1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,000 The Great City 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:08,000 Tonight on Unsolved Mysteries 3 00:00:09,800 --> 00:00:12,520 Imagine our great cities leveled in a blinding flash 4 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:19,440 North America consumed by flame the entire planet enveloped in a massive cloud of smoke and debris 5 00:00:20,120 --> 00:00:25,640 The agent of this mass destruction a giant asteroid perhaps undiscovered 6 00:00:25,960 --> 00:00:27,960 until it is too late 7 00:00:28,760 --> 00:00:31,720 On Valentine's Day our thoughts naturally turned to love 8 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:37,000 For centuries men and women have been consumed by a never-ending quest for greater passion 9 00:00:37,600 --> 00:00:42,720 Can aphrodisiacs make us better lovers or is it all in the mind and the heart? 10 00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:48,440 When Robert Dershle died of a gunshot wound his family had little choice 11 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:50,440 But to accept the police ruling of suicide 12 00:00:51,280 --> 00:00:57,440 Then the arrival of a mysterious letter and the uncanny testimony of a psychic brought the case back to life 13 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:04,960 Join me for these intriguing new cases and much more on Unsolved Mysteries 14 00:01:58,960 --> 00:02:00,960 Admit it 15 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:03,320 Unless you're Mick Jagger or Madonna 16 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:07,920 You probably wished for a magic potion that could transform you into the consummate lover 17 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:11,800 Or turn that aloof stranger into your adoring sweetheart 18 00:02:13,160 --> 00:02:15,160 You're not alone 19 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:23,120 For the last few thousand years from Afghanistan to Zanzibar men and women have searched high and low for the perfect aphrodisiac 20 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:28,720 Wishful thinking or are the recipes for romance to deliver the goods? 21 00:02:29,920 --> 00:02:31,920 Modern science has a surprising answer 22 00:02:33,280 --> 00:02:35,840 One of the traditions in Europe was that 23 00:02:36,240 --> 00:02:42,840 newlywed couples would drink a wine made of honey every night and this would be a way for them to help increase their energy 24 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,760 During the first month of their marriage and that's where the word honeymoon came about and of course 25 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:50,720 we know honey is very very high in B vitamins and 26 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:59,240 Amino acids and is a very very highly nutritious product plus it gives the body energy which is required also for healthy sex 27 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:05,360 Even the straight-laced pyrotens in colonial America had an aphrodisiac 28 00:03:07,040 --> 00:03:14,080 The dandelion weed which we now know is rich in vitamin A and other elements that jump start the engines of love 29 00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:20,720 But since time immemorial oysters have enjoyed a reputation as the food for lovers 30 00:03:21,520 --> 00:03:25,760 For some just to peek at the succulent malice can provoke thoughts of sex 31 00:03:26,840 --> 00:03:30,240 Lab tests indicate that the oysters fame is honestly earned 32 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:38,480 Zinc is a mineral that's required for the production of testosterone and testosterone is the most important 33 00:03:38,880 --> 00:03:44,800 Hormone for sexual response in both men and women and oysters have more zinc than almost any other food 34 00:03:46,400 --> 00:03:53,360 Though dr. Watson has spent years studying aphrodisiacs many patients have come to her southern california office are not love sick 35 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,000 At least that's not at the top of their list 36 00:03:56,960 --> 00:04:04,880 So charlie, are you having trouble sleeping? Yeah, i'm only getting about charlie was there because his 18 hour work days had ground him down beyond 37 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:08,080 Exhaustion I get up and walk around I can't get back to sleep 38 00:04:08,480 --> 00:04:16,080 She starts to steer her questions to how are one of my activities like am I energetic do I exercise, you know, how's my love life? 39 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:20,800 That was kind of an odd switch because most doctors don't take you down that path 40 00:04:21,360 --> 00:04:28,720 And how are these problems affecting you sexually? Well, it's taking this toll on my relationship to the point where it's non-existent and 41 00:04:29,840 --> 00:04:34,480 Dr. Watson prescribed a slower pace plus a regimen of herbs and vitamins 42 00:04:35,120 --> 00:04:38,480 But would they cure charlie's exhaustion and rev up his love life? 43 00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:43,280 The transformation began during that first visit to the office 44 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:49,920 I saw this little box of chocolates and I just started nibbling away and i'm hungry 45 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:53,280 And so i'm just popping these things eating them at you in a way. Ah great chocolates 46 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:57,440 But these were not merely great chocolates 47 00:04:58,160 --> 00:05:03,920 Dr. Watson has spiced them up with a mix of south american herbs known for giving the libido a lift 48 00:05:05,040 --> 00:05:11,280 And I started to eat these things and I'm boiling up the wrappers and you know, there's pocket size 49 00:05:11,280 --> 00:05:15,040 I'm thinking oh, this is great little little snacks for later and I got a cup in my pocket 50 00:05:15,360 --> 00:05:17,360 Hi, excuse me. Oh, hi 51 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:19,440 How about this chucks have you eaten already? 