American researcher of anomalous phenomena John Keel has published numerous books, including the famous 1975 book “The Mothman Prophecies,” which was made into a Hollywood film of the same name in 2002.
Keel was also deeply fascinated by the “Men in Black” phenomenon and collected numerous eyewitness accounts of them. One of these cases was bizarre even for a paranormal researcher. It occurred in 1966, and Keel described it in his 1970 book, “UFOs: Operation Trojan Horse.”
It happened in 1966 in a rural area near Owatonna, Minnesota. Late one evening, a resident, Mrs. Butler, and her friend were walking near a field when they noticed a scattering of moving lights in the pitch-black night sky. Suddenly, one of these lights plunged toward the ground at high speed and stopped falling just a few feet above the field.
The UFO bobbed above the field like a boat on the ocean waves, and Mrs. Butler, who was observing it, fell to the ground as if struck by some force. Soon after, the mysterious object again sped off into the blackness of the sky, and Mrs. Butler recovered and rose to her feet. Both men suffered from severe headaches and general weakness over the next few days.
Years later, researcher John Keel came to Mrs. Butler to record her account of her UFO sighting. But during the interview, he learned something else curious from her. He hadn’t mentioned the “Men in Black” phenomenon; she herself had asked him if Keel knew about the mysterious men who approach UFO witnesses and appear to be military personnel.
Keel was well aware of this phenomenon, having already collected numerous stories about it, but he said “No” to avoid frightening the woman even more. Then Mrs. Butler told him that about six months after she and her friend saw the UFO in the field, a certain “Major Richard French” came to her home.
The man introduced himself as a military man and began asking the woman about flying saucers, but (as in all cases with the “Men in Black”), there was much that was strange and repulsive in his appearance and his speech.
His speech was slurred, his questions seemed out of place, and his skin was an unusual olive hue. His face also had an unpleasantly pointed chin. And he wasn’t wearing a military uniform, but a black suit and tie.
It would seem like a typical visit from the “Man in Black,” and he would then threaten the woman not to tell anyone about the UFO, then leave and never come back. But here begins the most surreal part of the story.
This “Richard French” began complaining of stomach problems, and Mrs. Butler offered him some of her recently prepared fruit jelly. The man abruptly refused and left. But he returned the next day and again complained of a stomach ache. Mrs. Butler offered him the jelly again, and this time he agreed to try it.
![American researcher of anomalous phenomena John Keel has published numerous books, including the famous 1975 book "The Mothman Prophecies," which was made into a Hollywood film of the same name in 2002. [advert] Keel was also deeply fascinated by the "Men in Black" phenomenon and collected numerous eyewitness accounts of them. One of these cases was bizarre even for a paranormal researcher. It occurred in 1966, and Keel described it in his 1970 book, "UFOs: Operation Trojan Horse." Men in Black and the Jello Story It happened in 1966 in a rural area near Owatonna, Minnesota. Late one evening, a local resident, Mrs. Butler, and her friend were walking near a field when they noticed a scattering of moving lights in the pitch-black night sky. Suddenly, one of these lights plunged toward the ground at high speed and stopped falling just a few feet above the field. The UFO bobbed above the field like a boat on the ocean waves, and Mrs. Butler, who was observing it, fell to the ground as if struck by some force. Soon after, the mysterious object again sped off into the blackness of the sky, and Mrs. Butler recovered and rose to her feet. Both men suffered from severe headaches and general weakness over the next few days. Years later, researcher John Keel came to Mrs. Butler to record her account of her UFO sighting. But during the interview, he learned something else curious from her. He hadn't mentioned the "Men in Black" phenomenon; she herself had asked him if Keel knew about the mysterious men who approach UFO witnesses and appear to be military personnel. Keel was well aware of this phenomenon, having already collected numerous stories about it, but he said "No" to avoid frightening the woman even more. Then Mrs. Butler told him that about six months after she and her friend saw the UFO in the field, a certain "Major Richard French" came to her home . The man introduced himself as a military man and began asking the woman about flying saucers, but (as in all cases with the "Men in Black"), there was much that was strange and repulsive in his appearance and his speech. His speech was slurred, his questions seemed out of place, and his skin was an unusual olive hue. His face also had an unpleasantly pointed chin. And he wasn't wearing a military uniform, but a black suit and tie. It would seem like a typical visit from the "Man in Black," and he would then threaten the woman not to tell anyone about the UFO, then leave and never come back. But here begins the most surreal part of the story. This "Richard French" began complaining of stomach problems, and Mrs. Butler offered him some of her recently prepared fruit jelly . The man abruptly refused and left. But he returned the next day and again complained of a stomach ache. Mrs. Butler offered him the jelly again, and this time he agreed to try it. Men in Black and the Jello Story The woman brought some jelly out of the kitchen in a bowl and offered it to the man. He stared at the jelly as if he were seeing it for the first time. And when the woman gave him a spoon, he looked at the spoon with the same eyes. Then he clumsily picked up the bowl and began trying to DRINK the jelly. Mrs. Butler was saying something to him at the time, but immediately fell silent at the sight of this. "Major Richard French" looked at the woman and seemed to realize he had somehow given himself away and was doing something wrong. He quickly got ready and left Mrs. Butler's house. She never saw him again. Source Jelly Men in Black](https://www.paranormal-news.site/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/62141453df60b4fba2cb6fe9c1927433-300x169.png)
The woman brought some jelly out of the kitchen in a bowl and offered it to the man. He stared at the jelly as if he were seeing it for the first time. And when the woman gave him a spoon, he looked at the spoon with the same eyes.
Then he clumsily picked up the bowl and began trying to DRINK the jelly. Mrs. Butler was saying something to him at the time, but immediately fell silent at the sight of this.
“Major Richard French” looked at the woman and seemed to realize he had somehow given himself away and was doing something wrong. He quickly got ready and left Mrs. Butler’s house. She never saw him again.
