1 00:00:01,234 --> 00:00:03,068 [Josh] On this episode of Expedition X, 2 00:00:04,204 --> 00:00:07,373 Phil and Jess venture deep into the Appalachian Mountains. 3 00:00:07,375 --> 00:00:09,508 - [Phil] Look at this place. - For over a century, 4 00:00:09,510 --> 00:00:12,277 there have been reports of something grotesque 5 00:00:12,279 --> 00:00:13,345 prowling these woods. 6 00:00:13,347 --> 00:00:17,049 I actually saw bloody flesh hanging out of his mouth. 7 00:00:17,051 --> 00:00:20,452 New eyewitnesses indicate the stories could be true. 8 00:00:20,454 --> 00:00:22,287 - You were scared? - [both] Scared? 9 00:00:22,289 --> 00:00:24,023 - Terrified? - Yes. 10 00:00:24,557 --> 00:00:26,091 At the edge of the waterfall. 11 00:00:26,093 --> 00:00:28,127 Do you see any cave? 12 00:00:28,129 --> 00:00:30,462 [Josh] And the danger is real. 13 00:00:30,464 --> 00:00:31,964 [grunts] 14 00:00:31,966 --> 00:00:33,198 - Are you okay? - [bleep] 15 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:35,334 - Tell somebody where you're at. - And so they'll know where 16 00:00:35,336 --> 00:00:37,069 to come hunt the bodies. 17 00:00:37,071 --> 00:00:39,071 [Josh] Could mysterious creatures be the cause 18 00:00:39,073 --> 00:00:40,939 of countless disappearances? 19 00:00:40,941 --> 00:00:43,342 [reporter] Breaking news out of the Great Smoky Mountains. 20 00:00:43,344 --> 00:00:45,244 Another hiker has gone missing. 21 00:00:45,246 --> 00:00:47,312 [man] Someone will go into the mountains alone, 22 00:00:47,314 --> 00:00:50,115 and you will never hear from them ever again. 23 00:00:50,117 --> 00:00:51,917 [Josh] Some say they're monsters. 24 00:00:51,919 --> 00:00:53,919 Something's around here for sure. 25 00:00:53,921 --> 00:00:57,389 Others say it's something far more horrifying. 26 00:00:57,391 --> 00:01:00,659 It's fast and deep right in the middle. Oh, [bleep]. 27 00:01:02,128 --> 00:01:03,295 - [gasps] - [yells] 28 00:01:03,396 --> 00:01:05,508 - Look over there, right over there. - [man] What is that? 29 00:01:05,532 --> 00:01:07,699 [Josh] Terror in Appalachia. 30 00:01:09,135 --> 00:01:11,437 My name is Josh Gates. 31 00:01:11,439 --> 00:01:14,573 In my travels, I've experienced strange things 32 00:01:14,575 --> 00:01:18,110 that defy logic and made me question everything. 33 00:01:18,112 --> 00:01:19,878 Oh, my God. 34 00:01:19,880 --> 00:01:22,915 Now, I've put together a team to investigate 35 00:01:22,917 --> 00:01:25,117 the stranger side of the unknown. 36 00:01:25,119 --> 00:01:27,186 Let's go. 37 00:01:27,188 --> 00:01:31,290 Phil Torres is a scientist who hunts for rational explanations. 38 00:01:31,292 --> 00:01:34,126 [Jessica speaking] 39 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. 41 00:01:40,767 --> 00:01:41,934 Let's go. 42 00:01:41,936 --> 00:01:44,103 [Josh] Together, we're searching for answers... 43 00:01:44,105 --> 00:01:45,537 What is that? 44 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. 46 00:01:55,782 --> 00:01:57,883 All right, what if I were to tell you that there is 47 00:01:57,885 --> 00:02:01,520 a bipedal, hairy creature terrorizing folks 48 00:02:01,522 --> 00:02:03,322 in the mountains of Appalachia? 49 00:02:03,324 --> 00:02:06,158 - Bigfoot. - It's a great guess, but no. 50 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:07,926 All right, well, if we're talking Appalachia. 51 00:02:07,928 --> 00:02:10,929 Yeah, so Smoky Mountains, border of Tennessee, 52 00:02:10,931 --> 00:02:13,298 - North Carolina area. - And it's not Bigfoot, 53 00:02:13,300 --> 00:02:15,300 - so, oh, okay, I think... - She's got it. 54 00:02:15,302 --> 00:02:17,236 - I know what we're talking about. - She's got it. 55 00:02:17,238 --> 00:02:19,238 - It is scary. - Okay, what are we talking about? 