52 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:24,480 Oh, I had a whole bunch. Why really whole bunch. Um because those are dr. Watson's love potions 53 00:05:25,120 --> 00:05:28,000 Love potions. What's that? Those are aphrodisiacs 54 00:05:28,400 --> 00:05:32,960 Aphrodisiacs really? Yeah charlie took some of the chukkas to share with his girlfriend 55 00:05:33,760 --> 00:05:35,760 Okay 56 00:05:36,320 --> 00:05:41,120 He came home early made dinner put on sweet music and hope for the best 57 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:47,440 But um, we're not done yet. I have a little dessert for us charlie was already halfway to paradise 58 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:51,040 And probably could have left dr. Watson's love drops on the mantle 59 00:05:52,080 --> 00:05:54,080 But charlie wasn't taking any chances 60 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:57,200 Chocolate hearts 61 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,760 These are uh aphrodisiacs 62 00:06:03,600 --> 00:06:10,080 Where did you get them? By half an hour later. I'm sitting there and she's playing with my hair and I'm sitting you're going 63 00:06:10,160 --> 00:06:11,920 It's working 64 00:06:11,920 --> 00:06:18,080 I'm so glad you didn't have to work late tonight. She didn't say that she felt anything different. She said oh, I just feel 65 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:19,920 You know normal 66 00:06:19,920 --> 00:06:21,920 Well, I can tell you she wasn't normal 67 00:06:22,160 --> 00:06:24,160 She was better than normal 68 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:30,320 Coddly huggy, you know paying attention to me and it progressed into a really nice steamy evening, which was 69 00:06:31,040 --> 00:06:33,440 After all we could all use one of those once in a while 70 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:41,760 The mind is the best aphrodisiac we have yet there are really physical components that happen. I see it in my practice 71 00:06:41,760 --> 00:06:42,800 I see 72 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:45,920 men and women who really want to have great sex 73 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:52,080 But something's wrong physically chemically something's just not happening and definitely when they take the herbs which 74 00:06:52,640 --> 00:06:55,120 React in the body in that chemical process 75 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:58,960 Uh, definitely there's a change. There's an improvement when people say 76 00:06:59,920 --> 00:07:05,440 You're taking an aphrodisiac. You know you're taking an aphrodisiac. Isn't it all in your mind? Isn't it a placebo? 77 00:07:06,480 --> 00:07:08,480 And I look at them and I say 78 00:07:08,800 --> 00:07:15,760 It's very possible that it is. I mean there's tons of medical records that show people been given placebo medicine that've cured themselves 79 00:07:16,400 --> 00:07:18,800 But hey, who cares as long as it gets you there? 80 00:07:21,760 --> 00:07:25,600 The wellspring of passion will undoubtedly remain one of life's great mysteries 81 00:07:26,560 --> 00:07:33,680 As for aphrodisiacs, perhaps the most potent of all is the heartfelt phrase. I love you 82 00:07:36,960 --> 00:07:40,240 Before flying off in search of romance a few down-to-earth warnings 83 00:07:41,360 --> 00:07:45,040 Prior to ingesting any kind of love potion be sure to consult your physician 84 00:07:45,760 --> 00:07:47,040 And remember 85 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:52,640 Giving someone drugs or aphrodisiacs without their knowledge and consent may be a crime punishable by law 86 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:57,840 One in doubt try a box of chocolates or a dozen roses 87 00:08:02,080 --> 00:08:03,440 Coming up 88 00:08:03,440 --> 00:08:06,080 It may be the greatest danger our planet will ever face 89 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:10,160 Giant asteroids and meteors drifting undetected through space 90 00:08:10,800 --> 00:08:13,680 Planet where one will strike cannot yet be predicted 91 00:08:14,800 --> 00:08:16,000 But first 92 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:20,080 When a marine helicopter is signed to transport the president crashes in maryland 93 00:08:20,560 --> 00:08:24,560 The self-taught aviation investigator launches his own search for answers 94 00:08:37,280 --> 00:08:41,120 The following story originally aired on february 14th 1997 95 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:46,640 Since then there have been dramatic developments regarding the murder of bill cosby's son ennis 96 00:08:47,040 --> 00:08:55,200 On january 16 1997 27 year old ennis william cosby was shot to death while changing a flat tire 97 00:08:56,960 --> 00:09:01,520 Only one witness a woman is known to have caught a glimpse of the suspected assailant 98 00:09:02,320 --> 00:09:08,480 According to that woman the man who authorities believe murdered ennis was a white male wearing a light colored knit cap 99 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:12,560 He was 25 to 32 years old of average height and weight 100 00:09:12,560 --> 00:09:18,960 Our evidence at this time would indicate a random type of situation a random crime 101 00:09:19,840 --> 00:09:23,280 And again the most logical motive at this time is robbery 102 00:09:23,920 --> 00:09:28,800 Other scenarios may come as we move along and follow these leads that the public give to us right now 103 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:32,720 It appears that it's a random crime and the robbery is the most logical motive 104 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:35,760 Here's what we know 105 00:09:35,760 --> 00:09:37,120 About 1 30 a.m 106 00:09:37,360 --> 00:09:43,200 Ennis cosby pulled off the 405 freeway onto a lonely off ramp near mulholland drive in los angeles 107 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:47,200 He called the woman on a cell phone and told her he had a flat tire 108 00:09:48,880 --> 00:09:53,200 She went to the scene she was sitting in her car when the suspect wrapped on her window 109 00:09:54,000 --> 00:09:56,000 She drove away in a panic 110 00:09:56,080 --> 00:10:01,520 When she returned minutes later ennis cosby was dead his attacker was nowhere to be seen 111 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:08,240 During the next few days police searched for more possible witnesses sorting through hundreds of tips 112 00:10:10,000 --> 00:10:13,920 We have been contacted by several people who believe they may have seen 113 00:10:14,560 --> 00:10:17,280 Something there either seen mr. Cosby before 114 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:22,160 Uh the shooting when he was still alive or may have seen something shortly thereafter 115 00:10:22,720 --> 00:10:26,880 A belair security guard gave police a description of a man in a blue hatchback 116 00:10:26,880 --> 00:10:29,440 He had seen in the area minutes before the murder 117 00:10:30,400 --> 00:10:37,840 Police hoped that they had gotten a major break when they tracked that man to a mini mall in nearby torres california, but it quickly came to nothing 118 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:44,960 Well, we're always disappointed if a lead turns out that it isn't what we thought it was going to be or hoped it would be 119 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:49,040 On the other hand, it's a lead that becomes eliminated and allows you to go on and 120 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:52,720 And spend your time in the productive areas of the leads that we have not eliminated 121 00:10:52,720 --> 00:10:57,280 Police are certain someone knows a suspect 122 00:10:57,840 --> 00:11:02,480 They're hoping that person