Cryptozoologist Loren Coleman offered updates on Bigfoot and Mothman and also discussed his new book, The Copycat Effect, which describes how the media can fuel violent behavior. The media's sensationalized coverage of crime and murder stories can act as a kind of mind control, he posited, particularly on susceptible teens who engage in suicidal ideation.

Coleman recounted his investigation into the Mothman sightings that took place in 1966-7 in West Virginia. He classified the creature as a cryptozoological specimen akin to a giant owl and said that it may correlate to centuries-old descriptions given by Indians of a huge bird. Yet, there was also a "sinister" aspect to the case, which John Keel uncovered that connected the sightings with Men-in-Black, cattle mutilations and the collapse of the Silver Bridge where 46 people died. In that regard, Coleman believes there may be a Mothman death curse, where in addition to the bridge fatalities and witnesses, people associated with the film Mothman Prophecies, have come to an untimely end.

The population of Bigfoot, which Coleman estimates to be between 2,000 and 4,000, avoid being captured or frequently seen because they could be particularly aware of the scent of humans, and he revealed, there is evidence that they can smell metal. Coleman said his next writing project will be a children's book about cryptozoology.

Death of Sister Lucia

Sister Lucia has passed away at the age of 97 at the Convent of Carmelitas in Coimbra, Portugal. She was the last survivor of three children who claimed to see the Virgin Mary in an astounding series of apparitions that took place in the town of Fatima in 1917. This photo from AP shows the three children from that year: Lucia, age 10 (left), Francisco, 9, (center) and Jacinta, 7. For more info, see Catholic World News.

Monday's first hour guest Father Nicholas Gruner commented on the passing of Sister Lucia. He said it was not a sad event, as she can now go on to the heavenly rewards that had been promised to her.

Gruner suggested that she'd been silenced by the Vatican since 1960 in regards to the third secret of Fatima, and that that information may be buried with her.

Bumper Music

Bumper music from Monday February 14, 2005