This episode is some old-school stuff. Middle school. 20-years ago type of stuff. The kinds of silly things that people used to go crazy over seem so innocuous and innocent now: trading cards. Beanie Babies. Dial-up internet.
But that’s when the story is based. We have to go further back for more context.
According to the Corpus Christi Caller Times, in November of 1975, in the small town of Robstown, TX, there were widespread reports of a winged menace. This was more than a peeved-off pigeon, though. As the locals told it, it lived in a forested grove on the west side of town, was between 2 and 6 feet tall, with a human face, and both human and animal feet. Two San Benito policemen reported seeing a bird with a 10-12 foot wingspan over a lagoon. It would only fly around, but the locals were unnerved, and justifiably so. It was theorized to be an escaped pet bird, a non-native Andean condor by the associate director of the Gladys Porter Zoo in Brownsville, TX, and a hoax.
A man purportedly came face-to-face with it. Alverico Guajardo of Brownsville heard a noise outside his trailer. He met with a 4-foot tall bird with a long beak and eyes as big as silver dollars, its face more like a bat than a bird. He told a reporter, “that animal is not from this world. I was scared.”
What it was feared to be is the subject of this story.
Three months later, a giant dummy was reported to the police, and a picture of it was circulated, effectively killing the rumor along with further reports and sightings.
A funny thing about the things we fear—when you speak of them in hushed voices at midnight, whether they’re real or not is irrelevant. What matters—is if it gets you.
This episode is called “Not Worth The Paper They’re Printed on.”
CONTINUED READING
‘Did La Lechuza Terrorize Robstown in 1975?’ Corpus Christi Caller: https://www.caller.com/story/news/special-reports/building-our-future/throwback/2020/10/21/corpus-christi-ghost-stories-did-la-lechuza-terrorize-robstown-1975/6005182002/
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CREDITS AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
How Does This End? is a StumbleWell Production with original written works by Christopher Narvaez. This episode was recorded and edited by Christopher Narvaez with the final soundcheck by Hallease Narvaez. Our cover art for season 2 is designed by Edgar Lushaju, check out his work on Instagram @drawhapa. The music is from Epidemic Sound. Try it out for free on your next project: http://share.epidemicsound.com/s8W7c