will recognize this composite and call them with a critical tip 123 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:08,720 There's a mother. There's a father. There's a sister. There's a brother. There are friends who know this suspect 124 00:11:09,200 --> 00:11:12,320 They know that he committed this crime and we want them to come forward 125 00:11:13,520 --> 00:11:16,000 We have a brutal suspect somebody that carries a weapon 126 00:11:16,400 --> 00:11:21,360 Somebody that is probably an experienced criminal and has committed these types of crimes before 127 00:11:23,280 --> 00:11:25,280 You 128 00:11:25,680 --> 00:11:27,680 Do 129 00:11:27,680 --> 00:11:29,680 Do 130 00:11:50,960 --> 00:11:52,560 Seven months have passed since a 131 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:58,480 TWA flight 800 crashed into the Atlantic off the coast of long island killing more than 200 people 132 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:05,200 Despite a likely ruling of mechanical failure rumors about the cause of the tragedy have run rampant 133 00:12:08,640 --> 00:12:14,240 Most incredible was a theory that the plane went down because of an accidental missile attack by her own military 134 00:12:14,800 --> 00:12:19,840 Outlandish perhaps, but it's not the first time such charges have been leveled 135 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,200 Since 1993 136 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:30,320 Similar rumors have swirled around the crash of a united states marine corps helicopter 137 00:12:31,040 --> 00:12:33,040 But this was no ordinary helicopter 138 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:37,920 It was one of a small fleet used to transport the president of the united states 139 00:12:41,680 --> 00:12:44,960 The president of course was not on board when the helicopter went down 140 00:12:45,600 --> 00:12:47,600 But tragically four crewmen were 141 00:12:48,400 --> 00:12:53,520 As with flight 800 the controversy surrounding the crash pits a theory of mechanical failure 142 00:12:53,920 --> 00:12:57,840 Against an accusation of friendly fire with one ominous twist 143 00:12:58,560 --> 00:13:01,120 A secret weapon straight out of science fiction 144 00:13:05,440 --> 00:13:08,240 It was an overcast morning in may of 1993 145 00:13:08,880 --> 00:13:14,080 Shortly before noon a blackhawk helicopter flew over a wooded area near washington dc 146 00:13:14,720 --> 00:13:16,720 An 147 00:13:17,280 --> 00:13:21,520 Archaeologist named frank owens and his assistant saw the helicopter fly by 148 00:13:22,400 --> 00:13:24,720 Half an hour later. They discovered the crash site 149 00:13:25,520 --> 00:13:29,760 This is the first time frank owens has agreed to be interviewed for national television 150 00:13:31,200 --> 00:13:33,200 We were driving down a road 151 00:13:33,360 --> 00:13:38,640 Went off to our right. I glanced and I saw the tail section of a helicopter and a clearing 152 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:43,840 We put it in reverse we stopped we jumped out 153 00:13:45,680 --> 00:13:50,240 As we walked down the logging road I could tell that this was a presidential helicopter 154 00:13:52,640 --> 00:13:58,560 The local authorities responded within minutes the wreckage was strewn across an acre and a half of dense forest 155 00:13:59,200 --> 00:14:01,200 All four crewmen were dead 156 00:14:04,240 --> 00:14:07,600 Within an hour a heavily armed unit of marines secured the area 157 00:14:08,400 --> 00:14:12,080 Three months later the marine corps released what is known as a jag report 158 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:18,160 The official conclusion was that the crash had been caused by mechanical failure due to faulty maintenance 159 00:14:22,080 --> 00:14:26,480 Poursons of the report stunned frank owens in the weeks after the accident 160 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:30,480 He has spent considerable time at the crash site erecting a memorial to the crew 161 00:14:30,480 --> 00:14:32,480 The uh 162 00:14:32,640 --> 00:14:42,240 Jag report indicated that all debris all jet fuel had been taken care of everything had been removed in a very very professional way 163 00:14:43,440 --> 00:14:45,440 Uh, I found that not to be true 164 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:49,760 Frank says he has the proof at his home 165 00:14:50,240 --> 00:14:52,880 43 pounds of wreckage that he collected at the site 166 00:14:53,680 --> 00:14:59,920 When frank decided to launch an investigation he attracted the attention of several military and weapons researchers 167 00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:02,240 Yeah, that's one 168 00:15:02,240 --> 00:15:07,280 When you look at the crash of this presidential helicopter the black hawk and you compare it 169 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:11,920 With the twa 800 crash on long island sound 170 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:13,760 um 171 00:15:13,760 --> 00:15:17,520 Here they have scraped the bottom of the ocean for months 172 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:22,160 To recover the most minute pieces of debris from the aircraft 173 00:15:22,400 --> 00:15:26,960 They've tried to essentially reassemble the airplane as completely as possible 174 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:30,080 And that's what they do in every aircraft accident investigation 175 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:33,840 And then you look at the fact that this is a presidential helicopter 176 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:38,400 Makes you wonder. What were they thinking? What were their motives? It's it's highly unusual 177 00:15:41,440 --> 00:15:46,080 According to the jag report the accident was caused by improperly installed roll pins 178 00:15:46,560 --> 00:15:49,760 Two inch metal rods that connect the transmission to the engine 179 00:15:51,760 --> 00:15:56,640 After speaking to the individuals that changed these roll pins they felt that they did it correctly 180 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:02,720 I feel that uh, something else brought this helicopter down in talking to 181 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,200 officials from 182 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:07,200 The aircraft manufacturer 183 00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:09,920 They say that if in fact that roll pin were misplaced 184 00:16:10,560 --> 00:16:14,960 The aircraft wouldn't have flown and that roll pin was replaced a month 185 00:16:15,840 --> 00:16:18,640 Before the aircraft crashed in the interim 186 00:16:19,680 --> 00:16:23,840 President clinton had gotten on this helicopter and flown from washington dc 187 00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:28,880 All the way down to north virginia and out to the uss roosevelt and back to dc 188 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,440 And it stretches 189 