CLOSE-ENCOUNTER CASE ID:

Pascagoula Abduction Case - 1973

Two fishermen reported being abducted by robotic beings from a spacecraft while fishing on the Pascagoula River, with extensive police investigation and media coverage.

FILE METADATA CLOSE-ENCOUNTER
DATE: 1973-10-11
LOCATION: Pascagoula, Mississippi, USA
COORDINATES: 30.3657° N, 88.5561° W
SOURCE: Charles Hickson, Calvin Parker, police reports
TAGS:
abduction multiple-witnesses police-investigation medical-examination 1970s

Pascagoula Abduction Case - October 11, 1973

Executive Summary

The Pascagoula abduction case represents one of the most investigated and documented alien abduction incidents in UFO history. On October 11, 1973, Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker reported being taken aboard a spacecraft by robotic beings while fishing on the Pascagoula River in Mississippi. The case gained significant media attention and underwent extensive investigation by law enforcement and UFO researchers.

Background and Witnesses

Primary Witnesses

Charles Hickson:

  • Age 42, shipyard worker at Ingalls Shipbuilding
  • Foreman with 20+ years employment history
  • Married father with stable family life
  • No prior UFO interest or paranormal claims
  • Respected member of local community

Calvin Parker:

  • Age 19, co-worker of Hickson at shipyard
  • Recent high school graduate
  • Quiet, reserved personality
  • No prior UFO or paranormal experiences
  • Considered reliable by family and friends

Pre-Incident Context

Fishing Trip:

  • Regular evening fishing excursion after work
  • Familiar location used frequently by both men
  • Normal work day with no unusual circumstances
  • Clear weather with good visibility conditions

Location Details:

  • West bank of Pascagoula River
  • Isolated area with minimal traffic
  • Industrial setting near shipyard facilities
  • Approximately 8:00 PM local time

The Incident

Initial Observation

Strange Craft Appearance:

  • Blue light observed approaching across water
  • Object described as oval or football-shaped
  • Estimated 30-40 feet long, 8-10 feet high
  • No visible propulsion or conventional features

Sound Characteristics:

  • Buzzing or zipping noise described
  • Volume increased as object approached
  • Unlike any conventional aircraft sounds
  • Continued throughout encounter

Craft Details and Landing

Object Characteristics:

  • Metallic gray surface with smooth texture
  • Two bright blue lights on each end
  • Hovering capability 2-3 feet above ground
  • No visible landing gear or support structure

Landing Sequence:

  • Object hovered over water initially
  • Moved toward shore and witnesses’ position
  • Maintained height above ground surface
  • Door or opening appeared in craft side

Being Emergence and Description

Entity Appearance:

  • Three beings emerged from craft opening
  • Described as robotic or mechanical in appearance
  • Approximately 5 feet tall with gray coloration
  • No visible joints or flexible limbs

Physical Characteristics:

  • Bullet-shaped heads with no visible necks
  • No discernible facial features
  • Arms ending in claw-like appendages
  • Legs appeared fused or very close together

Movement Patterns:

  • Glided rather than walked
  • No visible leg movement during locomotion
  • Smooth, coordinated group movement
  • Silent approach toward witnesses

The Abduction Sequence

Initial Contact:

  • Beings approached witnesses directly
  • Hickson and Parker unable to move
  • Described feeling of paralysis or floating
  • No pain but complete loss of voluntary movement

Transport to Craft:

  • Both men lifted and carried into object
  • Passed through opening in craft side
  • Interior described as well-lit room
  • No visible furniture or conventional equipment

Examination Procedures:

  • Separated for individual examination
  • Hickson remained conscious throughout
  • Parker apparently unconscious during experience
  • Various instruments used for scanning

Examination Details

Hickson’s Experience:

  • Placed in examination position
  • Large eye-like scanner examined entire body
  • No physical contact by beings
  • Telepathic communication attempted

Scanning Equipment:

  • Large, oval eye-like device
  • Moved up and down length of body
  • Emitted no visible light or sound
  • Appeared to be collecting information

Duration and Process:

  • Examination lasted approximately 15-20 minutes
  • No pain or discomfort experienced
  • Beings showed no emotion or reaction
  • Methodical, routine-like procedures

Return and Departure

Examination Conclusion:

  • Beings completed their procedures
  • Hickson and Parker returned to riverbank
  • Placed back in exact original positions
  • Craft departed immediately after release

Craft Departure:

