In August, 1955, a series of events occurred that would become known as the Kelly-Hopkinsville (Goblin) Case.
The main event occurred at the Sutton family farmhouse, where the members of two families were terrorised by strange goblin-like creatures during one fearful night.
The main event occurred at the Sutton family farmhouse, where the members of two families were terrorised by strange goblin-like creatures during one fearful night.
A Strange Story
Newspaper clipping of the incident In Christian County, Kentucky, located between the township of Kelly and the small city of Hopkinsville, is a farmhouse that, almost 60 years ago, was the site of a strange and terrifying event. This event, which was well publicised at the time, would become one of the most well-known and significant cases of a close encounter with strange beings from another world or dimension. Today it is still one of the most bizarre stories in UFO lore. Most, if not all, of the adult witnesses to this event have passed away, but the legacy of the Hopkinsville Goblins case still lives on and is just as strong today.
It was August 14th, 1955, that a woman reported to the local press in Dogtown, Indiana, that while on a swimming trip along the banks of the Ohio River, she and her friends had seen a shiny object in the sky, and that they had been grabbed in the river by something with fuzzy, clawed hands. The 'creature' attempted to drag one of them into the water. The group did not see what it was that attacked them.
It was August 14th, 1955, that a woman reported to the local press in Dogtown, Indiana, that while on a swimming trip along the banks of the Ohio River, she and her friends had seen a shiny object in the sky, and that they had been grabbed in the river by something with fuzzy, clawed hands. The 'creature' attempted to drag one of them into the water. The group did not see what it was that attacked them.
The Events as they Happened
Elmer Sutton telling of his experience It was exactly one week later that a family gathered on a small farmhouse near Hopkinsville. Billy Ray Taylor was a guest at the Sutton family's home and was retrieving some water from a well when he noticed what he described as a bright object "falling out of the sky", and land in a nearby field. His sighting was only one of many that were had by residents nearby that night, of strange lights in the sky. His claim, upon returning to the house, was met with ridicule by "Lucky" Sutton, Taylor's friend, and the Sutton family.
At around 8 pm the family dog started to bark repeatedly, so Billy Ray and Lucky went to investigate. They soon returned terrified, and grabbing shotguns, told the rest of the family to hide. Over what seemed like hours the family were terrorised as a number of creatures, described as little men with pointed ears, claw-like hands, big round eyes and were silvery or wearing something of metallic origin, appeared from the nearby field. The creatures were said to cling to the outside of the walls and roof and would stare at the terrified humans through windows and a doorway.
At around 8 pm the family dog started to bark repeatedly, so Billy Ray and Lucky went to investigate. They soon returned terrified, and grabbing shotguns, told the rest of the family to hide. Over what seemed like hours the family were terrorised as a number of creatures, described as little men with pointed ears, claw-like hands, big round eyes and were silvery or wearing something of metallic origin, appeared from the nearby field. The creatures were said to cling to the outside of the walls and roof and would stare at the terrified humans through windows and a doorway.
Confronting the creatures A number of shots were fired at the creatures through a couple of windows, and at one point Taylor went outside and his head was grasped by a talon-like hand. Even though it is claimed a number of the creatures were shot, they appeared to not be hurt and just floated away further down the yard. What they could not work out was if they were dealing with a large number of creatures or maybe just two to three, as they seemed to move rapidly and perhaps were vanishing into thin air and appearing again metres away.
Gathering the family together, the group travelled into town in two cars and went to the local police. The sheriff and a number of local and State law enforcement officers travelled to the farmhouse soon afterwards. No evidence of alcohol or drugs were found at the scene, and a number of shotgun shells were found outside, but not retrieved and kept. The local media appeared soon after, and the farmhouses occupants refused to enter the house until the police had conducted their search and investigation. It is claimed that soon after the police and media left, the "goblins" re-appeared and started terrorising the homestead again, disappearing just before sunrise.
Gathering the family together, the group travelled into town in two cars and went to the local police. The sheriff and a number of local and State law enforcement officers travelled to the farmhouse soon afterwards. No evidence of alcohol or drugs were found at the scene, and a number of shotgun shells were found outside, but not retrieved and kept. The local media appeared soon after, and the farmhouses occupants refused to enter the house until the police had conducted their search and investigation. It is claimed that soon after the police and media left, the "goblins" re-appeared and started terrorising the homestead again, disappearing just before sunrise.
The 'Goblin-like' creatures as drawn by the Sutton family Sceptics have always argued a hoax, but it has also been argued that the many eyewitnesses had no motive for making a story up. It has been noted that Taylor, as well as members of the Sutton family, made very little public appearances and gave very little interviews to media afterwards. The Sutton family sold the property soon afterwards fleeing into oblivion.
The local police at the time were impressed with the almost similar accounts each told of the encounter, and the genuine feelings of fear and anxiety that the family were expressing the night of the reports. It has also been argued that perhaps the family were attacked and held captive by a rare unknown species of monkey; however no remains of monkeys were ever found by police at the scene, nor were any live monkeys seen during the police investigation of the property.
So what did happen at Hopkinsville in 1955?
Were the Sutton family and their guests terrorised by creatures from another world, or perhaps an unknown species of creature science is yet to discover?
Or was it all a hoax, perpetrated for some unknown motive or need?
Most of the eye-witnesses are of course long deceased, but the story remains a legend in UFO records. Will we ever know what nearly a dozen people saw and experienced one night in the Fall of 1955?
It seems very unlikely.
The local police at the time were impressed with the almost similar accounts each told of the encounter, and the genuine feelings of fear and anxiety that the family were expressing the night of the reports. It has also been argued that perhaps the family were attacked and held captive by a rare unknown species of monkey; however no remains of monkeys were ever found by police at the scene, nor were any live monkeys seen during the police investigation of the property.
So what did happen at Hopkinsville in 1955?
Were the Sutton family and their guests terrorised by creatures from another world, or perhaps an unknown species of creature science is yet to discover?
Or was it all a hoax, perpetrated for some unknown motive or need?
Most of the eye-witnesses are of course long deceased, but the story remains a legend in UFO records. Will we ever know what nearly a dozen people saw and experienced one night in the Fall of 1955?
It seems very unlikely.
Matty Sweeney 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
Put together by Ashley Hall 2013
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