Search Results

By Jack Brewer and Erica Lukes If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit  SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources  for additional resources. The Uintah County Attorney's Office recently provided Expanding Frontiers Research another release of records in response to a March 1 request seeking material on an abandoned motorcycle and a deceased body recovered near Skinwalker Ranch. The request was initially denied by the Uintah County Sheriff's Office (UCSO) and appealed to both the county's Chief Administrative Officer and the Utah State Records Committee. Records subsequently obtained indicate Andrew Crowe committed suicide, shooting himself within a few yards of an isolated road in Uintah County. As previously reported by EFR , Crowe left his Harley Davidson on the roadside with a several-page letter to Thomas Winterton, a cast member of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch and organizer of Uintah County's PhenomeCon. The letter warned of paranormal dangers at the ranch as cultivated by Winterton and his fellow cable television and conference cast members, referred to as “talents” in their Uintah County PhenomeCon contracts. Police surmise from the letter that Crowe wanted Winterton to have his Harley. A July 18 email from the county attorney's office informed EFR of the release of three police video recordings that were created when the sheriff's office responded to reports of the abandoned motorcycle. “The redactions being made to these documents are pursuant to Utah Code Ann. §63G-2-302 to protect personal identifying information of individuals,” the Uintah County Attorney's Office wrote in the email. “We would like to acknowledge that there are still more records being reviewed that we will be providing as we receive and review them.” The image above is taken from dash cam video recorded by the UCSO. It shows officers from the sheriff's office and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) examining the letter to Winterton while standing in the snow and rain the morning of November 24, 2023 (Black Friday). The resulting law enforcement investigation required time and resources from multiple agencies and jurisdictions spanning at least two states. While records obtained indicate circumstances surrounding the motorcycle and its owner were primary points of interest, police notably showed no concern whatsoever about the dubious narratives of public safety hazards often promoted by the Skinwalker Ranch crew and enabled by Uintah County public officials. Law enforcement eventually requested to search Skinwalker Ranch for the presumed deceased person and, as a matter of fact, a responding officer initially laughed when they first saw the large envelope addressed to Tom Winterton left at the motorcycle. The clip below is taken from a longer UCSO body cam video. It includes the officer discovering the letter. He then describes items he observed on the bike to the BIA officer and can be heard laughing as he holds the envelope up for his colleague to see the apparent intended recipient, Thomas Winterton. The officer then begins to read the letter aloud. As it becomes increasingly difficult to follow, he reads and comments, “It is a refined power source... event horizon... what ?” Upon heading back to his vehicle, the officer remarks, “Alright, gimme a sec, this is gettin' weird.” View the video recording in its entirety, as well as the two other videos, as uploaded to Google Drive . The following clip is taken from UCSO dash cam video of the same sequence of events. The UCSO officer is observed examining and photographing the contents of the bike. After discovering the large envelope addressed to Winterton, he can be seen gesturing to the BIA officer to come have a look. They then share the pages of the letter, contemplating what it indicates. The clip below is from a longer video from a camera pointed at the backseat of the UCSO vehicle. The video serves as audio confirmation of conversations taking place by radio between the officer and other UCSO personnel. He requests information on Thomas Winterton, to which he is advised of Winterton's possible status as manager of Skinwalker Ranch. “Copy,” the responding officer replies, “that might make sense,” adding he will be submitting more information. He then begins backing the vehicle down the narrow road and away from the scene. The first of the three recently released longer-length videos begins with officers initially arriving at the scene of the motorcycle. They speak to surrounding residents. The owner of a nearby farm explains he found the bike and a plastic bag taped to its windscreen. The bag contained a signed title along with handwritten operating instructions. The man directly states there was no suicide note in the plastic bag but interpreted the act was implied. He further stated he had not searched the surrounding area because of his concerns about locating a body, suggesting perhaps police should have that responsibility. Video contained in the release additionally shows the responding UCSO officer conferring with a colleague by cell phone about proper protocols for impounding the motorcycle. The footage provides multiple angles of police response to the incident, both literally and figuratively. Read the EFR previous reporting about how law enforcement agencies collaborated to locate the body of the deceased individual about three months after the motorcycle was found abandoned on Thanksgiving. Access a folder containing the most recently released video records and view all of the records obtained thus far on the case. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you for your interest in our work at Expanding Frontiers Research. Please consider joining the EFR Patreon  or making a contribution via our secure “Donate” button located on our homepage . Your donations help fund fees associated with our FOIA and GRAMA work, the costs of producing our YouTube show, maintaining our website, and general operating expenses. As a Patreon subscriber, you are provided and kept updated on the records we obtain, offered instructional information about submitting records requests, and much more. Expanding Frontiers Research is a Utah nonprofit corporation, tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. EIN: 88-3794616.

