Monsters Among Us
Episode: S19 Ep21: Stories from the Heartland: Terrifying Tales from Ohio
Host: Derek Hayes | Audioboom Studios
Release Date: June 24, 2025
Introduction
In this spine-chilling episode of Monsters Among Us, host Derek Hayes delves deep into the eerie and unexplained phenomena originating from Ohio, affectionately known as the Buckeye State. Drawing from his personal experiences and a collection of firsthand accounts, Derek presents a night filled with UFO sightings, ghostly encounters, and mysterious creature sightings that paint Ohio as a hotspot for the paranormal.
1. Rebecca's Shadow in the Barn
Timestamp: [03:30] - [05:48]
Caller: Rebecca from Amanda, Ohio
Rebecca recounts a disturbing encounter at her barn, where she noticed a strange black shadow looming over her miniature horses. Initially observing it on a camera setup, she describes:
"It was a black mass about maybe 7 feet tall, maybe 3 feet across... standing there staring at the horses."
— Rebecca [04:30]
The shadow later morphs into a small ball, zipping around the barn before disappearing. Derek Hayes speculates on the phenomenon, suggesting it might be a camera lens artifact but acknowledges the unsettling nature of the experience.
2. Matt's Mother's UFO Sighting
Timestamp: [07:33] - [10:36]
Caller: Matt from Ohio
Matt shares a tale his late mother experienced in the late '70s. While lying in bed in a rural Ohio home, she observed a bright, hovering light emitting spotlights searching the cornfields. The object eventually shot straight up at an incredible speed, leaving her family perplexed.
"It was completely silent... and then it shot straight up into the sky... unbelievably fast."
— Matt [08:50]
Derek highlights Ohio's reputation for UFO sightings, noting that the state ranks eighth nationally in such reports.
3. Jessica's Haunted House
Timestamp: [14:05] - [16:59]
Caller: Jessica from Northern Ohio
Jessica describes unsettling occurrences in her secluded home, including her husband suffering unexplained bruises and a broken foot without memory of the incident. Additionally, she reports seeing an apparition resembling her dog with disoriented behavior.
"I know that my dog was not up because he sleeps right up against me... I saw what I was seeing."
— Jessica [15:30]
Derek connects her story to Ohio's numerous haunted locales, mentioning sites like Franklin Castle and the Ohio State Reformatory.
4. Christian's Sleep Paralysis Experiences
Timestamp: [19:23] - [22:48]
Caller: Christian from Ohio
Christian discusses his prolonged struggles with sleep paralysis, which he likens to demonic possession. He shares instances where reciting the Lord's Prayer halted these night terrors, suggesting a blend of psychological and paranormal elements.
"I started saying the Lord's Prayer and it stopped... walked us back out of the barn."
— Christian [21:10]
Derek emphasizes the thin line between medical conditions and paranormal interpretations, advising seeking professional help while remaining open to other explanations.
5. Ian's Faceless Figure Encounter
Timestamp: [24:32] - [29:26]
Caller: Ian from Marietta, Ohio
Ian recounts witnessing construction workers with one whose face appeared unnaturally sunken, lacking discernible features yet smoking a cigarette. The figure vanished when he turned to look again.
"He had a cigarette in his hand and no face... I was trying to make sense of this."
— Ian [25:45]
Derek muses over potential explanations, from parallel universes to fabricated realities, while acknowledging the story's mysterious nature.
6. Gray's Eerie Screams in the Woods
Timestamp: [35:11] - [38:50]
Caller: Gray from East Central Ohio
Gray describes hearing deep, guttural screams while walking through his family-owned, secluded property. Despite extensive knowledge of local wildlife, he couldn't attribute the sound to any known animal, theorizing a possible Bigfoot connection.
"It sounded like a bull... but we don't have cows here."
— Gray [37:15]
Derek relates Gray's experience to Ohio's Bigfoot lore, mentioning the infamous "Ohio How" audio recording and the state's ranking as fourth in Bigfoot sightings nationwide.
7. Molly's Black Cougar Encounter
Timestamp: [40:43] - [46:42]
Caller: Molly from South Vienna, Ohio
On her son's third birthday in 2011, Molly and her family encountered a large black cougar behaving strangely near their home. After her husband fired shots that only injured the animal, they later discovered a connection to a local incident where an individual released exotic animals upon his death.
