MUFON New Jersey Chronicle Vol 03 No 03 1993 01 03

22 Pages·1993·4.3 MB·English

v
NEW ERSEY CHRONICLE
THE
• • STATE FOR THE MUTUAL UFO NETWORK, INC.
I .
VOLUME NUMBER 3 NUMBER 3 JANUARY -FEBRUARY -MARCH 1 9 9 3
Budd Hopkins is the person most responsible for
drawing attention to the problem of the extraterrestrial
EDITOR'S NOTE: Early in January I received a (ET) abduction experience. His efforts have been
package containing information concerning Budd instrumental in stimulating both media attention and
Hopkins 110iJse of the century11• With all the con­ scientific research devoted to the problem. He has
troversey that surrounds that case I felt that our reader­ written two popular books (Missing Time, 1981, and
ship should be kept informed. This is part one of a two Intruders, 1987), established the Intruders Foundation,
part series reproducing the entire critique as received. and has made innumerable appearances at confer­
Your comments are encouraged. ences and in the media.
Although Hopkins is neither a trained therapist, an
A Critique of Budd Hopkins' Case of the academic, nor a scientist, he has involved such people
UFO Abduction of Unda Napolitano in his work. John E. Mack, M.D., a Pulitzer Prize winner
and former head of the psychiatry department at
by Joseph J. Stefula, Richard D. Butler, Harvard Medical School, has praised Hopkins' work
and George P. Hansen and acknowledged his indebtedness to him (Mack,
1992a, 1992b). Hopkins has collaborated with univer­
sity professors in co-authoring an article in the book
ABSTRACT: Budd Hopkins has made a number Unusual Personal &periences ( 1992), which was
of public presentations of a purported UFO abduction sent to 1 00,000 mental health professionals. He has
case with multiple witnesses. The primary abductee is testified as an expert witness at a hearing regarding the
Linda Napolitano, who lives in an apartment building medical competence of a physician who claims to
on the lower east side of Manhattan (New York City). have been abducted (McKenna, 1992). Because of
She claims to have been abducted by extraterrestrial such strong endorsements and impressive affiliations,
aliens from her 12th floor apartment in November 1989. and because of his untiring work on behalf of ab­
It is claimed that three witnesses in a car two blocks ductees, Hopkins has become the single most visible
away observed Linda and alien beings float out of a figure in the UFO abduction field. His contributions,
window and ascend into a craft. One alleged witness positive or negative, will be quickly noticed by those
was United Nations Secretary General Javier Perez de inside and outside ufology.
Cuellar. It is also claimed that a woman on the Brook­ Last year, Hopkins made a number of public
lyn Bridge observed the abduction. Linda has report - presentations about a spectacular UFO abduction
ed nose bleeds, and one X-ray displays an implant in case occurring in November 1989 and having multiple
her nose. witnesses. The primary abductee was Linda Napoli­
To date, Hopkins has provided no full, detailed tano, a woman living on the 12th floor of a high-rise
written report, but he did publish a couple five page apartment building in lower Manhattan (New York City)
articles in the September and December 1992 issues [Hopkins has previously used the pseudonym "Linda
of the Mufon UFO Journal and made a presentation at Cortile" in this case]. It is claimed that three witnesses
the 1992 MUFON symposium. We have made use of in a car two blocks away observed Linda and three ET
that information as well as records from other presenta­ aliens emerge from a window and ascend into a craft.
tions, and we have interviewed the abductee. A num­ Further it is claimed that a woman who was driving
ber of serious questions arose from our examination. across the Brooklyn Bridge also saw the event.
The case has many exotic aspects, and we have iden­ The case has generated enormous interest and
tified a science fiction novel that may have served as drawn international attention. It has been discussed in
the basis for elements of the story. the Wall Street Journal (Jefferson, 1992), Omni (Baskin,
Several prominent leaders in ufology have be­ 1992), Paris Match (De Brasses, 1992), the New York
come involved, and their behavior and statements Times (Sontag, 1992), and Hopkins and Napolitano
have been quite curious. Some have aggressively have appeared on the television show Inside Edition.
attempted to suppress evidence of a purported The Mufon UFO Journal labeled it "The Abduction
attempted murder. The implications for the understand Case of the Century" (Stacy, 1992, p. 9). Even the
ing of ufology are discussed. continued on page 6
!i
inquires about it! In Bits and Piece1s there are two
articles. .. the first concerns Evidence Points to Secret
FROm THE EDITOR'S DESK
U.S. Spy Plane and the second Astronomic find­
ings casts light on birth of Stars and asks the ques­
figured the best way to start the first issue of the tion "How Common are Other Worlds?" .... lf any of our
New Year, is with a bang. Our lead story fits the bill to readers are heading to Florida this spring or summer
say the least! Written and submitted by fellow New you must check out the blurb on the Free UFO Mu­
Jerseyites'. The Stefula, Butler, Hansen article entitled seum in Orlando, Florida .... Upcoming UFO Confer­
A Critique of Budd Hopkin's Case of the UFO ences ... the July 5th march on Washington spon­
sored by Operation Right to Know ....a nd last but not
Abduction of Linda Napolitano is blockbuster.
a
The now famous or infamous "Case of the Century" is least The Ughter· Side of UFOiogy. .l.n next
exposed by these veteran investigators. Their critique issue. .. the conclusion of the Stefula, Butler, Hansen in­
vestigative critique of Budd Hopkin's Linda Napolitano
will be presented in two parts with the conclusion in next
case. ...a n investigation into the MIB's (Men in
months issue. ..I n the State Diredors Messa ge,
George A. Filer our new State Director explains his Black) ... and more ...T ill then. ...
