything crosses
this way through it,
398
00:17:15,135 --> 00:17:16,834
- we should get it on camera.
- Yeah.
399
00:17:16,836 --> 00:17:17,769
Okay, let's do that.
400
00:17:17,771 --> 00:17:19,637
Let me get the traps out.
401
00:17:21,774 --> 00:17:23,875
[Phil] We split up
and strategically placed
402
00:17:23,877 --> 00:17:27,145
a series of 10 motion-
activated trail cameras.
403
00:17:27,147 --> 00:17:29,714
Jess sets up five cameras
along the edge of the river
404
00:17:29,716 --> 00:17:30,948
running through this valley,
405
00:17:30,950 --> 00:17:34,085
while I place five along
the ridge line above.
406
00:17:34,087 --> 00:17:36,721
If anything stops by
for a sip of water,
407
00:17:36,723 --> 00:17:39,057
these high-tech cameras
will snap a photo
408
00:17:39,059 --> 00:17:41,626
and immediately uplink
the images to my phone.
409
00:17:43,028 --> 00:17:45,129
Okay, Phil, I'm all set up.
410
00:17:45,431 --> 00:17:46,564
All right, Jess.
411
00:17:46,865 --> 00:17:49,467
Meet you back at the
moonshine tub in maybe an hour.
412
00:17:50,135 --> 00:17:51,702
[Jessica] That's good.
413
00:17:58,844 --> 00:18:01,045
[Phil] I'm looking for
any signs that animals
414
00:18:01,047 --> 00:18:04,282
pass through here,
like paw prints or scat.
415
00:18:06,885 --> 00:18:08,352
Check this out.
416
00:18:09,555 --> 00:18:11,289
See those scratch marks.
417
00:18:11,291 --> 00:18:12,457
Come on.
418
00:18:12,459 --> 00:18:15,059
That is an animal.
419
00:18:15,061 --> 00:18:18,229
And this is, for sure.
Got some damage there.
420
00:18:18,397 --> 00:18:20,431
This seems old.
421
00:18:21,967 --> 00:18:25,570
Like, definitely that looks
like man-made damage.
422
00:18:25,572 --> 00:18:28,773
Oh, just notch out of a tree.
423
00:18:28,775 --> 00:18:30,475
Doesn't really look
like hatchet, it looks like
424
00:18:30,477 --> 00:18:32,777
a rudimentary tool
like a stone or something
425
00:18:32,779 --> 00:18:33,978
that made that mark.
426
00:18:33,980 --> 00:18:36,347
Something that didn't have
a very sharp edge.
427
00:18:40,919 --> 00:18:42,520
[camera shutter clicks]
428
00:18:44,022 --> 00:18:47,725
This to me says human,
says human.
429
00:18:47,727 --> 00:18:51,329
This, that's something more.
That could be a bear.
430
00:18:51,331 --> 00:18:55,700
Scratches all along this,
it's like they're competing
431
00:18:55,702 --> 00:18:58,703
for this spot,
marking the territory.
432
00:18:58,705 --> 00:19:01,272
Bears rub against
or scratch trees
433
00:19:01,274 --> 00:19:02,673
to mark their territory.
434
00:19:02,675 --> 00:19:04,509
A bear might have claimed
this riverbank
435
00:19:04,511 --> 00:19:07,111
and it's possible a human
did the same.
436
00:19:12,651 --> 00:19:15,219
There's something
around here, for sure.
437
00:19:19,424 --> 00:19:23,127
[Jessica] The sound of the stream
makes it hard to hear anything else.
438
00:19:27,466 --> 00:19:29,100
- Oh, [gasps]
- [cameraman exclaims]
439
00:19:29,102 --> 00:19:30,434
[bleep]
440
00:19:30,436 --> 00:19:32,703
Look over there, right
over there, right over there.
441
00:19:32,705 --> 00:19:33,871
- What is it?
- Right over there.
442
00:19:33,873 --> 00:19:35,940
[bleep]
443
00:19:45,884 --> 00:19:48,152
Phil, I got something
moving in the woods.
444
00:19:48,820 --> 00:19:49,820
Say again?
445
00:19:49,888 --> 00:19:51,689
I just saw something moving
in the woods.
446
00:19:52,191 --> 00:19:53,858
How big we talking?
447
00:19:53,860 --> 00:19:56,527
I honestly can't tell because
it's just so thick down here.
448
00:19:56,529 --> 00:19:59,163
I mean, it looked big.
I don't know.
449
00:20:07,539 --> 00:20:09,307
What were you seeing down there?
450
00:20:09,309 --> 00:20:11,342
[speaking]
451
00:20:13,212 --> 00:20:14,478
This direction?
452
00:20:17,149 --> 00:20:18,849
- [device beeps]
- [Phil] Oh, we just got a hit.
453
00:20:18,851 --> 00:20:19,684
- Just got a hit.
- What?
454
00:20:19,686 --> 00:20:21,652
- New one.
- No, we did not.
455
00:20:22,020 --> 00:20:24,555
Oh, look at that.
456
00:20:24,557 --> 00:20:27,358
- Something's blocking the camera.
- That's something big.
457
00:20:27,360 --> 00:20:28,593
What is that?
458
00:20:36,401 --> 00:20:39,337
- Something's blocking the camera.
- That's something big.
459
00:20:39,339 --> 00:20:40,504
What is that?
460
00:20:40,506 --> 00:20:42,039
Just looks like
something's hand.
