The Foxboro UFO Beam Encounter

A 13 year-old boy declared that he had been struck by a beam of light from a UFO that appeared above him...hovering so closely that he could estimate its size to be "bigger than a house."

In Foxboro, Massachusetts, on December 5, 1980, Ray Fowler alerted Ed Fogg, Jr. and myself of a UFO encounter that became a watershed for my study of the nature and reality of UFO/human interaction.

On that clear, bitterly cold evening at about 6:30 p.m., a 13 year-old boy returned from his backyard, white with fear, declaring to his half-believing mother and step-father that within the last 20 minutes he had been struck by a beam of light from a UFO that seemed to appear above him from nowhere and to hover so closely that he could estimate its size to be "bigger than a house."

Investigation that same evening revealed that the youngster felt he had experienced paralysis, a "mumbling in his head", and about ten minutes of time during which he lost normal consciousness. Most convincing to the investigators was a painless, sunburn-like redness on the boy's chest of which he was unaware until he was asked to remove his shirt.

Knowing that upsetting events in the boys life led him to talk about them in his sleep, the parents placed a tape recorder next to his bed as soon as he started to sleep-talk about the evening's events. Recorded, were a series of statements that were clear indications of his encounter experience.

In the days following, a number of seemingly paranormal events were reported that implicated the 13 year-old as the agent. These included lights going on and off, the movement of small objects, and water faucets turning on and off -- all without apparent agents.

On reliving the incident in a regressive hypnosis session several weeks later, the boy's "mumbling in his head" became a mental communication from a being who was perceived in a row of windows around the UFO. It was a message to reassure the percipient that he would not be harmed and that "they wanted to examine him."

In all UFO cases, attempts must be made to gauge the motivations of those making claims. Desire for publicity or notoriety must be evaluated. In many cases it is difficult to make a judgement on these points but in this case the family had every reason not to publicize the son's claims. The mother was in the middle of a custody battle for her son with the boy's natural father. Any publicity, she felt, would prejudice her case negatively. Thus, motivation for an attempted hoax was considered nonexistent.

Now, more than 17 years after the events, I am more then ever convinced of their reality and the case's importance for my own understanding of the nature of the UFO experience. - MassMUFON - Joseph Nyman, MassMUFON Chief Investigator, MassMUFON and Edwin 'Ed' Fogg, Jr.

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Points to Consider: I want to stress the good points by the main investigator Joseph Nyman. Much too often, in such cases, nothing is known at all so that it van be understood why the case is not an obvious hoax. Here, even if there isn't an absolute impossibility that the case is fraudulent, at least, the question is tackled, and information items allow to understand why the business should not be all so simply discarded are clearly indicated.

It is also clearly stated that the occupants here are not seen in state of consciousness and that it is the hypnotic regression method which "reveals" them to some extent. I very often see reports where there is no indication at all on whether mentioned occupants result from the use of this technique or whether they were conscious memories, and Joseph Nyman is clear about that. I do not trust that this technique can really reveal reliable information, since it does not necessarily make it possible to discriminate between real memories of experienced realities which would have been forgotten or blocked one way or another from memories of dreams or readings, but here at least the case does not rest entirely on the use of this technique.

It is also a case in which investigators intervene on the very day the experience occurred, in contrast with not investigated stories delivered decades later.

The available data is not perfect, of course, and in particular, it is unfortuate that a formal and complete investigation report with all the known details is not available.

Lastly, it seems that no ufologist proponent of the socio-psychological thesis (according to which all the reports are mistakes or lies) expressed interest for this case. - Patrick Gross

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Albert Rosales indicates in his catalogue that in Foxboro, Massachusetts, on December 5, 1980, at 06:45 p.m., a 13-year old boy had run out to his backyard to check on the frozen ground and as he was bending over he heard a peculiar noise. Looking up he saw a large saucer-shaped object hovering over him; it had numerous lights and windows. As the boy watched, a beam of light shot out from the bottom of the object and struck him on the chest, he recalled feeling a tingling sensation in his legs and becoming paralyzed. After an unknown amount of time the beam withdrew and the boy ran into the house. Strange sunburn like markings was found on his chest. Later he also recalled hearing a mumbling in his head as if someone was trying to communicate. Later under hypnosis he remembered being approached by a short humanoid with a large head and eyes and a long nose and apparently being examined onboard the object. In the days following, a number of seemingly paranormal events were reported that implicated the 13-year old as the agent. These included lights going on and off, the movement of small objects, and water faucets turning on and off-all without apparent agents.

Rosales indicates that the source is Joe Nyman, UFONS # 209.

1980 Humanoid Reports", compiled by Albert Rosales, circa 2001

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Further Notes: John Schuessler indicates that in December 1980, in Foxboro, Massachusetts, a 13-year old boy went out to the backyard to check on his dirt bike when a craft flew in and hovered overhead. He heard a sound like someone rubbing the rim of a wine glass. When he returned to the house, he was white as a ghost. He had an inverted "T" burned on his chest. Later he revealed meeting strange beings.

John Schuessler lists as physiological effects a possible abduction, a burn on chest, fear.

John Schuessler indicates that the source is the Middlesex News, Framingham, MA, July 19, 1981. - scientificexploration.org

Suggested Reading List:

The THREAT: Revealing the Secret Alien Agenda

The Secret History of Extraterrestrials: Advanced Technology and the Coming New Race

High Strangeness: Hyperdimensions & The Process Of Alien Abduction