By Jack Brewer and Erica Lukes If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit  SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources The final response was issued to a public records request submitted to the Uintah County Sheriff's Office concerning an abandoned motorcycle and deceased individual located in the vicinity of Skinwalker Ranch. The July 31 release represented the last in a series of responsive records transferred to Expanding Frontiers Research from the Uintah County Attorney's Office. Items include a suicide note, medical examiner report, and video filmed by a drone as law enforcement personnel located what was later confirmed to be the lifeless body of Andrew Crowe. His motorcycle was reported abandoned Nov. 24, 2023, and a search of the surrounding area was conducted Feb. 29, 2024. Drone video obtained from the Uintah County Sheriff's Office Items obtained July 31 also include numerous images and police records. The material is available in a folder uploaded to Google Drive. You may also access the final response along with records previously received in a master folder available for viewing. Please be advised the images, videos, and documents represent original source law enforcement records and may be found disturbing in some instances. The Uintah County Attorney's Office advised in a July 31 letter that certain specifically identified records were withheld due to reasons including their graphic and shocking nature. The law office also indicated select records were withheld “that would disclose investigative techniques.” Utah Code cited for material exempt from disclosure included 63G-2-305(10)(e) and (51) and 63G-2-302(2)(d). As previously reported, the late Andrew Crowe expressed significant interest in the narratives surrounding Skinwalker Ranch. According to records obtained, he formerly lived in California and traveled to Uintah County, penning a letter to Skinwalker personality Thomas Winterton. The letter was found on the motorcycle Crowe abandoned on Thanksgiving of 2023 and reflected his thoughts about alleged paranormal phenomena and UFOs. The letter also suggested he wanted Winterton to have his Harley Davidson, referred to as “Haley” in notes left by Crowe. A suicide note found Feb. 29 in Andrew's front coat pocket is shown below. As interpreted in a report authored by a detective , it read, “My Last Wishes/Will Andrew B. Crowe 1) Do not notify or bother next of kin or family ties 2) Donate my body to a forensics body farm, so mother Earth can reclaim what's rightfully hers. Use any monies found on body to assist with transport costs. Thank you (back of page) There's no blame to be had or be put on anyone or anybody for my choice to move on in this way. Its an act of futility to waste any more resources on this failing piece of work (my body) which has stolen all pleasures from eating to long uninterrupted rides on Haley. Please find her a good home. Andrew B. Crowe”. Also located with the body, according to the detective, was a Smith and Wesson .38 Special, four corresponding bullets with one spent shell casing, and a black holster. A medical examination dated March 1 indicates Mr. Crowe sustained a gunshot wound to the chest from close range. “Given the circumstances surrounding the death as currently known and the examination findings,” the report continued, “the cause of death is gunshot wound of torso.” The manner of death is suicide, the medical examination concluded. The report further indicated toxicology and postmortem blood was negative for ethanol and tested drugs of abuse. Cocaine, methamphetamine, morphine, and THC were documented to not be detected. Expanding Frontiers Research learned of the circumstances and subsequently obtained a statement from the sheriff's office in a March 4 email. The agency acknowledged the recovery of a deceased individual but declined to provide details or comment on the interest the person had in local paranormal lore. EFR submitted a public records request under the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act, leading to a series of denials and appeals. It was after submitting an appeal to the State Records Committee, resulting in negotiations conducted with the Uintah County Attorney's Office, that records were obtained as published in articles posted June 25 and July 21 .

