Honey Island Swamp Monster busted! A long-time legend laid to rest -

A short interview with GCBRO* field investigators MK Davis and Jay Michaels.

MonsterHunter Newsletter columnist Eastex Steve asks MK and Jay a few questions about what they thought regarding their recent discovery of monumental evidence regarding the Honey Island Monster. The following is that interview:

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Question: Prior to the GCBRO, what were your experiences with the bigfoot phenomenon?

MK: Interested since I was a kid, after having seen the Patterson film in the theatre.

Jay: I had spent 10 years researching UFO's. I spent a good bit of time in the Gulf Breeze area and got to know many of the MUFON people as well as locals who had seen the famous "Bubba" ufo. During my investigation I was able to learn some of the "truths" about the Gulf Breeze incident. I was producing a CD-ROM on the subject when I decided to include a segment on Bigfoot.

That research lead me to the GCBRO and later, as I became more interested, and met the good, genuine folks who run the "bro," I joined.

Question: What led you to begin your investigation and research of the Honey Island Monster?

MK: Saw it on the television show " In Search Of".

Jay: I had grown up with an interest in the Foulke Monster. The first movie I saw in a theater was "Legend of Boggy Creek." I think I was 12 or so back then, I wouldn't go into the woods for a year! Later in the 70's the In Search Of program did a segment on the Honey Island Swamp Monster. I was glad to know, yet sorta afraid to know that a monster was near me. Kinda in my "neck of the woods." I had never heard of the Honey Island Monster, but it was intriguing to think one was not to far away. In the early eighties while hiking in the woods near my house, I saw some three toed tracks on a sand bar. I remember thinking "Man, that is one BIG BIRD!" But, somehow I never related that to the Foulke or Honey Island Monster. I guess at that time I was more interested in UFO's and being a bit older than 12, I was more interested in girls. In fact I didn't remember the incident until I had become a member of the GCBRO. Knowing what I know now about the fake prints of the Honey Island Swamp Monster, I still wonder what made those tracks on that sandbar. I doubt Harlan Ford came all the way up here to tromp around in his now famous shoes, so I guess I'll never know. After meeting MK Davis at a GCBRO event, we hit it off and began talking about researching the Honey Island Swamp Monster, mainly because it was near enough to both of us living in Mississippi, that we could afford to ride down and spend some time. On our first trip to South Louisiana, we met the regular players in the saga, bought books, casts and basically followed the same trail everyone else does. But, that was not enough for us. We wanted to actually go to the locations, stand where the monster stood, and show everyone what it's like to be there. Little did we know we would slay the dragon in its own lair!

Question: You admittedly started out to prove the existence of the Honey Island monster. Instead, you found evidence to the contrary. What was it like to suddenly become faced with this opposing evidence? How did it change your objective?

MK: Unexpected. The people provided damning evidence of a hoax. So much so, that there was no choice but to pursue it. I wouldn't want to go through the expense and effort to chase something that obviously is not there. Honey Island is a dangerous place and a person can get themselves in trouble there. So, I think it is just the right thing to do. To make this hoax known, to prevent an accident from happening there, with someone who might not have the experience with staying in the swamp.

Jay: I remember exchanging glances with MK there some 2 miles in the swamp that day when Michelle told us she "...knew the man who found the shoe." We had no idea where that statement would take us, but we knew before we left Louisiana we would see and photograph the shoe. I recall both of us, hot and tired after our long walk and battle with the mosquitoes in that swamp, exchanged a glance that acknowledged we both knew we hit pay dirt. After filming Michelle and her husband, we walked back, stopped for a bit to rest, and talked about this new discovery. We hadn't even seen the shoe yet. We just pondered the outcome of this new direction and agreed that no matter what happened, we would tell the true story even if some folks didn't want to hear it, or didn't like the idea that we debunked a legend. I remember feeling like I had lost something, something I had been clinging to. I wanted to believe in the monster! Now, suddenly, as we explored the story, it unraveled right before us in the form of a plastic bag opening to reveal a worn old shoe. I even said to MK, "...it's time to question everything."

I must admit I question the legend of Boggy Creek now, and many of the southern stories. I know there are critters down here. But, now I have to question some of the stories that over time have developed into legends - legends that may have little or no basis in fact.

Question: What do you think was the contributing factor that caused the Honey Island monster story to live on for so long?

MK: It's a legend. Legends tend to take on a life of their own. I think that once that happens, it's accepted without question, and becomes part of the makeup of the area. The area becomes associated with the monster and vice versa. When that happens, I think a lot of people are willing to overlook the obvious.

Jay: Greed. And, probably fame. Lets face it. The monster is good for business in that little community. There are boat tours, museums, and little shops that sell stuffed monkeys. Why sell stuffed monkeys in a swamp where no monkeys live? Unless, you want people to think a monkey type thing is in there.

