112 Ocean Avenue is known as one of the most haunted houses in the United States due to its popularity in literature and film. Being the household made famous by the Amityville Horror series.

There is a story however that takes place before the poltergeist activities and hauntings of this home. If you've never heard of Robert Defeo Jr. and the tragedy of his family, get ready for a cold-blooded killing that will give you a reason to stay awake tonight. 

On November 12th, 1966 the two young couples of Roger and Linda Scarberry and Steve and Marry Mallette witnessed a creature that is now a figure of modern-day folklore and pop culture. He's seven feet tall, has a pair of wings spanning ten to twelve feet, and two large glowing red eyes the size of tennis balls. He may be a monster, a cryptid, an alien, a paranormal entity, or some sort of horrific irradiated owl. But the people of Point Pleasant, West Virginia know him only as The Mothman.

And on that fateful cold night of November 12th, the Scarberrys and Malettes were out on a late-night joy ride, more than likely racing up and down a mostly abandoned area known by locals as the "TNT Area". A remnant of a munitions facility used during WWII that had been abandoned, left to rot in the woods, and to pollute the surrounding area. However, for one creature of the night, it was the perfect stomping ground. 

While Roger had stopped the car or reduced his speed, Linda noticed something off to the side of the road in a clearing. Two large glowing red eyes attached to a massive seven-foot tall creature shrouded in darkness. Within moments the car was racing down the road fleeing from whatever they had seen. But they weren't safe, no the monster had sprung into the air revealing its massive wings, and began to pursue the couples down the road, but they couldn't escape it. Even when traveling over 100mph the devilish creature kept pace with them, even circling the car as it flew above them. It wasn't until reaching the city limits of Point Pleasant did the creature retreated to the woods. 

Now in classic horror movie fashion, the couples took a deep breath and decided to return to the woods. According to them, it was to "face their fears", because they didn't think anyone would believe them. Truth be told they were right but they still should have just left it be and gone home. But no, they drove back into the woods to have a second encounter with the "Creature of the Skies" only to see it on the side of the road once more, and to witness it launch straight up into the sky like it was a missile as it began to pursue them once more. And after escaping the creature once again, they made the rational decision to go to the local sheriffs' office and tell them what they witnessed. This would lead to the famous headline "Couple Sees Man-Sized Bird... Creature... Something" and mark the birth of The Mothman. 

Wondering, Fearing, Doubting, Dreaming is a bi-weekly podcast about real-life monsters and those of myth and fiction hosted by Andrew Armstrong. Listen in as we go over stories that give us a reason not only to be afraid of the dark but of the creatures that dwell in it.