Records on Gen. Albert Coady Wedemeyer (1896-1989) were recently provided by the FBI to Expanding Frontiers Research as the result of a 2021 Freedom of Information Act request. The Bureau explained in its July 17 final response that 101 pages were reviewed and 61 of those pages were being released. The previously released material includes FBI memos and correspondence spanning decades, as well as a report published in January 1958 by the Congressional Committee on Un-American Activities about its consultation with the career intelligence officer. FBI advised of the existence of another ten files in the custody of the National Archives and Records Administration containing records potentially responsive to Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer. Expanding Frontiers Research submitted a FOIA request to NARA for the records. Gen. Wedemeyer commanded troops in the United States Army and served in Asia from 1943 until the end of World War II. He was a key member of the War Planning Board, which formulated strategy for D-Day, a massive invasion of Normandy that went on to liberate Western Europe from occupation by fascist Germany. The initiative was known to planners as Operation Overlord. Wedemeyer was an outspoken anti-Communist. In 1947 he returned to China to assess the circumstances and present a report to President Truman on proposed strategy. The general subsequently became deeply involved in the China lobby, adamantly opposing the forming of a Communist regime in China and its admission into the United Nations. He would interestingly go on to be known as an advisor to the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP), ostensibly incorporated as a UFO group in 1956. NICAP organizers included an almost certain CIA asset, Nicholas de Rochefort, who was an expert in psychological warfare and credited with founding The Committee of One Million, the most powerful and wealthy group in the Beltway China lobby, as covered by this writer in the book Wayward Sons: NICAP and the IC . The high-profile lobby group opposed Red China and de Rochefort was a recognized authority on the nation's political structure, as was Wedemeyer. A NICAP magazine published in July 1957, as brought to our attention by writer and researcher James Carrion, described the UFO org's affiliation with Wedemeyer and characterized his activities as evaluation of UFO reports. However, fascinating questions arise in hindsight as the magazine further explained the general was leaving NICAP because he never wanted his involvement to be known publicly. “We regret that the general's name was released,” the announcement concludes: Additional NICAP organizers of note include former State Department and CIA personnel, as well as others with interests in the Department of Defense, who shared ties to activities related to China. A number of these people, which include the very incorporators of the organization, vacated their NICAP positions within weeks of its October 1956 launch, as suggested in the above July 1957 references to "former management." Wedemeyer was apparently yet another. In a 2021 interview conducted by Erica Lukes, James Carrion described his research which included Wedemeyer's potential involvement in disinformation surrounding purported UFO cases. James also favorably described this writer's work which is most appreciated. The discussion of 1940s events of interest and the later incorporating of NICAP takes place about 1:43:45 into the video: Among the FBI records is a 1949 inner-agency memo to Director J. Edgar Hoover. It demonstrates Wedemeyer's expressed respect for the FBI director and the Bureau, as well as his seemingly intimate knowledge of certain operations, such as FBI personnel located in South America. The memo, pictured below, is coincidentally written by Special Agent in Charge Guy Hottel, a name UFO enthusiasts may recognize as the author of a 1950 Roswell-related FBI document. Also provided is a 1960 letter from Wedemeyer to Hoover, advising the director on political developments and, specifically, activities related to 1964 presidential candidate Sen. Barry Goldwater. The Senator would go on to be a member of the NICAP Board of Governors. In a 1967 letter to Hoover , Wedemeyer describes his attendance at the “Bohemian Club Encampment” in the redwoods of California, a reference to what became known as Bohemian Grove and its so-called secret society. The general informs Hoover about talk of subversive elements, questionable individuals, and circumstances of concern in the orbit of the University of California and physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer of the Manhattan Project: In a 43-page pdf containing Wedemeyer's consultation with the Committee on Un-American Activities and printed in early 1958, the general warned members of Congress about Soviet ideologies and advances in areas including science and psychological warfare. His role in combating this, he suggested, involved designing and implementing effective strategies. “The term 'strategy' disturbs many people,” Gen. Wedemeyer explained, “just as the word 'propaganda' does. I define 'strategy' as the art and science of using all of a nation's available resources to accomplish national objectives. There are four major categories of resources: political, economic, psychological, and military. If the first three of these resources – that is, political, economic, and psychological – are employed intelligently and boldly in consonance with a well-thought-out plan, it may never be necessary to use actively our military force. Obviously that is exactly what we should do at all times...”

Join us this week for a special live Wednesday edition of Expanding Frontiers with Erica Lukes. Wednesday, July 31, 4pm Eastern, Erica and Jack Brewer welcome investigative journalist and disinformation analyst Dave Troy for what will no doubt be a timely discussion as the 2024 election cycle moves into full swing: Dave Troy analyzes and writes extensively on topics including the intersection of politics, disinformation, and the economy. Tune in and join us in chat as we discuss his research findings and interpretations of what he believes matters most. Those unfamiliar with Dave's work may find the indications both shocking and concerning about extremist agendas and those driving them. Subscribe to the EFR YouTube channel to stay up to date on interviews and discussions, and browse the EFR video page to check out past episodes and informative content published by Expanding Frontiers Research.

