Isaac Koi

This website was the first generated by my self-improving AI system (Skynet), to summarise the top 100 UFO cases.

The Carl Higdon case stands among the most peculiar and detailed alien abduction accounts from the 1970s. As we approach the 50th anniversary of this strange encounter in October 2025, it remains a compelling but controversial case in UFO literature. Unlike the standardized “Gray alien” accounts that would later dominate abduction narratives, Higdon’s encounter featured unique characteristics that continue to challenge researchers and skeptics alike.

The Encounter: Historical Background and Key Events

On October 25, 1974, Everett “Carl” Higdon Jr., a 41-year-old oil rig foreman from Rawlins, Wyoming, took a day off work to hunt elk in Medicine Bow National Forest. According to his account, Higdon initially planned to hunt in McCarty Canyon but changed course after helping some fellow hunters with battery trouble. They suggested a better hunting spot in a more remote section of the forest, about 40 miles south of Rawlins1.

After parking his company’s two-wheel drive pickup truck and briefly encountering a game warden with whom he shared coffee, Higdon ventured deeper into the forest in search of elk. Upon spotting a group of five elk in a clearing, he took aim with his new 7mm Remington Magnum rifle and fired. What allegedly happened next marked the beginning of his extraordinary experience.

Higdon reported that the bullet traveled in slow motion, “as if he had entered another dimension,” falling into the snow about 50 feet away2. Feeling a strange sensation throughout his body, he suddenly noticed a humanoid entity standing nearby. Higdon described the being as over six feet tall, wearing a black jumpsuit with a wide belt decorated with a six-pointed star and yellow emblem. The entity had straight hair standing out from its head, no eyebrows, stood bow-legged, and had long arms ending with rod-like appendages instead of hands2.

This entity, whom Higdon later referred to as “Ausso One,” allegedly communicated with him, asking if he was hungry and offering him pills that would eliminate the need to eat for four days. Remarkably, Higdon, who reportedly did not typically take medication, swallowed one of the pills2.

According to Higdon’s account, the entity then pointed toward him, and he suddenly found himself enclosed within a transparent cube-shaped craft with a helmet on his head. Also present were two more humanoid beings and the five elk he had been stalking, apparently in a frozen state23. Higdon was allegedly told that the beings were traveling to their home planet, located approximately 163,000 light years away. In what seemed like an instant, they arrived at this location, which Higdon described as having buildings resembling the Seattle Space Needle, illuminated by an intensely bright sun that caused both his eyes and those of the aliens to water2.

During this experience, the aliens apparently conducted some form of examination or evaluation of Higdon, ultimately telling him, “You’re not what we want”4. One theory later suggested by Higdon himself was that his prior vasectomy may have made him “unsuitable as a candidate for their experiment”4.

Higdon’s next clear memory was of being back in Wyoming, finding himself disoriented and sitting in his truck several miles from his previous location. According to multiple accounts, he was discovered “seven and a half hours later by friends, disoriented and sitting in his truck several miles from his previous location”5. At approximately 2:00 AM, Higdon was admitted to Carbon County Medical Hospital in Rawlins, shivering uncontrollably with dangerously low body temperature4.

Investigation and Evidence Assessment

The Carl Higdon case attracted significant attention from UFO researchers and media outlets. Several formal investigations were conducted, producing documentation that forms the basis of our understanding of the case today.

The Carl Higdon Abduction: A Critical Examination of a Wyoming UFO Encounter - Full-Text (SVG)

The Medical Claims

Perhaps the most intriguing element of Higdon’s case involves the alleged physical changes to his body. Doctors examining him reportedly made unexpected discoveries: x-rays showed that tuberculosis scars previously visible on his lungs had disappeared, and kidney stones he had suffered from for years were gone4. If independently verified, these medical changes would constitute compelling physical evidence supporting the idea that something extraordinary occurred.

As Higdon later stated in a 2017 interview: “I no longer got kidney stones and no longer had scarring on my lungs that was previously there”5. However, the search results don’t provide independent medical verification of these claims beyond mentioning the hospital admission.

Corroborating Witnesses

According to several sources, three witnesses—including Higdon’s wife—reportedly saw “red and green flashing lights in the area where he had been hunting”26. As noted in search result #10, “Higdon’s wife, along with two other people, had seen a red-green-white flashing light moving in the area of the sighting.” This potential corroboration strengthens the case that something unusual may have occurred, though it doesn’t necessarily validate the specific details of Higdon’s alien encounter narrative.