  • Object rose vertically from ground
  • Accelerated rapidly across water
  • Blue lights visible until distance obscured view
  • No sound during departure phase

Immediate Aftermath

Physical and Psychological State

Immediate Reaction:

  • Both men severely shaken and confused
  • Parker appeared to be in shock
  • Hickson more coherent but deeply disturbed
  • Neither man injured physically

Decision Making:

  • Initial hesitation to report incident
  • Concern about credibility and ridicule
  • Eventually decided to contact authorities
  • Drove to Jackson County Sheriff’s Office

Initial Police Report

Sheriff’s Office Response:

  • Deputies Fred Diamond and Glenn Ryder interviewed witnesses
  • Both officers noted genuine distress and fear
  • No evidence of alcohol or drug impairment
  • Witnesses insisted on truthfulness of account

Interview Process:

  • Detailed statements taken from both men
  • Separate questioning to check consistency
  • Officers noted no signs of deception
  • Parker remained largely silent due to shock

Law Enforcement Investigation

Jackson County Sheriff’s Department

Sheriff Fred Diamond:

  • Personally interviewed both witnesses
  • Found men genuinely terrified and sincere
  • No evidence of hoax or fabrication
  • Recommended further investigation

Polygraph Testing:

  • Hickson volunteered for lie detector test
  • Administered by experienced operator
  • Results indicated truthfulness
  • No signs of deception detected

Secret Recording

Hidden Surveillance:

  • Officers left recording device in interview room
  • Hickson and Parker left alone and recorded
  • Private conversation supported their claims
  • No evidence of conspiracy or coaching

Recorded Conversation Content:

  • Both men expressed continued fear
  • No discussion of fabricating story
  • Genuine confusion and trauma evident
  • Consistent with reported experience

Medical and Scientific Investigation

Physical Examination

Medical Assessment:

  • Both men examined by physicians
  • No physical injuries or marks found
  • Blood tests and standard medical evaluation
  • Psychological state assessed as traumatic stress

Psychological Evaluation:

  • Interviews with mental health professionals
  • No evidence of mental illness or delusion
  • Trauma symptoms consistent with reported experience
  • Both men considered psychologically stable

UFO Research Investigation

J. Allen Hynek Involvement:

  • Prominent UFO researcher investigated case
  • Interviewed witnesses extensively
  • Found case compelling and credible
  • Included in significant UFO case documentation

Additional Researchers:

  • Multiple UFO organizations investigated
  • Hypnotic regression sessions conducted
  • Additional details recovered under hypnosis
  • Consistent account maintained over time

Hypnotic Regression Sessions

Session Methodology

Professional Hypnotists:

  • Dr. James Harder conducted sessions
  • Experienced in UFO-related hypnosis
  • Careful methodology to avoid leading questions
  • Multiple sessions with both witnesses

Regression Results:

  • Additional details of interior examination
  • More specific descriptions of beings and procedures
  • Emotional trauma processing
  • Consistent with conscious memories

Additional Details Recovered

Craft Interior:

  • Smooth, curved walls with no visible seams
  • Bright, diffuse lighting from unknown source
  • No visible controls or instrumentation
  • Room temperature comfortable and breathable

Being Behavior:

  • Methodical, scientific approach to examination
  • No apparent emotion or communication
  • Ignored attempts at human interaction
  • Focused entirely on examination procedures

Examination Process:

  • More detailed scanning procedures revealed
  • Blood sample collection described
  • Hair and skin samples apparently taken
  • No explanation provided to witnesses

Physical Evidence Investigation

Landing Site Examination

Ground Investigation:

  • Site examined within hours of report
  • No visible landing marks or trace evidence
  • Soil samples collected and analyzed
  • No unusual radioactivity or contamination

Environmental Analysis:

  • Water samples from adjacent river
  • Vegetation examined for damage or changes
  • No physical evidence of craft presence
  • Normal environmental conditions found

Witness Personal Effects

Clothing Examination:

  • No damage or unusual substances found
  • Normal wear consistent with fishing activity
  • No electromagnetic effects on watches
  • Personal items unaffected by experience

Media Response and Public Reaction

Initial Media Coverage

Local News Reports:

  • Story broke in local Mississippi newspapers
  • Initial skepticism from media outlets
  • Police confirmation lent credibility
  • Regional news services picked up story

National Attention:

  • Major networks covered story within days
  • Time magazine and national publications
  • International media interest
  • Extensive television interviews

