Phantoms and Monsters

The Ketchum DNA study has now been released, so I am offering an exclusive look into where and how some of the evidence was collected by major participants in the study. Throughout the process I have attempted to keep the readers updated without violating the NDA between the parties involved in the study. I have tried to offer an honest assessment over the past two years without posting speculation and conjecture. My source(s) have provided final exclusive information in return for their confidentiality since the study started.

JC Johnson of Crypto Four Corners has been documenting hominids and other cryptids on the Diné Navajo reservation in New Mexico and the general Four Corners region for many years. The following information describes how the evidence for the study was obtained by his team and Bigfoot investigator Brenda Harris. I talked to JC and Brenda on Weds. February 13th in reference to the release of the DNA study. I inquired about the DeNova Scientific Journal being a recent entity and if it was the property of Dr. Ketchum. JC said that he knew that the journal was new but he thought that is was independent from Dr. Ketchum. As it turns out, the website is registered to someone at the Charlestown AFB in Charleston, South Carolina. The AFB is a military facility that provides forensic and medical support for all branches of the U.S. military. As well, there are a large number of private DNA and forensic diagnostic laboratories in the general area. JC also stated '...we are waiting to see how academia responds to the paper. And of course, we are hoping for the best.' I first became interested in JC's work after I watched these videos he produced after reports 'Furry Ones' sightings in August 2010:

Video - Farm Investigation

Video - The Baby

JC Johnson and his colleague, Bigfoot investigator Brenda Harris - 2/13/2013

A few weeks later, JC posted another video and stated 'A look into the attack on an animal, where mostly the "Skunk Sack" and organs were removed.' The investigation took place in the Fruitland, New Mexico area. This area is very active with a hominid species that still appears to be thriving. Please watch the entire video and listen to JC's theory as to why the 'Furry One' killed the skunk:

Video - The Harvest

In July 2011, JC posted a video detailing a raid by a supposed Bigfoot or 'Hairy One' on a farm where small animals are raised on the Navajo lands in New Mexico. The image below shows a skinned rabbit in a cage that was dragged across the lot and into a neighboring field. One of the witnesses describes witnessing a large hominid on a previous occasion. The 'skunk' smell that is mentioned in the video is described below from a previous incident. It seems that these hominids use skunk anal scent glands to mask their own scent. The

JC comments about the following video. 'This is where we collected blood, skin and hair. Our Sasquatch was a male, red hair dominate.' He later commented that the rabbit must have furiously bitten the Sasquatch since there was a substantial amount of blood on the scene:

Video - Rabbit Kill

Below is the first press release on the DNA Study disclosure and included links to other information. I read the preamble of the actual report on Tuesday. Since it is copyrighted, I will not post. By the way, the NDA was lifted by Dr. Ketchum on 2/14/13:

THREE BIGFOOT GENOMES SEQUENCED IN 5-YEAR DNA STUDY

New Research Paper Published Friday Shows Homo Sapiens/Unknown Hominin Hybrid Species Extant in North America

DALLAS, February 10th --A team of scientists will publish their five-year long study of DNA samples from a novel hominin species, commonly known as “Bigfoot” or “Sasquatch,” on Friday February 15th, 2013. The results suggest that the legendary Sasquatch is extant in North America and is a human relative that arose approximately 13,000 years ago as a hybrid cross of modern Homo sapiens with an novel primate species.

The study, “Novel North American Hominins, Next Generation Sequencing of Three Whole Genomes and Associated Studies,” was conducted by a team of experts in genetics, forensics, imaging and pathology. The team, led by Dr. Melba Ketchum of DNA Diagnostics in Nacogdoches, TX, included Dr. Pat Wojtkiewicz, Director of the North Louisiana Criminalistics Laboratory; Ms. Aliece Watts of Integrated Forensic Laboratories in Euless, TX; Mr. David Spence, Trace Evidence Supervisor at Southwestern Institute of Forensic Sciences; Dr. Andreas K. Holzenburg, Director of the Microscopy & Imaging Center at Texas A&M University; Dr. Douglas G. Toler of Huguley Pathology Consultants in Fort Worth, TX; Dr. Thomas M. Prychitko of Wayne State University in Michigan; Dr. Fan Zhang of the University of North Texas Health Science Center; and Sarah Bollinger, Ray Shoulders, and Ryan Smith of DNA Diagnostics.