461
00:20:42,041 --> 00:20:44,342
[Phil] This alert
is from camera eight,
462
00:20:44,344 --> 00:20:47,278
one of the ones I set up
on the ridge line above.
463
00:20:47,280 --> 00:20:49,013
That's the top here,
we got to go.
464
00:20:49,015 --> 00:20:50,314
We got to go.
465
00:20:50,316 --> 00:20:52,283
Up here, up here.
466
00:21:01,426 --> 00:21:04,395
- Oh. [bleep]
- Are you... Are you okay?
467
00:21:04,397 --> 00:21:06,697
- Are you okay?
- See that branch.
468
00:21:06,699 --> 00:21:07,965
- [exhales]
- I swear to God
469
00:21:07,967 --> 00:21:09,500
we just walked this trail...
470
00:21:09,502 --> 00:21:11,182
- That was not...
- and that was not there.
471
00:21:13,839 --> 00:21:16,307
- This is the tree.
- The camera's up there.
472
00:21:16,309 --> 00:21:18,376
-Are you all right? Is everything okay?
-Yeah.
473
00:21:18,378 --> 00:21:20,177
- I'm good.
- [exhales]
474
00:21:20,179 --> 00:21:22,179
But what the hell
475
00:21:22,181 --> 00:21:23,681
was that?
476
00:21:25,517 --> 00:21:27,785
Oh, okay.
477
00:21:27,787 --> 00:21:29,954
It's been moved here.
It's been moved.
478
00:21:34,092 --> 00:21:36,294
And there's no branches
that just fell.
479
00:21:37,696 --> 00:21:41,065
There's something definitely
moved that camera.
480
00:21:41,067 --> 00:21:43,167
Look at this axis right here.
481
00:21:43,169 --> 00:21:46,137
Wow, look how fresh this is.
Look at this game trail.
482
00:21:46,139 --> 00:21:47,405
Yeah.
483
00:21:47,407 --> 00:21:49,173
- You got the FLIR, right?
- Yeah.
484
00:21:53,111 --> 00:21:54,478
[Phil] Okay.
485
00:21:55,547 --> 00:21:57,148
[Jessica] You seeing anything?
486
00:21:57,150 --> 00:21:58,482
[Phil] Nothing right now.
487
00:21:59,484 --> 00:22:01,118
[Jessica] We spend the next
half hour scanning
488
00:22:01,120 --> 00:22:03,921
the tree line for anything
warm blooded,
489
00:22:03,923 --> 00:22:07,124
but whatever triggered our
camera seems to be gone now.
490
00:22:08,293 --> 00:22:11,962
I'm not getting anything
out there.
491
00:22:12,931 --> 00:22:15,366
[Phil] We search the area
for any trace evidence,
492
00:22:15,368 --> 00:22:19,203
like fur or tracks in the mud, from
whatever disturbed the camera,
493
00:22:19,205 --> 00:22:21,138
but come up empty.
494
00:22:21,140 --> 00:22:24,675
I mean, we know
that they're active out here,
495
00:22:24,677 --> 00:22:25,810
whatever it is, right?
496
00:22:25,812 --> 00:22:27,712
We're picking up stuff
on the camera traps, so
497
00:22:27,714 --> 00:22:29,213
why don't we leave them running?
498
00:22:29,215 --> 00:22:32,149
[Jessica] Our multitrack camera
system was successful tonight
499
00:22:32,151 --> 00:22:34,051
and captured an intriguing
clue from something
500
00:22:34,053 --> 00:22:35,486
that was out here with us,
501
00:22:35,488 --> 00:22:37,988
feral human or wild animal.
502
00:22:37,990 --> 00:22:40,424
We'll have the image analyzed
to see if we can figure out
503
00:22:40,426 --> 00:22:41,959
its identity.
504
00:22:43,095 --> 00:22:46,297
- Oh, no, I just thought of something.
- What?
505
00:22:46,299 --> 00:22:49,367
- Yeah?
- We have to cross that stream again.
506
00:22:49,369 --> 00:22:51,268
[both sigh]
507
00:22:51,270 --> 00:22:52,603
[Phil] Great.
508
00:22:55,474 --> 00:22:57,842
[Jessica] The next morning,
we get some incredible
509
00:22:57,844 --> 00:23:00,978
new information that we need
to show Josh.
510
00:23:00,980 --> 00:23:02,480
Hey, guys, how's it going
out there?
511
00:23:02,482 --> 00:23:03,547
[both] Good.
512
00:23:03,549 --> 00:23:05,750
So, we had a pretty
amazing night.
513
00:23:05,752 --> 00:23:08,285
I definitely heard something
moving around in the woods,
514
00:23:08,287 --> 00:23:10,087
and then we got
a really interesting hit.
515
00:23:10,089 --> 00:23:12,356
One of the trail cams
actually picked up
516
00:23:12,358 --> 00:23:15,726
what looks like
a hand reaching for it.
517
00:23:15,728 --> 00:23:17,161
Wait, what do you mean a hand?
518
00:23:17,163 --> 00:23:19,096
Do you mean like a human hand?
519
00:23:19,098 --> 00:23:21,232
Yeah, it looks like this part
of the hand.
520
00:23:21,234 --> 00:23:23,067
You can actually see
what looks like a little bit
521
00:23:23,069 --> 00:23:26,070
of a thumbnail and it's
reaching for the camera.
522
00:23:27,139 --> 00:23:29,106
And then, when we went
and checked out the cam,
523
00:23:29,108 --> 00:23:31,242
it was all knocked off the tree.
524
00:23:32,310 --> 00:23:33,978
So, what are you saying?