plans for the future of our state organization .....S ue Van
Slooten tells all of us who could not attend the last North
IN THIS ISSUE
Jersey MUFON meeting, just what we missed ln Let­
..
ters to the Editor, George Filer tells of an interview with A Critique of Budd Hopkin•s Case of the
a police chief in February of a UFO encounter over­
UFO Abduction of Unda Napolitano
Williamsport, Pennsylvania.... Richard D. Seifried,
by JosephJ. Stefula, Richard Butler
MUFON Director of Investigations for the state of Okla­ and George P. Hansen. .................... Page 1
homa gives his review of the movie 11Fire in The From tile Editor's Desk. ..................................... Page 2
Sky". .. A Fiction Movie .....T he Fund for UFO Re­ State Directors Messa ge. ................................. Page 3
search give us a retrospective view in 1992: The UFO North Jersey MUFON Meeting a Success
Year in Review. .... On page 11 for those MUFON by Susan Van Slooten. ..................... Page 3
members who attended the Northern New Jersey Letet rs to tile Editor .............................................. Page 4
meeting ....t he address that you can write too, to get the •Fire in The S� •.. A Fictional Movie. ....... Page 4
video you saw Messengers of Destiny. ... ln Investiga­ 1992: The UFO Year in Review . . . . Page 5
.................
tive Reports .. sightings in Asbury, Secaucus and Video Information Notice .................................. Page 1 1
Carlstadt, New Jersey are highlighted. In An Inside Investigative Reports .......................................... Page 12
View. .. Tom Benson attended the Metro-DC MUFON An Inside View ...
UFO Conference held in Washington DC in February
Metro-DC MUFON UFO Conference
and reports on what had transpired including the 1991 by Tom Benson ................. Page 13
Canadian UFO landing (Unsolved Mysterie� .. Paul
... National Sighting Research Center Update ..
Ferrughelli completes his statistical analysis of UFO
UFO Descriptions- Part 2
Descriptions in the latest installment of the National
... by Paul Ferrughelli ............. Page 14
Sighting Research Centers' UPDATE This conclu­
The Book Rack Manhattan Transfer
•...
sion compares Long range versus close range UFO
Reviewed by Dr. Willy Smith ......................P age 16
sightings .... ln The Book Rack , Dr. Willy Smith of the Bits and Piere•s Page 19
....................................................
UNICAT Project presents a hypothetical book review of UFO Museum, Orlando, Florida. .................. Page 21
Manhattan Transfer a book yet to be written by Budd Upcoming UFO Conferences ........................P age 21
Hopkins based on the Linda Napolitano abduction
Marett on Washington. .......................................P age 22
case a must read ....t his article is so well written ....t hat
... The Information Network. ................................. Page 22
I'm sure that Arcturus Books, Inc. will be getting some The Lighter Side of UFOiogy. ....................... Page 22
THE NEW JERSEY CHRONICLE VOLUME 3 NUMBER 3 January- March 1993
EDITOR Paul M. Makuch ; STATE DIRECTOR: George A.Filer ASSISTANT STATE DIRECTORS:Northern New Jeraey
.._ Susan Van Slooten SouttMwn New Jersey RESEARCH ASSOCIATES: Tom Benson. PllU F�
CONTmHUlOAS : Tom Benson, Richard D. Buder, Paul femq.,lli, George P. Hansen , John F. Schueuler. Dr. YMy Smilh , ..beph J.
Stefulathe, Fund for UFO Research. Aviation WBBk & SptJCB Technology. the Oklahoma MUFONNEWS, The Slar Ledger, Newark , New
Jersey, Susan Van Slooten, The Wall Street Journal. EDITORIAL INFORMATION Submitted articles by various writers pr858nt the
opinions d thol8 authors and do not neoeaarily rellect the viewpons d the editor, staff or uanb81ship d the New Jersey Mdual UFO
Network. Submiuion& are encouf1198d, W stiJiect to edUlg, if deemed necessary . Any portion d this � may be repmted wilh
credit given to the individual author and the The New Jersey Chronicle. The New Jersey Chronicle is published bimonthly by the
New JerseyM utual UFO Network. SubscriptiRoant es:$ 15.00 pe r year (USA) . Make checka/MO to Paul M. Makuch
Mailt o: The New JerseyC hroniclPe. O. Box 7603 North BrunswickN,.J . 08902. Copyright 1993 by the New Jersey
Mutual UFO Network . The New Jersey MutUBI UFO Netwof1< is exempt from Fodenll Income Tax under Section 501 (C)(3) d the Internal
Revenue Code.
2
Historic Research
STATE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE
Director of Computer Data
·I' m veryg lad to have been appointed the new state
director for MUFON. I believe thiissa ni mporatnt timfeo r I believe UFOs exist simplbye causeI saw one. a I'm
the study of UFOs because of the newa dministration, the retired Air Force intelligence officer and flyeOru.r inves­
accumulation of x ell nt evidencoef a crashn ear tigation has led us to belietvhaet with the exception of a
e c e '
Roswell, New Mexico and new photographs andv ideos handful of military personnel, you probabklnyo w more
of the craft. about UFOs than yourc ontemporaries in the military.
You in fact can educate them to the seriousness of the
I wish to thank Joe Stefula for his excellent work as the
problem. Further the new administration and its Secre­
former state director. Joe continues with us as Director
tary of Defense Representative Aspen have publicly
of Research. Paul Makuch our fine editor and Susan
Van Slooten the Assistant State Director have agreed to stated their desire toc ut the military by about a third.
