Backwoods Bigfoot Stories

• BWBS Ep:105 The Jersey Devil

  Welcome to another spine-chilling episode where we delve deep into one of America's most enduring supernatural legends. Tonight, we explore the terrifying tale of the Jersey Devil, a creature born from desperation, blasphemy, and a mother's curse that echoes through nearly three centuries of American folklore.Our story begins in the winter of 1735, deep within New Jersey's Pine Barrens, a vast wilderness that has always been different from other forests. The Lenape Native Americans spoke of this place in hushed tones, calling it a land of shadows where spirits dwelt in the deepest groves.When European settlers arrived, they found the forest resistant to civilization itself, as if the very soil rejected their attempts at taming the wild.In this primordial landscape lived the Leeds family, existing on the margins of colonial society in a ramshackle cabin that seemed to exhale malevolence. Deborah Leeds, weathered by hardship and twisted by bitterness, had already borne twelve children to her weak-willed husband Daniel. As she felt the stirrings of her thirteenth child, the crushing weight of poverty and desperation drove her to make a bargain that would damn not just her own soul, but unleash upon the world a creature so terrible that its very existence would become woven into the fabric of American folklore.On the night of January 13th, 1735, as an unnatural storm raged outside their cursed cabin, Mother Leeds spoke words of blasphemy that would forever change the Pine Barrens. In her fury at God's apparent abandonment, she cursed her unborn child, asking that it be born not as a blessing but as the very Devil himself. Her desperate plea was answered in ways she could never have imagined.What emerged from that supernatural birth was no ordinary child, but a creature that defied every law of nature and sanity. Before the horrified eyes of the Leeds family, the infant underwent a transformation so violent and complete that it became something altogether inhuman. With a horse-like head, leathery wings, burning red eyes, and an intelligence both ancient and malevolent, the Jersey Devil was born into a world unprepared for its terrible presence.Our tale follows the creature's first night of freedom as it discovered the intoxicating rush of inspiring fear itself. The Jersey Devil's early encounters with isolated farming families like the Whitmores revealed not just a monster, but an entity that could think, plan, and choose to be cruel with calculating precision. These weren't random acts of violence, but carefully orchestrated campaigns of terror designed to feed on the very essence of human fear. As word of the creature's rampage spread through the Pine Barrens, colonial authorities took notice.Captain Jeremiah Stockton's military expedition into the forest resulted in a confrontation that demonstrated the Jersey Devil's power to reshape reality itself, turning the very environment into a weapon against those who would challenge its dominion. The creature's victory over organized opposition established it not merely as a local threat, but as a force that could defy the authority of kings and governors.The Jersey Devil's influence expanded beyond simple terrorism as it learned to manipulate the psychological landscape of entire communities.The fishing village of Tuckerton became the stage for a supernatural siege that tested the limits of human faith against otherworldly malice. When the creature made its dramatic appearance in the village church, it sought to destroy not just bodies but souls, exposing the secret sins and hidden shames of the congregation.Yet in this confrontation, the Jersey Devil encountered something unexpected—resistance that could not be overcome through terror alone. The simple faith of ordinary people, led by the courage of an elderly sexton named Samuel Hartwell, proved that even the darkest powers had limits. This defeat marked a turning point in the creature's understanding of its own nature and the true complexity of human resistance.Driven by rage and a hunger for revenge, the Jersey Devil employed more subtle methods of warfare, infiltrating the dreams and subconscious minds of Tuckerton's residents. Through sustained psychological pressure, it accomplished what brute force could not, turning the community against itself until neighbor betrayed neighbor and the bonds of trust dissolved into paranoia and violence. The destruction of Tuckerton demonstrated that even the strongest faith could be eroded by doubt, fear, and the gradual corruption of human relationships.Our exploration extends beyond the creature's origins to trace how the Jersey Devil legend evolved through American history. From academic investigations by colonial scholars to mass sightings during the famous "Phenomenal Week" of 1909, the creature adapted to changing times while maintaining its essential mystery. Environmental challenges, industrial development, and modern skepticism all shaped how each generation encountered and interpreted the legend.The Jersey Devil's story reveals deeper truths about the nature of folklore and its function in human society. In an age of increasing scientific understanding and technological advancement, the creature represents something more profound than simple superstition. It embodies the enduring human need for mystery, the recognition that some experiences transcend rational explanation, and the acknowledgment that there are still places in the world where the known and unknown coexist in uneasy tension.The Pine Barrens themselves remain largely unchanged despite centuries of human habitation, their ancient forests still holding secrets that may never be fully revealed. Whether the phenomena reported by travelers represent encounters with the Jersey Devil itself or manifestations of collective expectation and cultural memory is perhaps less important than their continued occurrence. The legend persists because it serves essential functions that transcend entertainment or historical curiosity.Tonight's tale reminds us that the most powerful stories are often those that can never be definitively proven true or false. The Jersey Devil stands as a testament to the enduring power of the unexplained, a bridge between older ways of understanding the world and our modern attempts to categorize and quantify every aspect of existence. In a universe that science seeks to map with ever-increasing precision, some truths remain forever beyond the reach of equations and databases.As we conclude this journey into the heart of American supernatural folklore, remember that the Jersey Devil continues to soar through the darkness on leathery wings, its red eyes burning like coals in the infinite night.The legend lives on, waiting in the depths of the Pine Barrens for the next traveler brave enough to venture into its domain and discover whether it represents merely a story told to frighten children, or something far more profound and dangerous than any rational mind dares to consider .The thirteenth child of Mother Leeds has achieved an immortality that transcends the physical world, dwelling forever in the realm of imagination where it will continue to evolve for as long as human beings gather to share tales of the wonderful and terrible things that lurk just beyond the edges of our understanding.