You think there was somebody
525
00:23:33,980 --> 00:23:36,947
- out there in the woods?
- I mean, somebody or something.
526
00:23:36,949 --> 00:23:39,350
[Phil] I'm not so sure, Josh.
Maybe the camera slipped
527
00:23:39,352 --> 00:23:42,453
and triggered this blurry
shot. Jess sees a hand.
528
00:23:42,455 --> 00:23:45,389
I see, well, not much
of anything.
529
00:23:45,391 --> 00:23:47,091
Okay. All right.
530
00:23:47,093 --> 00:23:49,226
And what about... And what
about witnesses?
531
00:23:49,228 --> 00:23:50,728
Well, we talked
to one yesterday,
532
00:23:50,730 --> 00:23:53,364
Pam, and honestly her story
was terrifying.
533
00:23:53,366 --> 00:23:56,033
Whatever she saw,
she's traumatized by it
534
00:23:56,035 --> 00:23:57,701
-to this day,
-Mm-hmm.
535
00:23:57,703 --> 00:24:01,238
And we actually connected her
with a forensic sketch artist,
536
00:24:01,240 --> 00:24:02,807
so that we can have
a better idea of what
537
00:24:02,809 --> 00:24:04,208
we should be looking
for out here,
538
00:24:04,210 --> 00:24:06,277
and actually we just got
the results over.
539
00:24:06,279 --> 00:24:08,012
We're gonna email them
to you now.
540
00:24:08,014 --> 00:24:10,381
Okay, hold on a second,
let me open this up.
541
00:24:11,450 --> 00:24:12,450
- Whoa.
- [both] Oh.
542
00:24:12,452 --> 00:24:14,785
[Josh] Look at this guy.
543
00:24:14,787 --> 00:24:18,189
This is kind of incredible
because this is clearly
544
00:24:18,191 --> 00:24:20,891
humanoid, right? I mean this
is not a sketch of a bear, right?
545
00:24:20,893 --> 00:24:23,394
- Oh, no.
- And what is supposed to be in his mouth.
546
00:24:23,396 --> 00:24:26,297
So, her story was that
she stumbled upon him
547
00:24:26,299 --> 00:24:28,199
while he was eating.
So that is deer guts
548
00:24:28,201 --> 00:24:30,201
and deer blood
all over his mouth.
549
00:24:30,203 --> 00:24:33,270
[Josh] So, this is also remarkable
because it puts a literal face
550
00:24:33,272 --> 00:24:35,940
on this investigation,
you know, what is this,
551
00:24:35,942 --> 00:24:38,676
that this woman saw?
I mean, who is this?
552
00:24:38,678 --> 00:24:40,277
[Jessica] That's what we need
to find out.
553
00:24:40,279 --> 00:24:42,680
So, okay, next stage
of the investigation,
554
00:24:42,682 --> 00:24:46,684
I've actually found another
more recent eyewitness.
555
00:24:46,686 --> 00:24:49,186
It's actually a couple.
Hopefully they can corroborate
556
00:24:49,188 --> 00:24:50,821
each other's stories.
557
00:24:50,823 --> 00:24:53,057
So, I've arranged for you
to go out and meet them today,
558
00:24:53,059 --> 00:24:54,625
at the spot where it happened.
559
00:24:54,627 --> 00:24:57,061
[Phil] Josh sends us off
to Mingo Falls,
560
00:24:57,063 --> 00:24:59,029
which is just a few miles
from where Pam said
561
00:24:59,031 --> 00:25:00,698
she had her encounter.
562
00:25:11,076 --> 00:25:13,777
All right, so these folks are
gonna meet us up at the top, yeah?
563
00:25:13,779 --> 00:25:17,214
- Yep, we got some stairs ahead of us, yes.
- Yeah.
564
00:25:17,216 --> 00:25:19,717
[Jessica] The witnesses Josh
found are James Manning
565
00:25:19,719 --> 00:25:21,452
and Maleeka Spruill.
566
00:25:21,454 --> 00:25:24,555
They had a terrifying
encounter they can't explain.
567
00:25:25,257 --> 00:25:26,690
We were here for his birthday.
568
00:25:26,692 --> 00:25:29,159
- Okay.
- And we d... everybody kept telling me how beautiful
569
00:25:29,161 --> 00:25:31,161
Mingo Falls is,
so we thought, "Okay,
570
00:25:31,163 --> 00:25:32,463
we'll go to Mingo Falls."
571
00:25:32,465 --> 00:25:34,999
So, I gotta ask, what the heck
did you see up here?
572
00:25:35,001 --> 00:25:36,534
You tell me.
573
00:25:36,536 --> 00:25:37,635
I know it was a man.
574
00:25:38,136 --> 00:25:39,570
But
575
00:25:39,572 --> 00:25:41,138
what kind, don't know.
576
00:25:41,140 --> 00:25:43,908
He stood about 6'3 ", 6'4".
577
00:25:43,910 --> 00:25:46,377
He looked like a mangled,
deformed man,
578
00:25:46,379 --> 00:25:50,281
he had knots in the forehead,
his hair was thin, bit of string,
579
00:25:50,283 --> 00:25:52,850
He had a full beard
and he was naked.
580
00:25:52,852 --> 00:25:54,852
His body was covered in hair
and he was wet.
581
00:25:54,854 --> 00:25:58,055
Odd, strange smell,
smell like garbage.
582
00:25:58,057 --> 00:26:00,157
- It was horrible, horrible.
- Just horrible.
