Monsters Among Us: Season 19, Episode 16 - "Time Travel, a Phantom Funeral, and Death Comes Knocking"

Release Date: June 5, 2025
Host: Derek Hayes | Audioboom Studios

Introduction

In the latest episode of Monsters Among Us, host Derek Hayes delves deep into a tapestry of paranormal occurrences ranging from eerie noises and mysterious lights to ghostly apparitions and unexplained events. This episode, titled "Time Travel, a Phantom Funeral, and Death Comes Knocking," features firsthand accounts from various listeners, each narrating their unique encounters with the supernatural.

Daisy's Texas Ghostly Encounters (03:09 - 06:09)

Daisy from Dallas, Texas, shares two unsettling experiences from her high school years:

1. The Snoring Phantom (03:09):
   Daisy recounts waking up alone one Saturday morning to the sound of loud snoring emanating from her parents' bedroom. Concerned that her dad was sleeping in, she approaches his room only to find it empty and the bed unmade. The snoring abruptly stops just as she's about to enter, leaving her anxious until her parents return home.

   "The bed was completely unmade. There was no one in the room, no sight that my dad or my mom was even in there." (04:00)

2. The Falling Bowl (05:00):
   During another breakfast alone, Daisy witnesses a cabinet door open seemingly on its own, causing a bowl to fall sharply to the floor. Terrified, she chooses not to investigate further, attributing the incident to a possible paranormal presence.

   "I saw it in the corner of my eye happen. And I was so scared I didn't even turn to look at it fully because I could just see the movement." (05:30)

Derek Hayes' Commentary:
Derek humorously remarks on Daisy's experiences, suggesting that while disembodied noises are unsettling, witnessing movements without visible entities is far more eerie.

"The only thing worse than hearing someone snore is probably hearing someone you can't see snore." (06:00)

Chris's Time Warp in Utah (09:04 - 11:30)

Chris from Utah describes a peculiar incident involving a time discrepancy:

• Duplicate Notifications (09:04):
  While working from home, Chris receives a notification about a package delivery at 3 PM. Upon checking his mailbox, he finds it empty. An hour later, he receives the same notification, prompting him to check again and find his package as expected at 4:30 PM. This uncanny repetition leads Chris to speculate about possible time travel or reality glitches.

  "I just feel like it was an hour ahead in the future." (10:30)

Derek Hayes' Analysis:
Although Derek suggests mundane explanations like postal service glitches, he remains open to the supernatural possibilities, referencing similar phenomena like the Rendlesham Forest incident.

"We can't dismiss the idea that this could have been some sort of glitch in the matrix or some sort of time slip situation." (11:00)

Phantom Lights in New England (13:43 - 19:54)

An anonymous caller from New England recounts a series of mysterious light flashes in dense woods near their home:

• Flashing Lights (13:43):
  The caller describes intermittent, rhythmic flashes of light within a heavily vegetated area adjacent to their backyard. Despite suspecting possible explanations like fireflies or flashlight games, they remain baffled due to the dense foliage making human presence improbable.

  "It just kept going back and forth, back and forth for a long while." (14:30)

• Family Confirmation (17:00):
  Later, the caller's son also witnesses the lights, providing validation to the eerie occurrence. The phenomenon persists for a few days before ceasing, leaving the family searching for explanations.

Derek Hayes' Insights:
Drawing parallels to the 1980 Rendlesham Forest UFO incident, Derek suggests both natural and supernatural possibilities, while highlighting the significance of multiple eyewitnesses.

"It’s entirely possible that the notification was sent erroneously... But we can't dismiss the idea that this could have been some sort of glitch in the matrix." (15:15)

Louella's Phantom Funeral in Ohio (22:56 - 25:01)

Louella from Cleveland, Ohio, narrates an encounter her mother had during a Memorial Day visit to a cemetery:

• Ghostly Funeral Procession (22:56):
  As the family approaches the cemetery, Louella's mother insists she sees a funeral procession nearby, despite there being no obvious signs of one. The family dismisses her claims until they later learn of similar historical sightings in the area.

  "She said, 'It's a funeral right there.' So you don't see that funeral." (23:30)

Derek Hayes' Reflection:
Derek hypothesizes that Louella's mother might possess a heightened sensitivity to paranormal energies, suggesting the possibility of a lingering spirit presence near the cemetery.

"Maybe someone out there listening can fill us in on what might have went down that day." (24:00)

Jared's Haunted Dollhouse in Illinois (25:58 - 28:33)

Jared from Lockport, Illinois, shares eerie happenings surrounding an antique Victorian dollhouse:

• Unplugged Light Activation (25:58):
  While playing with the dollhouse, which was confirmed to be unplugged, Jared witnesses its light turn on spontaneously, instilling fear and prompting everyone to flee the house.

  "And as I go down to put my face right next to the dollhouse, that light turns on and I could see that it's not plugged in." (26:30)

• Paranormal Sounds (27:00):
  Additionally, Jared's friend's young daughter hears unsettling sounds from an unused alarm clock, leading them to stash the device in the basement's crawl space.

  "You could hear a little girl saying, 'Play with me.'" (27:45)

Derek Hayes' Commentary:
Derek expresses fascination with haunted objects, mentioning his own experiments with paranormal artifacts in his studio.

