Black-Eyed Children
Children knock on your door at night asking to come in. Their eyes are completely black. You feel overwhelming dread. Whatever you do, don't let them inside. First reported in 1996, encounters continue worldwide.
Black-Eyed Children (BEK) are a modern paranormal phenomenon—entities appearing as children with entirely black eyes who approach people requesting entry to homes or vehicles.
The First Report
According to documented accounts:
Journalist Brian Bethel reported the first widely publicized encounter in 1996:
- Two boys approached his car in Abilene, Texas
- They asked for a ride
- He felt overwhelming, irrational fear
- He noticed their eyes were completely black—no whites
- He fled in terror
Bethel published his account online, and similar reports followed.
The Typical Encounter
Common elements in reports:
- Usually children aged 6-16
- Approach people at night
- Ask to be let into a car or home
- Often have a specific request (use the phone, get a ride)
- Witnesses feel intense, irrational fear
- The children seem “wrong” in an indescribable way
- Their eyes are entirely black
- They become insistent if refused
- They never force entry—they must be invited
The Eyes
What witnesses describe:
- Completely black—pupil, iris, and white
- “Like looking into a void”
- Sometimes noticed immediately, sometimes gradually
- The sight causes extreme fear
The Fear
A consistent element:
- Witnesses feel terror before noticing the eyes
- The fear is described as primal, instinctive
- People who would normally help children flee
- The fear is disproportionate to the situation
Theories
Demonic Entities: The requirement for invitation suggests vampiric or demonic rules.
Aliens: Some connect BEKs to alien hybrid theories.
Urban Legend: The phenomenon spread online and may be modern folklore.
Mass Hysteria: People expect to see BEKs and interpret normal events as encounters.
Hoax: Reports are fabricated for attention.
Spread of the Phenomenon
After 1996:
- Reports appeared on paranormal websites
- The phenomenon spread internationally
- Books and documentaries were produced
- Reports now come from worldwide
Common Scenarios
BEKs approach people at:
- Their home doors
- Their parked cars
- Gas stations
- Isolated locations
What Happens If You Let Them In?
No verified reports exist of people allowing entry, but legends claim:
- Illness or death follows
- Bad luck plagues the household
- The children never leave
- Something terrible occurs
Skeptical Analysis
Critics note:
- The phenomenon began with one online story
- It spread through internet horror communities
- Contact lenses can produce the effect
- No evidence beyond anecdotes exists
Cultural Context
BEKs reflect modern fears:
- Children as threats (rare but publicized violence)
- Home invasion anxiety
- Stranger danger
- Internet-age folklore creation