583
00:26:00,159 --> 00:26:02,293
His eyes were really...
Really were scary
584
00:26:02,295 --> 00:26:03,961
because they was like
a cloudy white,
585
00:26:03,963 --> 00:26:05,863
you couldn't even see his
pupil, it was a cloudy white.
586
00:26:05,865 --> 00:26:07,364
[Jessica] Almost like how
cataracts look on people?
587
00:26:07,366 --> 00:26:09,233
Exactly, like cataracts,
exactly.
588
00:26:09,235 --> 00:26:11,235
- You were scared?
- [both] Scared?
589
00:26:11,237 --> 00:26:12,770
- [all laugh]
- Terrified.
590
00:26:12,772 --> 00:26:15,105
- Yes.
- We couldn't move.
591
00:26:15,107 --> 00:26:18,409
So, was this the area
that you saw him at?
592
00:26:18,411 --> 00:26:20,311
- It was up there.
- Near the waterfall.
593
00:26:20,313 --> 00:26:21,812
- At the falls.
- At the falls.
594
00:26:21,814 --> 00:26:23,213
Do you mind showing us
where you saw it?
595
00:26:23,215 --> 00:26:25,215
- Yes, we can show you, no problems.
- Awesome. All right, well,
596
00:26:25,217 --> 00:26:26,183
- we'll follow you.
- Okay.
597
00:26:26,185 --> 00:26:27,251
- Lead the way.
- Do we have to?
598
00:26:27,253 --> 00:26:28,519
Yes, we do, come on.
[chuckles]
599
00:26:28,521 --> 00:26:30,120
[Phil] We'll stick together.
600
00:26:32,457 --> 00:26:35,225
- Wow, look at those waterfalls.
- Whoa.
601
00:26:36,227 --> 00:26:38,195
Okay, so you guys
were actually standing here?
602
00:26:38,197 --> 00:26:39,496
- Yes.
- Right.
603
00:26:39,498 --> 00:26:42,266
Okay, and so, then, where
did you see him specifically?
604
00:26:42,268 --> 00:26:43,734
Right there.
605
00:26:43,736 --> 00:26:47,171
You see where there's like
a little round area right there?
606
00:26:47,173 --> 00:26:49,974
- Yeah.
- Right there, he was right there in the corner.
607
00:26:50,008 --> 00:26:52,676
He didn't move,
he keep staring at us.
608
00:26:52,678 --> 00:26:55,479
And, then, when I looked down
to get myself together,
609
00:26:55,481 --> 00:26:57,815
- it was gone.
- Yeah.
610
00:26:57,817 --> 00:27:00,351
Where did he disappear to?
I mean this is...
611
00:27:00,353 --> 00:27:03,053
It's, it's dense but
it's also very steep,
612
00:27:03,055 --> 00:27:05,689
which makes me wonder,
is there a cave up there,
613
00:27:05,691 --> 00:27:07,958
- or an outcropping that he could have hidden behind...
- Yeah.
614
00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:10,227
that we're just not seeing
from down here?
615
00:27:10,229 --> 00:27:12,429
- You want me to go up there.
- I want you go up there
616
00:27:12,431 --> 00:27:14,331
and I'll stay here.
As in, you can check out
617
00:27:14,333 --> 00:27:15,933
if there's any hiding spots.
618
00:27:16,234 --> 00:27:17,701
[James] Write us.
619
00:27:17,703 --> 00:27:19,169
- Okay.
- [laughing]
620
00:27:19,171 --> 00:27:21,105
- We'll let you guys know.
- Let us know.
621
00:27:21,107 --> 00:27:23,073
- Let us know, write us.
- Okay.
622
00:27:23,075 --> 00:27:26,076
After today, I won't be
coming back.
623
00:27:26,078 --> 00:27:28,312
She had to make me
come this time.
624
00:27:28,314 --> 00:27:30,414
I have one more favor to ask.
625
00:27:30,416 --> 00:27:34,184
So, one thing we've been doing
with our witnesses
626
00:27:34,186 --> 00:27:38,055
is connecting them
with a forensic sketch artist.
627
00:27:38,057 --> 00:27:40,858
- Okay.
- So that we can, basically,
628
00:27:40,860 --> 00:27:44,094
try to get a better picture of
what you actually saw out here.
629
00:27:44,096 --> 00:27:45,863
- Would you be comfortable doing that?
- Yes.
630
00:27:45,865 --> 00:27:47,898
We have no problem.
631
00:27:47,900 --> 00:27:49,767
[Jessica] The spot where
they say they saw the feral man
632
00:27:49,769 --> 00:27:51,802
is roughly halfway up the falls.
633
00:27:51,804 --> 00:27:53,837
Could there be a cave
or crevice up there
634
00:27:53,839 --> 00:27:55,939
where someone could quickly
hide from view?
635
00:27:55,941 --> 00:28:00,144
At 120 feet, Mingo Falls is
one of the tallest waterfalls
636
00:28:00,146 --> 00:28:02,112
in the southern Appalachians,
637
00:28:02,114 --> 00:28:05,015
so Phil has a steep hike
ahead of him.
638
00:28:08,019 --> 00:28:09,520
Whatever was up here,
639
00:28:10,355 --> 00:28:11,989
it's got to be in good shape.
640
00:28:14,225 --> 00:28:16,360
Ooh, this is high.
641
00:28:16,995 --> 00:28:18,562
Oh, my gosh.
642
00:28:25,870 --> 00:28:28,972
Uh, Jess, I'm at the edge
of the waterfall.