Public Reaction

Community Response:

  • Mixed reaction from local community
  • Some support from neighbors and friends
  • Ridicule and skepticism from others
  • Economic impact on witnesses’ employment

UFO Community:

  • Case embraced by UFO researchers
  • Added to significant case databases
  • Used as example of credible abduction report
  • Influenced abduction research methodologies

Long-term Impact on Witnesses

Charles Hickson

Public Speaking:

  • Became public advocate for UFO research
  • Spoke at conferences and conventions
  • Wrote book about experience
  • Maintained story consistency throughout life

Personal Impact:

  • Experienced some harassment and ridicule
  • Continued employment at shipyard
  • Strong family support throughout ordeal
  • Never recanted or modified account

Calvin Parker

Withdrawal from Publicity:

  • Avoided media attention for decades
  • Rarely discussed experience publicly
  • Moved away from area to escape attention
  • Maintained privacy about incident

Later Revelations:

  • Eventually wrote book about experience
  • Revealed additional details under hypnosis
  • Continued to maintain truthfulness of account
  • Suffered long-term psychological effects

Criticism and Skeptical Analysis

Alternative Explanations

Hoax Theory:

  • No evidence of financial gain motive
  • Consistent story under intense scrutiny
  • Physical and psychological evidence contradicts hoax
  • No confession or evidence of fabrication

Psychological Explanations:

  • Shared hallucination or folie à deux
  • Sleep deprivation or microsleep episodes
  • Stress-induced altered consciousness
  • Cultural contamination from UFO media

Environmental Factors:

  • Industrial pollution causing hallucinations
  • Natural gas or chemical exposure
  • Electromagnetic effects from nearby facilities
  • Weather or atmospheric phenomena

Scientific Skepticism

Lack of Physical Evidence:

  • No trace evidence from landing site
  • No photographic or film documentation
  • No corroborating witnesses to event
  • Absence of detectable physical effects

Extraordinary Claims Standard:

  • Extraordinary evidence required for extraordinary claims
  • Witness testimony alone insufficient
  • Alternative explanations more probable
  • Scientific method demands reproducible evidence

Research and Analysis Significance

Investigation Methodology

Case Study Value:

  • Established protocols for abduction investigation
  • Demonstrated importance of immediate response
  • Showed value of law enforcement involvement
  • Influenced future case documentation standards

Research Techniques:

  • Hypnotic regression methodology refined
  • Witness credibility assessment improved
  • Physical evidence collection standardized
  • Psychological evaluation procedures developed

Scientific Contributions

Consciousness Research:

  • Contributed to understanding of altered states
  • Influenced memory and perception studies
  • Raised questions about consciousness and reality
  • Stimulated interdisciplinary research approaches

Anomaly Studies:

  • Added to database of unexplained phenomena
  • Influenced academic anomaly research
  • Contributed to statistical analysis of abduction reports
  • Supported systematic approach to anomalous events

Modern Assessment and Legacy

Contemporary Evaluation

Evidence Quality:

  • Strong witness credibility maintained
  • Extensive investigation and documentation
  • Polygraph and psychological testing support
  • Lack of motive for fabrication

Limitations:

  • No conclusive physical evidence
  • Reliance on witness testimony
  • Alternative explanations available
  • Impossibility of definitive proof

Cultural Impact

UFO Research Influence:

  • Became template for abduction investigation
  • Influenced research methodologies
  • Contributed to scientific approach to UFO studies
  • Established credibility standards for cases

Popular Culture:

  • Featured in numerous documentaries
  • Inspired books and fictional accounts
  • Contributed to abduction mythology
  • Influenced public perception of UFO phenomena

Conclusions

The Pascagoula abduction case remains one of the most thoroughly investigated and documented abduction incidents in UFO history. The credibility of the witnesses, the extensive investigation by law enforcement and researchers, and the consistent maintenance of their account over decades make this case particularly significant.

While no conclusive physical evidence proves the extraterrestrial nature of the experience, the case demonstrates the importance of thorough investigation and documentation of anomalous reports. Whether representing genuine contact with non-human intelligence or a complex psychological phenomenon, the Pascagoula case has contributed significantly to our understanding of unexplained experiences and the challenges of investigating extraordinary claims.

The case established important precedents for UFO investigation and highlighted both the possibilities and limitations of witness testimony in extraordinary circumstances. It remains a landmark case in abduction research and continues to influence investigation methodologies and scientific approaches to anomalous phenomena.