On an August night in 2016, four friends from John's Island, South Carolina went out onto a lake to watch a highly anticipated meteor shower. As they waited, a strange light appeared near the shoreline, quickly escalating into an intense, white-blue glow that enveloped the group. When they regained their senses, they found themselves on the beach, feeling disoriented and unable to recall how much time had passed.

In a separate incident in Pennsylvania during the summer of 2008, a woman encountered an unusual figure while shopping at a mall. The encounter was unsettling, with the being disappearing as quickly as it appeared, leaving her deeply disturbed. Investigators later linked this incident to a UFO sighting reported in the area at around the same time.

Key Takeaways

Two distinct encounters with unexplained phenomena are described.
Both cases left witnesses with strong feelings of confusion and unease.
Investigators have connected some experiences to possible UFO activity.

Meteor Shower Encounter on John's Island

Preparing for the Night Sky Event

On August 13, 2016, four friends from John's Island, South Carolina, decided to take their paddle boards out on the lake just after 2:30 a.m. Their goal was to catch the best view of a meteor shower, aiming to fully enjoy the spectacle away from city lights. Spirits were high as they waited on the peaceful water, sharing music and anticipation.

Bright Illumination from the Shore

The group's focus on the sky was interrupted by a sharp light appearing near the shore. At first, the friends thought it might be someone from land, perhaps asking them to keep the noise down. The light moved closer, changing from what seemed like a flashlight to a much more intense and bright beam, drawing immediate curiosity and concern.

Odd Occurrences and Gaps in Memory

As the light advanced to within about 20 yards, it intensified unexpectedly, spreading out into a luminous whitish-blue glow. A strong physical reaction followed, including hair standing on end and an overwhelming urge to shout. Everything was suddenly engulfed by the light, and the next clear memory was standing on the beach, with no recollection of how they got there.

Altered Sensations and Lingering Effects

The scene on the beach felt foreign and strangely distorted to everyone. Even though the surroundings were familiar, visual perceptions were warped, almost as if reality needed to be "tuned in" again. As the distortion faded, physical evidence suggested considerable time had passed—paddle boards remained adrift on the lake, and swimsuits were nearly dry.

Group Realization and Emotional Response

After regrouping on the beach, all four friends found each other almost simultaneously, experiencing a strong surge of emotion. They hugged and cried, struggling to process the event. Despite some variation in individual memories, everyone shared a sense of being removed from the lake and returned later, with gratitude that they were unharmed.

Key Points Noted:

Lost Time: None of the friends could determine exactly how long they were gone.
Physical Evidence: Paddle boards were left floating and swimsuits were nearly dry.
Unified Experience: All four reported the same basic sequence of events.

Strange Shopping Experience at a Pennsylvania Mall

Unexpected Encounter at a Local Shopping Center

Barbara was out shopping one evening at the Century III Mall near West Mifflin, Pennsylvania. As she entered a department store, she noticed a mother urgently leaving with her children, one of whom protested about wanting to stay. Barbara thought it was odd but continued toward the clothing section.

Details of the Unidentified Individual

Barbara described meeting a male figure standing among the clothing racks. This individual wore blue trousers and a plaid shirt, was bald, and had wrinkled grayish skin with peculiar bumps. The most notable feature was his dark, almond-shaped eyes, which immediately struck Barbara as inhuman. The figure appeared to attempt a smile but vanished the instant Barbara glanced away and looked back.

Features Description Clothing Blue pants, plaid shirt Skin Wrinkled, gray with unusual bumps Eyes Dark, large, almond-shaped Other Bald; attempted to smile

Immediate Response and Security Measures

After the figure disappeared, Barbara, visibly distressed, sought help at the cashier and requested a security guard. She was permitted to view surveillance footage with mall security, but no evidence of the individual was visible in the area. Barbara’s husband returned, and although she felt uneasy, they remained at the mall to watch a movie as initially planned.

Action taken: Informed store staff and security
Security footage: Did not show the man
Emotional state: Disturbed and confused

Connection to Reported UFO Sightings

Investigators looking into Barbara’s experience at the mall later discovered that a UFO sighting had been reported near the location during the same period. This has led some to wonder if the two events could be related or share a common cause.

Examination of Witness Accounts

Recurring Features Across Both Accounts

Several aspects were observed to be present in both situations:

Unusual Visual Phenomena: Both parties witnessed striking lights or beings that did not fit ordinary experiences. In South Carolina, a multiplying blue-white light was seen approaching the witnesses. In Pennsylvania, a figure with odd features and dark almond-shaped eyes appeared.
Sudden Disappearance or Altered Reality: In the lake incident, the group found themselves suddenly relocated to a different spot with memory gaps. Similarly, in the mall, the unusual figure vanished so quickly it defied normal explanation, and could not be seen on surveillance footage.
Difficulty Processing the Event: Both the group on the lake and the mall witness expressed uncertainty and disbelief about what they perceived. Each attempted rational explanations during or after the event (e.g., thinking it was a landowner or a person with a medical condition), but quickly realized the circumstances did not fit typical patterns.

Below is a comparison table summarizing these shared features:

Aspect South Carolina (Lake) Pennsylvania (Mall) Visual anomaly Piercing, expanding light Non-human figure Sudden shift in environment/reality Instantly appeared on the shore Figure disappeared Memory gaps/altered perception Missing time/distorted surroundings Momentary confusion Attempts to rationalize Thought it was a person approaching Considered medical condition Emotional reaction Group hugged and cried Panic, anxiety

Impact on Mind and Body

The incidents had a clear effect on the witnesses’ psychological and possibly physical states.

Psychological Effects:
- The lake witnesses felt confused, fearful, and emotional upon their return, with the environment feeling unreal or "distorted." They hugged, cried, and struggled to comprehend what had occurred, with some describing lingering disbelief.
- In the mall, Barbara experienced alarm, confusion, and persistent anxiety throughout her remaining time at the mall. She remained on edge for the rest of the evening and actively watched for the figure.
Physical Indications:
- The group on the lake observed that their swimwear was almost dry, even though they remembered only recently being in the water, suggesting unaccounted-for time or physical relocation.
- There were no direct physical effects reported in the Pennsylvania incident, but the abrupt disappearance of the entity and Barbara’s inability to find evidence of his presence contributed to a lingering sense of disquiet.

The combination of emotional turmoil, memory disruption, and in one case, physical clues, created a profound impact on those involved in both accounts.

Closing Thoughts

Witnesses described unusual phenomena that occurred during ordinary nighttime and shopping activities.

Key details include:

A group of friends observing a powerful, expanding light on a lake, followed by memory lapses and physical effects, such as disorientation and unexpectedly dry swimsuits.
An individual at a shopping mall reporting a sudden, unexplained encounter with a figure displaying distinctly non-human features and behavior.

These accounts highlight recurring themes often associated with unexplained or anomalous incidents:

Feature Lake Event Mall Encounter Bright Light Yes No Memory Lapse Yes No Physical Effects Swimsuit nearly dry, disoriented Distress, agitation Unusual Entity Implied (not described directly) Described in detail Reported UFO Nearby Not mentioned Yes

Descriptions across both cases reference intense confusion, emotional responses, and brief visual detail, underscoring the challenge of interpreting such events. The individuals involved expressed relief at returning to safety, despite lingering uncertainty about their experiences.

Unexplained Paranormal Encounters: Johns Island Lake Mystery & Century III Mall UFO Connection