Dover Demon Sightings
Over two nights, multiple teenagers independently reported a bizarre creature with a large head, glowing eyes, and spindly body. The witnesses had no contact with each other, yet described the same entity.
The Dover Demon
On April 21-22, 1977, four teenagers in Dover, Massachusetts independently reported encountering a bizarre humanoid creature. With no prior contact between witnesses, all described the same strange entity—the Dover Demon.
First Sighting
April 21, 1977:
- 10:30 PM
- Bill Bartlett driving
- Farm Street
- Creature on wall
- Brief observation
What Bartlett Saw
Description:
- About 4 feet tall
- Large watermelon-shaped head
- Glowing orange eyes
- Thin spindly body
- Long fingers gripping stone
Second Sighting
Same night:
- John Baxter walking
- Miller High Road
- 12:30 AM
- Saw creature
- Near stream
Baxter’s Description
What he observed:
- Bipedal figure
- Large head
- Thin body
- Watching him
- Moved away
Third Sighting
April 22, 1977:
- Abby Brabham
- Will Taintor driving
- Springdale Avenue
- Creature by road
- Green eyes noted
Consistency
All witnesses reported:
- Large bulbous head
- Thin body
- Long fingers/limbs
- No facial features
- Not human
No Connection
Critical factor:
- Witnesses didn’t know each other well
- No collaboration
- Different locations
- Different times
- Same description
Investigation
Loren Coleman:
- Cryptozoologist
- Investigated immediately
- Interviewed witnesses
- Found credible
- Named creature
The Name
“Dover Demon”:
- Coined by Coleman
- Fit the strangeness
- Not truly demonic
- Unique entity
- Stuck in lore
Witness Drawings
Bartlett sketched:
- Immediately after
- Detailed drawing
- Matched descriptions
- Preserved evidence
- Similar drawings from others
Explanations Proposed
Theories include:
- Escaped animal
- Alien being
- Interdimensional entity
- Hoax (unlikely)
- Unknown
Why Not a Hoax
Arguments against:
- No motive
- No prior relationship
- Consistent details
- Genuine fear
- No benefit gained
The Location
Dover, Massachusetts:
- Wealthy suburb
- Not known for paranormal
- Quiet community
- No history
- Random location
Significance
Multiple-witness cryptid encounter with consistent descriptions from unconnected observers.
Legacy
The Dover Demon remains one of cryptozoology’s most intriguing cases—a brief flap with credible witnesses describing an entity that defies classification.