With the apparent threat from UFOs increasing, you
continue in their positions. Both have been doing an
' may get a more sympathetic ear from the military than
excellent job. In reviewing the membership in New Jer­
ever before. We have found that if you attempt to make
sey I'm amazed at the high level of talent we have avail­
friends with the police, military and media they are
able. My personnel goal is to use the many talents and
willing to listen. I suggest you start slow, first the sight­
capability that we have to solve the UFO enigma.
ings, then the crash, then tread lightly on abductions
Frankly, I need your ideas and help to accomplish this
using Dr. John Mac, Harvard M.D. and David Jacobs
task. Some members such as Bob Durant have already
put some of his ideas on paper. Phd. Temple professor as your primary source ofi nfor­
mation. People will often believe credentials rather than
Some of our initial concepts are:
eye witnesses. I need your help to make any of these
plans succeed.
1. We need a reporting network within New Jersey to 1
obtain the reports as quickly as possible. We have
established a new telephone number that can be use to NORTH JERSEY MUFON MEETING A SUCCESS
take calls from eyewitnesses. Our new number is 800-
752-8049 Rob Bradshaw from Willingboro has gra­ The January 23rd meeting of North Jersey MUFON was
ciously offered to answer the calls during normal hours. a big success with many new and interesting members
We plan on sending announcements of the numbers to in attendance. After the business section of the meeting,
the police, emergency, military and the news media. we heard from two interesting female members about
You are invited to publish the number. their abduction experiences over the last several years.
2. When sighting information is received we will attempt These women did not know each other prior to the
to notify the closest field investigator to follow up as meeting, but the similarities between their accounts was
quickly as possible. very striking. We discussed in depth the current cases in
3. We desire to train more field investigators and will New Jersey and found them very interesting.( Please
start classes as quickly as possible. see related articles on three cases in Northern New
4. We desire to publish a NJ UFO book concerning key Jersey.) Paul Ferrughelli, State Section Director, Pas­
cases and findings. Twenty chapters with twenty saic, distribu1ed his latest update on the ongoing statis­
different authors is envisioned. We are interested in tical analysis of sightings up through 1991.
obtaining inputs of approximately ten pages in length ' After a short break, we then viewed an excellent vide­
from our readers. otape on sightings in Mexico City, Mexico, brought
5. We desire to have conferences and greater contact courtesy of Paul Makuch, State Section Director, Mid­
with the public and news media. dlesex. This tape was a compilation of over 20 different
6. We are looking for volunteers to fill key positions such videos all taken during the total eclipse that took place
as: in the country last year. These have got to be the most
State Section Directors exdting videos on UFO ever! What started during the
Public Affairs Director eclipse continued for several months afterward, and
Director of Training turned into one of the most major UFO flaps of all time.
Counselors and support for Abductees Why haven't we heard about it in the USA?
Director of Fund Raising We had one of our best meetings ever, we welcome all
Government Liaison Director those who wish to attend the next meeting to contact
Educational Director your State Section Director. We look forward to seeing
Library Director you soon!
Typists to transcribe tapes of interviews Sue VanSlooten
Asst.State Direct North Jersey MUFON
3
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR• •.•. craft and that cases were continuing. He is averaging
Dear Paul, t\NO or three phone calls a night of sightings. He doesn•t
have the time to keep up with this and do his norm�l
'
police work. The local newspaper has published sev-
I thought your readers might be interested in this inter­
view. On Thursday, the 21st of February, I called Chief eral UFO articles.
He never actually saw the bottom of the triangle shaped
Salvatore Casale of Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The
previous week the Chief had a sighting of a giant UFO craft. It came out of the west and came down so low it
over his home. I told him that it is often very difficult to almost hit the house and the road and then gained
' altitude. It slowly flew lower down the valley. The only
get people to believe you about seeing a UFO. He
stated, "He was learning real quick." He has been lights he saw were on top of the craft. The Chief would
like to see more programs and more articles in the
sending teletypes and fax transmissions to the Air Force
and they have been very cooperative. He asked, paper to make the general public aware of the phe­
them about flights and were in the Williamsport area nomenon. A person in authority has to be careful about
and the size of the aircraft. The Air Force e><plained that reporting these things, but because I'm a public servant I
C-5 Galaxy aircraft were not in his area and would not fly feel the public should be made aware of what's happen­
so low except when landing. We discussed the capabili­ ing. If this was the Air Force flying classified experimen­
ties of this craft and ruled it out because of its 120 mph tal craft, what gives them the right to endanger people in
our area by flying that low, and nottelling us about it. The
stall speed. He felt there was no way for a normal
aircraft to fly so low and make it up over the mountains. Air Force told him they have renegade pilots and they
He stated, "It was impossible for a craft that large to do, , don't know everything that's going on either. The UFO
that's what stumped me." He indicated that the whole was flying at only a few miles an hour, he could walk
house was shaking so, and he went outside to see what along side and keep up with it. A jet aircraft will stall out of
was happening. The craft flew so low that he went up on the sky at less than 120 MPH and it definitely was not a
his roofto see if it was burned by the craft. He told the Air helicopter. It was an unidentified flying object of some­
Force it was an unidentified flying object. It was some­ thing he had never seen before. He agreed that the craft
thing that I've never seen before in my life. I don't know looked very similar to the Belgian triangular UFO de­
if its friend or foe, and I'm not saying other than that. The picted on Unsolved Mysteries.
Chief's family and many others in the valley saw it. It
Sincerely,
was an experience, that he will never forget. He felt, it
1
George A. Filer
was something the government is experimenting with, or
something from another galaxy. The Chief indicated
there were many others in the area who had seen the
11fire In Tile 511p" ll firtian mauie
...
by Richard D. Seifried,
Oklahoma Director of Investigations
Particulaorflfye nswiasve t hea pparentm indw oulds implsyh udto wno rm al­
. . filtohf t hec rafti'nst eriAlotrh.o ugthh e functioinns ome othewra yi nan attetm p
The valuoef. t h� mov1�,.as � Traivs jell-lyikseubs tan cesan d membranes oft he tos urvive.