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:34,880 All kinds of credibility not to mention the laws of physics 190 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:42,560 That uh, this helicopter would fly that long and that far if these pins had been improperly installed as the marine corps says 191 00:16:44,160 --> 00:16:48,080 They took off here from quantico 1246 they crossed the patamac 192 00:16:48,080 --> 00:16:52,560 Frank Owens believes other clues can be found by studying the flight path of the helicopter 193 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:59,280 And they continued in a south uh direction. I was here when I observed the helicopter fly overhead 194 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:02,000 This was my location as they continued 195 00:17:02,800 --> 00:17:06,640 Through this area here at point 16. They made a dramatic change in course 196 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:14,080 The thing I found most significant about the flight path of the helicopter was that the pilot was extremely experienced 197 00:17:14,800 --> 00:17:19,840 He made an extreme u-turn which indicates that he believed something was wrong and he was heading back 198 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:26,880 And then he passed over a field large enough to land a dozen helicopters and to crash in the trees just a few hundred yards beyond 199 00:17:27,440 --> 00:17:32,640 It really kind of made me wonder if it was possible that he could vision could have been impaired 200 00:17:34,560 --> 00:17:42,160 I'm not certain what the cause of the crash was I don't think it's what the marine corps claims and there is um 201 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:44,880 physical evidence 202 00:17:45,040 --> 00:17:45,840 and 203 00:17:45,840 --> 00:17:47,840 circumstantial evidence 204 00:17:47,840 --> 00:17:54,080 That indicates the uh helicopter could have been exposed to uh microwave radiation 205 00:17:56,880 --> 00:17:58,880 If true it is a stunning revelation 206 00:17:59,600 --> 00:18:05,040 During the reagan administration a number of high tech weapons were developed as part of the star wars initiative 207 00:18:05,920 --> 00:18:12,720 Allegedly one of the systems involved microwave energy designed to disrupt electronic equipment and aircraft and missiles 208 00:18:13,440 --> 00:18:16,400 The helicopter like the black Hawk 209 00:18:16,880 --> 00:18:23,200 Would be far more susceptible to a microwave weapon because it would directly interfere with the flight control electronics 210 00:18:23,520 --> 00:18:29,760 So you would immediately find that uh the helicopter may become partially disabled on its flying ability 211 00:18:30,160 --> 00:18:32,160 when you read about the 212 00:18:32,240 --> 00:18:34,240 physical symptoms of exposure 213 00:18:34,880 --> 00:18:36,640 To microwave energy 214 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:40,400 And there are a number of studies that have been done on this with fish and with people and animals 215 00:18:40,720 --> 00:18:43,360 One of the first things affected is your vision 216 00:18:44,000 --> 00:18:46,000 Because the microwave energy 217 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,680 Heats the fluid in your eyes and you can't see 218 00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:53,360 Does such a weapon exist? 219 00:18:53,600 --> 00:18:57,760 Apparently the army has experimented with high powered microwave technology 220 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:02,240 But most experts say an actual delivery system is not yet a reality 221 00:19:03,680 --> 00:19:08,640 High power microwave weaponry does not exist period. There are no high power microwave weapons 222 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:11,200 The work that's being done 223 00:19:11,520 --> 00:19:13,520 Now and over the last decade 224 00:19:14,160 --> 00:19:16,880 Is to assess whether or not 225 00:19:17,600 --> 00:19:23,440 The military electronics of the united states and other powers are vulnerable to high power microwave effect 226 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:26,720 But others disagree 227 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:32,480 They believe such weapons do exist and may have been tested at this army research lab in blossom point, maryland 228 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:34,960 Five miles from the crash site 229 00:19:35,920 --> 00:19:38,400 We'll go through to find all this records 230 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:45,840 Frank Owens and his colleagues believe a high powered microwave is the only way to explain the most mafling aspect of the entire case 231 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,520 Unusual burn marks on each of the victims bodies 232 00:19:51,120 --> 00:19:56,480 We asked dr. Richard Grossman a leading burn specialist to examine several of the autopsy photos 233 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,480 It doesn't have the appearance of an acid burn 234 00:20:00,720 --> 00:20:05,120 It doesn't have the appearance of a flame burn 235 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:10,640 But I can tell you that that tissue is burned 236 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:14,960 But I can't tell you what caused it because I don't know 237 00:20:18,400 --> 00:20:22,560 The marine corps had attributed the marks to chemical burns from spilled fuel 238 00:20:24,240 --> 00:20:26,720 I don't think unignited jet fuel 239 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:30,400 Any kind of aviation fuel 240 00:20:31,680 --> 00:20:33,840 Would give you a contact burn like this 241 00:20:35,360 --> 00:20:40,160 The kinds of microwave pulses that are being studied as possible weapons 242 00:20:40,960 --> 00:20:45,200 Are not in anywhere near the domain necessary to produce 243 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:49,600 Biological effects on burns on human scan 244 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:55,840 Takes a great deal of energy and there isn't much energy in the microwave pulses that are being produced 245 00:20:58,640 --> 00:21:03,120 What caused the crash of the blackhawk helicopter? Was it a mechanical malfunction? 246 00:21:03,760 --> 00:21:06,640 There is a marine corps conceding a much different scenario 247 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:12,240 The accidental downing of one of its own helicopters by a top secret weapon system 248 00:21:13,040 --> 00:21:18,960 Just recently Frank Owens informed us that he is indefinitely suspending his investigation out of respect for the victim's families 249 00:21:19,760 --> 00:21:23,360 However, he remains convinced that the whole truth has yet to be uncovered 250 00:21:24,400 --> 00:21:28,720 The marine corps stands by its original report and considers the matter closed 251 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:33,840 Next 252 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:40,160 The disturbing unsigned letter and a bizarre psychic vision lead to speculation that the death of a loving husband 253 00:21:40,240 --> 00:21:42,240 And father was not suicide 254 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:44,000 And later 255 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,520 Catastrophic danger lurks in the infinite beauty of space 256 00:21:47,520 --> 00:21:50,800 Are we in a collision course with a giant asteroid? 