Abilene — the first black-eyed children (Bethel)

OVERVIEW

A reported black-eyed-children encounter: youths, usually two or three, with eyes described as entirely black, who ask to be let into a car or house. The legend's earliest dated text is Brian Bethel's post of 27 August 1997 about Abilene, Texas.

HISTORY

Brian Bethel, an Abilene journalist, posted the account to alt.folklore.ghost-stories on 27 August 1997, saying he had recently posted it to a ghost mailing list (that first post has not been found). He describes two boys, one olive-skinned and one pale and freckled, who he judged 10 to 14, at his car outside a theatre showing Mortal Kombat. He raised ordinary explanations himself (children wanting a ride, 'funky contacts') and left the question open. The repost of 16 January 1998 is the date Snopes and others give as the origin.

REPORTED ACTIVITY

HEARSAY. Original text read (Google Groups archive). The witness is the author. No police report, photograph or independent witness has been found for this or any black-eyed-children encounter. Collected for ODPSI white paper ODPSI-WP-LR-2026-002 (research notes, 14 Nov 2026).

VISITING

A public place; the report itself left nothing to see.