Waltohasn mdicatIes�<L epo r-.c.oc oon"s equenrecflee ctedb itansd piecesWh at Frre inth e Skyhas done, fIe ari,s
. trayalo ft hetr aumat heV ICUffi ex-ofr eaal_ _d�ucti.�oxnp erientcheesyw er�i nstai lhlorr oro fth e abductioenx peri­
penenceadf terwartdh,eg raduaaclc e-pgrssolyo verdonet oth epo into fd isgust. encei nt hemin ds oft housandansd cause
tancbey manyt hatth ee xpericeend id Eventh e Aliensw ered istorbtyeth de many morein telligceintti ztenors e ject
occur,a ndm osto fa llth,e dram atidci -smoviem-akersT.h eiirn uhmane,e x­thew holree alityo fA lievn� sitatiThoen s.
ruptioofnr elationsbehitpwse enth osei n-tremeclrydu e,u nsophistiicnastterdum ­ovieh asn oth epeld thosoef u sw ho
volveandd the roefs ttc hoemm unity. mentasn dt reatmeonftT raviprse sentead seek the truItht.h asc hampiontehde
Whats eemevde ryn egatitvoem e was horrorbe yond human tolerance. causoef d ebunkersl ikPeh iKlla ss and
the abductions equencTeh.e U FO hove-r Mostif, n ota lla,bd ucteess urvivet heirc lsoed-imndesdc ientissucthsa sC arl
ingo vert hef orepsots sesspehyds icaelx perien;cm easny withoutan gmuuischh, Sagan.
charactertihsatwtie crsef oreitgont here-ord isruptioofthn e irl iveMsy. o wn pet­ WouldI recommenthde movieA?b ­
alitoyfth e actuaplh enomenoInn.d eeds,o naolp inioins t hawth atw as showni n solutenloty!
thec rafste emetdo be gointhrgo ughi ts them oviec ould ben ohtu manleyx peri­
monthly menstrualpe riod. encewdi thouitns anitrye sultiTnhge.
Worsey etT,r avisr'esale xperiencine­s
EDITOR'S NOTE: The above article originally appeared
sidteh ec rafwte req uitdei fferent from
in the April 1993 edition of the Oklahoma MUFONEWS.
whatw aspo rtrayed.
4
1992: THE UFO YEAR IN REVIEW to their homes or cars. The total number of such cases
is now well over 1.000, with scores more reported in
1992.
The 45th year of the "UFO Era" has been completed,
.An te sive survey by the Roper Organization was
and the mystery remains. Strange flying objects con­ ex n
released in July, and an analysis of it by some of the top
tinue to be seen by average persons and by airline
"abduction" investigators and therapists suggest that
and military pilots. The U.S. Government continues to
as many as one percent of Americans may have expe­
stonewall. Hundreds of new cases of ''alien abduc-­
rienced this phenomenon.
tions" were reported. But after almost a half century,
The steady increase in interest among mental health
UFOs are still the mystery of the age.
professionals continued during the year, and a major
conference was held for them at the Massachusetts
UFO SIGHTINGS
Institute of Technology in June.
1992 Among the projects currently receiving financial support
The approximate number of UFO sightings during
from the Fund for UFO Research are a continuation of the
is impossible to estimate, due to the refusal of most
study of a large number of cases by Thomas Bullard,
persons to report their sightings because of the fear of
ridicule, and because most people have no idea how ! Ph.D.; the expansion of a referral service of assist
' victims; and the creation of a computer database for
to report a sighting. There were, at the very least,
future studies.
hundreds of sightings in the U.S. and many more in other
countries. But the numbers simply are not available.
CROP FORMATIONS
Of those that were reported to private agencies, most
were ''low grade," meaning few ofthem contained much
While there is still no solid link between the strange
in the way of detail.
formations found in fields of grain (mainly in southwest-
With the great majority of sightings being at night, all
:hat could be seen was lights that behaved oddly. This i ern England) and UFOs, the possibility remains high
enough to justify continued support of studies by the
IS not enough to enable analysts to determine the Fund. Hundreds more formations were found in 1992
source in most cases. '
including some of the largest and most complex ever.
In early 1993, the Fund expects to publish the results
GOVERNMENT ACTIVITY
laboratory analyses of grain inside and outside many
such formations. In England, a contest was held to
The U.S. Government continues to insist it has had no
, create a complex formation, and the winner displayed
interest in UFOs since it shut down the U.S. Air Force's
1969. surprising skill in creating some features previously
"Project Blue Book" in At that time, it claimed that
thought to be difficult or impossible by hand.
no sighting reported to it had shown any evidence of '
advanced technology, nor of alien origin, nor of posing , ATTEnTIOn CHROniCLE SUBSCRIBERS
a threat to national security. Off-the record comments by
current military persons strongly suggest that govern­ YOU UJU RECBVE A AETEWRl
ment interest and activity remain very high. nOTIFICATDlSl ll orE I55U£ PRIOR
TO THE EXPIIITDl OF Y� CURAEOT
5lJBSCAili ion
CRASHES AND RETRIEVALS
WE LOOK RR1IRJ TOF URr1SH116
OURR EADERS WITHTHE LATESnETW S
While no new crashes of UFOs have been reported, the ,. Rt1D IOFO on lFOLOGV Ill nEW JERSEY
level of interest in old ones (New Mexico in 1947 and ArlO THE FIRO 10 THE C00111G YEAR.
1965) RErEW I'10W!