"A haunted dollhouse... that's the sort of thing they make movies about." (28:10)

Hayden's Encounter with "El Silbon" in Canada (30:52 - 33:29)

Hayden from Saskatchewan describes an unsettling encounter with a mysterious figure:

• The Mysterious Man in Black (30:52):
  While observing his village at dusk, Hayden spots a man dressed entirely in black wandering the area. His sudden appearance prompts Hayden to secure his home, but the figure vanishes without a trace.

  "I saw them, I see them." (31:30)

• Cultural Reference to El Silbon (32:01):
  An audio clip provides folklore context about El Silbon, a malevolent ghost from Philippine mythology known for his whistling and haunting presence.

  "If you are unfortunate enough to see El Silbon, you'll be looking at an emaciated figure..." (32:20)

Derek Hayes' Analysis:
Linking Hayden's account to global legends, Derek speculates about El Silbon's influence but acknowledges the possibility of encountering a mere human.

"But it sounds like you had a run in with something unusual." (33:02)

Adrian's Ghostly Photograph in California (35:02 - 43:59)

Adrian from San Diego recounts a chilling story shared by his high school teacher:

• The Haunted Photograph (35:02):
  Adrian describes a photo taken by his teacher at the Christo's Umbrella art installation in the Grapevine, California. The image allegedly captures a shadowy, faceless figure walking near the scene of a tragic accident.

  "He was wearing like a black trench coat. It looked like maybe he had like a fedora type hat on." (36:30)

• Historical Context (40:44):
  Derek provides background on the Grapevine area, noting its dangerous roads, multiple fault lines, and history of accidents, which intertwines with the location's paranormal ambiance.

• Tragic Incident (43:31):
  An audio replay details the tragic death of Lori Ray Matthews caused by a fallen umbrella from the art installation, further cementing the area's haunted reputation.

Derek Hayes' Insights:
Derek draws connections between the photograph and the known history of accidents at Christo's Umbrella, pondering the possibility of residual spirits linked to the tragic events.

"It seems that death is intertwined with not only this art installation, but the entire area up there on the grapevine." (44:13)

Mark's Near Kidnapping in North Dakota (46:37 - 53:58)

Mark from North Dakota shares a harrowing experience involving a suspicious green car:

• The Green Car Encounter (46:37):
  At around age nine, Mark becomes locked out of his duplex and notices a green car suspiciously circling the block. Two scruffy men exit the vehicle and approach him without any noise, prompting him to hide under his bed. A year later, his parents discover the same green car parked near an old lady's shacks along a dirt road, correlating with Mark's earlier experience.

  "I always thought that there were two people because they didn't make any noise." (48:15)

• Historical Parallel (49:00):
  Derek connects Mark's incident to a 1973 case in Milroy, Indiana, where a green car was associated with alien abduction narratives, suggesting a pattern of mysterious green vehicles linked to paranormal activities.

  "These two stories are eerily similar, save for the abduction part of the tale." (51:30)

Derek Hayes' Analysis:
While recognizing the possibility of human threats, Derek remains open to supernatural explanations, highlighting the recurring motif of green cars in paranormal lore.

"It's hard not to draw a connection here." (52:00)

Hazel's Sleep Paralysis Visit from Iowa (61:12 - 66:07)

Hazel from Savannah, Illinois, details a terrifying experience of sleep paralysis:

• Sleep Paralysis Incident (61:12):
  During a sleep paralysis episode, Hazel sees her boyfriend's child sitting at the end of the bed, staring at her before the apparition moves towards the hallway. The experience leaves her deeply shaken, questioning whether it was a ghostly encounter or a product of her sleep-deprived mind.

  "I can still feel this thing down at the end of the bed." (64:00)

• Additional Encounter (66:07):
  Hazel also recounts hearing a donkey's bray outside a partially built house near SeaWorld in San Antonio, despite the urban setting, suggesting possible ghostly interference during construction.

Derek Hayes' Commentary:
Derek contemplates the nature of Hazel's visions, pondering whether they indicate supernatural entities or are manifestations of psychological phenomena like sleep paralysis.

"Could you imagine being jolted awake to see someone you thought was in bed with you standing there looking at you?" (64:40)

Conclusion

Throughout this episode, Monsters Among Us weaves a compelling narrative of paranormal tales, each with its own unique elements and mysterious circumstances. From phantom snorers and time-displaced notifications to ghostly processions and eerie green cars, the stories collectively paint a vivid picture of the unseen and unexplained forces that some individuals claim to have encountered.

Notable Quotes:

• "The only thing worse than hearing someone snore is probably hearing someone you can't see snore." — Derek Hayes (06:00)
• "I just feel like it was an hour ahead in the future." — Chris from Utah (10:30)
• "If you are unfortunate enough to see El Silbon, you'll be looking at an emaciated figure..." — Audio Clip (32:20)
• "It's hard not to draw a connection here." — Derek Hayes (52:00)
• "Could you imagine being jolted awake to see someone you thought was in bed with you standing there looking at you?" — Derek Hayes (64:40)

Final Thoughts

Derek Hayes skillfully navigates through each story, offering thoughtful analysis while maintaining an engaging and suspenseful atmosphere. The episode underscores the diverse nature of paranormal experiences, inviting listeners to ponder the thin veil between the known and the mysterious.

For those intrigued by tales of the supernatural, Monsters Among Us Season 19, Episode 16 serves as a captivating exploration into the unknown, encouraging listeners to keep an open mind and perhaps even reflect on their own unexplained encounters.

This summary captures the essence of the episode based on listener testimonies and host commentary, providing a comprehensive overview for both regular and new listeners.