257 00:22:03,840 --> 00:22:08,080 We are surprised as anybody when one of our earliest episodes solves a crime 258 00:22:09,040 --> 00:22:12,640 Perhaps you'll recall this next story first broadcast during our fourth season 259 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:16,800 It recently led to the identification and indictment of an alleged killer 260 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:22,640 Thanks to DNA the seven-year-old fingerprint and of course one of our viewers 261 00:22:26,160 --> 00:22:31,040 Ethel Kidd was a youthful 61 when she retired to rural Virginia in 1988 262 00:22:32,960 --> 00:22:35,440 Ethel looked forward to a simple country life 263 00:22:35,680 --> 00:22:41,920 Ethel looked forward to a simple country life just down the road from her daughter and son-in-law Joanne and Thomas Kidd 264 00:22:43,840 --> 00:22:49,680 Thomas would be the first to notice something was wrong. It was the morning of April 12th 1989 265 00:22:51,360 --> 00:22:56,240 My wife called her mother about 730 and the after machine answered 266 00:22:57,760 --> 00:23:02,960 And she said that's funny mom must have left earlier either. She's on her way here to have a cup of coffee 267 00:23:03,920 --> 00:23:08,480 By 930 I rode by and I saw the car there 268 00:23:10,000 --> 00:23:15,840 It was a bad sign Ethel hadn't answered her phone if she was out she would have taken her car 269 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:24,000 Inexplicably a road atlas lay open in the front yard then another bad sign 270 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,240 Ethel never left the door unlocked 271 00:23:29,760 --> 00:23:31,760 Inside concerned turn to fear 272 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:34,960 There was no trace of Ethel Kidd anywhere 273 00:23:38,160 --> 00:23:42,640 Eight days crept by then Ethel's body was discovered in the woods nearby 274 00:23:43,600 --> 00:23:48,000 She had been sexually assaulted strength then left tied to a tree 275 00:23:50,160 --> 00:23:52,560 The killer is extremely brazen 276 00:23:53,680 --> 00:23:57,200 It's even as if he may have been taunting the police 277 00:23:58,080 --> 00:24:00,080 Saying catch me if you can 278 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,000 A suspect would indeed be caught 279 00:24:04,480 --> 00:24:07,920 However authorities would need the help of one very sharp eyed viewer 280 00:24:08,720 --> 00:24:12,560 Here's keely shea smith with more on the improbable break in this case 281 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:19,520 Bob from the very start investigators believed their best hope of identifying the killer 282 00:24:19,760 --> 00:24:22,800 Lay with the atlas that thomas kidd had found in Ethel's yard 283 00:24:23,120 --> 00:24:29,040 They were right but it would take seven years and several reruns of the story for their hunch to pay off 284 00:24:29,760 --> 00:24:32,000 At the virginia bureau of forensic science 285 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:37,360 Technicians were able to pull fingerprints from several pieces of paper that had been tucked into the atlas 286 00:24:38,480 --> 00:24:41,520 But without a known suspect the prints were useless 287 00:24:42,960 --> 00:24:50,000 The critical break would come from what authorities judge to be the killer's own list of preparations for the abduction of Ethel Kidd 288 00:24:51,840 --> 00:24:55,760 This is the suspects checklist over the years millions of viewers saw it 289 00:24:56,080 --> 00:25:03,040 But one person actually thought the handwriting looked very familiar the tipster provided a name Edward wane beaverly 290 00:25:04,560 --> 00:25:12,240 Beaverly had lived in burhill virginia just a few miles from Ethel kidd shortly after her murder he abruptly left town 291 00:25:14,080 --> 00:25:20,800 Virginia authorities finally located beaverly in a tenancy prison where he was serving time for armed robbery 292 00:25:20,960 --> 00:25:22,960 We 293 00:25:24,000 --> 00:25:27,360 Compared fingerprints and they matched to mr. Beaverly's prints 294 00:25:28,160 --> 00:25:31,920 And on the victim's body there was evidence there indicating 295 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:34,800 sexual contact 296 00:25:34,800 --> 00:25:35,840 and 297 00:25:35,840 --> 00:25:37,360 We compared 298 00:25:37,360 --> 00:25:41,600 Mr. Beaverly's blood through dna testing and that matches up also 299 00:25:42,800 --> 00:25:47,440 I'm convinced that we have the right guy that did this crime based on the evidence that's available 300 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:52,800 So 301 00:26:21,760 --> 00:26:26,160 Robert Dershal beloved husband and father of five 302 00:26:26,960 --> 00:26:28,960 born 1923 303 00:26:28,960 --> 00:26:30,160 died 304 00:26:30,160 --> 00:26:32,160 1977 305 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:34,720 Dershal was killed by a single gunshot to the chest 306 00:26:35,440 --> 00:26:37,440 Authorities called it suicide 307 00:26:37,680 --> 00:26:43,440 For 16 long years Dershal's wife and children had no choice but to accept the official ruling 308 00:26:44,320 --> 00:26:48,400 All that changed suddenly and unexpectedly in march of 1993 309 00:26:49,360 --> 00:26:57,200 Guy Dershal one of robert's sons received a letter postmarked march 13th 16 years to the day after his father's death 310 00:26:59,040 --> 00:27:03,440 It's a small short letter in block strange handwriting 311 00:27:04,080 --> 00:27:11,440 And I read it once and I read it the second time and I was just totally flooded with emotion. I was 312 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:15,600 It was as if I'd been kicked right in the chest 313 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:19,200 The letter was short just 35 words 314 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:23,040 But his stark message would turn the Dershal's world upside down 315 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:29,120 I have AIDS. I am dying. I must make my peace with the lord 316 00:27:29,920 --> 00:27:35,680 I killed your daddy 15 years ago. He found me in his bedroom. I had no choice 317 00:27:36,400 --> 00:27:38,400 Please pray for me 318 00:27:40,720 --> 00:27:43,600 A mean-spirited hoax or a sincere deathbed confession 319 00:27:43,680 --> 00:27:47,760 Without a signature return address, there was no way to find out 320 00:27:48,800 --> 00:27:54,000 The Dershal family believes that this letter is genuine evidence that robert dershal did not take his own life 321 00:27:54,720 --> 00:27:58,480 What's more they say corroboration came from an even more extraordinary source 322 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:01,440 A psychic vision from beyond the grave 323 00:28:02,240 --> 00:28:05,680 This most unusual case began in the most mundane manner 324 00:28:07,040 --> 00:28:13,440 Oh, where's the eye going? Oh, it's uh in that small cabinet underneath the mirror. I got that for problem again 325 00:28:14,000 --> 00:28:16,720 March 13th, 1977 was a sunday 326 00:28:17,280 --> 00:28:23,280 It was 7 30 a.m. An hour and a half before robert dershal and his wife jenny would head off to church 327 00:28:26,880 --> 00:28:28,320 I heard 328 00:28:28,320 --> 00:28:30,320 A sound a loud sound 329 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:35,920 But I assumed it was the slamming of the back door because the doors and windows were all open 330 00:28:36,160 --> 00:28:38,960 And when you went out to the pool that did slam 331 00:28:38,960 --> 00:28:44,000 A few minutes later jenny went to the bedroom to dress 332 00:28:46,160 --> 00:28:50,640 Her husband was bleeding from a wound to the chest his shotgun lay nearby 333 00:28:51,440 --> 00:28:58,160 I bent down enough to know that he was dead. I was sure he was gone. I don't think I touched him 334 00:28:58,880 --> 00:29:00,880 I called the police 335 00:29:01,040 --> 00:29:04,640 And it seemed like they arrived immediately times you get here 336 00:29:05,360 --> 00:29:06,880 815 337 00:29:06,880 --> 00:29:10,400 Investigators found no evidence of a break in no sign of a struggle 338 00:29:11,360 --> 00:29:15,760 Within 15 minutes they concluded that robert dershal had committed suicide 339 00:29:16,800 --> 00:29:18,800 And so here the left shoe is off 340 00:29:19,360 --> 00:29:21,520 I think what he did is he sat on the edge of the bed 341 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:24,400 Put the shotgun up to his chest 342 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:26,720 Pulled the trigger with his big toe 343 00:29:27,120 --> 00:29:31,920 Jenny argued that her husband had merely been medicating a foot ailment, but she argued in vain 344 00:29:32,720 --> 00:29:38,880 It would take the arrival of the mysterious letter more than 16 years later to push authorities to take a second look 345 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,080 Within two weeks the case was reopened 346 00:29:44,880 --> 00:29:48,880 The dershal family had never seen the original police report on robert's death 347 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:52,640 They secured a copy and went over it word by word 348 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:56,720 It was just so full of 349 00:29:58,240 --> 00:29:59,760 On truths 350 00:29:59,760 --> 00:30:01,760 guesswork 351 00:30:02,720 --> 00:30:04,720 Um 352 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:07,040 Interviews of people that 353 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:11,040 Hadn't seen my father in more than two years 354 00:30:12,480 --> 00:30:14,480 Um 355 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:16,480 Close friends weren't spoken to 356 00:30:16,480 --> 00:30:18,480 And the luggers loaded 357 00:30:18,480 --> 00:30:24,480 Investigators had concluded that dershal was driven to suicide by despair over an unsuccessful surgery years earlier 358 00:30:26,480 --> 00:30:31,600 The one interview that they probably weigh most heavily is from a nurse who hadn't seen him in two years 359 00:30:31,760 --> 00:30:36,080 The report about his health that is so far from the truth. It's it's ridiculous 360 00:30:36,720 --> 00:30:43,360 Uh, she portrays him as a bedridden vegetable where he was a happy health fairly healthy man had social life 361 00:30:43,440 --> 00:30:46,320 He still traveled and and still was a productive salesman 362 00:30:47,200 --> 00:30:50,720 It was strictly investigated as a suicide 363 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:54,960 I don't think there were any fingerprints taken of the gun 364 00:30:55,840 --> 00:30:57,840 Or any place in the house 365 00:30:58,800 --> 00:31:02,720 And that was the biggest mistake they made not investigating 366 00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:08,320 I can see where it would be difficult for a family to accept 367 00:31:08,880 --> 00:31:15,760 Um a decision like that when they feel that perhaps, uh, their loved one, um, uh 368 00:31:16,560 --> 00:31:19,840 May have been a victim of uh some other circumstance 369 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:22,400 Uh, but in law enforcement 370 00:31:23,200 --> 00:31:26,160 We have to deal with what the evidence tells us 371 00:31:26,160 --> 00:31:32,640 The original investigation was conducted by the Dunedin police department which dissolved in 1995 372 00:31:33,280 --> 00:31:37,280 The Pinalis County Sheriff's Office later reviewed the available case files 373 00:31:38,640 --> 00:31:42,880 There seemed to be no sign of struggle no, um, forcible entry 374 00:31:43,360 --> 00:31:45,360 Uh, no broken windows 375 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:51,680 Disarray of any description in the bedroom where this encounter allegedly occurred 376 00:31:52,240 --> 00:31:57,280 Uh, which again was one that gives us more belief that this was a suicide 377 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:02,400 Without additional evidence the ruling remained suicide 378 00:32:02,960 --> 00:32:06,240 But for Robert Dershaw's family the case was anything but closed 379 00:32:06,880 --> 00:32:09,120 Indeed it grew more and more bizarre 380 00:32:10,560 --> 00:32:15,520 In February of 1995 Jenny's sister Fran traveled from Florida to California 381 00:32:16,400 --> 00:32:20,480 Fran who is now deceased told Jenny about an unnerving encounter on the train 382 00:32:21,200 --> 00:32:24,000 An episode that defies explanation to this day 383 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:27,040 Fran? 384 00:32:27,040 --> 00:32:29,040 Well, yes 385 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:33,680 Where's your husband at doctor 386 00:32:33,920 --> 00:32:35,920 The young woman was a total stranger 387 00:32:36,320 --> 00:32:39,920 But she revealed an uncanny familiarity with Fran and the Dershaw's 388 00:32:40,480 --> 00:32:44,560 Well, then your husband's name was Earl. Yes, that's right 389 00:32:45,040 --> 00:32:47,040 Well, they're here 390 00:32:48,560 --> 00:32:50,560 With Bob 391 00:32:50,560 --> 00:32:51,760 Bob? 392 00:32:51,760 --> 00:32:53,760 Yes, your sister's husband 393 00:32:55,200 --> 00:32:57,200 And he was murdered about 15 years ago 394 00:32:57,840 --> 00:32:59,840 Murdered? 