Quick Info
In late 1996, a man named Dr. Jonathan Reed appeared on Art Bell with one of the most shocking claims ever heard on Coast to Coast AM. He said he had found a living alien being in the woods near Seattle, tried to help it, and ended up with its dead body after it died in his care.
He brought photos, video footage, and even what he claimed was biological material from the being. The story was wild, detailed.... and divided the entire UFO community.
Who Was Dr. Jonathan Reed?
Jonathan Reed was a chiropractor and martial arts instructor from Washington state. He didn't appear, or have reason, to be chasing any sort of fame especially from UFOs or Aliens. He came across as intelligent, articulate, and genuinely shaken by what had happened to him. He told Art Bell he had been out hiking with his dog, Susie, when everything changed.
The Encounter in the Woods
Reed said it was a regular afternoon when he decided to take his dog Susie for a hike in a wooded area not far from his home in Washington state. The dog was a German Shepherd mix, energetic and protective. They were walking along a familiar trail when Susie suddenly perked up, started growling, and then took off running into the thicker brush like she had spotted something interesting to chase.
Reed called after the dog but got no response, so he pushed through the undergrowth to follow. That’s when he came upon a scene that would change his life forever. His dog was aggressively attacking what looked like a small humanoid figure lying on the ground. The being was about four feet tall, with smooth grey skin, a large head, and those classic big black almond-shaped eyes. It wasn’t moving much at first, but when the dog kept lunging, the creature reacted.
Reed described how the being raised one of its long, thin arms and somehow caused the dog to collapse. He said there was no visible weapon, no loud sound, just a sudden, violent reaction that killed the dog almost instantly. Panicking and acting on instinct, Reed grabbed a large rock from the ground and struck the creature on the head. The being went down and stopped moving.
Instead of running away or calling for help, Reed made a decision that still shocks people today. He decided to take the body with him. He dragged it back to his truck, loaded it in, and drove home. Once there, he put the body in his freezer to preserve it while he tried to figure out what to do next. He later said he was in a state of shock and didn’t know who he could trust with something like this.
Over the next few days, Reed claims he examined the being more closely. He described the skin as cool and slightly rubbery to the touch, with no obvious pulse or breathing once it had died. He noticed the hands had long, slender fingers and said that right after the incident, when he first touched the creature, its hand had briefly gripped his arm, as if it was still conscious for a moment.
He took photographs and even shot some video footage of the body. He also claimed to have removed a small biological sample that looked like a tiny organ or gland. All of this he later brought onto Art Bell’s show as evidence.
Timeline of Events
Here’s how the story unfolded according to Reed’s account:
- Late 1996 – Reed is hiking with his dog when the encounter happens.
- Immediate aftermath – Reed strikes the being, takes its body home, and stores it in his freezer.
- Following days – He documents the body with photos and video, and collects biological material.
- November 1996 – Reed contacts Art Bell and appears on the show for the first time, sharing his story and evidence.
- Subsequent appearances – Reed returns to Coast to Coast AM multiple times, bringing more details and samples.
- 1997 onward – Government agents allegedly visit Reed and warn him to stop talking. He eventually fades from public view.
What He Claimed to Have Found
Reed brought several pieces of evidence onto the show. He showed photos of what he said was the dead alien, grey skin, large head, thin body. He also claimed to have a small piece of biological material that looked like a tiny organ or gland. Most dramatically, he played a short video clip that supposedly showed the being still alive and moving slightly right after the encounter.
He described the being’s skin as cool and slightly rubbery, and said it had no noticeable pulse or breathing once it died. He even claimed that when he first touched it, the creature’s hand briefly gripped his arm.
The Aftermath and Controversy
The story exploded across the UFO community. Some people believed Reed completely. Others accused him of hoaxing the whole thing with props and fake footage. Reed appeared on Art Bell multiple times and always stuck to his story without major contradictions. He said government agents later visited him and warned him to stop talking about it.
Over time, the video and photos were heavily analyzed. Some researchers claimed to find inconsistencies, while others said the footage looked too realistic for 1996 home video technology. Reed eventually faded from public view, but the case is still debated today.
Great video on this event from @Lately-YT on YouTube
More content from @Lately-YT on YouTube
Why This Story Still Divides People
The Jonathan Reed case is one of those stories that refuses to die. On one side you have people who find his calm, detailed delivery convincing and point out that he never tried to cash in heavily. On the other side are skeptics who say the photos and video look like props and that the whole thing was an elaborate hoax. Either way, it remains one of the most memorable and controversial alien encounter stories ever told on Art Bell’s show.
What Do You Think?
After hearing all the details, and watching the video above, what’s your honest feeling about Dr. Jonathan Reed’s story? Do you think he really found and handled a living alien being, or was it an elaborate hoax? If it was all real, the footage, the body, the crafts, why do you think he was allowed to talk about it so openly on the radio? I'm 50/50 on this one, I want it to be true so bad, but there's just something I can't put my finger on about the whole event. What do you think?