The Ivy League has a long and well-documented history with the intelligence community, or IC. This goes back to the mid-20th century and includes connections to the UFO subculture. DCI Allen Dulles was a Princeton man, as were many of those who worked with Princeton alum Col. Joseph Bryan III on his CIA psychological warfare team. The colonel went on to be a staple of the Board of Governors of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP). A talent of NICAP front man Maj. Donald Keyhoe was public relations. His background included managing the tour of famous aviator and politically controversial Charles Lindbergh, and Keyhoe's experience served him well while at the helm of NICAP. He effectively collected pro-UFO statements from influential community leaders and distributed them widely. This included a statement attributed to Dr. Harlow Shapley, director of the Harvard Observatory, as disseminated in NICAP literature published approximately 1958 ( see p35 ): Hundreds of pages of FBI records were obtained on Dr. Shapley . They indicate internal security investigations conducted during the 1940s identified concerns about his political interests. Follow-up FOIA work undertaken by EFR resulted in more responsive records located at the National Archives. EFR is in the process of obtaining this material, which includes numerous internal security investigations launched by the FBI during the mid-20th century. A high-profile colleague of Dr. Shapley was fellow Harvard astronomer Dr. Donald Menzel. FBI records on Menzel similarly show repeated investigations and interviews. Menzel was issued a clearance for national security work he did with the Navy, among other projects. As indicated in the FBI memo below, Menzel worked on communications, consulting about the significance of atmospheric conditions: Menzel was frequently the subject of security investigations to either clear him for participation in a project or ensure he remained a low security risk. Among the biggest FBI concerns was consistently his association with Shapley. Menzel disagreed with Shapley's positions on both politics and UFOs, but he publicly defended Shapley's right to hold and express his opinions. Menzel was adamantly skeptical about the UFO topic. He authored books and articles on the subject, and intellectually sparred with NICAP Chairman of the Board and former DCI Roscoe Hillenkoetter. This included going as far as diplomatically calling out Hillenkoetter for questionably supporting Keyhoe in public while denouncing the major's assertions and the UFO topic in general in private.  Incidentally, Menzel and Hillenkoetter were each listed as members of the infamous MJ-12, a fictional group of leading intelligence officials tasked with managing the retrieval of crashed alien spaceships. Given Menzel's status as a skeptic, some researchers suspected his inclusion on the contrived list may have been considered a joke by the architects of the hoax. All of this raises a number of legitimate questions, and they're not going to become any less complicated by a memo found in the Menzel FBI files. In 1974, after a lifetime as the subject of surveillance, FBI considered recruiting Dr. Menzel as a potential security informant or double agent ( see p12 ):  This might lead the discerning reader to formulate salient questions surrounding more recent events linking the Ivy League, the IC and the UFO meme, as raised by FBI records obtained on Avi Loeb's Galileo Project . The records released by the FBI observe the Harvard astronomer's endeavor raised $1.7 million from private investors to look for possible evidence of artifacts or equipment made by extraterrestrial technological civilizations, as shown in the 2021 communication below. If history is any indication, which it often is, the convergence of Harvard, the Bureau, and talk of alien spacecraft may have much more to do with topics such as telescopes, satellites, and the security thereof than it has to do with UFOs.

By Jack Brewer and Erica Lukes Jan Harzan was found guilty by a jury Thursday of contacting a minor with intent to commit a specified offense and meeting a minor to commit lewd conduct, according to court records obtained by Expanding Frontiers Research. The former executive director of the Mutual UFO Network was removed from his position after reports surfaced of his July 3, 2020, arrest in Newport Beach, California. Harzan was booked on the charges after police accused him of soliciting sexual activity from a detective who was posing online as a 13-year-old girl. A case summary obtained from the Orange County Superior Court of California : The summary reflects a long series of hearings that began in 2020. Harzan pleaded not guilty to the charges that culminated into a jury trial that concluded this week. Sentencing is scheduled for July 26. The felony charges could result in up to eight-year prison sentences, substantial fines, and sex offender registration under California guidelines.