395 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,160 Please 396 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:06,160 Don't be frightened 397 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:08,160 I'm not a mystic or anything of that kind 398 00:33:10,880 --> 00:33:12,880 My father passed away 399 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:20,320 My father passed away a number of years ago and he sends me messages 400 00:33:22,080 --> 00:33:24,080 From the other side 401 00:33:25,440 --> 00:33:31,200 I think it's best that I write this down so that you can keep it with you and give it to your sister Jenny 402 00:33:32,960 --> 00:33:36,400 Fran said that the woman wrote down her psychic vision on a napkin 403 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:40,800 My first reaction to psychic was 404 00:33:40,960 --> 00:33:45,040 I mean, I didn't believe in psychics. I'm sorry 405 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:48,320 And yet the more I heard 406 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:50,720 On the Amtrak train 407 00:33:50,960 --> 00:33:52,960 I had to say I believe in this 408 00:33:55,040 --> 00:33:57,040 I see a picture in my mind 409 00:33:58,080 --> 00:34:01,280 Regarding the murder of your sister's husband Bob 410 00:34:04,160 --> 00:34:06,160 I see a narrow door opening 411 00:34:08,480 --> 00:34:10,480 With a gun case showing 412 00:34:11,120 --> 00:34:13,120 You 413 00:34:14,640 --> 00:34:18,640 And your sister's husband is going to another cabinet 414 00:34:21,680 --> 00:34:23,680 Near the mirror 415 00:34:27,200 --> 00:34:31,120 To look for foot treatment for athletes foot 416 00:34:36,480 --> 00:34:40,640 He looks up and he sees a stranger in the adjoining room 417 00:34:41,680 --> 00:34:48,480 Alarmed the robber fights with Bob 418 00:35:01,440 --> 00:35:03,440 The things that were written 419 00:35:03,600 --> 00:35:07,520 By the young lady on the Amtrak train were startling in that 420 00:35:08,320 --> 00:35:11,040 Some of this information wasn't anywhere to be found 421 00:35:12,160 --> 00:35:16,320 It was just too real. It was as if this person was in the room 422 00:35:18,240 --> 00:35:20,240 She's made no effort to 423 00:35:20,400 --> 00:35:25,760 To gain from it. There's been no no approach to us, which you would expect if there was a hoax and 424 00:35:27,520 --> 00:35:30,560 I honestly believe it was a a situation that 425 00:35:31,760 --> 00:35:36,160 That took place that I can't explain in the reality of this world 426 00:35:38,240 --> 00:35:40,240 It's kind of spooky 427 00:35:41,520 --> 00:35:45,120 Bob Dershaw died at 54 seemingly well before his time 428 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:49,840 Perhaps it was his choice made for reasons known only to himself 429 00:35:50,800 --> 00:35:57,280 Or perhaps Bob Dershaw's life was taken by a stranger who wrote from the deathbed asking for forgiveness 430 00:36:00,160 --> 00:36:02,800 In my own mind my father is a victim of murder 431 00:36:02,880 --> 00:36:04,880 And I would like to 432 00:36:05,440 --> 00:36:09,680 Be able to tell my children without a question that this is what took place 433 00:36:09,840 --> 00:36:13,840 And I would like the people who know my father and the community to know what happened 434 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:20,000 There may be somebody out there who 435 00:36:22,080 --> 00:36:24,080 Was talked to by the killer 436 00:36:24,640 --> 00:36:28,800 Revealed something in prison to an attorney to a parent to a friend 437 00:36:29,760 --> 00:36:35,200 It's a small world and stranger things have happened. That that's one of my hopes is that somebody out there 438 00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:38,080 can 439 00:36:38,080 --> 00:36:40,080 fit the last piece of the puzzle into place 440 00:36:41,520 --> 00:36:47,440 The unsigned confession letter was mailed from Tampa, Florida and postmarked March 13th 1993 441 00:36:59,280 --> 00:37:01,280 When we return 442 00:37:04,560 --> 00:37:11,200 65 million years ago a giant meteor slammed into earth creating a new ice age and ending the reign of the dinosaur 443 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:16,400 Will it happen again? Could humankind survive such a cosmic calamity? 444 00:37:29,520 --> 00:37:37,280 Imagine the Manhattan skyline flattened the sprawl of Los Angeles pulverized 445 00:37:38,320 --> 00:37:41,040 The entire country devastated in the blink of an eye 446 00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:43,920 An atomic nightmare. No 447 00:37:44,640 --> 00:37:47,520 A natural disaster unparalleled in human history 448 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:52,160 A disaster no one can predict it will come from outer space 449 00:37:52,800 --> 00:37:57,360 July 16th 1994 a frightening preview 450 00:37:58,080 --> 00:38:03,200 Huge fragments of a giant comet called Shoemaker-Levy slammed into the planet Jupiter 451 00:38:03,440 --> 00:38:07,360 Causing the most massive chain of explosions ever witnessed by men 452 00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:12,880 Well out of this 21 453 00:38:13,120 --> 00:38:15,120 Series of fragments 454 00:38:15,120 --> 00:38:20,320 There were actually 15 that survived that we saw hit the planet and of those about four or five were 455 00:38:20,320 --> 00:38:22,320 the big ones 456 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:26,880 When each of those largest fragments hit Jupiter had had about the same energy 457 00:38:27,600 --> 00:38:31,120 As if you had taken all of the nuclear bombs in the world 458 00:38:31,120 --> 00:38:35,120 Dr. Jean Shoemaker is co-discoverer of the Shoemaker-Levy Comet 459 00:38:35,120 --> 00:38:40,480 Put them all in one big pile and set them up set them off all at once. That's about 460 00:38:41,440 --> 00:38:44,720 10,000 million tons of energy 461 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:48,880 One of the impacts on Jupiter created a cloud of debris as large as Earth 462 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:52,960 This cataclysmic event immediately brought troubling questions to mind 463 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:55,840 Could it happen here? And what if it did? 464 00:38:56,880 --> 00:39:00,640 Could life as we know it survive in a vast cosmic shooting gallery? 465 00:39:04,720 --> 00:39:06,720 Fortunately the odds are in our favor 466 00:39:07,360 --> 00:39:09,360 Astronomers estimate that here on Earth 467 00:39:09,360 --> 00:39:12,240 celestial disasters on the grand scale of Shoemaker-Levy 468 00:39:12,320 --> 00:39:14,320 occur only once every 100 million years 469 00:39:15,600 --> 00:39:17,600 But that's not to say we're entirely safe 470 00:39:18,160 --> 00:39:23,120 At this very moment there are literally thousands of asteroids and comets streaking through the solar system 471 00:39:23,920 --> 00:39:27,520 Is it possible that one the size of Shoemaker-Levy could collide with our planet? 