Herbert Hopkins Man in Black Account

These statements reflect the cited record and are not independent verification.

• Source reportedContested

  Hopkins says a caller seeking information about the Stephens case was already approaching his home immediately after their telephone conversation on September 11, 1976.

  When he walked from the telephone to turn on the entrance light, the caller was already approaching the steps. Hopkins considered the interval too short for an ordinary arrival from any nearby telephone.

• Source reportedContested

  Hopkins claims a copper penny in his open palm changed color, blurred, and gradually disappeared after the visitor instructed him to watch it.

  Hopkins reports that it turned silvery, then bluish, became difficult to focus on, and gradually vanished. He says his hand remained clearly visible and the coin's weight seemed to diminish.

• Source reportedContested

  Hopkins reports that the visitor announced diminishing energy, struggled down the steps, and disappeared from view near a cold bluish-white driveway light.

  Hopkins describes him struggling to stand, using the railing, and descending one step at a time with both feet together. He then moved around the corner of the building. Hopkins noticed an unusually bright, cold, bluish-white light near the driveway, initially thinking it might be headlights. When he looked from the kitchen window, both the light and visitor were gone.

• Source reportedContested

  Hopkins reports short caterpillar-like marks in his driveway that disappeared by the following day, followed by nightmares and recurrent telephone problems.

  According to him, the marks were gone the next day despite calm conditions and no intervening vehicle traffic. He also says he asked Fickett to stop a planned National Enquirer story and withdrew his endorsement of further publicity. Later he experienced recurring nightmares and telephone problems, including callers receiving out-of-service messages.