Blog Post: Unraveling the Mystery of the Moca Vampire

By Juniper Ravenwood, Producer of The Shadow Frequency

Published: June 5, 2025

A Bloodless Terror in Moca

In the humid jungles of Puerto Rico, 1975 was a year of fear. Farmers in Moca woke to a nightmare: their livestock—cows, goats, chickens—lay dead, drained of blood, marked by eerie puncture wounds. The locals called it El Vampiro de Moca, a winged, blood-sucking creature that seemed to vanish into the night. In Episode 126 of The Shadow Frequency, we dive into this chilling mystery, exploring the haunting reports and the shadow it cast over Puerto Rico.

The First Attacks

It began in February 1975 in Barrio Rocha, Moca. Fifteen cows, three goats, two geese, and a pig were found lifeless, their bodies eerily bloodless. Autopsies confirmed the impossible: no blood remained. Eyewitnesses like Maria Acevedo described a creature landing on rooftops, its screams piercing the night like a banshee. Some saw a feathered beast with glowing red eyes; others swore it had bat-like wings. By March, the death toll climbed, with 34 chickens slaughtered in a single night and goats vanishing without a trace. The terror was relentless, and the Puerto Rican Senate even stepped in, demanding answers.

‍ What Was the Moca Vampire?

Theories swirled like mist in El Yunque’s forests. Was this a demonic entity tied to Puerto Rico’s rich folklore? The island’s history of UFO sightings fueled speculation of an alien creature, perhaps a stray from extraterrestrial visitors. Others whispered of secret military experiments, given the U.S. presence nearby. The creature’s elusiveness—never caught, never fully explained—only deepened the mystery. Its descriptions, from feathered plumes to bat-like wings, defied any known animal, leaving locals to wonder if it was something beyond our world.

A Precursor to the Chupacabra

The Moca Vampire’s reign of terror faded by July 1975, but its legacy lived on. Two decades later, in 1995, the Chupacabra emerged in Canóvanas, described as a spiky-backed, blood-drinking monster. Many believe the Moca Vampire was its precursor, a shapeshifter of the shadows. The similarities are uncanny: puncture wounds, bloodless carcasses, and a presence that felt unnatural. Could the Moca Vampire still lurk in Puerto Rico’s jungles, waiting to strike again?

A Skeptical Lens

Not everyone bought the paranormal hype. Veterinarian Dr. David Morales later argued that stray dogs or snakes could explain the attacks, with blood-draining stories exaggerated by fear. Yet, for those who lived through the terror, no mundane explanation could erase the chill of those moonlit nights. Whether it was a creature from the stars or a myth born of panic, the Moca Vampire remains a haunting enigma.

Join the Conversation

What do you think the Moca Vampire was? A demon, an alien, or just a case of mistaken identity? Share your thoughts at shadowpodcast@protonmail.com or leave a voicemail at shadowfrequencypodcast.com. Check out our Shadow Blog for more spooky insights, grab some swag from our store, and keep tuning in to The Shadow Frequency for more tales from the unknown.

Signed,

Juniper Ravenwood