Falkville Metal Man
Police chief reported and photographed a “metallic” humanoid in 1973
The Falkville Metal Man is one of the strangest humanoid cryptid encounters in American history, distinguished by a rare combination of law-enforcement testimony, photographic evidence, and physical interaction. Unlike many cryptids rooted in folklore or mass sightings, this entity appeared once, was confronted directly, and left behind images—yet no explanation.
The incident occurred on the night of October 17, 1973, in the small town of Falkville, Alabama. Jeff Greenhaw, the town’s police chief, received reports of a suspicious figure walking along Highway 33. Expecting a trespasser or stranded motorist, Greenhaw drove out to investigate. What he encountered instead would become one of the most unsettling encounters of his career.
According to Greenhaw’s account, he observed a tall humanoid figure walking stiffly along the roadside. The being was approximately seven feet tall, thin, and completely covered in a silvery, metallic material that reflected light unnaturally. Its posture was rigid, its movements mechanical, as if its joints resisted bending. When Greenhaw called out, the figure did not respond. Instead, it turned slowly and moved toward the treeline with an unnatural gait.
Greenhaw attempted to pursue. At one point, the entity allegedly leapt—or glided—off an embankment with surprising ease, disappearing into the woods. During the chase, Greenhaw snapped several photographs using his patrol camera. These images, later developed, show a tall humanoid form wrapped head to toe in a reflective material, its face obscured, its proportions distinctly inhuman.
Following the encounter, Greenhaw returned home shaken. That night, he reported further disturbances: knocking sounds, scratching at the house, and the sensation of being watched. In one chilling detail, he claimed the entity attempted to enter his home by manipulating the door handle. Fearing for his safety, Greenhaw fired a warning shot through the door. The sounds ceased immediately.
The photographs were later published in local newspapers, drawing national attention. Skeptics quickly suggested the figure was a prankster wearing an aluminum suit. However, this explanation raised uncomfortable questions. The suit would have required custom fabrication, significant heat resistance, and the ability to move quickly through dense woodland—none of which aligned with materials readily available in 1973 rural Alabama. No suspect was ever identified, and no similar pranks were reported before or after the incident.
What makes the Falkville Metal Man particularly disturbing is its isolation. There were no waves of sightings, no folklore buildup, no later copycat reports. The entity appeared, was seen clearly, documented, and then vanished completely. Greenhaw resigned from his position not long after, citing harassment and pressure. He maintained the truth of his account until his death.
Some researchers have attempted to categorize the Metal Man as an extraterrestrial encounter, others as a military experiment, and still others as a misinterpreted human. Yet none of these explanations fully account for the behavior, appearance, or aftermath described by Greenhaw.
In Dread Lore, the Falkville Metal Man stands as a reminder that not all cryptid encounters are born from myth or mass fear. Some arrive quietly, leave behind evidence that raises more questions than answers, and disappear before the world can decide what it just witnessed. It was not a beast in the woods or a shadow in the sky—but something reflective, silent, and unnervingly close to human.