Blog Post: The Pascagoula Abduction – A Haunting Encounter on the River

By Juniper Ravenwood

Published: June 6, 2025

A Night That Changed Everything

On October 11, 1973, the quiet banks of the Pascagoula River in Mississippi became the stage for one of the most chilling alien abduction cases ever recorded. Charles Hickson and Calvin Parker, two fishermen casting lines off a pier, were thrust into a nightmare when a glowing, oval-shaped craft descended, accompanied by a low, whirring hum. What followed was an encounter that left them shaken, marked, and forever changed. In Episode 127 of The Shadow Frequency, we dove deep into this eerie tale, and I’m here to unpack the haunting details that make the Pascagoula Abduction so unforgettable.

The Creatures from Beyond

Imagine this: three five-foot-tall beings, gray and wrinkled, with no eyes, just slits for mouths and carrot-like spikes where ears should be. Their heads fused to their shoulders, and their hands were claw-like pincers, moving with robotic precision. These weren’t your typical little green men—they were something far stranger, almost mechanical, as if programmed for a purpose we can’t comprehend. Hickson and Parker described being paralyzed, floated into the craft, and scanned by a massive, unblinking eye-like device. The clinical nature of it all, paired with the men’s vivid accounts under hypnosis, sends shivers down the spine. Could these beings have been observing us like specimens in a cosmic lab?

A Secret Recording and Lasting Trauma

What sets this case apart is the evidence. When the men reported their encounter to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, deputies secretly recorded them in a room, expecting to catch a hoax. Instead, they captured raw, gut-wrenching fear. Hickson’s prayers and Parker’s pleas—“Don’t talk to them, Charlie, they’ll come back for us”—are haunting to hear. The trauma didn’t end that night. Parker, only 19, was so terrified he bathed in bleach, fearing contamination. Hickson bore puncture wounds on his arm, later photographed as potential physical evidence. Their stories never wavered, even under intense scrutiny, lending a chilling authenticity to their claims.

New Witnesses and a Skeptical Lens

Decades later, new witnesses like Maria Blair emerged, claiming they saw the craft’s blue lights and the abduction from across the river. Her account, kept secret for 45 years, matches the men’s descriptions eerily well. Others reported strange lights in the sky that night, adding weight to the case. But not everyone is convinced. UFO skeptic Philip J. Klass suggested sleep paralysis and hallucinations, with Parker possibly influenced by Hickson. Yet, the secret recording, consistent testimonies, and physical marks make it hard to dismiss entirely. What do you think—truth or trick of the mind?

A Legacy Etched in History

The Pascagoula Abduction remains a cornerstone of UFO lore, with a historical marker at the site calling it the “best documented” alien abduction. Hickson, who passed in 2011, and Parker, who passed in 2023, carried their story to their graves. Parker’s 2018 book revealed even more unsettling details, like a humanoid female alien figure. Today, Pascagoula hosts an annual festival celebrating the case, proof of its enduring grip on our imagination. This encounter reminds us that some mysteries linger, watching from the shadows of the unknown.

Want to dive deeper? Check out Episode 127 of The Shadow Frequency at shadowfrequencypodcast.com, where you can listen to the full story, read our Shadow Blog, and grab some spooky swag. Share your thoughts at shadowpodcast@protonmail.com or leave a voicemail on our site. Keep looking to the skies, listeners—the truth is out there.

Signed,

Juniper Ravenwood