56 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:21,240 So, it is scary. And that's because 57 00:02:21,242 --> 00:02:24,710 this terrifying mystery might be much more than a legend, 58 00:02:24,712 --> 00:02:26,545 it might be very real. 59 00:02:30,150 --> 00:02:34,286 The Appalachian Mountain Range runs along the eastern United States. 60 00:02:34,288 --> 00:02:36,822 Toward its southern end is the sub range 61 00:02:36,824 --> 00:02:38,457 known as the Great Smoky Mountains. 62 00:02:38,459 --> 00:02:41,326 Beneath the mist is a wild place, 63 00:02:41,328 --> 00:02:45,731 over 500,000 acres, much of it largely unexplored 64 00:02:45,733 --> 00:02:47,933 and all of it uninhabited, 65 00:02:47,935 --> 00:02:50,502 or at least, it's supposed to be. 66 00:02:50,504 --> 00:02:53,805 1838, the native Cherokee tribes who live here 67 00:02:53,807 --> 00:02:55,440 are forcibly displaced. 68 00:02:55,442 --> 00:02:58,143 And over the next century the government kicks out 69 00:02:58,145 --> 00:03:00,412 any remaining landowners. 70 00:03:00,414 --> 00:03:03,182 Empty of residence, it becomes the perfect hideout 71 00:03:03,184 --> 00:03:05,017 for criminals fleeing the law. 72 00:03:05,019 --> 00:03:08,787 Hermits shunning society, moonshiners operating 73 00:03:08,789 --> 00:03:13,392 illegal stills and, maybe, something even more dangerous. 74 00:03:13,394 --> 00:03:17,396 1896, Forest and Stream magazine publishes 75 00:03:17,398 --> 00:03:20,699 a frighteningly descriptive story about four hunters 76 00:03:20,701 --> 00:03:22,834 who had a violent encounter in the mountains 77 00:03:22,836 --> 00:03:25,170 with a disheveled, naked creature. 78 00:03:25,172 --> 00:03:28,140 According to the article, the four men tried to capture him, 79 00:03:28,142 --> 00:03:30,742 but were physically no match for his brute strength. 80 00:03:30,744 --> 00:03:32,978 He overpowered them and escaped. 81 00:03:32,980 --> 00:03:35,180 Since then, hundreds of witnesses have come forward 82 00:03:35,182 --> 00:03:36,915 with reports. 83 00:03:36,917 --> 00:03:38,717 The descriptions are eerily similar, 84 00:03:38,719 --> 00:03:41,687 human like, but with malformed facial features, 85 00:03:41,689 --> 00:03:45,257 long matted hair, no clothes, covered in filth, 86 00:03:45,259 --> 00:03:46,825 a putrid smell. 87 00:03:46,827 --> 00:03:49,761 Some believe the sightings can be attributed to recluses 88 00:03:49,763 --> 00:03:52,164 who reverted to a primitive state. 89 00:03:52,166 --> 00:03:55,300 Others believe the creatures are another breed entirely 90 00:03:55,302 --> 00:03:57,869 with a hunger for raw flesh. 91 00:03:57,871 --> 00:03:59,705 Whatever they are, they've become known 92 00:03:59,707 --> 00:04:01,340 as feral people. 93 00:04:01,342 --> 00:04:03,175 And there are those who believe that they could 94 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 96 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? 98 00:04:21,295 --> 00:04:23,795 As crazy as it sounds, there is precedent 99 00:04:23,797 --> 00:04:26,231 for some of this. For example, there's a family in Siberia 100 00:04:26,233 --> 00:04:29,201 - that lived off the grid for 40 years, I think. - [Josh] Right. Yeah. 101 00:04:29,203 --> 00:04:32,037 And just a few years ago, they found a father and son 102 00:04:32,039 --> 00:04:33,872 that had been living in the wilds of Vietnam 103 00:04:33,874 --> 00:04:35,774 since the early 1970s. 104 00:04:35,776 --> 00:04:38,076 But what you're talking about here, people have been seeing 105 00:04:38,078 --> 00:04:41,713 this since the 1800s. That means multiple generations of people 106 00:04:41,715 --> 00:04:43,915 living out in the wild in the eastern US. 107 00:04:43,917 --> 00:04:46,718 - I don't know. - Yeah, but what about those uncontacted tribes 108 00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:49,221 that live out in the middle of the Amazonian rainforest? 