Human trafficking may be happening where most people never think to look: out on the open sea, in the dark zones of international waters where ships vanish from satellite view and people disappear without a trace. This morning we’re exploring how modern trafficking networks could be operating across the ocean, and then pushing deeper into the supernatural side of the topic — from portal-related disappearances connected to places like the Bermuda Triangle to the chilling possibility that some victims are taken through non-physical means.

Every state in America has its own share of strange legends, mysterious creatures, and stories that blur the line between myth and memory. From swamp beasts in the bayous to ghostly hitchhikers on desolate highways, the U.S. is a patchwork of paranormal lore. And what better state to start with than the one we call home—Tennessee. With its ancient mist-covered mountains, deep lakes, and centuries of layered history, the Volunteer State is teeming with cryptid tales that refuse to die. Below are some of the most legendary monsters said to roam Tennessee’s woods and waters.

The Appalachian Mountains are full of beauty, mystery… and monsters. In this episode of Unexplained Encounters, host Darkness Prevails powers through allergy chaos and family madness to bring you terrifying tales straight from deep within the hollers. From a blood-freezing encounter with the Appalachian Howler to a shapeshifting entity that lures children into the woods, these real-life stories will leave you questioning every rustle in the trees.

For decades, the Bermuda Triangle gripped the public's imagination. Ships, planes, and people were said to vanish without a trace in the area bounded by Miami, Bermuda, and Puerto Rico—a vast stretch of ocean where mystery reigned and logic often failed. But in recent years, it seems the legend has drifted quietly into the fog. So what really happened to the Bermuda Triangle? Here are 10 strange cases that helped build its eerie reputation—followed by a closer look at why the mystery has gone quiet.

A team of researchers using advanced radar scanning has reportedly discovered a second network of underground structures beneath Egypt’s Giza Plateau—this time beneath the Pyramid of Menkaure. According to lead technician Filippo Biondi of the University of Strathclyde, the new findings appear to echo the subterranean features previously identified beneath the nearby Pyramid of Khafre.

Lakes are beautiful on the surface—but beneath their still waters often lie chilling secrets. For centuries, these seemingly peaceful places have been the setting for ghostly apparitions, phantom hitchhikers, and monstrous creatures that defy explanation. From women in white wandering the shorelines to serpent-like beasts slipping through the depths, haunted lakes across the world are steeped in legend, mystery, and fear. Here are five ghost-ridden lakes and five legendary lake monsters that continue to captivate—and terrify—those who dare to look beneath the surface.

You’re a mean one, Mr… Grunch? As if Louisiana didn’t already have enough going on— gators, voodoo, and hurricanes—let’s throw in a bloodsucking goat-goblin with glowing eyes. Meet today’s Creature Feature Friday: The Grunch!

Here’s another bizarre tale straight out of Indiana because, let’s be honest, we’re always keeping an ear out for strange activity in the Hoosier state. This time, the scene involves some New Jersey folks who clearly didn’t read the “Do Not Disturb” signs in a local cemetery. On a fine October morning, Evansville police got a call about some very peculiar behavior in Oak Hill Cemetery.

You know Bigfoot and Nessie, and Yeti and Dogman… but do you recall any of these 10 lesser-known cryptids? From the mysterious jungles of Southeast Asia to the depths of the Congo Basin, these bizarre and rare cryptids aren’t nearly as famous as their legendary counterparts, but they defy explanation all the same.

What’s creeping around in Zimbabwe? Recently the Gwambe police base in Bulilima, Matabeleland South, has been abandoned by its officers due to nightly terror attacks – not from criminals, but from goblins. Ward 2 Councillor Mabed Ngulani confirmed the supernatural situation. "We built a police station for the officers, and initially, they patrolled in pairs," Ngulani explained. "However, they haven’t been able to stay for extended periods."

The following written confession was submitted via email: I don’t know why I’m writing to you. Maybe it’s just the uneasy feeling that I’ve been left with. So here it is . . . My wife and I decided it was a perfect day to take our 3 year old to the park. The park was filled with kids and parents. We were there for just over an hour when a little girl with the palest skin and blonde hair just appeared from nowhere with no parents, holding the creepiest doll . . .

Gear up for a spooky adventure in Bridgewater, Massachusetts, where the ordinary meets the extraordinary, and backyards aren't just for barbecues! Phill from the YouTube channel Exploring with Phill explores the creepy story of his friend Kristine's childhood home and the mysterious woods out back.

The following written confession was submitted via email: I was listening to your Tin Foil Hat episode yesterday with my husband and I felt compelled to reach out to you, as my husband had a very bizarre experience camping in Joshua Tree about 20 years ago…

The woods are spooky, dark, and deep, so keep a wary eye out for the creepy, unexpected things you may perchance to stumble across during your explorations! Will you encounter a terrifying monster? Step into a forgotten graveyard? Uncover a bone altar? The weird possibilities are pretty endless in the vast wilderness, and you never know just what you may find (…or what may find you). Check out 16 MORE Scary Things People Experienced in the Woods and tread carefully.

The following written confession was shared via Reddit and recently emailed to us by a listener following Episode 512 - Desert Portal Death Cult: Monday night, me and my girlfriend were camping in Hidden Valley Campground. It was around 8 pm, and pitch black when we heard rhythmic chanting in some language we had never heard before. There was a leader who would yell a sentence in that language or tongue, and what a group of people would repeat the sentence…