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• BWBS Ep:104 The Beast of The Bayou

  In this gripping and unnerving episode, Brian shares a story from a 63-year-old. A lifelong resident of rural Louisiana, who recounts a chilling chapter from his childhood that has haunted him ever since. The summer of 1972, when he was just ten, brought an unimaginable horror to his small community outside Marksville—a season when an unknown predator seemed to rise from the swamps and target the people living on the fringes of civilization. What began as bizarre livestock mutilations—a few chickens torn apart, their wire enclosures twisted unnaturally—soon spiraled into a full-blown crisis. Massive, unidentifiable tracks appeared in the muddy soil around the Thibodaux property. A 200-pound pig was found hurled against a barn wall with such force that the wood splintered. This was no ordinary animal. It was calculating, deliberate, and disturbingly intelligent. As the weeks passed, the phenomenon spread. Families miles apart began reporting similar attacks. Glowing yellow and red eyes were seen watching from the woods. At night, strange sounds echoed through the darkness: baby cries that weren’t human, voices of loved ones long dead. Even hardened hunters were shaken. The Broussard family's German Shepherd, Rex, a dog known for his fierce loyalty and fearlessness, was found cowering, irreparably broken by whatever he had witnessed.The entire community was on edge. People began sleeping with weapons close at hand. Parents refused to let their children play outside. Marie Landry was followed for half a mile by an unseen presence on her walk home from church. The Thibodaux twins, Bobby included, heard the unmistakable voice of their deceased grandmother calling to them from the treeline. Sleep became a rare luxury for children too afraid to close their eyes.Then came the disappearance of Boudreaux Tate, a seasoned hunter who had gone out to track the creature. His camp was found abandoned, signs of a violent struggle left in the dirt.His body was never recovered. Fear turned to panic.In the end, seven men from the community, pushed to their limits, armed themselves and headed deep into the swamps. What they found defied logic—an eight-foot-tall bipedal creature with wolf-like features and disturbingly human hands, hiding in a remote cave system. A violent confrontation ensued. The men returned with no trophy, no photographs—only their word and a promise that the creature was buried where it fell. His story is more than just a tale of terror—it’s a portrait of a community grappling with something it couldn’t understand, something that left lasting scars on everyone who survived that haunted summer. This is an  unforgettable firsthand account of survival, mystery, and the darkness that once stalked the Louisiana bayou.

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• BWBS Ep:103 The Roswell Incident

  Before there was Bigfoot, before the screams in the woods and things that go bump in the night… there was history. In this special episode, Brian shares a sneak peek into his brand-new podcast, Disturbing History—a show that explores the dark, strange, and forgotten corners of our past. From government coverups to lost civilizations, haunted obsessions to unexplained crashes, Disturbing History is where the stories they hoped we’d forget finally get unearthed. And as a little holiday bonus, Brian is sharing one of the most talked-about episodes from the new series—The Roswell UFO Mystery.On July 8, 1947, the U.S. military made an explosive claim: they had recovered a “flying disc” from a ranch near Roswell, New Mexico. Hours later, they took it all back. What followed was decades of silence, contradiction, and coverup.This episode explores:The discovery of strange debris by rancher Mac BrazelThe military’s original press release—and sudden retractionTestimony from Major Jesse Marcel, who broke the silenceEyewitness reports of unusual wreckage, sealed caskets, and bodiesThe evolution of the official story—from weather balloon to Project MogulAnd the lingering questions no one has fully answeredIf you enjoy strange truths, historical mysteries, and stories that blur the line between fact and folklore, you're going to love Disturbing History.📲 Click the link Listen To Disturbing History to listen to more episodes.Follow. Subscribe. Turn on auto-downloads.And get ready to disturb history.