Physical Evidence

Beyond the medical claims, there is limited physical evidence associated with the case:

  1. The bullet: Higdon reportedly recovered the bullet that had traveled in “slow motion” and dropped to the ground. However, search result #6 mentions that “the spent shell casing then disappeared from a safe at the University of Wyoming,” suggesting it was collected as evidence but subsequently lost.
  2. Location discrepancy: Higdon’s truck was reportedly found several miles from where he had left it, potentially supporting his claim of being moved during the encounter6.

The Investigation Team

The most prominent investigator involved was Dr. R. Leo Sprinkle, a Professor of Psychology at the University of Wyoming. During a September 14, 1978, episode of the television show “In Search Of…” titled “UFO Captives,” Sprinkle placed Higdon under hypnosis to help recover memories of the experience5.

Sprinkle published his findings in “A Preliminary Report on the Investigation of an Alleged UFO Occupant Encounter,” which appeared in Flying Saucer Review in November 19757. He also authored a more comprehensive examination titled “Investigation of the Alleged UFO Experience of Carl Higdon” published in “UFO Phenomena and the Behavioral Scientist” edited by Richard F. Haines8.

After his investigation, Sprinkle indicated that he believed Higdon “was being genuine in the telling of his story”9.

Additional investigators included:

  1. Rick Kenyon and Robert Nantkes, MUFON (Mutual UFO Network) field investigators2
  2. Frank Bourke, described as a “National Star Investigator”2
  3. The Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), which included the case in their 1977 book “Abducted”10

Critical Perspectives and Skeptical Analysis

Despite the compelling nature of Higdon’s account and the apparent sincerity of his testimony, several alternative explanations and critical perspectives must be considered.

Psychological Explanations

The most straightforward skeptical explanation is that Higdon experienced some form of hallucination, delusion, or confabulation. Being alone in a remote forest area, he may have experienced disorientation, possibly exacerbated by fatigue, stress, or other factors, leading to a vivid hallucinatory experience.

Interestingly, search result #8 mentions an important detail that raises questions about Higdon’s predisposition: “Carl admitted that he had previously told his wife that if he ever encountered alien beings from another world he would talk with them or go with them.” This suggests Higdon may have had some preexisting interest in or thoughts about extraterrestrial encounters before his experience.

Reliability of Hypnotic Regression

Modern research has established significant concerns about the reliability of memories recovered through hypnosis. While Dr. Sprinkle’s use of hypnotic regression was standard practice in UFO investigation at the time, contemporary psychology recognizes the high risk of confabulation and false memory formation during hypnosis, especially when the hypnotist may have preexisting beliefs about UFOs.

Search result #3 discusses a Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE) analysis of Higdon’s account. The article cites C.R. McQuiston, co-inventor of the PSE, analyzing a tape recording of Higdon recounting his experience and concluding: “The PSE proves something extraordinary happened to Higdon… He did have a strange experience”11. However, the article goes on to question the reliability of PSE testing in general, noting inconsistent results and dubious claims made using the technology.

In fact, the article points out that McQuiston had previously testified under oath during Congressional hearings that PSE could not possibly be used to evaluate the truthfulness of a person’s statements without using rigorous structured test procedures11. A journalist who tested the PSE found that “when I lied the machine acted as if I’d told the truth. And when I told the truth, the machine called me a liar”11.

Science Fiction Influences

A particularly intriguing skeptical perspective comes from the article by Gideon Reid, which discusses Bertrand Méheust’s study of the science fiction origins of UFO and alien abduction accounts. Regarding Higdon specifically, the article suggests “plagiarism of a sort might very well be the best explanation for the story he told about his encounter with aliens”12.

The article challenges Méheust’s assertion that abductees like Higdon couldn’t have been influenced by obscure science fiction because they were “not very cultured.” It argues there could have been “at least one plausible pathway the details found in Higdon’s story could have taken, travelling from the high-brow ‘Science-Fiction et soucoupes volantes merveilleux-scientifique’ of the early 1900s across the ocean and land to rural Wyoming and into the mind of a hard-working outdoorsman”12.

This perspective suggests Higdon may have been unconsciously influenced by science fiction themes and imagery that had permeated popular culture, even if he wasn’t directly familiar with the original sources.

Search result #5 further challenges “the myth of cultural imagination,” noting that many people attempt to explain alien encounter narratives as products of cultural imagination following the Betty and Barney Hill abduction of 196110. However, the author argues that Higdon’s case contains elements that don’t fit this explanation.

