Reports from the Void: 'Creatures That Go Bump in the Night'

The Singular Fortean Society received the following email, entitled Merrillville, Indiana; creatures that go bump in the night, on July 15th, 2021.

A few weeks ago, late June, I went for a walk on my husband’s family's property, [in a] field that has become overgrown in grass about as tall as me in some places. I'm about five foot three. I was taking what I like to refer to as a "cool my jets" walk.
It was clear out that night, so I laid down in the grass, which was a bit damp, and decided to look at the stars while sulking. Stargazing is calming, when there isn't a creek or moving water to sit by instead. As it were, I was angrily returning a text while lying on my back, staring at the sky, and holding my phone up to text.
When I began my walk it was clear; no mist, no fog, just clear and slightly chilly. I heard something not too far from me, snuffling, or sniffing I suppose. I didn't get a look at it because my first thought was, "Crap, I wonder if there are coyotes out here?" Followed by a sense of foreboding like I really needed to get the heck out of dodge and head back to the main part of the property.
When I stood up, that's when the mist or fog started rolling in. I really don't know what happened, but it was thick enough I couldn't even find my original path I had made through the grass. I got pretty turned around, and my phone's flashlight didn't do much to light things up. I was so turned around, I think I may have walked a good part of the back 35 acres before I finally found the barn.
I felt like I was being watched the whole time, even followed, but I couldn't see or hear anything behind me. But the air felt heavy and almost oppressive. Now, I grew up in the country in central Indiana, I have never dealt with a coyote, but I have heard them, and I did not hear any of their yips or calls that particular night, or any night I have been out late at night on the property. It could have been a coyote but I am not fully certain, especially after what my husband told me last night.
There used to be a group home not too far from their house when he was younger. One of the ladies that worked the day shift used to drive a certain way home, past the farms, back to her home every night, until the last few times she saw what he described as a humanlike figure with red eyes. It scared her so badly that she started going through Merrillville/Hobart to go home instead.
So, I am curious, is there a creature, not necessarily the Mothman, that roams the area not far from the mall in the more rural area of Merrillville/Hobart? I have never heard if the Mothman makes any kind of noises as it tends to fly. But I do figure that whatever was out in that field that night, was perhaps a cryptid of some sorts.
Also, the land that my husband's family owns has had issues in the past, such as there is a ghost of a man in the second story of the house. This I know is true, because he came for a visit one day while I was in bed sick and my husband was at work. I heard his footsteps in the hallway, and heard him enter the bedroom, felt him sit on the bed, even saw the impression of someone sitting there. Yet no visible person was there. I also felt him stroke my hair, and he sat there with me for a bit until I drifted off to sleep.
I believe he is a man because of how heavy his foot steps sounded. Women tend to be a bit more light-footed. And then there is the barn. We will turn off the lights, only to come out in the morning and find lights on in areas we weren't in or had turned the lights off. Whatever that is, I have no idea. But considering the barn is really, really old, I wouldn't be surprised if it was haunted as well.
That's all that I have for now.

Lead investigator Tobias Wayland responded to the email, including a link to another ‘Reports from the Void’ article that described one witness’s reported encounter with a “red-eyed humanoid” in Merrillville, Indiana, but he received no reply.

That report was received on February 7th, 2019.

I'm scared to death to even talk about this. But I feel I have seen the red-eyed humanoid in Merrillville, Indiana. I seen it back in the end of October 2018, when I was leaving my mother's house. It wasn't till about three months later that I read something about a humanoid sighting.
I have had anxiety and a heavy chest ever since I seen those red eyes in my front windshield. I tried and tried so hard in my head to figure out what the hell it was without telling anyone I know. No doubt in my mind that people would think I was seeing things.
When I first read about the humanoid, I mentioned it to a friend if she's heard anything about it. She looked confused and said no. Next thing you know, we're on another subject. I am overcome with fear and not sure what I should do. Not even sure if I should talk about it after I send this message even. I can't get those red eyes that looked right at me out of my head.

This time, Wayland responded in an attempt to comfort the witness, but again received no reply.

Given the description provided by the witness and the sighting location—Merrillville is just south of Gary, Indiana, and less than 10 miles from Lake Michigan—it was considered as a possibility that it might be related to the Lake Michigan Mothman investigation.

It is not unusual for witnesses, especially throughout that particular investigation, to be so terrified by their experience that they are highly reluctant to recount it. Many witnesses have expressed a fear of social ridicule, but others have also spoken of being afraid that talking about what they’ve seen will somehow summon the creature back into their life. This particular fear, that of reprisal from the creature, is less common but more strongly felt by the witness when it exists.

It’s possible that both events could be related in some way to the investigation, which involves a string of ‘Mothman’ sightings from within a few hundred mile radius surrounding Lake Michigan, including every state bordering the great lake. These sightings ostensibly began in the spring of 2017, but more historical accounts are being reported as more people become aware of the phenomenon. They generally take place in the evening or at night, often in or near a park or natural area, and around water. Witnesses consistently describe a large gray, brown, or black, bat or bird-like creature—although in a small number of cases the creature was described as insect-like—sometimes with glowing or reflective red, yellow, green, or orange eyes, and humanoid features such as arms and legs are often reported. Some witnesses have reported feeling intense fear and an aura of evil emanating from the creature they encountered. Many of the sightings are also of something seen only briefly or are described only as a flying creature with few details, which leaves open the possibility that a misidentified large bird—such as a heron or crane—or some type of anomalous avian species could explain some, although certainly not all, of the encounters. A number of associated high strangeness incidents have also occurred alongside the creature sightings; these include reports of UFOs, other anomalous flying creatures and mysterious humanoids, parapsychological phenomena, and bizarre events experienced by those investigating the sightings.

To report a sighting reach out to us directly at The Singular Fortean Society through our contact page.

You can view a timeline of the sightings so far here.

Reports from the Void is a repository to share those stories for which we do not have enough information to make a full report. This is usually because of little or no communication from the witness following their initial submission. The Singular Fortean Society will always provide as much information as possible regarding any correspondence during our attempts to speak with those involved.

This series is meant only to present you with the full breadth of the information sent to us, and makes no judgments towards the veracity of any stories shared within it.

To report your own encounter with the impossible, reach out to us directly at the Singular Fortean Society through our contact page.

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