The Hopkinsville Goblins Case

On the night of August 21, 1955, members of the Sutton family and their friends experienced one of the most terrifying and well-documented close encounters in UFO history. For hours, small silver beings laid siege to their Kentucky farmhouse in an incident that became known as the “Hopkinsville Goblins” case.

The Farm

The Sutton homestead:

• Rural Kelly, Kentucky
• Near Hopkinsville
• No telephone
• No electricity
• Isolated location

The Witnesses

Eleven people present:

• Elmer “Lucky” Sutton
• John Charley Sutton
• Vera Sutton
• Glennie Lankford (mother)
• Billy Ray Taylor
• June Taylor
• Several children

The First Sighting

Billy Ray Taylor:

• Went outside for water
• Saw object streak across sky
• Landed behind treeline
• Reported to family
• Not initially believed

The Creatures Appear

Shortly after:

• Small beings approached
• From direction of landing
• Glowing silver appearance
• Large ears and eyes
• Approached house

The Description

The beings were:

• Three to four feet tall
• Large round heads
• Enormous eyes
• Pointed ears
• Claw-like hands
• Silvery skin

The Siege

For hours:

• Creatures approached
• Men fired shotguns
• Beings retreated when hit
• But kept returning
• Terrorizing family

The Gunfire

When shot:

• Metallic sound
• Creatures flipped backward
• Floated down
• Not killed
• Came back

Police Called

Family fled to Hopkinsville:

• 11 PM arrival
• Police station
• Obviously terrified
• Officers responded
• Investigated farm

Police Investigation

Officers found:

• Evidence of gunfire
• Shell casings everywhere
• Holes in screens
• No bodies
• Witnesses credible

The Return

After police left:

• Creatures returned
• Siege continued
• Until near dawn
• Finally departed
• Family exhausted

No Hoax Evidence

Investigation showed:

• Family sincere
• No profit motive
• Never changed stories
• Some traumatized for life
• Police believed them

Media Attention

The story:

• Made national news
• Reporters arrived
• Curiosity seekers came
• Farm damaged by visitors
• Family suffered

Significance

The case is significant for:

• Multiple adult witnesses
• Extended duration
• Physical evidence
• Police involvement
• Consistent accounts

Legacy

The Hopkinsville Goblins case remains one of the most compelling close encounter cases in UFO history. The witnesses maintained their accounts until death, and the case continues to be studied by researchers seeking to understand that terrifying August night.