And, I think most folks want their town to be known for something. It makes for great conversation. Why not a monster? It’s a great way to scare the kids around a campfire, and keep them from wandering off into the swamp. What's funny is the shoe was not a complete unknown in that community. Michelle had taken it to school, and the local paper did a story on it years ago. But, the legend continued. It continued because people wanted it to. And, probably because no one wanted to call anyone else a liar. And, maybe they liked the idea that they could scare the bejesus out of the city slickers that came to town looking for the scary monster. With a wink and a nod, the legend lives on.

Question: Even though you seem to have shown the Honey Island monster as a hoax, do you think it is still possible for a bigfoot to exist in that area?

MK: The area is certainly large and remote in places. But, as far as hard evidence, there doesn't seem to be much. I've talked to a lot of local people, and they all pretty much agree that they have never seen anything out of the ordinary there. This doesn't mean that there is nothing there, but nothing unexplainable has been noted. But, you know that perhaps a barefooted track in a remote place, might not get that much attention. If a hot sighting comes from that area, you can bet it would be worth checking out.

Jay: A bigfoot, yes. A Monster with "claw like hands, amber colored eyes and feline attributes"? No. Here is another funny thing most folks don't know about the "Honey Island Swamp Monster." No one ever saw anything in the "Honey Island Swamp!" That's right! All of the sightings that anyone has ever reported came from the Pearl River area near Lock One and Lock Two. That is where MK and I shot the footage. That is where we met Michelle and that is where Rick lives with the shoe. If you go to the Honey Island Swamp and take one of those $20 boat tours, you're on the way wrong side of the river!

Even the skeptics, when they came to debunk the creature took a boat tour and talked to a tour guide!! Even they were looking in the wrong place!

And, that's the deal. Everyone who spent any time down there "researching" the Honey Island Swamp Monster were all going to the wrong places and talking to the wrong people. It's sad. That’s how a legend lives on. People just get the same stories and tell them over and over. If you watch that In Search Of program, you'll see them mention Covington, LA. Heck, that’s miles away from where anyone has ever reported a critter!

Now, if your looking for one of the southern type bigfoots, where would it be? Think a minute. It would be on the high ground near a fresh flowing water source...like a river. Duh.

Sorry, I digress. Take another look at the GCBRO reports and do a little comparison work. Look around the west side of Mississippi and follow the pearl. Let me know what you find. ;-)

Question: There are mixed reactions to your discoveries so far regarding the hoaxed footprints. What are your thoughts on this difference of opinion?

MK: The reaction has ranged from indifference, to outright disappointment. Only a few people have failed to be convinced by the shoe. I mean, the shoe fits the casts. It's kind of a hard thing to dismiss out of hand. I think it will eventually be accepted widely as a hoax, and the folks down there can have their woods back.

Jay: I think people feel the same way I felt. Like they miss something. Lets face it. As researchers, we have to want there to be a monster if we are to go and spend time roaming around the woods looking for one. If we didn't believe, at least a little, we would never devote the time, energy, money and such into looking. Take that away, and it's a bit disturbing. No one wants to be told they are on a fools errand.

I also think most folks had accepted the monster based on what they thought was solid evidence. After all, there were real physical casts, honest looking and sincere witnesses, and plenty of stories and documentation. Federal folks had come down and signed their "official" signature to it's existence. The Wildlife commission even thought it existed. I also think that is why no one had ever done a real thorough investigation of it. They accepted the status quo that it was real, because they had been told so. The shoe was there all along for anyone to find. But, no one was looking because they thought they had plenty of evidence to know the monster was real. Unfortunately, the evidence was fake, and now that house of cards has crumbled leaving more than a shoe-full of egg on a few faces - including ours. We wanted it to be real too.

I think if we have learned anything, it's to question everything. Even the rock solid "evidence" we think we have. And again, it reaffirms my belief that until we have a body, nothing is sacred. Trust, but verify. The only people who truly know where the monsters are, are the ones who have seen them up close and personal. The rest of us are just following leads.

You asked me how I feel. You know the phrase: "You don't know Jack..." Well, that's how I feel.

Question: Is the case closed on the Honey Island monster?

MK: As Far as the MONSTER goes, yes. Unless, you're willing to overlook the obvious. As far as a cryptid animal goes, I couldn't think of a better place for one to hide. Mild climate, plenty of water and food, and good cover. It's remoteness is a plus, too. As far as that area down there, I’ll have my eyes and ears open. If Somebody sees old hairy down there , I'll probably go down to check it out. Anyone can get fooled by a crafty person, but if you keep your eyes and ears open, and hang around long enough, the truth will most likely become known. I'll keep my skepticals on.

Jay: I doubt it. As long as there is a campfire and a buddy to tell the tale to, the legend will live on. There will always be folks who haven't seen our evidence, or the documentary. They will still turn on reruns of In Search Of or pick up some cryptozoology book and marvel at the idea that a creature lives in the swamp just outside of New Orleans. The legend will live as long as folks tell the stories.

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The MonsterHunter Newsletter gives a “thumb’s up” and a “job well done” to two REAL bigfoot research investigators: Jay Michaels, and MK Davis. You can see the results of their investigation, including a short film documentary, by going to:

http://jmichaelms.tripod.com/HIS/

You can view the video documentary by clicking on VIDEO from the Side Menu