By Jack Brewer and Erica Lukes If you or someone you know is in crisis, call 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. You can also call the network at 800-273-8255, text HOME to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources. Uintah County Sheriff's Office records obtained by Expanding Frontiers Research state the body of a deceased individual recovered earlier this year in the vicinity of Skinwalker Ranch died by suicide. The remains of Andrew Barton Crowe were discovered in a rural wooded area during a search conducted by rescue personnel on February 29. The decomposing body was located about 40 yards from where Crowe's motorcycle was first seen abandoned on the roadside the evening of November 23, 2023. It was Thanksgiving. A witness statement provided to the Bureau of Indian Affairs indicates a person who saw the bike Thanksgiving night decided to take a closer look when it was still there the morning of November 24. They then called police after finding written material leading them to become concerned the rider left to commit suicide. It is not entirely clear why three months passed between the time law enforcement was made aware of the circumstances and a coordinated search of the area was conducted for the motorcycle owner. Andrew Crowe was formerly of California and was 61 years old. Records obtained suggest he parked his trouble-prone Harley Davidson on the side of the remote road before walking away, a .38 Special in his possession. Police believe he used the gun to end his life. The revolver was found at the feet of the deceased, five rounds of ammunition - one of them spent - still in the cylinder. The existence of a suicide note, the contents of which have not been released as of this writing, is documented. The note was wrapped in a plastic bag and seemed to be left for whoever found the body, the report states. A responding officer surmised suicide was the cause of death, adding that no evidence of foul play was found at the scene. Reference is made in the officer's report to the medical examiner for final judgment and further details of the death. It was further stated that a medical examiner's report had not yet been provided to the Uintah County Sheriff's Office as of June 13. Skinwalker Ranch Connection A manila envelope addressed to Thomas Winterton was found on Andrew Crowe's motorcycle. Winterton is a cast member of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch cable television show which promotes speculation about paranormal phenomena while purporting to be conducting scientific investigation. He is also an organizer of PhenomeCon, an annual event underwritten by Uintah County which directs the attention of the public to such topics as Skinwalker Ranch, UFOs and Bigfoot. The envelope addressed to Winterton contained a series of handwritten pages, one of which, an officer documented, provided a phone number, yet stated the number was only good until midday November 24. The officer wrote further, “The first of the pages states that the bike was being turned over to Mr. Winterton.” Police interpreted Andrew Crowe wanted Winterton to have his Harley. Six pages apparently intended for Winterton, images of which are provided below, contain such references as dangerous energy sources believed to be on the property; planetary portals; exotic craft; Robert Bigelow; and a UFO investigation group known as UAPx, a member of which was portrayed as mysteriously falling ill during a visit to the ranch as televised on an episode of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch. The pages could be interpreted as an effort by Crowe to inform Winterton of the inherent otherworldly dangers of the ranch and the perceived solutions. Thomas Winterton Winterton is among those who financially benefit most from their involvement in PhenomeCon. Uintah County records obtained by Expanding Frontiers Research indicate he was issued over $5,800 for the three-day conference in 2023. He is a speaker at the event and is featured in what are termed “add-on” activities. Those are events such as “behind the scenes” meals and guided tours to the perimeter of Skinwalker Ranch. Attendees pay extra to participate in each add-on they select while PhenomeCon personalities like Winterton receive up to 50 percent of the additional revenue generated. This is on top of speaker fees paid to the “talents,” as the speakers and add-on hosts are termed in Uintah County PhenomeCon contracts. It is not clear how well members of the Uintah County Commission understand what is happening at PhenomeCon, which it approved for $215,000 in the 2023 annual county budget. During a Commission Work Session held May 13, 2024, Travel and Tourism Director Lesha Coltharp advised commissioners that terms and conditions of PhenomeCon contracts must be open to the public (The circumstances arose out of a series of records requests and appeals executed by Expanding Frontiers Research). Commissioners subsequently asked Coltharp about who must pay to get into PhenomeCon and if the reason the participants were referred to as “talents” in the contracts was because it was a talent show. "Yeah, no, no, no," Coltharp responded. “It's just a speaker contract. They're basically called 'talents' because – of the speakers that come in – most of them are actors on different paranormal... shows?" Briefly pausing, Coltharp added, "They're talented." Andrew Crowe In late February, before discovering the body but long after impounding the abandoned Harley and its contents, the Uintah County Sheriff's Office documented its efforts to contact relatives and acquaintances of Crowe. All of them resided out of state and said they had not seen him in six months or more. One individual explained they received a telephone call from Crowe on November 22. Andrew was calling from Park City, Utah, and said he had just come from Uintah County where he was trying to see Skinwalker