The Mysteries of Point Pleasant

In late 1966, rumors surfaced of a large, red-eyed creature with large moth-like wings appearing in Point Pleasant, West Virginia. It was the beginning of several months of Mothman sightings and paranormal events for the people of Point Pleasant.

The 2002 movie, The Mothman Prophecies, is based on John Keel's book of the same name published in 1975. Many people now think the events reported during the time period were the results of mass hysteria in the tiny town of 200 residents.

The creature was even rumored to be somehow connected with the December 15, 1967 collapse of Silver Bridge which left 46 dead.

Many of the events that occurred so many years ago may always be a mystery. But the fact remains that out of the 46 people who died in the bridge collapse - only 44 bodies were recovered. Two people are still missing, Kathy Byus and Maxine Turner. I confirmed that as fact this week with local media.

I also spoke with a Point Pleasant Police Officer and he could not find any evidence of the existence of a missing persons report on file. This was before his time and he didn't recall the two missing ladies. But he was very interested and vowed to follow up on the issue. It is possible he might find information at county or state level. Hopefully the inquiry itself has sparked movement. I'll check back to see what he learns.

Are the bodies of these two ladies still lost somewhere beneath the waters of the Ohio River? Or were they recovered downstream in another town and lie somewhere among the unidentified deceased? Are there family members that can still come forward and make a legitimate missing persons report?

Upstream?
Is it even possible the bodies of Kathy Byus and Maxine Turner could have been carried upstream after the bridge collapse?

It happened in the case of Letitia Luna.

In August of 2000, Letitia's vehicle had been found at the Hernando De Soto Bridge in Memphis, TN. A search of the area and the river "downstream" produced no clues to her disappearance.

A Jane Doe was found days after Letitia's disappearance several hundred miles "upstream" in the state of Kentucky.

A year later in August of 2001, Dr. Emily Craig, an anthropologist with Kentucky State Medical Examiner, was researching a Jane Doe case online. She found descriptive information on Letitia that matched the Jane Doe found in Kentucky. Letitia's body had been located in a so called "duck pond" (an open space in a tow ahead of the boat or between two barges in a string) that had apparently carried it to Kentucky.

This type of identification might not have been considered otherwise because of the fact the body was upstream.

Did It Happen Again?
So it is an established fact that a body can be carried upstream.

The Ohio River begins in western Pennsylvania at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers in Pittsburgh. Could the bodies have been carried upstream and washed ashore somewhere along that way -- up to and as far as the Pittsburgh area?

Are they still buried among the submerged rubble from the collapse of the old bridge? Or is it possible they are listed as "Jane Does" in an upstream state?

Coincidence?
On a related note, online sources say that Sherry Yearsley, a survivor of the Silver Bridge collapse, was found murdered.

Along eastbound I-80 at Sparks, Nevada, near the railroad tracks, the partially clad body of Sherry Yearsley, 47, was found on June 21, 2002.

Passengers on a passing train spotted the body and contacted authorities. Police said Yearsley was a murder victim and her body had been dumped the previous day.

I am trying to learn more about this story and other similar stories.

Urband Legend?
I was curious enough to go to Point Pleasant to spend a few days on a mini vacation. If there was a Mothman -- I certainly wanted to see such a creature if it existed. But, the closest thing we saw to a creature was the 12-foot-tall stainless steel sculpture of Mothman. A tribute to the towns claim to fame and center piece of the annual Mothman Festival.

I will admit that looking at the current bridge beside a full moon against the night sky is a little chilling -- when you know of the tragedy that happened there so long ago.

If you have any information on the topics I post, then please leave me a comment, email me at SleuthTheTruth@gmail.com or call my Tip Line at 206-279-9993.
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