643
00:28:28,974 --> 00:28:31,508
- Got me?
- Oh, I see your hand, I see your hand,
644
00:28:31,510 --> 00:28:32,810
wave your hand one more time.
645
00:28:35,413 --> 00:28:38,348
It's difficult to see much
detail from this far away,
646
00:28:38,350 --> 00:28:40,951
though not impossible.
647
00:28:40,953 --> 00:28:42,986
Do you see any caves or anything
648
00:28:42,988 --> 00:28:46,023
that a person could hide in,
or hide behind?
649
00:28:46,025 --> 00:28:47,391
[Phil] It was kinda hard
to tell.
650
00:28:47,393 --> 00:28:50,194
Definitely a lot of rocky
formations up here.
651
00:28:50,196 --> 00:28:52,696
So I would not be surprised
if there were a cave,
652
00:28:52,698 --> 00:28:54,264
a little bit further up.
653
00:28:54,266 --> 00:28:57,968
Honestly, I think we got to
follow this trail up here tonight.
654
00:28:57,970 --> 00:29:01,238
So, I think you should go
all the way down those stairs
655
00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:03,273
and grab our gear from the jeep.
656
00:29:04,676 --> 00:29:06,310
Fine.
657
00:29:09,147 --> 00:29:12,516
So, looking around up here,
not seeing any caves,
658
00:29:12,518 --> 00:29:15,085
but I am seeing a lot
of rock formations
659
00:29:15,087 --> 00:29:17,187
and obviously running water
with the waterfall
660
00:29:17,189 --> 00:29:18,288
and when you combine those two,
661
00:29:18,290 --> 00:29:20,157
that's when you get erosion,
662
00:29:20,159 --> 00:29:23,060
and with erosion you get
underground caverns,
663
00:29:23,062 --> 00:29:26,964
the perfect place for whatever
the heck they saw up here to hide.
664
00:29:28,700 --> 00:29:30,267
[Jessica] Starting behind
the Mingo Falls,
665
00:29:30,269 --> 00:29:31,702
we set out on foot.
666
00:29:31,704 --> 00:29:34,104
[Phil] Wow, look at this place.
667
00:29:37,442 --> 00:29:39,042
[Jessica] The temperature
during the winter here
668
00:29:39,044 --> 00:29:41,044
falls well below freezing.
669
00:29:41,046 --> 00:29:43,247
For a feral human to survive
in these woods,
670
00:29:43,249 --> 00:29:46,717
they're going to need shelter,
likely in the form of a cave.
671
00:29:46,719 --> 00:29:48,552
So that's what I'm hoping
to find.
672
00:29:50,321 --> 00:29:52,489
It's getting dark,
but we've hiked too far
673
00:29:52,491 --> 00:29:53,624
to give up now.
674
00:29:53,626 --> 00:29:55,058
So we're going to keep looking.
675
00:29:55,060 --> 00:29:58,428
Hopefully, whatever's out here
doesn't find us first.
676
00:29:58,430 --> 00:30:00,297
All right, try and stay
in contact as best you can.
677
00:30:00,299 --> 00:30:01,465
Will do, good luck.
678
00:30:01,467 --> 00:30:03,400
Thank you. You too.
679
00:30:03,402 --> 00:30:06,236
[Phil] Jess and I split up
to cover more ground.
680
00:30:20,585 --> 00:30:23,487
IR cameras use infrared light
to illuminate images
681
00:30:23,489 --> 00:30:25,155
in the dark.
682
00:30:29,594 --> 00:30:31,261
This way?
683
00:30:46,511 --> 00:30:47,945
[distant click]
684
00:30:47,947 --> 00:30:49,246
[whispers] Did you hear that?
685
00:30:50,248 --> 00:30:51,415
Did you hear that snap?
686
00:31:02,527 --> 00:31:03,727
[distant click]
687
00:31:03,729 --> 00:31:05,095
Did you hear that?
688
00:31:05,930 --> 00:31:07,297
Did you hear that snap?
689
00:31:10,268 --> 00:31:12,402
- [clicking]
- [bleep]
690
00:31:12,937 --> 00:31:15,172
Was that you?
691
00:31:15,174 --> 00:31:17,608
I keep hearing sounds
over there to my left.
692
00:31:22,013 --> 00:31:24,147
Let's get the gear out.
693
00:31:27,919 --> 00:31:29,720
I think I kind of see something.
694
00:31:31,556 --> 00:31:33,557
There's something over there.
695
00:31:37,028 --> 00:31:40,230
- There, right there.
- Yes.
696
00:31:40,531 --> 00:31:42,232
God, you smell that?
697
00:31:47,138 --> 00:31:49,339
Oh, it just moved.
698
00:31:52,043 --> 00:31:54,678
[Phil] Getting through the
woods is slow going in the dark,
699
00:31:54,680 --> 00:31:57,147
but finally I find
what appears to be
700
00:31:57,149 --> 00:31:59,016
a cave entrance.
701
00:31:59,018 --> 00:32:01,018
The problem is, it's down there.
702
00:32:01,020 --> 00:32:02,619
Oh, [bleep].
703
00:32:03,721 --> 00:32:05,889
God, that's a drop off.
704
00:32:05,891 --> 00:32:07,557
That's a broken ankle
705
00:32:07,559 --> 00:32:09,159
or a broken leg.
706
00:32:09,327 --> 00:32:10,727
Or worse.
707
00:32:10,729 --> 00:32:13,463
That looks like it leads
to something big.
