Episode 56: The Incident
In a frightening rural Texas encounter that would come to be known as the Cash-Landrum incident, two middle-aged women and a young boy claimed they were confronted by a strange, shining diamond in the sky: a UFO that left them with long-lasting and serious physical effects.
EPISODE INTEL:
In this investigation, we examine the December 1980 encounter of Betty Cash, Vickie Landrum, and seven-year-old Colby Landrum on a lonely stretch of highway between New Caney and Huffman, Texas. Unlike many sightings, the "Cash-Landrum Encounter" resulted in immediate and long-lasting physical symptoms, leading to a legal battle against the U.S. government that remains a subject of intense debate in both scientific and paranormal circles.
Subjects of Investigation:
The Diamond-Shaped Craft: An analysis of the anomalous, water-tower-sized object reported to be "spitting flames" and emitting intense radiant heat.
The Military Escort: We review the testimony regarding the 23 heavy-lift helicopters (identified as Boeing CH-47 Chinooks) reported to be escorting the object.
The Radiation Poisoning Hypothesis: A look at the immediate physical after-effects experienced by the trio, including hair loss, blistering, and the "melted dashboard" evidence.
The $20 Million Lawsuit: Archival research into the trio’s 1980s legal suit against the federal government and the official denials from the Houston Police Department and military agencies.
The MUFON Analysis: We examine the work of NASA veteran John Schuessler, who spent decades documenting the medical complications and corroborating witnesses of the event.
The Skeptical Counter-Claims: An investigation into the "sunlamp theory" and the psychological profiles suggested by critics in Skeptical Magazine.
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Hosted and Written by Laurah Norton
Researched by Michaela Morrill and Laurah Norton
Produced and Script-edited by Maura Currie
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Copyright One Strange Thing Podcast LLC 2022
Billy Cox, “Close Encounters of. . .” Florida Today, 1983.
Billy Cox, “Close Encounters?” News-Press, 1983.
Billy Cox, “Questions Remain About. . .” 1983.
Billy Cox, “Cash-Landrum a frustrating. . .” Florida Today 1983.
Robert Schaeffer, “Between a Beer. . .” Skeptical Inquirer, 2014.
John F. Schuessler, The Cash-Landrum UFO Incident, UFO Books Press Edition, 2022.
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