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• BWBS Ep:102 Missing: National Park Nightmares Vol.11

  National Park Nightmares – Volume 11: “The Vanished” In this episode, we examine two disappearances—separated by 78 years—that continue to confound families, search teams, and anyone who tries to make sense of what happened.It was a typical summer day in the Colorado wilderness when 4-year-old Alfred Beilhartz disappeared during a family outing. He was walking just behind his parents along a trail near a stream—then suddenly, he wasn’t. What followed was one of the first large-scale search efforts in the park’s history, involving over 150 people, bloodhounds, and aerial surveillance. But no trace of Alfred was ever found. Witnesses later reported seeing a boy matching his description on a remote cliffside ledge. Searchers scrambled to reach the spot—only to find nothing. No boy. No tracks. No clues. Just silence.Floyd Roberts wasn’t a first-timer in the canyon. His connection to the place stretched back to 1992, when his friend Ned Bryant first invited him out. Roberts became a devoted hiker, returning year after year with Bryant. By 2016, the two were seasoned and well-prepared, setting out once again—this time with Bryant’s daughter along for the trip. On June 17th, deep in the remote Kelly Tanks area, the trio chose to split momentarily: the Bryants taking a route over a hill before the trailhead, Roberts choosing to walk around it and meet them on the other side. He never arrived. The Bryants waited, circled back the way Roberts went, then returned to camp and marked the area with visible gear to guide him. Still, nothing. This wasn’t a man likely to panic or get lost. Roberts was highly intelligent—he’d worked at NASA and taught programming and game design. He had food, water, and a map marked with their routes. But after six days of searching with helicopters, drones, and canine units—no sign. No gear. No footprints. No remains. Despite the unforgiving terrain and triple-digit heat, Roberts’ experience and preparation should have given him a fighting chance. And yet, five years have passed, countless hikers have passed through the region, and not a single clue has surfaced. Why did Floyd veer off alone? Why couldn’t the others hear a call for help if something went wrong just on the other side of a hill? And how does someone—someone this equipped, this smart, this familiar with the terrain—vanish without leaving behind a trace?🔦 Two cases. Two different centuries. Two national parks. No answers.

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• BWBS Ep:101 When Cowboys Met Sasquatch: The Patterson-Gimlin Film

  On October 20, 1967, two cowboys rode into a remote California creek bed and emerged with 59.5 seconds of film that would divide science, captivate the world, and spawn a mystery that endures to this day. Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin claimed they encountered and filmed a massive, hair-covered, bipedal creature that would become known as Bigfoot.Their brief, shaky footage—particularly the iconic Frame 352 showing the creature looking back over its shoulder—has become the most analyzed, debated, and controversial piece of film in cryptozoological history.In this deep dive into one of America's most enduring mysteries, we explore the complete story of the Patterson-Gimlin Film. From Roger Patterson's obsessive quest to find Bigfoot to his desperate final expedition when he could least afford it, from the moment of the encounter to the media frenzy that followed, we unravel the human drama behind the footage.We meet Patterson, the dreamer and artist who spent his life chasing shadows in the Pacific Northwest, and Bob Gimlin, the practical horseman who found himself at the center of a controversy he never sought.The narrative takes us through the film's explosive impact on popular culture, the scientific community's struggle to explain or dismiss it, and the decades of analysis that have followed. We examine the compelling evidence that supporters say proves the film's authenticity—from the creature's anatomically consistent proportions to its distinctive compliant gait, from the dermal ridges in its footprints to the muscle movement visible beneath its fur.We also confront the skeptics' arguments—the convenient timing of Patterson's success, the possibility of a sophisticated hoax, and the troubling absence of corroborating physical evidence despite decades of searching.Through exclusive insights into the personal costs borne by both men, we see how the film transformed their lives. Patterson would die just five years later, still defending his footage, while Gimlin would spend decades living with the burden of being either a witness to history or the victim of an elaborate deception. We explore the confessions of alleged hoaxers, the modern digital analysis that has both supported and challenged the film's authenticity, and the psychological reasons why this particular piece of footage continues to captivate us more than half a century later.As we journey from that October afternoon to the present day, we discover that the Patterson-Gimlin Film is more than just potential evidence of an unknown primate. It's a mirror reflecting our relationship with the unknown, our need for mystery in an increasingly mapped world, and our eternal hope that somewhere in the shrinking wilderness, wonders still wait to be discovered.Whether you're a believer, a skeptic, or simply curious about one of the great unsolved mysteries of our time, this episode offers the most comprehensive exploration of the film that made Bigfoot a household name and turned a brief encounter at Bluff Creek into an enduring enigma.Join us for a journey into the heart of American folklore, where the line between myth and reality blurs, where two men's afternoon ride became a cultural phenomenon, and where 59.5 seconds of film continue to challenge our understanding of what might be possible in the vast forests of the Pacific Northwest.

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