The Prophecy of Disaster

From November 1966 to December 1967, the town of Point Pleasant, West Virginia was haunted by a winged creature with glowing red eyes. When the Silver Bridge collapsed killing 46 people, the sightings stopped—spawning one of America’s most enduring cryptid legends.

First Sighting

November 15, 1966:

• Two young couples
• Near TNT area
• Red glowing eyes
• Wings folded back
• Chased their car

The Witnesses

Roger and Linda Scarberry:

• Steve and Mary Mallette
• Driving past TNT plant
• Saw seven-foot figure
• Terrified
• Reported to police

Physical Description

Consistent reports:

• Seven feet tall
• Gray/brown body
• Wing span 15 feet
• Glowing red eyes
• No visible head

The Eyes

Most distinctive feature:

• Bright red
• Glowing
• Hypnotic
• Terrifying
• Main identifier

The TNT Area

Primary location:

• WWII munitions plant
• Abandoned igloos
• Where creature lived
• Most sightings
• Investigation focus

The 13 Months

Sighting period:

• November 1966
• To December 1967
• Over 100 witnesses
• Various locations
• Then stopped

The Silver Bridge

December 15, 1967:

• Eyebar chain bridge
• Collapsed during rush hour
• 46 people killed
• Point Pleasant tragedy
• Mothman vanished

The Connection

What happened:

• Sightings stopped
• After collapse
• Warning creature?
• Harbinger of doom
• Forever linked

John Keel

Investigator/author:

• Investigated extensively
• “The Mothman Prophecies”
• 1975 book
• Documented everything
• Defined narrative

The Prophecy Theory

What Keel believed:

• Mothman warned
• Of coming disaster
• Paranormal harbinger
• Not just creature
• Something more

Men in Black

Also reported:

• Strange visitors
• Black suits
• Warned witnesses
• During Mothman period
• Connected phenomena

The Movie

2002 film:

• “The Mothman Prophecies”
• Richard Gere
• Increased fame
• Brought new visitors
• Cultural impact

Modern Status

Point Pleasant today:

• Mothman Museum
• Annual festival
• Statue downtown
• Tourist destination
• Town identity

Continuing Sightings

Still reported:

• Occasionally
• Various locations
• Before disasters
• Harbinger reputation
• Active legend

Significance

13 months of sightings ending with major disaster creating America’s most prophetic cryptid legend.

Legacy

Mothman transformed from local creature to harbinger of doom—a being whose appearance may signal coming catastrophe.