#phantom attacker

704: Mad Gasser of Mattoon

While more explicitly human in origins (as far as the reports say) “The Anesthetic Prowler” has found a place among the oddities in Earth’s Occult Sphere.

Requested by; @robcockroach

On the evening of March 14, 1981 there were reports of a vampire-like figure lurking in Graceland cemetery. The police responded. At the cemetery, a lone officer confronted a tall, thin, pale faced figure dressed in black and wearing a cape. The figure suddenly bolted. The officer gave chase. The chase ended when the pale man lept over a six foot fence at the border of the cemetery. The next morning, the police returned to the cemetery to follow tracks made in the snow. At the point where the pale man jumped over the fence, his tracks disappeared – there was nothing but untouched snow on the other side of the fence. In March, 2004, police responded to reports of man sitting in a tree outside of an apartment complex. When they arrived, a tall, thin, darkly clad man with a pale face leapt from the tree and fled. The police followed but quickly lost sight of the suspect. Again, there were footprints. The police followed them to a ten foot concrete wall – where they ended. In 2008, a young couple was fishing off of a pier at nearby Ludden Lake. They heard noises coming from beneath the pier, directly under their feet. Something was climbing up out of the water. Thinking it was an animal, they shined a flashlight between the boards of the pier to get a better look. Staring back at them was a stark white face of a man. The couple fled towards their car. The creature followed. It was fast. As they drove away they could see a tall darkly dressed, caped figure running towards them. Two patrol units went to the pier. They found the couple’s hastily abandoned fishing gear and nothing else.

Since early January numerous residents of this community in Cordoba have reported the presence of a bizarre creature they call a “lobizon” (wolfman). The intruder has attempted to enter local residents while at the same time emitting blood curling howls. It generally targets homes where there are no men around; it attempts to enter the home through the rear open patio area. Thankfully so far he has no been able to gain access to any of the residences where women and children have been alone there to confront him. Several women have described the entity as very tall, hairy, thin, and very agile, with blood shot eyes and wearing all black clothing. Police has failed to locate the mysterious intruder.

"Generally speaking, it attacks dwellings in which no men are known to live, or happen to be away for various causes. It tries to break in through back yards and alleyways, knowing that only women or children happen to be present. Fortunately it has been unable to break into homes because the doors were locked” - Ana, one of the women attacked by the Lobizon to the Cordoba newspaper La Mañana.

Something has taken Sam. It might be a phantom attacker. Dad has this area marked as a possible hunting ground. We were here looking into the disappearance of Alvin Jenkins. Kid saw it happen. It pulled Jenkins under the car, and the kid heard a whining growl noise. I think the same thing might have just taken Sam from outside the bar. Though phantom attackers usually snatch from beds? I have no freaking clue. I spent two hours looking for him, and I've got a whole lot of nothing. Saw some surveillance cameras on top of a street light. I'm going to have to go to the police tomorrow to try and get access to the footage. I hope none of them have seen that damn police sketch.

I can't sleep, so I'm going to copy down Dad's info on the county and phantom attackers. Try and get my head together on this. See if I see any patterns or connections.

Hibbing County Minnesota (copied from Dad's journal)

More missing persons per capita than anywhere in the state. Very few cases have been solved. People here speak of a "phantom attacker." Why so many missing? Dates back generations. Locals- rumors about a  dark figure who comes out at night, takes a victim, and vanishes. No trace of victims. Some people hear unusual sounds close to the place the victims have disappeared. Just a local legend? Or some kind of phantom?

A few people will talk, but no one seems to know anything. Scared. Police have nothing. No evidence, no bodies.

Almost certain it's a phantom attacker. Local folklore similar to Springheel Jack - strange sightings of a cloaked figure that breathed blue-white fire. Targeted mostly women, never solved.