Chupacabra

Sightings of the mysterious beasts have been reported across south Texas. Chupacabras are creatures around four feet high with strong rear legs and sharp claws and feet. Nocturnal in nature, their diet is made up primarily of goats, chickens, and other barnyard creatures.

Fast Food Fangs

The play areas of local hamburger chains in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area were said to have been prime habitat for rattlesnakes and cottonmouths. Sometimes the story tells of a single serpent, sometimes a whole writhing mess of them.

The story goes that a youngster, frolicking about in the plastic balls, cries out to his mother. The mother notices red marks on the child's arms or legs. Thinking that the marks are only insect bites, the mother takes the child home, where the marks become considerably larger and more noticeable. The child is said to have perished soon after returning home.

The mother returns to the restaurant, looking for a hornet's nest, or a nearby anthill to explain the marks on her child's skin. The mother and the fast food workers search through the plastic balls, discovering the snake(s). The warmth beneath the plastic balls was believed to have attracted the snake(s).

This story doesn't seem to be based in reality, as snakes tend to avoid areas frequented by humans. Some of the things reported to have actually been found in the bins should be taken into consideration. Items such as rotting food, soiled diapers, and other trash.

I-70/I-35 Killer

Police are searching for a man who has killed five women and a man in at least three Midwestern states and perhaps three more women in Texas. During a 29-day killing spree in 1992, the killer preyed on female clerks in shops just miles from the highways. He robbed most of his victims, but as an afterthought. Clearly, his main intention was murder. Authorities now believe he began killing again in Texas, where he may have slain two to four more women during 1993.

Marfa, TX Lights

The Marfa Mystery Lights are unexplained light sources that appear almost nightly. First reported by early settlers in 1883, they are best seen from the viewing area located approximately 9 miles east of town on Hwy. 90. Although theories abound, no explanation can be verified, thus making the Lights a great mystery for locals, scientists and tourists.

The Mexican Organ Thieves

The legend goes that a man wakes up in a bathtub full of ice and finds a gash to his abdomen. Apparently, someone has removed his organs, usually kidneys, and left him on ice. The fear is that there are bands of organ thieves traveling about Mexico and south Texas supplying the black market.

Moonlight Murders of Texarkana, TX

1946: Three men and two women were murdered in small towns near the Texas/Arkansas Border. The murders occurred on nights when the moon was full. The murder targeted lovers parked in isolated locations. A few days after the last attack, a man fitting the description of the murderer committed suicide by throwing himself beneath a moving train.

"Reason to not party anymore"

The following story came from the "Daily Texan" - the University of Texas newspaper. it occurred during Fall Premier - a UT tradition that is a celebration of the end of midterms. This guy went out last Saturday night to a party. He was having a good time, had a couple of beers and some girl seemed to like him and invited him to go to another party. He quickly agreed and decided to go along with her. She took him to a party in some apartment and they continued to drink, and even got involved with some other drugs (unknown which).

The next thing he knew, he woke up completely naked in a bathtub filled with ice. He was still feeling the effects of the drugs, but looked around to see he was alone. He looked down at his chest, which had "CALL 911 OR YOU WILL DIE" written on it in lipstick. He saw a phone was on a stand next to the tub, so he picked it up and dialed. He explained to the EMS operator what the situation was and that he didn't know where he was, what he took, or why he was really calling. She advised him to get out of the tub. He did, and she asked him to look himself over in the mirror. He did, and appeared normal, so she told him to check his back. He did, only to find two 9 inch slits on his lower back. She told him to get back in the tub immediately, and they sent a rescue team over.

Apparently, after being examined, he found out more of what had happened. His kidneys were stolen. They are worth 10,000 dollars each on the black market. (I was unaware this even existed.) Several guesses are in order: The second party was a sham, the people involved had to be at least medical students, and it was not just recreational drugs he was given. Regardless, he is currently in the hospital on life support, awaiting a spare kidney.

The University of Texas in conjunction with Baylor University Medical Center is conducting tissue research to match the sophomore student with a donor. I wish to warn you about a new crime ring that is targeting business travelers. This ring is well organized, well funded, has very skilled personnel, and is currently in most major cities and recently very active in New Orleans.

The crime begins when a business traveler goes to a lounge for a drink at the end of the work day. A person in the bar walks up as they sit alone and offers to buy them a drink. The last thing the traveler remembers until they wake up in a hotel room bath tub, their body submerged to their neck in ice, is sipping that drink. There is a note taped to the wall instructing them not to move and to call 911. A phone is on a small table next to the bathtub for them to call. The business traveler calls 911 who have become quite familiar with this crime. The business traveler is instructed by the 911 operator to very slowly and carefully reach behind them and feel if there is a tube protruding from their lower back. The business traveler finds the tube and answers, "Yes." The 911 operator tells them to remain still, having already sent paramedics to help. The operator knows that both of the business traveler's kidneys have been harvested.

Thurber (Erath County, Texas)

A coal mining town, Thurber was the first city in Texas to have complete electrical service. This town also had a high mortality rate for children. The town had a brick factory which mostly employed immigrant workers who were kept well away from union organizers. The town existed in the late 19th century into the early 1900's. In the sixties and seventies the town was home to two weird communes: "The City of God" and "The Soul Clinic"

Luckenbach (Gillespie County, Texas)

Established in 1886 (Post Office). Immortalized by Willie Nelson and Waylon Jennings in the 1970's, this town cannot keep city limits signs; they always end up stolen. The town's population can be counted on one hand.

Helena (Karnes County, Texas)

What happened to Helena? Who happened to Helena is more like it. A prominent rancher, intent on revenge for his dead son, gave his land away to the railroad. When the railroad bypassed the town, the town died. So goes the story... Another tragic story involves a child, trampled to death by livestock as her father watched. The father buried her in the ground she was killed on. As Mexican workers died, they were buried nearby, thus the land became a cemetery.

Doole (McCulloch County, Texas)

From 1908 up until the 1940's. Concrete bleachers from football field still visible.

Hot Springs (Brewster County, Texas)

First used by Native Americans near the Rio Grande, the springs here were regarded for their healing properties. Stories are told locally of the place being haunted by Indians who unwittingly purchased blankets infected with small pox from an unprincipled local.

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