The Carl Higdon Abduction: A Critical Examination of a Wyoming UFO Encounter - P1 (SVG)

Missing Medical Verification

While the claimed disappearance of Higdon’s tuberculosis scars and kidney stones would be remarkable if independently verified, the search results don’t provide such verification. These medical improvements could potentially have other explanations or might represent a misremembering or misinterpretation of his medical condition before and after the alleged encounter.

Cultural Impact and Ongoing Influence

The Carl Higdon case has had a notable impact on UFO literature and abduction narratives, though perhaps not as profound as some more widely publicized cases.

Evolution of Abduction Narratives

The Higdon case represents an interesting transitional point in the evolution of alien abduction narratives. As noted in search result #7, it emerged at a time when UFOlogists were beginning to take humanoid reports more seriously: “Some, such as Coral and Jim Lorenzen of the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization, kept an open mind as long as the humanoids didn’t talk. If a witness reported they had had a conversation and were taken to another planet, that case was tossed into the contactee pile. However, there was a case in the seventies that made the Lorenzens and a lot of other researchers rethink their position”1.

The case thus helped bridge the gap between the earlier “contactee” narratives of the 1950s and the more traumatic abduction accounts that would become predominant in later years.

Distinctive Elements

Several elements of the Higdon case stand out as unusual even within UFO literature:

  1. The slow-motion bullet phenomenon
  2. The distinctive appearance of “Ausso One,” differing significantly from both earlier and later alien archetypes
  3. The transparent cube-shaped craft
  4. The abduction of five elk alongside Higdon
  5. The explicit rejection of Higdon (“You’re not what we want”)
  6. The healing effects purportedly experienced afterward

These distinctive features have made the case a frequent point of reference in UFO literature, especially when discussing the diversity of alleged alien entities before the standardization of the “Gray” archetype.

Connection to Missing 411 Phenomenon

More recently, the Higdon case has been connected to the “Missing 411” phenomenon, a collection of unusual disappearances in national parks and wilderness areas documented by author David Paulides. As noted in search result #6, Paulides directed a documentary titled “Missing 411: The U.F.O. Connection” (2022) that likely references the Higdon case.

Search result #8 explicitly references this connection, noting that the incident might be used “to connect to or explain other disappearances that have occurred in the Medicine Bow national forest and also the Abduction of wild game by UFOs.” This association has given the case renewed relevance in contemporary paranormal discussions.

Media Representation

The case has been featured in numerous media productions over the decades:

  1. The 1978 “In Search Of…” television episode “UFO Captives”5
  2. UFO Report magazine (Fall 1975)7
  3. Recent podcasts including “Think Anomalous,” “Podcast UFO,” and “The Saucer Life”3113
  4. Multiple YouTube videos discussing the case, including “The Bizarre Alien Abduction of Carl Higdon Missing 411 Connection Explained” (February 2025)4 and “Wyoming hunter Carl Higdon and his alien abduction”2

The continued production of content about the case demonstrates its enduring fascination for those interested in UFO phenomena.

Key Sources and Research Opportunities

Primary Documents

Based on the search results, several primary documents appear to be key sources for understanding the Higdon case:

  1. Dr. Leo Sprinkle’s reports:
    • “A Preliminary Report on the Investigation of an Alleged UFO Occupant Encounter” in Flying Saucer Review (1975)7
    • “Investigation of the Alleged UFO Experience of Carl Higdon” in “UFO Phenomena and the Behavioral Scientist”8
  2. Margery Higdon’s 2017 book: “Alien Abduction of The Wyoming Hunter: First person story of Carl Higdon, October 25, 1974”7
  3. The APRO report in their 1977 book “Abducted” (pages 25-38)10
  4. Local newspaper coverage in the Rawlins Daily Times (October 29, 1974)7
  5. The 2017 interview with Inception Radio Network host Patricia Baker5

Research Gaps and Future Directions

Several significant gaps in the evidence warrant further investigation:

  1. Medical records: Independent verification of Higdon’s medical condition before and after the alleged encounter would be valuable.
  2. The missing bullet: The current location and any analysis of the bullet Higdon claimed to have recovered would be important physical evidence.
  3. Witness testimony: More detailed accounts from the three witnesses who allegedly saw lights in the area would strengthen the case.
  4. Local context: Further research into any other unusual events or reports from Medicine Bow National Forest during this period might provide additional context.
  5. Psychological profile: A more thorough analysis of Higdon’s psychological state before and after the incident could help evaluate the psychological explanations.

