1973 Pascagoula Abduction
Two fishermen were paralyzed by beings with crab-like claws and taken aboard a craft. Police secretly recorded them afterward—their terror was genuine. Both passed polygraph tests.
On October 11, 1973, Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker claimed they were abducted while fishing on the Pascagoula River. Their case became one of the most famous abduction accounts, notable for the investigation methods used to verify their testimony.
The Encounter
Around 9:00 PM, Hickson (42) and Parker (19) were fishing on the west bank of the Pascagoula River when they heard a whirring sound. According to documented accounts:
- An oval-shaped, blue-gray craft appeared
- Three beings floated out of the craft
- They had no eyes—only slits
- Their skin was pale, wrinkled
- They had crab-like pincer hands
The Beings
The creatures were described as:
- About 5 feet tall
- Gray, wrinkled skin
- No necks—heads merged into torsos
- Pointed ears
- Claw-like hands with two pincer appendages
- Moved by floating rather than walking
The Abduction
Both men reported being paralyzed—unable to move or scream:
- The beings lifted them and floated toward the craft
- They were taken inside and examined
- A large eye-like device moved over Hickson’s body
- Parker reportedly lost consciousness from terror
- They were returned to the riverbank after about 20 minutes
The Investigation
What makes this case remarkable was the investigation:
The Secret Recording: Sheriff Fred Diamond left Hickson and Parker alone in a room with a hidden tape recorder. He expected to catch them fabricating details. Instead, he recorded two terrified men:
Parker: “I got to get home and get to bed or go see a doctor or something.” Hickson: “I know there’s a God up there.”
Their conversation showed genuine distress, not hoaxers comparing stories.
Polygraph Tests: Both men passed lie detector tests administered by separate examiners.
Hypnotic Regression: Under hypnosis, Hickson’s account remained consistent.
Public Response
The case attracted enormous attention:
- National media coverage
- UFO researchers descended on Pascagoula
- The men received both support and ridicule
- Both suffered career and personal consequences
Lasting Impact
Charles Hickson eventually embraced his role as a UFO witness, speaking publicly until his death in 2011. Calvin Parker, traumatized, retreated from public life for over 40 years. In 2018, he finally published his own account, “Pascagoula - The Closest Encounter,” describing the lasting psychological impact.
Significance
The Pascagoula case is significant because:
- The secret recording showed genuine terror
- Both witnesses passed polygraph tests
- Their accounts remained consistent for decades
- Neither ever recanted
- The investigation methods were innovative and thorough
Whatever happened to Hickson and Parker that night, their fear was real and their accounts were consistent for the rest of their lives.