708
00:32:13,465 --> 00:32:15,432
I think we got to get down here
so we should get out the ropes,
709
00:32:15,434 --> 00:32:18,135
because this is...
This looks good.
710
00:32:18,137 --> 00:32:21,038
A large cave like this
would give any big mammal
711
00:32:21,040 --> 00:32:23,006
good protection from both
the elements
712
00:32:23,008 --> 00:32:24,808
and other predators.
713
00:32:24,810 --> 00:32:27,010
It's possible that
the cave system extends
714
00:32:27,012 --> 00:32:29,446
under this ridge, perhaps
connecting it to the cliffs
715
00:32:29,448 --> 00:32:31,415
around Mingo Falls.
716
00:32:31,417 --> 00:32:34,351
All right, let's find
a flat area to set up.
717
00:32:34,353 --> 00:32:35,686
Sound good?
Let's go.
718
00:32:42,126 --> 00:32:44,194
[whispering] I mean, if it was an
animal, I feel like we would see
719
00:32:44,196 --> 00:32:45,529
some light shine.
720
00:32:47,799 --> 00:32:51,368
[bleep] There is something
over there.
721
00:32:51,370 --> 00:32:56,039
Uh, Jess, I just found
this insane drop off
722
00:32:56,041 --> 00:32:57,574
cave system that
723
00:32:57,576 --> 00:33:00,377
I'm going to climb down into to
get a better look at what's in here.
724
00:33:00,379 --> 00:33:04,548
Okay, well, just be very,
very, very, very, very careful.
725
00:33:12,290 --> 00:33:15,225
All right, into the abyss we go.
726
00:33:23,101 --> 00:33:25,435
Let's run it down
about 40 feet from the top
727
00:33:25,437 --> 00:33:26,703
and check out
how deep this thing is.
728
00:33:26,705 --> 00:33:28,005
I can't even see the bottom.
729
00:33:30,341 --> 00:33:33,110
So, not the most fun descent
I've ever done, I've gotta say,
730
00:33:33,112 --> 00:33:35,379
but I gotta figure out
what's down there.
731
00:33:36,514 --> 00:33:38,582
[rocks clattering]
732
00:33:39,350 --> 00:33:40,650
[exhales]
733
00:33:42,387 --> 00:33:43,587
[exhales]
734
00:33:43,589 --> 00:33:44,721
Whoa! [clears throat]
735
00:33:44,723 --> 00:33:46,156
Hey.
736
00:33:46,158 --> 00:33:49,192
I see the ground.
I see the ground down here.
737
00:33:49,194 --> 00:33:51,261
[exhales]
738
00:33:51,263 --> 00:33:54,731
Oh, I think I'm about, uh,
739
00:33:54,733 --> 00:33:56,600
30 feet from the bottom here.
740
00:34:03,041 --> 00:34:04,541
Whoa.
741
00:34:05,476 --> 00:34:08,545
[exhales] Touchdown.
742
00:34:11,416 --> 00:34:14,317
Oh, wow, this place is insane.
743
00:34:14,319 --> 00:34:16,987
[whispers] I really don't want
a bear to be in here.
744
00:34:16,989 --> 00:34:19,689
Okay, that's gotta be 120 feet.
745
00:34:21,092 --> 00:34:23,593
The cavern splits into
two smaller chambers,
746
00:34:23,595 --> 00:34:25,729
plus something I didn't expect.
747
00:34:25,731 --> 00:34:29,132
Another opening that leads
to a forest on the other side.
748
00:34:29,134 --> 00:34:30,467
Wow.
749
00:34:31,102 --> 00:34:32,369
Look at that.
750
00:34:33,304 --> 00:34:35,305
Completely open over here.
751
00:34:37,975 --> 00:34:41,244
That's insane, there's gotta
be an easier way to get in here.
752
00:34:41,246 --> 00:34:44,214
There's definitely an
easier way to get out of here.
753
00:34:44,216 --> 00:34:45,549
Let me check up with Jess.
754
00:34:46,717 --> 00:34:48,285
Jess, you copy?
755
00:34:48,920 --> 00:34:49,920
Yeah, I copy,
756
00:34:49,922 --> 00:34:52,355
how's it looking down there?
757
00:34:52,357 --> 00:34:55,192
It's looking pretty crazy,
I mean, I gotta say,
758
00:34:55,194 --> 00:34:56,993
big parts of this cave
are pretty uneven,
759
00:34:56,995 --> 00:35:00,497
but it opens up to a huge area
of forest.
760
00:35:00,499 --> 00:35:04,401
I'm wondering if you might be
able to find
761
00:35:04,403 --> 00:35:05,335
this back entrance.
762
00:35:05,337 --> 00:35:07,471
Okay, start shining
your light around.
763
00:35:07,473 --> 00:35:10,107
We'll try and go near one
of the edges of the rocks
764
00:35:10,109 --> 00:35:12,342
to see what we can see
'cause right now where we are,
765
00:35:12,344 --> 00:35:14,578
there's nothing,
we can't see anything.
766
00:35:15,379 --> 00:35:17,180
Yeah, let's just do this.
767
00:35:18,082 --> 00:35:20,617
Oh, oh, yeah, I see you.
768
00:35:20,619 --> 00:35:22,986
- Yeah, I'm waving.
- Okay.
769
00:35:34,198 --> 00:35:37,567
Oh, my God, that's crazy thick.
770
00:35:38,202 --> 00:35:39,569
Whoa.
771
00:35:40,371 --> 00:35:42,272
Phil, come here.
772
00:35:43,040 --> 00:35:45,509
So, this looks suspicious.
