The Kelly-Hopkinsville Goblins

On the night of August 21, 1955, the Sutton family farmhouse in rural Kentucky became the site of one of the strangest alien encounters on record. For hours, family members fought off small, glowing creatures that seemed impervious to gunfire.

The Setting

Kelly, Kentucky:

• Near Hopkinsville
• Rural farmland
• Sutton family home
• August night
• Hot summer evening

The Witnesses

Eleven people present:

• Elmer “Lucky” Sutton
• John Charley Sutton
• Vera Sutton
• J.C. Sutton
• Alene Sutton
• Billy Ray Taylor
• June Taylor
• Plus children
• Adult witnesses

The Beginning

Billy Ray Taylor:

• Went for water
• Saw bright streak
• Across sky
• Landed nearby
• Told others

Initial Reaction

The family:

• Dismissed Taylor
• Thought he saw meteor
• Laughed at him
• Then dog barked
• Something came

First Creature

Around 8 PM:

• Men went outside
• With guns
• Saw glowing figure
• Approaching house
• Arms raised

The Creatures

They described:

• 3-4 feet tall
• Large pointed ears
• Huge glowing eyes
• Silvery skin
• Long arms

The Glow

Most distinctive:

• Creatures glowed
• From within
• Silvery luminescence
• In the dark
• Eerie sight

The Battle

For hours:

• Family fired guns
• Shotguns and rifles
• At creatures
• Metallic sound when hit
• But no effect

Impervious to Bullets

When shot:

• Flipped backward
• Floated
• Returned upright
• Kept coming
• Not harmed

Creature Behavior

The beings:

• Appeared at windows
• On roof
• From trees
• Multiple locations
• Surrounded house

The Flight

Around 11 PM:

• Family fled
• To Hopkinsville
• Police station
• Clearly terrified
• Officers responded

Police Investigation

Officers found:

• Spent shells everywhere
• Bullet holes
• Signs of struggle
• But no creatures
• Something happened

Chief Greenwell

Police chief:

• Believed family
• Saw their terror
• Extensive investigation
• No explanation
• Real event

The Return

After police left:

• Creatures returned
• Around 3:30 AM
• More sightings
• Until dawn
• Then stopped

Physical Evidence

At scene:

• Numerous bullet holes
• Shell casings
• Torn screens
• Damage consistent
• Real struggle

The Aftermath

Family traumatized:

• Left next day
• Returned later
• Never same
• Consistent story
• Never profited

Media Attention

Story spread:

• National coverage
• Researchers came
• Public interest
• Lasting fame
• Classic case

Skeptical Theories

Some suggested:

• Great horned owls
• Monkeys escaped
• Alcohol involved
• Mass hysteria
• None satisfying

Against Owl Theory

Problems:

• Multiple creatures
• Glowing skin
• Impervious to guns
• Size descriptions
• Extended duration

J. Allen Hynek

UFO researcher:

• Reviewed case
• Found credible
• Witnesses sincere
• Physical evidence
• Classic encounter

Significance

Kelly-Hopkinsville significant for:

• Multiple witnesses
• Extended duration
• Physical interaction
• Police involvement
• Never explained

Legacy

The Kelly-Hopkinsville encounter remains one of the most bizarre and well-documented close encounters. The terrified family’s night-long battle with strange creatures has never been adequately explained.