109 00:04:49,223 --> 00:04:52,090 - I mean, that's generational. - Sure, but what we're talking about here 110 00:04:52,092 --> 00:04:54,893 is something that seems to be living completely wild, 111 00:04:54,895 --> 00:04:57,429 like an animal, and how do we account for these missing hikers? 112 00:04:57,431 --> 00:04:59,398 Great Smoky Mountains is one of the most visited 113 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:01,800 wilderness areas in the US. 114 00:05:01,802 --> 00:05:03,368 There's a lot of trails they can get lost on, 115 00:05:03,370 --> 00:05:06,338 fall off a ledge, people disappear out there. 116 00:05:06,340 --> 00:05:09,408 - It happens. - Okay, but what are these eyewitnesses seeing, then? 117 00:05:09,410 --> 00:05:12,944 Most likely explanation is a case of misidentification, 118 00:05:12,946 --> 00:05:15,080 like a bear. There's a lot of them out there. 119 00:05:15,082 --> 00:05:17,249 Normally, I would agree with you but the eyewitnesses 120 00:05:17,251 --> 00:05:20,152 in this case seem so clear that what they're seeing 121 00:05:20,154 --> 00:05:21,720 is not something like a bear. 122 00:05:22,188 --> 00:05:23,488 So, here's the mission. 123 00:05:23,490 --> 00:05:25,390 First off, get to the Great Smoky Mountains 124 00:05:25,392 --> 00:05:28,060 and start by talking to these eyewitnesses. 125 00:05:28,062 --> 00:05:30,529 I think you've got to find out what these people really saw. 126 00:05:30,531 --> 00:05:33,265 And then you're gonna have to get deep in the wilderness 127 00:05:33,267 --> 00:05:35,200 on this one. Whatever this is, 128 00:05:35,202 --> 00:05:37,035 it's obviously figured out a way to stay hidden, 129 00:05:37,037 --> 00:05:39,137 so if you're going to collect evidence, you're going to have to get really 130 00:05:39,139 --> 00:05:40,572 off the grid here. 131 00:05:40,574 --> 00:05:43,041 Phil, if this is a case of misidentification, 132 00:05:43,043 --> 00:05:44,109 and it might be, 133 00:05:44,111 --> 00:05:44,910 prove it. 134 00:05:44,912 --> 00:05:46,511 What are people really seeing? 135 00:05:46,513 --> 00:05:49,915 There is a real mystery here. Folks have gone missing 136 00:05:49,917 --> 00:05:52,050 and we've got real eyewitnesses. 137 00:05:52,052 --> 00:05:53,785 So, figure out what's going on. 138 00:05:53,787 --> 00:05:55,821 - Will do. - We're on it. 139 00:05:55,823 --> 00:05:58,290 [Josh] Phil and Jess hop a flight from New York City 140 00:05:58,292 --> 00:06:00,225 to Nashville, Tennessee. 141 00:06:00,227 --> 00:06:02,227 From the country music capital, it's another 142 00:06:02,229 --> 00:06:05,497 four hours in the car heading east toward the mountains. 143 00:06:08,401 --> 00:06:11,269 [Phil] These woods just keep on going. 144 00:06:11,271 --> 00:06:13,305 This is my first time in the Great Smoky Mountains, 145 00:06:13,307 --> 00:06:15,140 and look at that. 146 00:06:15,142 --> 00:06:18,844 - You can, like, see that kind of haze. - That makes it look smoky. 147 00:06:18,846 --> 00:06:20,145 Yeah. 148 00:06:20,147 --> 00:06:23,248 [Josh] There are over 187,000 acres 149 00:06:23,250 --> 00:06:25,717 of thick old-growth forest here. 150 00:06:25,719 --> 00:06:30,322 It's home to black bears, wild hogs, even bobcats. 