Pennsylvania in remains high. Additional wit- ! JUST51 5.00 PERY ERR
nesses to the New Mexico activity were found in 1992,
YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED!
and the search continues for fits of wreckage rumored to
exist. The current official line is that nothing at all
happened in July 1947 near Corona, New Mexico.
"ALIEN ABDUCTIONS"
This is still the most bizarre aspect of the entire UFO
subject: the possibility of the many innocent Americans
have been taken against their will, subjected to peculiar
medical procedures by odd beings, and then returned
5
---------------·-------·-------·-·-----
vention and heard the talk, and disturbing ques­
"C 'ft'q ue II contm• ueu.J frc•m page 7
n
tions arose. Some of the statements directly contra­
dicted what Linda had earlier told Stefula and Butler.
technical magazine ADVANCE for Radiologic
We contacted Hopkins in an attempt to resolve these
Science Professionals carried a discussion of Linda's
nasal implant (Hatfield, 1992). We should expect matters, but he declined to meet with us, saying that he
continuing coverage of the affair not only in the UFO didn't want to discuss the case until his book manu­
script was submitted. Despite his initial reluctance,
press but also in the major media.
eventually a meeting was arranged on October 3, 1992
In a short article previewing his 1992 MUFON
at Hopkins' home, and a few more details the emerg­
symposium presentation, he wrote: "I will be presenting
ed.
what I believe to be the most important case for
establishing the objective reality of UFO abductions
that I have yet encountered" (Hopkins, 1992, p. 20). SUMMARY OF CASE
During his lecture at the symposium he stated: ''This is
In order to compile this summary of alleged
probably the most important case I've ever run into in
events, we have relied upon Hopkins' and Linda's
my life" (tape recorded, July 1992). In his abstract for
, talks from the podium of the 1992 MUFON symposium,
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Abduction
on our interviews with Linda, on Hopkins' talk at the
Study Conference held in June 1992 he wrote: "The
Portsmouth, New Hampshire UFO conference, Sep­
importance of this case is virtually immeasurable, as it
tember 13, 1992, and Hopkins' two five-page articles in
powerfully supports both the objective reality of UFO
the September and December issues of the Mufon
abductions and the accuracy of regressive hypnosis
UFO Journal.
as employed with this abductee." Because of
In April 1989 Hopkins received a letter from Linda
Hopkins' renown, and because of his evaluation, this
Napolitano, a resident of New York City. Linda wrote
case warrants our careful scrutiny.
that she had begun reading his book Intruders and had
remembered that 13 years earlier she had detected a
THE AUTHORS' INVOLVEMENT
bump next to her nose. It was examined by a physician
who insisted that she had undergone nasal surgery.
The first two authors had learned of the case
Linda daimed that she never had such surgery, and
before Hopkins had spoken publicly of it, and they
she even checked with her mother, who confirmed that
decided to monitor its progress. They regularly briefed
impression.
the third author as their investigation progressed. As
Hopkins took an interest in the case because
the affair became publicized, all three became con­
there was a potential for medical evidence and
cerned about the long term effect it might have on ab­
because Linda lived relatively close to Hopkins, which
duction research. 1
facilitated their meeting. Linda visited Hopkins and
For several years Richard Butler attended
discussed her past experiences with him. She recalled
Hopkins' informal meetings organized for abductees
some pertinent earlier events in her life but believed
and abduction researchers. Butler became familiar
that she was no longer directly involved with any
with the case during those meetings, and he invited
abduction phenomena. Linda then began attending
Stefula to a gathering in early October 1991. At the
meetings of Hopkins' support group for abductees.
meeting, Hopkins outlined the case, and afterward,
On November 30, 1989, Linda called Hopkins and
Stefula had a chance to chat with Linda about her ex­
reported that she had been abducted during the early
periences. Butler and Stefula gave Linda their tele­
morning hours of that day, and she provided some
phone numbers. She was advised that if she needed
details. A few days later, she underwent regressive
any assistance she could contact them. Stefula told
hypnosis, and Linda remembered floating out of her
her that he had numerous contacts in federal and state
apartment window, 12 stories above the ground. She
law enforcement agencies that could be of aid to her.
recalled ascending in a bluish-white beam of light into
The same information was provided to Hopkins.
a craft which was hovering over the building.
On January 28, 1992, Linda requested a meeting
with Richard Butler, and on February 1, 1992, Linda,
Stefula and Butler met in New York City, and Linda pro­ Richard and Dan
vided additional details about her experiences (des­
Over a year later (February 1991), Hopkins
cribed below). During that meeting, she asked them
received a letter signed with the first names, Richard
not to inform Hopkins of their discussions. At the 1992
and Dan. (We have no hard evidence that "Richard"
MUFON convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico in
and "Dan" actually exist. In order to avoid overburden-
July, both Hopkins and Linda appeared on the podium
continued on next page
and presented the case. Stefula attended the conven-
6
·------- ---
ing the reader, we will typically omit the word claimed that their c.ar stalled, and Richard had
"alleged" when mentioning them.) The letter claimed pushed it, parking it beneath the FDA Drive. According
�
·that the two were police officers who were under cover to Dan, the VIP had also witnessed the abduction event
in a car beneath the elevated FDA Drive between 3 : 00 and had become hysterical.
and 3:3 0a.m. in late November 1989. Above a high­
rise apartment building, they observed a large, bright The Kidnappings
reddish-orange object with green lights around its side.