"I screamed... got everybody inside immediately."
— Molly [42:10]
Derek reflects on the tragic aspects of Molly's story and the broader implications of handling exotic animals.
8. Brad's Grieving Visit to Spring Grove Cemetery
Timestamp: [51:38] - [56:20]
Caller: Brad from Cincinnati, Ohio
While coping with his mother's passing, Brad experienced an unsettling incident at Spring Grove Cemetery. A persistently hovering bird seemed to follow him, reminiscent of his late mother's reported visitations featuring animals.
"Maybe this was just a way of the dearly departed coming back to comfort me."
— Brad [54:00]
Derek expresses empathy and explores the possibility of such encounters serving as signs from loved ones.
9. Hunter's Haunted Beanie Baby
Timestamp: [48:35] - [51:38]
Caller: Hunter from Belpre, Ohio
Hunter shares a childhood memory of a Beanie Baby appearing mysteriously in his hallway, despite being alone upstairs. This eerie event puzzled him until he understood the significance of haunted objects in later years.
"A Beanie Baby that I do not remember being there prior."
— Hunter [49:50]
Derek connects this to the high number of cemeteries in Ohio and the potential for restless spirits in such environments.
10. JP's Disappearing UFO Recordings
Timestamp: [59:16] - [65:45]
Caller: JP from Cleveland, Ohio
JP describes an encounter with triangular lights in the sky that eventually caused all three of their phone recordings to vanish. The lights remained visible even as their devices failed to capture the event.
"It's as if we never recorded anything. And the lights are still in the sky."
— JP [63:30]
Derek speculates on possible explanations, including technological interference by unknown entities, while questioning the motives behind such displays.
11. Tommy's Wright Patterson UFO Sighting
Timestamp: [59:16] - [62:46]
Caller: Tommy from Western Ohio
Tommy narrates spotting a mysterious light near Wright Patterson Air Force Base, an area infamous for its association with UFO lore. The light exhibited peculiar behavior, including sudden disappearances and reappearances, defying conventional explanations.
"After about 30 to 45 seconds, the light trails off to the north and fades like a shooting star."
— Tommy [59:50]
Derek connects Tommy's sighting to the base's secretive reputation, referencing Hangar 18 and its alleged ties to extraterrestrial artifacts.
Conclusion
This episode of Monsters Among Us paints a vivid and unsettling picture of Ohio as a nexus for the paranormal and unexplained. From shadowy figures in barns to mysterious lights near military installations, the stories shared by callers underscore the state's rich tapestry of supernatural lore. Derek Hayes masterfully navigates these chilling narratives, inviting listeners to ponder the thin veil between the known and the unknown.
Notable Quotes
-
Rebecca:
"It was a black mass about maybe 7 feet tall, maybe 3 feet across... standing there staring at the horses."
[04:30] -
Matt:
"It was completely silent... and then it shot straight up into the sky... unbelievably fast."
[08:50] -
Jessica:
"I know that my dog was not up because he sleeps right up against me... I saw what I was seeing."
[15:30] -
Christian:
"I started saying the Lord's Prayer and it stopped... walked us back out of the barn."
[21:10] -
Ian:
"He had a cigarette in his hand and no face... I was trying to make sense of this."
[25:45] -
Gray:
"It sounded like a bull... but we don't have cows here."
[37:15] -
Molly:
"I screamed... got everybody inside immediately."
[42:10] -
Brad:
"Maybe this was just a way of the dearly departed coming back to comfort me."
[54:00] -
Hunter:
"A Beanie Baby that I do not remember being there prior."
[49:50] -
JP:
"It's as if we never recorded anything. And the lights are still in the sky."
[63:30] -
Tommy:
"After about 30 to 45 seconds, the light trails off to the north and fades like a shooting star."
[59:50]
Further Exploration
Listeners intrigued by these accounts are encouraged to share their own stories or join the conversation on the podcast's Discord server. For more tales from Ohio's mysterious heartland and beyond, tune in to future episodes of Monsters Among Us.
Note: All reported incidents are based on personal accounts and are presented for entertainment purposes. Viewer discretion is advised.