Summary of "DISAPPEARED: Bennington Triangle"

Episode Release Date: January 10, 2025
Podcast: So Supernatural
Host/Author: audiochuck | Crime House

Introduction to the Bennington Triangle

The episode "DISAPPEARED: Bennington Triangle" explores the enigmatic and eerie region in southwestern Vermont known as the Bennington Triangle. Presented by hosts Racha Pecorero and her sister Yvette Gentile, alongside Ashley Flowers, the discussion delves into the numerous unexplained disappearances, paranormal activities, and local legends that make the Bennington Triangle a hotspot for mystery enthusiasts.

Ashley Flowers opens the episode by drawing parallels between the famous Bermuda Triangle and the lesser-known Bennington Triangle:

“...a place where ships vanish, planes disappear, where UFO reports and other supernatural phenomena were abundant... Bennington Triangle...many people have gone missing without a trace” (00:02).

Historical Background and Early Disappearances

The Bennington Triangle, spanning approximately 100 square miles around the Glastonbury Mountains and bordering New York and Massachusetts, has been the site of numerous unexplained disappearances, primarily during the 1940s and 1950s. The region’s remote wilderness and unpredictable wind patterns contribute to its mystique.

Yvette Gentile highlights the region's challenging environment:

“...plants actually rely on the direction of the wind to grow. And because of the strange wind patterns in the triangle, these plants shoot up in all kinds of odd directions, leaving the landscape with this very confusing pattern” (05:47).

Notable Disappearance Cases

1. Mitty Rivers (1945):
   On November 9, 1945, 74-year-old Mitty Rivers vanished during a hunting trip. Despite extensive searches involving local volunteers and the army, no trace of him, his clothing, or gear was ever found.

   “...nobody knows what happened to him after he disappears into those woods... he's been transformed into some kind of immortal monster” (07:11).

2. Paula Weldon (1946):
   An 18-year-old college student disappeared on December 1, 1946, while hiking. Witnesses saw her walking ahead and then suddenly vanishing without a trace. Despite a massive search effort involving 1,000 people, Paula was never found.

   “...the trail Paula was on is known to be difficult. It coils around tall mountains with steep drops and muddy patches...” (13:41).

3. Frieda Langer (1950):
   On October 28, 1950, Frieda Langer fell into a river but was later found dead three and a half miles away from her campsite, with no signs of how she traveled such a distance. Official reports attributed her death to drowning, though the circumstances remain suspicious.

   “...search teams already looked over this exact area where her body was discovered, and they didn't see any sign of her during those previous surveys” (14:22).

4. James E. Tedford (1949):
   A World War I veteran disappeared on December 1, 1949, after reportedly vanishing from a bus without a trace. His belongings remained on the bus, but no one saw him leave or knows his whereabouts.

   “...the best theory anyone can come up with is that somehow James just teleported off that bus...” (19:08).

Theories Behind the Disappearances

Supernatural Explanations

Joseph Citro, a local historian, proposes that the Bennington Triangle functions similarly to the Bermuda Triangle—a nexus for paranormal activities. This includes frequent UFO sightings, cryptid encounters, and the possibility of interdimensional portals.

Citro mentions UFO phenomena:

“...people have seen unexplained lights in the sky on a regular basis... They hear a voice talking to them in their minds...” (22:40).

Cryptids and the Bennington Monster

The region is also reputed to be home to cryptids, most notably the Bennington Monster—an ape-like creature purported to roam the forests. Sightings include:

• A stagecoach incident where a large, hairy creature tipped over the vehicle (24:54).
• A 2003 sighting of a 6-foot-tall creature that vanished suddenly (26:28).

Despite these accounts, evidence remains scant, with only one case—Carl Herrick—found with signs of being squeezed to death, though officially attributed to a bear attack.

Interdimensional Portals and Teleportation

Racha Pecorero introduces a more speculative theory involving interdimensional portals:

“What if the supposed boundary between worlds is especially thin in the Bennington Triangle... people step on it and just get whisked off to another world...” (31:35).

This theory suggests that disappearances could be the result of individuals unintentionally teleporting to parallel universes, explaining the sudden and unexplained nature of many cases.

Grounded Explanations

Yvette Gentile offers a rational perspective, emphasizing the natural dangers of the region:

“It might be slightly more dangerous than most stretches of rural land... it's easy for a hunter, camper, or a hiker to slip and break a bone...” (33:51).

Such accidents, especially in remote and rugged terrain with extreme weather conditions, could account for many of the disappearances without invoking supernatural causes.

Conclusion: The Mystery Persists

The Bennington Triangle remains an area of intrigue and speculation. While grounded theories attribute the disappearances to natural hazards and accidents, the lack of concrete evidence keeps supernatural and speculative explanations alive. The hosts conclude that the truth might lie somewhere between these extremes, suggesting that further exploration and research are necessary to unravel the mysteries of the Bennington Triangle.

“There’s a lot about the triangle that can’t be explained away that easily... So the truth is out there. And maybe the only way to figure it out is to visit the Bennington Triangle for ourselves.” (35:10)

This episode of "So Supernatural" masterfully intertwines historical accounts, eyewitness testimonies, and various theories to provide a comprehensive exploration of the Bennington Triangle. Whether rooted in reality or shrouded in the supernatural, the mysteries surrounding this region continue to captivate and baffle investigators and enthusiasts alike.