Whether you believe in them or not, conspiracy theories are fun to read and hear about. I’m sure you’ve heard a lot of conspiracy theories, but are you familiar with these 5 from West Virginia?
1. Mothman and the collapse of the Silver Bridge
The Silver Bridge, which connected Point Pleasant with Gallipolis, Ohio, collapsed on Dec. 15, 1967 during rush hour traffic, killing 46 people. An investigation found that the bridge was carrying much more weight than it was designed for and that it was poorly maintained. Some people believe the collapse was caused by the Mothman, a humanoid moth-like creature that was seen in the area before the collapse.
2. The death of journalist Danny Casolaro.
Danny was a freelance writer found dead in his hotel room in Martinsburg on Aug. 10, 1991. His death was ruled a suicide, as his wrists were found slashed 10 to 12 times. His family argued that he was murdered, that he had received threatening and harassing phone calls recently before his death. His notes suggests he was in West Virginia to meet with a source known as "the Octopus."
3. UFO sightings in Marmet
Some people believe aliens exist, and they're conspiring to visit us. In fact, last year, 10 men working at a coal plant in Marmet reported seeing three football-field-sized UFOs. The UFOs moved silently across the sky, witnesses said.
(Note: this is obviously not a picture from that particular sighting).
4. Mountain lions in the Mountain State
Officials will tell you that the eastern cougar is extinct, but that I frequently hear of mountain lion sightings in West Virginia. I have even heard hunters say that the government deliberately brought the big cats in to help control the deer and other animal populations.
5. Bigfoot sighted in West Virginia
Despite a lack of clear photographic evidence, some people believe that bigfoot exists and that the government knows this but is trying to hide it. Someone even claimed to see a bigfoot walking in the woods at Snoeshoe in 2008.
Know of any other conspiracy theories from West Virginia? Let me know in the comments.
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