The Carl Higdon Abduction: A Critical Examination of a Wyoming UFO Encounter - P2 (SVG)

Conclusion

The Carl Higdon case of 1974 remains one of the most distinctive and detailed alien encounter reports from the 1970s. As we approach its 50th anniversary in October 2025, it continues to fascinate researchers and the public due to its unique elements and the seemingly sincere testimony of the primary witness.

From a believer’s perspective, the case presents several strengths: Higdon appears to have been a credible witness with no obvious motivation to fabricate such a story; his testimony remained consistent across multiple retellings; there were reports of lights seen by other witnesses; a credentialed academic investigated the case; and there were claimed physical effects that would be difficult to explain conventionally if verified.

From a skeptical perspective, significant weaknesses exist: the lack of independent verification of the medical claims; the reliance on hypnotic regression; the potential influence of science fiction and cultural narratives; Higdon’s prior statement about his willingness to go with aliens; and the absence of definitive physical evidence.

The Higdon case exemplifies the challenges inherent in evaluating extraordinary claims. While the details are fascinating and the witness appears sincere, the evidence remains largely anecdotal. Yet the case offers a valuable window into the evolution of UFO narratives in American culture and continues to provide thought-provoking material for those interested in unexplained phenomena, whether approached from a believer’s or skeptic’s perspective.

For those wishing to explore further, the various podcasts, videos, and books mentioned in this report offer multiple avenues for diving deeper into this remarkable Wyoming mystery.

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  1. https://podcastufo.com/tag/carl-higdon/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YgB5oheYSo ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6 ↩7 ↩8 ↩9 ↩10

  3. https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/carl-higdon-abduction-1974/id1531791504?i=1000650434955 ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kpVHNDAHx4 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  5. https://bigfoot99.com/bigfoot99-news/50th-anniversary-of-mccarty-canyon-hunter-abduction/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  6. https://mycountry955.com/wyomings-weirdest-alien-abduction-story/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  7. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-abduction-of-carl-higdon-with-ap-strange/id1546735571?i=1000548776403 ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4 ↩5 ↩6

  8. https://cdn.centerforinquiry.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/1984/07/22165345/p69.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  9. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6LCz175is4 ↩ ↩2

  10. https://www.circusoflight.io/p/carl-higdons-forgotten-encounter ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  11. https://cdn.centerforinquiry.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/29/1980/07/22165439/p46.pdf ↩ ↩2 ↩3 ↩4

  12. https://gideonreid.co.uk/carl-higdons-trip-up-above/ ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  13. https://podcasts.apple.com/kw/podcast/carl-higdon-his-wife-his-therapist-and-the-tabloids/id1269134032?i=1000642761229 ↩ ↩2

  14. https://www.comics.org/issue/560153/ ↩

  15. https://saucerlife.com/2024/01/24/carl-higdon-his-wife-his-therapist-and-the-tabloids/ ↩

  16. https://news.withthefirstpick.com/en/science-agrees-with-man-ku-stories ↩

  17. https://soundcloud.com/podcastfromouterspace/134-the-carl-higdon-abduction-ausso-one ↩

  18. https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/1dz1n0q/deep_dive_into_the_carl_higdon_abduction_1974/ ↩

  19. https://www.spreaker.com/episode/carl-higdon-alien-abduction-an-irrefutable-alien-encounter-in-wyoming-1974–62821565 ↩

  20. https://politics-prose.com/book/9781981812899 ↩

  21. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt22080556/characters/nm8761164 ↩

  22. https://www.thinkaboutitdocs.com/carl-higdons-humanoid-ufo-encounter/ ↩

  23. https://forums.forteana.org/index.php?threads%2Fcarl-higdons-bizarre-encounter-wyoming-1974.65664%2F ↩

  24. https://books.google.com/books/about/Alien_Abduction_of_The_Wyoming_Hunter.html?id=OnmDswEACAAJ ↩

  25. https://www.reddit.com/r/CriticalTheory/comments/1bomals/any_serious_critical_theory_on_ufos/ ↩

  26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJ6vG0CqykM ↩

  27. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0894236/ ↩

  28. https://www.nicap.org/books/Behavioral_Scientist/UFO_Phenomena_and_Behavioral_Scientist.pdf ↩

  29. https://www.reddit.com/r/UFOs/comments/2zr5uf/the_odd_daylight_abduction_case_of_carl_higdon/ ↩

  30. https://kar.kent.ac.uk/86204/1/342159.pdf ↩

  31. https://www.infiniterabbithole.com/145-the-abduction-of-carl-higdon/ ↩