They wrote that they saw a woman and several strange Linda claimed that in April of 1991 she encoun-
figures float out a window and up into the object. tered Richard on the street near her apartment. She
Richard and Dan said that they had come across was asked to get into a car that Dan was driving, but
Hopkins' name and decided to write to him. They went she refused. Richard picked her up and, with some
on to say that they were extremely concerned about struggle, forced her into the vehicle. Linda reported
her well being, wanted to locate the woman, talk to her, i that she was driven around for 3 1/2 hours, interrogated
and be assured that she was alive and safe. The two about the aliens, and asked whether she worked for the
also mentioned that they could identify the building and government. She also said that she was forced to
window from which she emerged. remove her shoes so they could examine her feet to
After receiving the letter, Hopkins promptly called determine whether she was an ET alien (they later
Linda and told her that she might expect a visit from two claimed that aliens lack toes). Linda did remember
·
policemen. A few days later, Linda telephoned another car being involved with the kidnapping, and
Hopkins to tell him that she had been visited by under hypnotic regression she recalled the license
I
Richard and Dan. When they had knocked on her plate number of that car, as well as part of the number
door, introducing themselves as police officers, she of the car in which she rode. Hopkins reports that the
was not too surprized because she reports that police numbers have been traced to particular "agencies"
frequently canvass her apartment complex looking for (he gave no further details).
witnesses to crimes. Even with Hopkins' prior call, she At the MUFON symposium, Linda was asked if she
did not expect Richard and Dan to actually appear. had reported the kidnapping to the police. She said
After they arrived and entered her home, there was an that she had not and went on to say that the kidnapping
emotional greeting, and they expressed relief that she was legal because it had to do with national security.
was alive. However, Richard and Dan were disin- In conversations with Butler in early 1992, Linda
eli ned to meet with or talk to Hopkins, despite the fact had expressed concerns about her personal safety. A
that they had written him earlier and despite Linda's meeting was arranged with Stefula because of his
entreaties to do so. Richard asked Linda if it was background in law enforcement. During the afternoon
acceptable for them to write out an account of their and early evening of February 1, the three met in New
experience and then read it into a tape recorder. She York City, and Linda described further details of the
agreed, and a couple weeks later Hopkins received a kidnappings.
I
tape recording from Richard describing their experi- She reported that on the morning of October 15,
ence. 1991, Dan accosted her on the str�et and pulled her
Some time thereafter, Hopkins received a letter into a red Jaguar sports car. Linda happened to be
from Dan giving a bit more information. The letet r carrying a tape recorder and was able to surrepti-
reported that Richard had taken a leave of absence tiously record a few minutes of Dan's questioning, but
because the close encounter had been so emotionally he soon disoovered and confiscated it. Dan drove to a
traumatic. Dan also mentioned that Richard secretly beach house on the shore of Long Island. There he
watched Linda. (This information is from Hopkins' oral demanded that Linda remove her clothes and put on a
presentation at the 1992 MUFON symposium in white nightgown, similar to the one she wore the night of
Albuquerque. At the Portsmouth, New Hampshire the abduction. He said he wanted to have sex with her.
conference, Hopkins said that he had received a letter ' She refused but then agreed to put on the nightgown
from Richard saying that Dan was forced to take of· over her clothes. Once she did, Dan dropped to his
leave of absence. It is not clear if Hopkins misspoke at knees and started to talk incoherently about her being
some point, or whether both individuals took leaves of the "Lady of the Sands." She fled the beach house, but
absence.) Dan caught her on the beach and bent her arm behind
Hopkins received another letter from Dan which her. He placed two fingers on the back of her neck,
said that he and Richard were not really police officers leading Linda to believe that it was a gun. He then
but actually security officers who had been driving a forced her into the water and pushed her head under
very important person (VIP) to a helicopter pad in lower twice. He continued to rave incoherently, and as her
Manhattan when the sighting occurred. The letter continued on page 8
------------------------------------------------------------�=---
7
"Critique" continued from page 7 danger to the planet, and Linda indicated that
head was being pushed under for the third time,
aliens were involved in ending the Cold War. The l,etter
she believed that she would not come up again. Then,
ended with a warning to Hopkins to stop searching for
i
a "force" hit Dan and knocked him back onto the "the third man" because it could potentially do harm to
beach. She started to run but heard a sound like a gun world peace.
being cocked. She looked back and saw Dan taking a
Linda also related a few more details of her
picture of her (Linda mentioned that pictures from the
November 1989 abduction. She said that the men in
beach were eventually sent to Hopkins). She contin­ !
the car had felt a strong vibration at the time of the
!
ued running, but Richard appeared beside her, seem­
sighting. Linda also claimed that in subsequent
ingly out of nowhere. He stopped her and convinced
hypnotic regressions she recalled being on a beach
her to return to the beach house and told her that he
with Dan, Richard, and the third man, and she thought
would control Dan by giving him a Mickey Finn. She somehow she was being used by the aliens to control
agreed. Once inside, Richard put Dan in the shower to !
the men. She communicated with the men telepathi­
wash off the mud and sand from the beach. This gave
cally and said that she felt that she had known Richard
Linda a chance to search the premises; she recovered
prior to the November 1989 abduction, and she sug­
her casette tape and discovered stationery bearing a gested that they possibly had been abducted together
Central Intelligence Agency letterhead.
previously. We also learned that the third man was
In a brief conversation on October 3,1992, Hopkins
actually Javier Perez de Cuellar, at that time Secretary
told Hansen that Linda came to him shortly after she
General of the United Nations. Linda claimed that the
arrived back in Manhattan after the kidnapping. She
various vehicles used in her kidnappings had been
was disheveled, had sand in her hair, and was trauma­
traced to several countries' missions at the UN.
tized by the experience.
At the Portsmouth, New Hampshire conference,
Hopkins spoke of the third man saying: "I am trying to
Further Contacts with Richard and Dan do what I can to shame this person to come forward."
