Point Pleasant's mysterious Mothman has claimed another victim.
Several residents of Point Pleasant say they saw the winged manlike creature with glowing red eyes 45 years ago, during the months between November 1966 and December 1967. Some believe he came to warn them of coming disasters, such as the Dec. 15, 1967, collapse of the Silver Bridge, which killed 46 people.
Was Mothman a guardian angel or an avenging one? No one knows for sure, but the avid promotion of his legend does bring people to town and that's good for business.
In 2002, following the release of the movie "The Mothman Prophecies," the townsfolk launched MothFest, a three-day event that celebrates the sightings every September and cashes in on them as best it can.
The Fest drew Angela Dehart of Pikeville, Ky., to Point Pleasant two years ago.
Dehart took the hayride to the abandoned munitions dump off Route 62 where Mothman was sighted on several occasions decades ago. She visited the Mothman Museum and a nearby barn with Fest-related attractions.
On her way back to the wagon, Dehart claims, she tripped in a hole beside the walkway and was injured and knocked unconscious.
Did Mothman use his magic powers to dig the hole that tripped up Dehart, or was he delayed by extraterrestrial traffic as he rushed to the scene to warn her of the danger?
No one knows for sure. Spooky, isn't it?
One thing everyone does know, however, is that you can't sue an extraterrestrial. That's why Dehart is suing the sponsors of MothFest instead.
Two years after her mysterious injury, she filed suit in Mason Circuit Court against the West Virginia State Farm Museum and the Mason County Commission. A fat judgment in her favor could mean the end of MothFest.
We can't predict the outcome of the trial. But, if judge or jury decides in her favor, we suggest that any award be contingent on Mothman presenting it to her personally.