Bad Things: True Crime · Video summary
The Viral "That's Not Human" 911 Call: Here's What Most Likely Happened
Analysis of the viral "That's Not Human" 911 call suggests the event was likely an misinterpretation of an ordinary occurrence, amplified by memory distortion and narrative framing.
Watch on YouTube ↗Key takeaways
- ❓The lack of physical evidence (blood, footprints, independent verification of scratch marks) and the complete disappearance of any person or animal challenges the more extraordinary theories.06:25
- 🦉Conventional explanations like a large bird strike are plausible for the initial impact, but T's subsequent detailed description of a humanoid figure is inconsistent with this.12:39
- 🐻While a bear with mange could explain some physical aspects, local familiarity with bears makes this explanation unlikely given T's description of movement.16:12
- 🔍The auditory evidence from the 911 call lacks the expected sounds of high-speed acceleration and braking, which contradicts the described driving maneuvers.17:26
- 👂Critically evaluate auditory evidence in accounts; sounds described versus sounds actually present can reveal inconsistencies.17:26
- 🧠Eyewitness accounts can become more dramatic and detailed over time, influenced by interviewer prompting and exposure to imagery, rather than being static recordings of reality.19:30
Chapters
- 0:01🎯 Introduction and Setting the Scene
- 0:27🎯 The Sight in the Ditch
- 3:04🎯 911 Call and First Encounter
- 4:15🎯 The Second Incident and the Creature in the Truck
- 4:53🎯 The Impact and Vehicle Maneuvers
- 6:24🎯 Police Response and Search
- 7:03🎯 Investigation and Official Statements
- 7:37🎯 Virus and Viral Spread of the Story
- 8:32🎯 Leading Theories - Cryptid and Paranormal
- 12:22🎯 Alternative Explanations - Bird and Human
- 15:17🎯 The Mange Bear Hypothesis
- 16:52🎯 Analyzing the Audio Evidence
- 18:20🎯 Questioning the Story's Authenticity
- 20:01🎯 Physical Evidence and Public Records
- 23:54🎯 Conclusion and Plausible Explanation
- 25:04🎯 Final Reflection
The digest
High-Level Overview
This analysis reconstructs the events behind a viral 911 call from rural Pender County, North Carolina, where a man, "T," reported a strange figure covered in blood and then experienced a terrifying encounter involving something leaping into the back of his truck. The case, which later went viral online, has spawned numerous theories ranging from cryptids to misidentified animals or humans. This summary examines the timeline, location context, witness descriptions, and key theories, as well as scrutinizing the evidence and audio recording to offer a grounded explanation for the incident. It is essential for those interested in true crime, paranormal investigations, and eyewitness reliability.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 6-minute article, 13 more sections, and every new episode from Bad Things: True Crime and the creators you follow.
- Incident Context and Location
- The 911 Call and Creature Encounter
- Law Enforcement Response and Aftermath
- Leading Theories Explaining the Incident
- 1. Cryptid Encounter: The “Pale Crawler” or “The Rake” (08:29–10:15)
- 2. Paranormal: The Ghost of a Civil War Soldier (10:58–12:21)
- 3. Misidentified Large Bird or Turkey Vulture (12:22–13:56)
- 4. A Human in Distress or Impaired (13:57–15:17)
- 5. Black Bear with Mange (15:17–16:42)
- Critical Examination of the 911 Audio and Evidence
- Practical Analysis and Most Plausible Explanation
- Key Takeaways
- Actionable Summary