During the February 1 meeting with Butler and
Witness on the Brooklyn Bridge
Stefula, Linda reported that she had met Richard out­
side a Manhattan bank on November 21, 1991. He told
In the summer of 1991, a year and a half after the
her of Dan's deteriorating mental condition. During the
UFO abduction, Hopkins received a letter from a
Christmas season, Linda received a card and a three
woman who is a retired telephone operator from
page letter from Dan (dated 12/14/91 ). The letter bore
Putnam County, New York (Hopkins has given this
a United Nations stamp and postmark (the UN building
woman the pseudonym of Janet Kimble). Hopkins did
in New York has a post office which anyone can use).
not bother to open the letter, and in November 1991, he
Dan wrote that he was in a mental institution and was
received another one from her marked on the outside
kept sedated. He expressed a strong romantic interest
"CONFIDENTIAL, RE: BROOKLYN BRIDGE." The
in Linda. Some of his remarks suggested that he want­
odd outside marking and the fact that she had written
ed to kidnap her, take her out of the country, and marry
two letters, seem to have raised no suspicions in
her; Linda seemed alarmed by this (she gave a copy
Hopkins' mind. The woman, a widow of about sixty,
of the letter to Stefula and Butler).
claimed to have been driving on the Brooklyn Bridge at
Linda also asserted that on December 15 and
3:16 a.m., November 30, 1989. She reported that her
December 16, 1991, one of the men had tried to make
car stopped and the lights went out. She too saw a
contact with her near the shopping area of the South
large, brightly lit object over a building; in fact, the light
Street Seaport. He was driving a large black sedan
was so bright that she was forced to shield her eyes,
with Saudi Arabian United Nations license plates.
though she was over a quarter mile away. Neverthe­
During the first incident, to avoid him, Linda reported
less, she claimed to have observed four figures in fetal
that she went into a shop. The second day a similar
positions emerge from a window. The figures simulta­
thing happened, and she stood next to some business­
neously uncurled and then moved up into the craft. Ms.
men until he left the area.
Kimble �as quite frightened by the event, and people
in cars behind her were "running all around their cars
The Third Man with theirs (sic) hands on their heads, screaming from
horror and disbelief'' (quoted in Hopkins, 1992d, p. 7).
At the February 1 meeting, Linda mentioned that
She wrote: "I have never traveled back to New York
Hopkins had received a letter from "the third man" (the
City after what I saw and I never will again, for any
VIP), and she was able to repeat entire sentences from
reason" (Hopkins, 1992d, p. 5). Despite her intense
this letter, seemingly verbatim. It discussed ecological
continued on next page
--------------------------------------------------
8
11Critique" continued from preceding page INITIAL PROBLEMS WITH THE CASE
fear and all the commotion, she had the presence There are a number of obvious but unanswered
of mind to rummage through her purse to find her questions that raise immediate doubts about the
cigarette lighter to illuminate her watch in order to credibility of the case.
determine the time. The most serious problem is that the three alleged
Hopkins has interviewed this woman in person principal corroborating witnesses (Richard, Dan, and
and over the phone. The woman claimed to have ob­ Perez de Cuellar) have not been interviewed face-to­
tained his name in a bookstore; she called the Manhat­ face by Hopkins, although it has been over a year and
tan directory assistance for his telephone number and a half since initial contact with Hopkins and over three
then looked up his address in the Manhattan White years since the abduction.
Pages. She alleges that she was reticent about Richard and Dan allegedly met with Linda and
speaking of the incident and had only told her son, · have written letet rs to Hopkins. Linda has a picture of
daughter, sister, and brother-in-law about the event. Dan. Yet Dan and Richard refuse to speak directly with
Hopkins. No hard evidence confirms that Richard and
The Nasal X-ray Dan even exist
Though they initially expressed extreme concern
In November 1991 a doctor, whom Hopkins over the well being of Linda, the alleged "Dan" and
describes as "closely connected with Linda," took an 11Aichard" waited more than a year before contacting
X-ray of Linda's head because she knew about the Linda and Hopkins. Why? Furthermore, they con­
story of the nasal implant and because Linda fre­ tacted Hopkins before they visited Linda. How did this
quently spoke of the problem with her nose. The X-ray come about? After all, they knew the location of Linda's
was not developed immediately. A few days later the apartment, so it would seem that they would have had
doctor brought it to Linda but was very nervous and no reason to contact Hopkins. Why did they bother
unwilling to discuss it. Linda took it to Hopkins, who with him at all?
showed it to a neurosurgeon friend of his. The neuro­ The woman on the bridge said that before contact­
surgeon was astounded; a sizeable, clearly non­ ing Hopkins she only discussed the matter with her
natural object could be seen in the nasal area. son, daughter, sister and brother-in-law. Why didn't she
Hopkins has shown a slide of the X-ray during his contact other UFO investigators? Why only Hopkins?
presentations, and the implant is strikingly apparent, If there is some unclear reporting on this point and she
even to a lay audience. The object has a shaft aproxi­ did actually contact others, can such be verified? Has
mately 1/4 inch long with a curly-cue wire structure on there been any investigation of this woman such as
each end. checking with her neighbors, friends, family, or previous
employers? What is her background? Has she had
Other Unusual Aspects of the Case any previous relationship with Linda? These questions
have not been addressed, and thus the credibility of
During our meeting with Linda on February 1, she the only directly interviewed, corroborating, first-hand
gave us additione1: , oiscellaneous details that might be -- witness remains in doubt.