In total, 110 specimens of purported Sasquatch hair, blood, skin, and other tissue types were analyzed for the study. Samples were submitted by individuals and groups at 34 different hominin research sites in 14 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Ketchum’s team sequenced 20 whole and 10 partial mitochondrial genomes, as well as 3 whole nuclear genomes, from the samples.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) comes from mitochondria, energy-producing organelles in the cellular cytoplasm, and is passed down on the maternal lineage across generations. Nuclear DNA (nuDNA) is the genetic information contained in the cell nucleus and is the equal combination of DNA from the parents of an individual.

Initially a skeptic, Ketchum implemented strict protocols to ensure the scientific integrity of the study. DNA samples from submitters and scientists working with study specimens were obtained for use as controls. DNA was extracted from samples using forensic procedures to prevent contamination. Forensics experts examined the morphology of the submitted hair samples against known human and animal samples before beginning DNA testing. “We soon discovered that certain hair samples--which we would later identify as purported Sasquatch samples--had unique morphology distinguishing them from typical human and animal samples,” says Ketchum. “Those hair samples that could not be identified as known animal or human were subsequently screened using DNA testing, beginning with sequencing of mitochondrial DNA followed by sequencing nuclear DNA to determine where these individuals fit in the ‘tree of life.'”

After extensive forensic controls to prevent contamination, mtDNA testing of the Sasquatch samples yielded fully modern human profiles. Sixteen haplotypes indicating 100% homology with modern human mtDNA sequences were observed from 20 completed whole and 10 partial mitochondrial genomes. The human mtDNA results are consistent with prior, unrelated mtDNA tests of purported Sasquatch samples from other laboratories.

Next-generation whole genome sequencing with the HiSeq 2000 platform by Illumina was performed at the University of Texas, Southwestern on one tissue sample, a saliva sample and one blood sample to produce 3 whole genomes. In contrast to the mtDNA which was unambiguously modern human, the Sasquatch nuDNA results were a mosaic of novel primate and human sequence.

“While the three Sasquatch nuclear genomes aligned well with one another and showed significant homology to human chromosome 11 which is highly conserved in primates, the Sasquatch genomes were novel and fell well outside of known ancient hominin as well as ape sequences,” explains Ketchum. “Because some of the mtDNA haplogroups found in our Sasquatch samples originated as late as 13,000 years ago, we are hypothesizing that the Sasquatch are human hybrids, the result of males of an unknown hominin species crossing with female Homo sapiens.”

Hominins are members of the taxonomic grouping Hominini, which includes all members of the genus Homo.

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JC Johnson founded and leads Crypto Four Corners, a group of enthusiastic and determined researchers investigating a variety of strange creatures in the Four Corners area of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. The group's research includes Bigfoot, giant snakes, were wolves, living dinosaurs, dragons, centaurs, giant birds, Native American "skin walkers" and other cryptids reported in this remote and wild region. In addition to eyewitness accounts, they investigate mysterious livestock deaths and other suspicious incidents.

JC has been a professional river and outdoor guide for more than 20 years. His knowledge, attunement to nature, and undying faith make him a driving force in the field of cryptozoological and paranormal research. He also serves as president of the North American Fortean Society.

Some of Jc Johnson's / Crypto Four Corners other investigations and commentary have been reported at 'Phantoms and Monsters':

Video: Return to Lukachukai - Observing the 'Furry Ones'

Sheep Mutilation Mystery - Dine' Navajo Reservation, Near Hogback, NM

Large Cryptid Snakes - San Juan River, Utah

Bloodless Carnage: Livestock Attacks Continue in the Four Corners

Centaurs in North America

Confirmed: Jc Johnson's New Mexico Bigfoot Sample Part of Ketchum DNA Study

Cryptid Lizard in the Four Corners

Cryptid Canids of the Four Corners

On the Trail of 'Swamp Foot'

The 'Night Stalker': Terrible Being Torments Family

JC Johnson has researched and written about the Navajo skinwalker phenomenon and has offered commentary to the Skinwalker Chronicles series at 'Phantoms and Monsters'

NOTE: I want to thank JC Johnson, the Crypto Four Corners team and Brenda Harris. I look forward to more exploration into the supernatural with them...Lon

Suggested Reading:

Diné: A History of the Navajos

The Circle of Life: A Memoir of Traditional Native American Teachings

Stalking the Tricksters: Shapeshifters, Skinwalkers, Dark Adepts and 2012

Underground Alien Bio Lab At Dulce: The Bennewitz UFO Papers

'Phantoms & Monsters: Cryptid Encounters' Now Available!
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