773
00:35:45,511 --> 00:35:49,279
- This is crazy.
- That looks like a campfire.
774
00:35:51,349 --> 00:35:53,483
Oh, you rappelled down
this whole thing?
775
00:35:53,485 --> 00:35:55,952
- Oh, yeah.
- Oh, my gosh.
776
00:35:55,954 --> 00:35:57,120
That's insane.
777
00:35:58,089 --> 00:35:59,723
Look at this cave, though.
778
00:36:00,958 --> 00:36:03,493
Oh, see, right here,
it smells, man.
779
00:36:03,495 --> 00:36:05,362
- What?
- You don't smell that?
780
00:36:06,264 --> 00:36:07,497
[sighs]
781
00:36:08,499 --> 00:36:10,100
You don't smell that stink?
782
00:36:10,468 --> 00:36:11,635
Hold up.
783
00:36:13,271 --> 00:36:14,871
- Huge.
- Yeah.
784
00:36:14,873 --> 00:36:16,339
It smells like a zoo.
785
00:36:16,341 --> 00:36:18,975
- Oh, God, we got bones.
- [Jess yelps]
786
00:36:24,849 --> 00:36:28,151
We're all familiar with famous
feral people in literature,
787
00:36:28,153 --> 00:36:31,321
characters like Tarzan and
Mowgli from The Jungle Book,
788
00:36:31,323 --> 00:36:34,057
but are either of them
based on true stories?
789
00:36:34,059 --> 00:36:36,726
While Mowgli may be partly
based on a young boy
790
00:36:36,728 --> 00:36:40,330
from the 1800s, who was
allegedly discovered in India,
791
00:36:40,332 --> 00:36:41,865
living among wolves,
792
00:36:41,867 --> 00:36:44,467
he walked on all fours,
he growled, he ate
793
00:36:44,469 --> 00:36:46,670
only raw meat, before
being rescued
794
00:36:46,672 --> 00:36:48,872
to an orphanage for care.
795
00:36:48,874 --> 00:36:52,309
And, as for Tarzan, some claim
that character was inspired
796
00:36:52,311 --> 00:36:55,712
by an English nobleman named
Lord William Charles Mildin.
797
00:36:56,981 --> 00:36:59,382
In 1868, at the age of 11,
798
00:36:59,384 --> 00:37:01,351
he purportedly survived
a shipwreck
799
00:37:01,353 --> 00:37:04,287
off the coast of Africa,
where he lived among apes
800
00:37:04,289 --> 00:37:05,355
for years.
801
00:37:05,489 --> 00:37:07,757
The trouble is, there's almost
no documentation
802
00:37:07,759 --> 00:37:09,192
to back up the legend,
803
00:37:09,194 --> 00:37:12,596
and most believe the tale
is simply bananas.
804
00:37:18,102 --> 00:37:19,436
We have bones?
805
00:37:19,438 --> 00:37:21,104
Oh.
806
00:37:22,974 --> 00:37:24,241
Look at that.
807
00:37:24,243 --> 00:37:26,176
I'll get my evidence kit.
808
00:37:26,178 --> 00:37:28,712
Why don't you take some
photos while I keep moving?
809
00:37:30,982 --> 00:37:32,249
[Jessica] Okay. Ready?
810
00:37:40,057 --> 00:37:41,992
Definitely chewed up.
811
00:37:41,994 --> 00:37:43,960
- [Jessica] Like, this part looks ripped off.
- Mm-hmm.
812
00:37:43,962 --> 00:37:46,696
- But this part looks like
it... - That was snapped.
813
00:37:46,698 --> 00:37:48,932
These look like they're from
a big animal,
814
00:37:48,934 --> 00:37:50,300
like a deer or a hog.
815
00:37:50,302 --> 00:37:51,635
Yeah.
816
00:37:51,869 --> 00:37:54,271
[Phil] The bones we found
in the cave are clearly animal,
817
00:37:54,273 --> 00:37:56,840
but who or what butchered
that animal
818
00:37:56,842 --> 00:37:58,375
is yet to be determined.
819
00:37:58,377 --> 00:38:01,344
- You know what else I got?
- What?
820
00:38:01,346 --> 00:38:04,681
I thought that was in order to
tell how dirty your hotel room is.
821
00:38:04,683 --> 00:38:07,617
That too, or how much blood
is around
822
00:38:07,619 --> 00:38:08,351
in a cave.
823
00:38:08,353 --> 00:38:09,886
Oh.
824
00:38:09,888 --> 00:38:12,522
[Phil] Luminol reacts
with the iron in hemoglobin,
825
00:38:12,524 --> 00:38:15,191
making any smear or spatter
of blood glow
826
00:38:15,193 --> 00:38:16,860
for about 30 seconds.
827
00:38:16,862 --> 00:38:18,862
If I can find blood
with the luminol,
828
00:38:18,864 --> 00:38:20,830
I'll collect a sample
for DNA testing
829
00:38:20,832 --> 00:38:24,067
to see what might have been
in here eating the carcasses.
830
00:38:24,069 --> 00:38:28,338
-All right, let's go. Lights off, ready?
-Yeah, three, two, one.
831
00:38:31,542 --> 00:38:33,476
[Jessica] Oh. I can see it.
832
00:38:33,478 --> 00:38:34,511
Oh, just did.
833
00:38:34,513 --> 00:38:36,546
What is that?
It's glowing, right there.
834
00:38:36,548 --> 00:38:38,648
[Phil] Whole area is glowing.