pertinent. We were told that she believed that she was Dan has spent time in a mental institution. Richard
under surveillance and described a light silver-gray suffered extreme emotional distress, forcing him to take
van that had parked near her apartment. She also a leave of absence from his job. Assuming that these
claimed that she had once been a professional singer two people actually exist, one must now be careful in
and the lead on a hit record, but she had lost her accepting their claims (even if offered in good faith).
singing voice one day while in the shower. Linda Despite their debilitating mental problems, at least one
mentioned that she was given to understand that her of them was allowed to drive a car with UN license
blood was quite unusual. A doctor had informed her plates. Are we really to believe that they returned to
that her red blood cells did not die, but instead they active duty in a sensitive position (presumably carrying
rejuvenated. She wondered whether this might be due firearms) and were given use of an official car?
to an alien influence; some time later she attempted to Who was the doctor who took the X-rays? We are
locate the doctor but was unable to do so. Linda only told that this person is closely connected with
seemed to imply that she now believed that she was Linda. Why isn't a formal report available? Given the
part alien or somehow worked with the aliens. alarming nature of the outcome, why wasn't there an
Linda also told us that she had an agreement with immediate examination? Linda said that the doctor
Budd Hopkins to split equally any profits from a book was "nervous" and didn't want to talk about the X-ray. It
on the case. continued on page 10
9
·-----------·---
"Critique" continued from page 9 Also in S ptember a colleague of ur contact­
is not clear whether Hopkins has ver met this e , o s
e ed the Downtown Heliport, on Pier Six on the East River
alleged doctor. Instead, Hopkins shc.wed the X-ray to
of Manhattan. That is the only heliport on the east side
a friend of his. Some have speculated that Linda may of Manhattan between Linda's apartment and the lower
have simply put some small ob_ject in her nose and tip of the is!nnd. Our colleague was informed that the
had a friendly X-ray technician assist. We have seen
normal hours of operation of the heliport are from 7:00
no evidence to exclude this possibility. a.m to 7:00 p.m. The Senior Airport Operations Agent
Linda claims that she was kidnapped twice, nearly
researched the records and found that there were no
drowned, and further harassed. Yet she refuses to helicopter movements on November 30, 1989 before
contact the police. even after Hopkins' urging. During
normal hours. Our colleague was also told that about
the February 1, 1992 meeting with Stefula and Butler, six months previously, the heliport authorities had been
Linda asked if she had legal grounds to "shoot" Dan if
approached by a man in his fifties with white hair who
he attempted another abduction of her by force.
had made a similar inquiry. That man had asked
Stefula advised against it and recommended that she about a UFO that had crashed into the East River.
go to the police and make an official complaint. She
declined. If she was afraid, why didn't her husband
The Meeting of October 3
contact authorities? The most plausible reason is that
if a report was filed, and her story proved false, she On October 3, 1992, we met with Hopkins and his
could be subject to criminal charges. Linda's failure
colleagues at his residence in Manhattan. Among
here raises enormous questions of credibility. '
those in attendance were David Jacobs, Walter H.
Andrus, and Jerome Clark. During our meeting a num­
OUR INVESTIGATION ber of questions were raised, and some of Hopkins'
answers revealed a great deal about his investigations
Despite the numerous problems outlined above,
as well as the attitudes of Jacobs, Andrus, and Clark.
we believed it worthwhile to gain additional information
Linda's statements also told us much.
because so many people had contacted us with ques­
We inquired if Hopkins had asked the guards of
tions. On September 19, 1992, Stefula, Butler, and
the apartment complex whether they had seen the UFO
Hansen traveled to New York City in order to visit the
He indicated that he had not done so. This is quite
site of the alleged abduction. We found that Linda's
surprising, considering that the UFO was so bright that
apartment complex has a large courtyard with guard
the woman on the bridge had to shield her eyes from it
house manned 24 hours a day. We talked with the
even though she was more than a quarter mile distant.
security guard and his supervisor and asked if they
One would have thought that Hopkins would have
had ever heard about a UFO encounter near the com­
made inquiries of the guards considering the spectacu­
plex. They reported hearing nothing about one. We
lar nature of the event.
also asked if the police routinely enter the complex and
We noted that Linda had claimed that police can­
undertake door-to-door canvassing in order to find
vassing of her apartment complex was a common
witnesses to crimes. They said that this was a very rare
, occurrence. We asked Hopkins if he had attempted to
practice. We obtained the name and phone number of
verify this with the guards or the building manager. He
the apartment manager and called him a few days
indicated that he did not feel it necesas ry. Although this
later. He reported knowing nothing about the UFO
is a minor point, it is one of the few directly checkable
sighting, nor had he heard anything about it from any of
statements made by Linda, but Hopkins did not attempt
the approximately 1600 residents in the complex. to confirm it.
We also visited the site under the FDA drive where
We asked about the weather on the night of the
Richard and Dan purportedly parked their car. This
abdudion. Amazingly, Hopkins told us that he didn't
was in a direct line of sight and nearly across the street
know the weather conditions for that period. This was
from the loading dock of the New York Post. We
perhaps one of the most revealing moments, and it
spoke with an employee of the Post, who told us that gives great insight into Hopkins' capabilities as an
the dock was in use through most of the night. A few
investigator. If the weather had been foggy, rainy, or
days later, we called the New York Post and spoke to
snowing, the visibility could have been greatly ham­
the person who was the loading dock manager in 1989.
pered, and the reliability of the testimony of the wit­
He told us that the dock is in use until 5:00a.m. and nesses would need to be evaluated accordingly.
that there are many trucks that come and go frequently
Even the very first form in the MUFON Field Investiga­
during the early morning hours. The manager knew
tor's Manual requests information on weather condi­
nothing of the UFO which supposedly appeared only a tions (Fowler, 1983, p. 30). We ourselves did check the
couple blocks away.
continued on next page
10