Owen Greer interview

Monday, March 22, 2021 – 1:00 p.m.

Owen Greer is a self-described parazoologist who was seen in the Clear Springs Nature Trail area around the time Daniel's car was there.

Detectives Beckwith and Magee spoke with him at the Yoknapatawpha County Sheriff's Department.

Participants

• Detective P. Beckwith
• Detective J. Magee
• Owen Greer

Detective Beckwith: Please state your name and address for the record.

Owen Greer: Sure thing. My name's Owen Greer, and my address is 312 Horne Road, Oxford, Mississippi.

Detective Beckwith: Thank you, Mr. Greer. We wanted to talk to you today because we understand you had a run-in with a police officer near Sardis Lake back in January. Is that right?

Owen Greer: I wouldn't call it a run-in. I called the police because I saw some suspicious activity out there.

Detective Beckwith: Where exactly was that?

Owen Greer: Out near Clear Springs Nature Trail. In a wooded area just west of the trail.

Detective Beckwith: And what time did you see this "suspicious activity"?

Owen Greer: It was real late at night, around 2:00 a.m. I suppose. I called the cops right after.

Detective Beckwith: What were you doing there in the middle of the night?

Owen Greer: On account of my research.

Detective Magee: So you're often out in the middle of the night conducting research?

Owen Greer: Yes, ma'am. I'm what you might call a night person. It's the best time to catch sightings.

Detective Beckwith: Okay. Tell us about what you saw.

Owen Greer: Well, it's hard to describe. See, I research possible undiscovered species, so I'm no stranger to strange things. But it was dark, and I couldn't see very well. It was really more of a sense that I got.

Detective Magee: What do you mean by that?

Owen Greer: I know that sounds crazy. I'll try to explain it as objectively as possible. First, I hear a rustling in the trees about 15 feet away from me.

Detective Magee: Did you sense something, or did you actually see something?

Owen Greer: Well, I look towards the spot, and I see some movement, but all I could catch was an outline. It could have been a large man, but it looked more like the outline of a gorilla.

Detective Beckwith: Right. Was there a moon, Mr. Greer?

Owen Greer: I don't follow.

Detective Beckwith: Was it pitch black out there? How could you see anything?

Owen Greer: No, no. It was cloudy, but there was some moonlight. Not much, but then I have good night vision, so it was enough to conduct my research.

Detective Beckwith: I see.

Owen Greer: Then I heard some kind of grunting or snorting noises. Not aggressive noises. I don't think it saw me. It sounded more like it was sniffing around for food or something like that.

Detective Magee: What did you do?

Owen Greer: Well, I froze there watching the spot and listening. He kept snorting around, and I heard him moving away from me in the opposite direction. I listened for a few minutes more, but it was gone. Then I went back to the parking lot and called 911.

Detective Magee: You called 911 on an animal foraging in the woods?

Owen Greer: I got a little scared. I always hoped I'd find something, but then when I did, my sense was that I was in over my head. I realized that I was alone out there and unprepared to come face-to-face with it—whatever it was—and so I called for backup.

Detective Beckwith: How long did you wait in the parking lot?

Owen Greer: Oh, only 5 or 10 minutes, I'd say.

Detective Magee: Did you see anyone else while you were there?

Owen Greer: There was another car in the parking lot. I didn't pay much attention to it. I've gone out there late at night before, and there's usually some kids out there drinking and whatnot.

Detective Magee: Did you see any people?

Owen Greer: No, while I was waiting, they drove off.

Detective Beckwith: Did you see who was driving?

Owen Greer: I just assumed it was a guy and a girl, and I think the guy was driving. I just figured it was a young couple. I didn't get a very good look at them.

Detective Magee: Why do you think it was a guy and a girl?

Owen Greer: The driver looked taller, I guess, and had broader shoulders from what I could see. But I really can't say for sure.

Detective Beckwith: What kind of car was it?

Owen Greer: I don't know cars that well, and it was dark. It looked like a regular car.

Detective Beckwith: What does a regular car look like?

Owen Greer: You know, not a pickup or an SUV, Just a regular car.

Detective Beckwith: Did you notice what color it was?

Owen Greer: No, I really don't remember.

Detective Beckwith: Think hard, Mr. Greer. Any detail will help. Dark? Light? New and shiny? Old and dull?

Owen Greer: I don't know. Maybe it was gray … and the usual amount of shiny?

Detective Magee: Right. So when the officer arrived, what happened?

Owen Greer: We walked out to where I saw the animal or whatever it was. I told him what I seen. Then we walked back to the parking lot.

Detective Magee: About how long did that take?

Owen Greer: Not long, maybe 10 minutes.

Detective Magee: And during the entire time you were there, you didn't see anyone else except for when you were waiting?

Owen Greer: Yeah, that's right.

Detective Beckwith: Did you see the couple outside of their car?

Owen Greer: No, they were inside it when I noticed them. Then they drove away.

Detective Magee: At what time did you leave?

Owen Greer: Right after I got done talking to the officer. He said I should clear out, so I did. That must've been around 2:30 a.m.

Detective Beckwith: Did you see or hear anything else while you were out there?

Owen Greer: No, not that I remember.

Detective Magee: So what do you think it was that you saw out there in the woods?

Owen Greer: Well, have you heard about the skunk ape sightings?

Detective Magee: No, I can't say that I have. Skunk ape?

Owen Greer: Yeah. I've seen a lot of YouTube videos and read reports about sightings. Mostly in Florida but also a few in Mississippi. There's some kind of ape, unlike anything anyone's ever seen before. It's called a Skunk Ape because of the strong stench it has.

Detective Magee: I see. And did the thing you saw have a stench?

Owen Greer: I didn't notice any, but it was a little ways away.

Detective Magee: And you think it was one of these skunk apes?

Owen Greer: What else could it have been? Didn't look like a man, and what would a gorilla be doing out woods like that?

Detective Beckwith: For that matter, what would a skunk ape be doing out in the woods like that?

Owen Greer: I'm sure they're trying to hide for their own safety, so they only come out at night and try to stay away from people. That's why they haven't been recorded yet.

Detective Beckwith: Is that what you're researching?

Owen Greer: Yes, it is.

Detective Beckwith: Is it possible that people are just misinterpreting what they see?

Owen Greer: I don't think so. There are reports and photos all over the internet.

Detective Magee: Oh. Well, if it's on the internet.

Detective Beckwith: You can't believe everything you read online, Mr. Greer.

Owen Greer: Yeah, well, we all should keep our eyes open just in case.

Detective Magee: All right, Mr. Greer. Thank you for your time today.

Interview ended – 1:26 p.m.