835
00:38:39,417 --> 00:38:40,617
So we got blood.
836
00:38:41,686 --> 00:38:44,387
That is a lot of blood.
837
00:38:44,389 --> 00:38:47,324
- Yeah.
- I just don't want that to be human blood.
838
00:38:50,928 --> 00:38:54,197
Ugh. Ah! It's in my eyes.
839
00:38:54,199 --> 00:38:55,231
What just happened?
840
00:38:56,934 --> 00:38:58,068
- What?
- What?
841
00:38:59,036 --> 00:39:00,337
Yeah, something, something.
842
00:39:05,042 --> 00:39:06,642
There's something moving
around up there?
843
00:39:08,012 --> 00:39:10,213
- Let's go, let's go.
- All right.
844
00:39:10,215 --> 00:39:12,315
[Jessica] We rushed outside
to see if we could spot whatever
845
00:39:12,317 --> 00:39:14,217
might have been on top
of the cave.
846
00:39:14,219 --> 00:39:16,152
While Phil checks for clues
on the ground,
847
00:39:16,154 --> 00:39:18,521
I break out the FLIR
and scan the tree line.
848
00:39:21,692 --> 00:39:24,394
[whispers] I don't see
anything on the FLIR.
849
00:39:24,396 --> 00:39:26,763
We leave a trail camera
running, just in case
850
00:39:26,765 --> 00:39:29,599
whatever was on top
of the cave above us returns.
851
00:39:35,373 --> 00:39:38,441
[Josh] The findings my team
gathered during this investigation
852
00:39:38,443 --> 00:39:40,410
shed new light on the mystery
853
00:39:40,412 --> 00:39:43,346
of the so-called feral people
of Appalachia.
854
00:39:43,348 --> 00:39:45,482
Though our trail cams
took mostly photos
855
00:39:45,484 --> 00:39:47,250
of recognizable species,
856
00:39:47,252 --> 00:39:50,687
we can't identify
what made this image.
857
00:39:50,689 --> 00:39:53,590
Something definitely moved
that camera.
858
00:39:53,592 --> 00:39:57,160
Jess and the crew also heard
mysterious clicking noises,
859
00:39:57,162 --> 00:39:57,994
[distant click]
860
00:39:57,996 --> 00:39:59,062
[whispers] Did you hear that?
861
00:39:59,064 --> 00:40:01,131
[Josh] Which we isolated
from our footage
862
00:40:01,133 --> 00:40:02,699
and thoroughly analyzed.
863
00:40:02,701 --> 00:40:04,934
[tongue click]
864
00:40:04,936 --> 00:40:07,103
Phil compared notes
with several colleagues,
865
00:40:07,105 --> 00:40:09,606
but they were unable
to conclusively identify
866
00:40:09,608 --> 00:40:12,208
the sounds as coming
from any known animal
867
00:40:12,210 --> 00:40:13,243
or insect.
868
00:40:13,245 --> 00:40:14,711
[Phil] Oh, God, we got bones.
869
00:40:14,713 --> 00:40:17,414
[Josh] Tests indicated the bones
and some of the blood samples
870
00:40:17,416 --> 00:40:19,716
they collected in the cave
were from hogs,
871
00:40:19,718 --> 00:40:21,851
which roam wild
in these mountains,
872
00:40:21,853 --> 00:40:23,787
but there were also some
blood spatters
873
00:40:23,789 --> 00:40:28,024
that were 100% human.
Who that human was,
874
00:40:28,026 --> 00:40:29,926
and what they were doing
in that cave,
875
00:40:29,928 --> 00:40:32,028
that remains a mystery.
876
00:40:32,030 --> 00:40:34,230
But the most interesting
evidence are the two drawings
877
00:40:34,232 --> 00:40:37,300
made by a professional
forensic sketch artist.
878
00:40:37,302 --> 00:40:41,237
Put the images side by side and
the resemblance is undeniable.
879
00:40:41,239 --> 00:40:43,273
So, where does that leave us?
880
00:40:43,275 --> 00:40:45,475
Phil began the investigation
thinking sightings
881
00:40:45,477 --> 00:40:49,012
of feral humans were cases
of wildlife misidentification,
882
00:40:49,014 --> 00:40:51,614
but when it comes to why
so many hikers go missing,
883
00:40:51,616 --> 00:40:54,517
Jess was open to a more
imaginative explanation.
884
00:40:54,519 --> 00:40:59,055
After weighing the evidence, though,
we are, in a rare occasion, united.
885
00:40:59,057 --> 00:41:01,925
There very well may be
some foul smelling,
886
00:41:01,927 --> 00:41:03,793
raggedy looking creatures
living deep
887
00:41:03,795 --> 00:41:05,295
in the Great Smoky Mountains,
888
00:41:05,297 --> 00:41:08,398
but none that are genetically
different than you and me,
889
00:41:08,400 --> 00:41:12,202
simply those who made the
choice to leave society behind,
890
00:41:12,204 --> 00:41:15,004
and from time to time
an eyewitness gets a glimpse,
891
00:41:15,006 --> 00:41:16,439
and a whiff.
892
00:41:16,441 --> 00:41:19,075
Ever look in the mirror
after a weekend camping trip?
893
00:41:19,077 --> 00:41:21,044
Try being out there
for several years,
894
00:41:21,046 --> 00:41:24,681
you might just look and smell
like a monster, too.
895
00:41:24,683 --> 00:41:27,183
For more information
on Expedition X,
896
00:41:27,185 --> 00:41:30,320
head to
discovery.com/expeditionx.