472 00:39:28,560 --> 00:39:32,480 Not only is it possible it has already happened more than once 473 00:39:38,960 --> 00:39:40,960 This is the first time that a new planet has been created 474 00:39:41,760 --> 00:39:45,040 This is Meteor Crater three hours north of Phoenix, Arizona 475 00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:51,040 It was here long before the dawn of civilization that an asteroid slammed into the desert floor 476 00:39:52,640 --> 00:39:56,480 Scientists estimate its velocity at more than 40,000 miles per hour 477 00:39:59,920 --> 00:40:03,120 Meteor Crater is the first recognized impact crater on the earth 478 00:40:03,840 --> 00:40:07,360 It's 4,000 feet across about 600 feet deep 479 00:40:08,160 --> 00:40:10,560 It was formed by an iron asteroid 480 00:40:11,120 --> 00:40:13,120 about 50 yards in diameter 481 00:40:13,680 --> 00:40:17,280 And it was formed very close to 50,000 years ago. But if you'd been there 482 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:20,400 You wouldn't want to have been too close 483 00:40:21,680 --> 00:40:28,240 If you had been standing where flagstaff is today 40 miles away you would have probably been knocked over by the shockwave 484 00:40:28,640 --> 00:40:30,640 Buildings would have been collapsed 485 00:40:32,640 --> 00:40:36,160 But meteor activity on earth isn't just consigned to ancient history 486 00:40:37,040 --> 00:40:42,000 Early the century in 1908 a fireball raced through the sky over Siberia 487 00:40:42,880 --> 00:40:49,040 It exploded above the remote area of Tonguska spraying debris with a force of a thousand atomic bombs 488 00:40:52,640 --> 00:40:55,920 To get a good idea of the devastating effect of this impact event 489 00:40:56,800 --> 00:41:00,000 A city that uh, that I know very well, Houston 490 00:41:01,280 --> 00:41:05,840 Has surrounding it a highway, a beltway highway, 610 Loop 491 00:41:06,640 --> 00:41:10,560 Everything inside the 610 Loop would have been flattened 492 00:41:11,440 --> 00:41:13,440 and charred all the buildings 493 00:41:14,000 --> 00:41:15,280 all the 494 00:41:15,280 --> 00:41:21,120 Infrastructure nothing would have been standing inside that area anyone who lived there would have been dead 495 00:41:24,000 --> 00:41:29,440 Incredibly such devastation did occur on a worldwide scale at least once in the history of our planet 496 00:41:30,000 --> 00:41:33,680 It was 65 million years ago during the reign of the dinosaur 497 00:41:34,640 --> 00:41:40,400 A gigantic meteor some five miles in diameter smashed into Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula 498 00:41:41,200 --> 00:41:44,720 75 miles east of where the city of vera Cruz now stands 499 00:41:48,960 --> 00:41:54,560 The surface expression would not lead you to believe that there is an impact crater there 500 00:41:55,520 --> 00:42:01,760 You have a nice flat Yucatan peninsula with really no topographic signs that a crater 501 00:42:01,840 --> 00:42:05,440 180 to 200 miles across exists below 502 00:42:08,320 --> 00:42:14,320 Virgil Sharpton has created this three-dimensional map depicting the chick salube crater immediately after impact 503 00:42:15,200 --> 00:42:20,480 Is the tail description of that catastrophic event is chilling and very possibly prophetic 504 00:42:22,320 --> 00:42:26,560 Well immediately before the impact we think you would see a comet 505 00:42:26,800 --> 00:42:32,160 Keep in mind that this object is traveling at about 140,000 miles per hour 506 00:42:34,160 --> 00:42:40,560 You don't have a lot of time between the time it goes into the atmosphere and the time that actually strikes the earth less much less than a second 507 00:42:40,560 --> 00:42:42,560 obviously 508 00:42:42,560 --> 00:42:46,320 The impact of chick salube was heard and felt in every corner of the earth 509 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:48,960 Instantaneously the ground surged up 510 00:42:49,600 --> 00:42:52,800 Countless tons of rock and dust formed a massive curtain 511 00:42:53,040 --> 00:42:56,880 Hundreds of miles across and hundreds of miles high 512 00:42:59,360 --> 00:43:06,080 As this dust started to make its way into the atmosphere it would block the sunlight completely it would be as dark as night 513 00:43:07,040 --> 00:43:10,560 As some of this material started to re-enter the atmosphere however 514 00:43:11,520 --> 00:43:14,640 Things would begin to light up not by the illumination of the sun 515 00:43:15,200 --> 00:43:20,160 But by the illumination of countless meteorites shooting stars streaking through the upper atmosphere 516 00:43:20,880 --> 00:43:28,080 According to Sharpton these balls of fire touched off a raging inferno that spread across the entire western hemisphere 517 00:43:29,280 --> 00:43:34,720 The smoke then rose to join with the impact debris blanketing the earth with an impenetrable cloud 518 00:43:37,760 --> 00:43:45,440 Darkness was achieved almost instantaneously and this cloud would basically expand around the earth in a very short period of time 519 00:43:46,080 --> 00:43:48,880 For the better part of a year there was no sunlight 520 00:43:49,280 --> 00:43:53,120 What emerged was a new ice age with its own catastrophic consequences 521 00:43:54,160 --> 00:43:57,600 Roughly 75 percent of earth's plant and animal life perished 522 00:43:58,240 --> 00:44:00,720 The most prominent victim the dinosaur 523 00:44:02,720 --> 00:44:05,040 The consensus is today that 524 00:44:05,920 --> 00:44:09,760 Dinosaurs were doing very nicely up until this event 525 00:44:10,560 --> 00:44:12,560 And immediately after this event 526 00:44:12,560 --> 00:44:15,360 They were gone and they never came back 527 00:44:19,360 --> 00:44:21,360 There's a large enough risk 528 00:44:21,840 --> 00:44:24,720 That I think we really should pay attention to it 529 00:44:25,200 --> 00:44:28,960 The hazard of impact in terms of loss of life on the earth 530 00:44:29,440 --> 00:44:32,720 You don't take out just 100,000 lives lost 531 00:44:33,360 --> 00:44:37,360 You could wipe out half or more of the entire human population 532 00:44:37,920 --> 00:44:41,760 If an event similar to the one that formed Chikshala happened tomorrow 533 00:44:42,720 --> 00:44:44,720 Then there would be no civilization 534 00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:47,360 There is no doubt about that 535 00:44:48,880 --> 00:44:50,880 There would be widespread devastation 536 00:44:51,840 --> 00:44:55,600 Death like we have never even imagined 537 00:44:58,320 --> 00:45:00,320 And there's no protection for it 538 00:45:00,320 --> 00:45:04,320 It's just one of those things that we have to live with fortunately however 539 00:45:04,400 --> 00:45:07,920 Events like Chikshalup are extremely rare 540 00:45:10,720 --> 00:45:13,600 At present there are only a handful of scientists worldwide 541 00:45:13,600 --> 00:45:16,240 Actively scanning the skies for near-earth asteroids 542 00:45:16,880 --> 00:45:19,680 Just recently scientists discovered the Hailbop Comet 543 00:45:19,680 --> 00:45:23,680 Which will pass close enough to earth next April to be seen without a telescope 544 00:45:24,800 --> 00:45:26,800 Despite our extremely limited warning system 545 00:45:27,200 --> 00:45:32,240 It is calming to note that there is no record of anyone ever being killed by an asteroid 546 00:45:32,240 --> 00:45:40,960 Join me next time for another fascinating edition of Unsolved Mysteries