151 00:06:30,324 --> 00:06:33,191 And, even though they supposedly no longer live in the region, 152 00:06:33,193 --> 00:06:36,962 there are also occasional reported sightings of cougars. 153 00:06:36,964 --> 00:06:39,197 Which begs the question, could there be other 154 00:06:39,199 --> 00:06:41,700 rarely seen creatures in this forest? 155 00:06:43,669 --> 00:06:47,272 I feel like I could survive out here. There's enough food 156 00:06:47,274 --> 00:06:50,876 you could forage. I saw a dead raccoon back there looked delicious. 157 00:06:50,878 --> 00:06:53,044 What is wrong with you? 158 00:06:54,213 --> 00:06:56,415 [Jessica] As part of our investigation, we make a stop 159 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 161 00:06:59,319 --> 00:07:01,987 the nearby woods like the back of his hand. 162 00:07:05,958 --> 00:07:08,627 - Was that like a secret knock? - Yeah, it's a secret knock. 163 00:07:09,262 --> 00:07:11,096 - Hi. - Hey, guys. Welcome. 164 00:07:11,098 --> 00:07:12,631 - Thank you. - Thank you. 165 00:07:12,633 --> 00:07:14,466 I shake men's hands, but I still hug the women. How are you doing? 166 00:07:14,468 --> 00:07:16,368 -Oh, I'll give you a hug. Good, how are you doing? -Good to see you. 167 00:07:16,370 --> 00:07:17,803 Nice to see you too. 168 00:07:18,204 --> 00:07:21,406 [Jessica] Digger Manes and Mark Ramsey are moonshining legends. 169 00:07:21,408 --> 00:07:23,575 Both grew up in the hills and learned their craft 170 00:07:23,577 --> 00:07:25,944 from Appalachia's old-school masters. 171 00:07:25,946 --> 00:07:27,412 Hi. 172 00:07:27,414 --> 00:07:30,134 If anyone knows the secrets of the Smoky Mountains, it's these two. 173 00:07:31,784 --> 00:07:34,686 So, we've read some reports from people in the area 174 00:07:34,688 --> 00:07:37,355 that say they're convinced they have seen, 175 00:07:37,357 --> 00:07:39,391 like, a feral-looking man out there, 176 00:07:39,393 --> 00:07:42,160 walking around naked, raggedy hair. 177 00:07:42,162 --> 00:07:44,830 We've been in the woods a lot in our life, 178 00:07:44,832 --> 00:07:46,965 making moonshine and, you know, 179 00:07:46,967 --> 00:07:49,701 we've heard stories our whole life about creatures 180 00:07:49,703 --> 00:07:53,772 and, you know, just things that were not explained. 181 00:07:53,774 --> 00:07:55,106 - Oh, yeah. - Really? 182 00:07:55,108 --> 00:07:56,975 Yeah, oh, we've heard tales of people wandering 183 00:07:56,977 --> 00:07:58,410 these mountains for years. 184 00:07:58,412 --> 00:08:00,679 They've been some ugly sons-of-bitches grew up 185 00:08:00,681 --> 00:08:04,015 in these mountains up here. They, they fit the bill. 186 00:08:04,017 --> 00:08:06,184 - Really? - I mean, I'm not including us in that, 187 00:08:06,186 --> 00:08:08,119 - but... - [both laughing] 188 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. 190 00:08:14,261 --> 00:08:16,795 You know, these old boys, when they found a prime spot, 191 00:08:16,797 --> 00:08:19,531 they protected it to no end no matter what they had to do, 192 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 194 00:08:23,437 --> 00:08:25,270 that, you know, somebody is going to get hurt 195 00:08:25,272 --> 00:08:27,506 if they went in. There's no doubt there's a lot 196 00:08:27,508 --> 00:08:29,174 of mysterious things out there. 197 00:08:29,176 --> 00:08:31,977 It's just how you want to rationalize them in your own head. 198 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. 204 00:08:46,059 --> 00:08:48,093 But tell somebody where you're at in case 205 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.