Ranch. The report documented that the individual described Andrew as fascinated with the ranch. A detective collected statements and observed evidence from the bike that formed a profile of a depressed recovering drug addict and alcoholic who was taking pain medication for hip and knee problems. A contact of Andrew's told the detective they suspected Andrew may have committed suicide due to statements he made about being done with life; the motorcycle being abandoned a few miles from Skinwalker Ranch; an empty handgun case left with the motorcycle; and the signed vehicle title located with the motorcycle along with the note about wanting the bike to be given to Thomas Winterton. The detective documented telling the contact, based on all of these facts, they believed Andrew's body may be somewhere near the ranch, to which the contact agreed. Sheriff's Office Investigation The incident report for the discovery of the abandoned motorcycle states multiple attempts were made to reach Thomas Winterton but phone calls were not returned. This was presumably in 2023 and due to the manila envelope and letter to Winterton found on the bike. “I learned that [Thomas Winterton] could possibly be associated with the Skinwalker Ranch which was near the area where the bike was located,” the report continued. “I drove up to the front gate of the property in hopes to make contact with the property's security team and found there was no one available to speak to and the guard shack was empty.” Three months later, on February 29, according to the incident report concerning the retrieval of the body, officers coordinated a search with the Uintah County Sheriff's Office, Bureau of Indian Affairs and two search and rescue teams. It was determined likely that Andrew could be found near the location where the motorcycle was abandoned or he possibly walked to the Skinwalker Ranch property. Winterton was successfully contacted at this point and stated he did not know Andrew Crowe. According to the report, a Detective Leishman asked Thomas if they could search the Skinwalker Ranch property for Andrew's body, “to which he informed us that we could on 3/1/24 as they had a film crew doing work at the ranch currently.” Officers proceeded with searching the surrounding area. Within about 20 minutes of commencing, one of the search and rescue personnel located a body 40 yards from where the motorcycle was found. The scene was described in writing and photographed. Though decomposition made an initial identification difficult, a wallet was present that contained a driver's license and debit cards belonging to Andrew. Officers were satisfied with an assessment of the scene and circumstances, pending a final autopsy report by the medical examiner. Reasonable Skepticism Philosophies grounded in the benefits of critical thinking typically suggest that not much good comes out of overindulging the fantastic. Mislabeling entertainment as science and subscribing to wild speculation as fact often carry consequences, sometimes tragic. The Skinwalker Ranch legend is used by an entire subculture of entertainers, writers and filmmakers to create content. In addition to television shows and county-sponsored conferences, the unverified rumors are echoed and embellished through countless books and blogposts. Likewise, hosts of YouTube channels regularly pump out an endless assortment of videos purporting to be hot on the trail of some ever-elusive mystery. The related debate about social responsibility was going on long before the recovery of a body near Skinwalker Ranch and the content creators will continue clamoring for clicks and views with little to no pause. As a matter of fact, the Andrew Crowe case was framed by at least one dubious video creator as suggestive of alleged paranormal phenomena, presumably in an attempt to perpetuate mystery and drive site traffic, before his name was even known. Also noteworthy in this chain of events is that the Expanding Frontiers Research request to the Uintah County Sheriff's Office was denied for records responsive to the abandoned motorcycle and the deceased individual. An appeal was virtually ignored. It was not until an appeal was submitted to the Utah State Records Committee and two mediation meetings were conducted that records began to be released. The first release was issued 111 days after the request for records was submitted and would never have happened at all if the previous denials were accepted without question. Two emails containing responsive records have now been received from the Uintah County Attorney's Office. Each of the emails advised, “We would like to acknowledge that there are still more records being reviewed in both cases that we will be providing as we receive and review them.”

FBI records recently obtained from the National Archives indicate the Bureau compiled a file from 1950-1971 on Carleton W. Alsop, once considered the CIA's most valuable asset in Hollywood. Alsop was a member of a political and psychological warfare unit assembled within the Office of Policy Coordination, a covert arm of the CIA and State Department, which officially operated from 1948-1952. The unit was led by Joseph Bryan III, who went on to be an influential and long-term member of the Board of Governors of the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena, as explored in this writer's book, Wayward Sons: NICAP and the IC. The FBI opened what is known as an applicant investigation on Alsop in 1950. Select details continue to be redacted and numerous entire pages of responsive records were deemed exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, but the investigation almost certainly reflects Alsop's formal induction into the CIA. From a May 2 email received from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA): From the files received: FBI agents composed some nine reports on Carleton Alsop and his then-wife, actress Sylvia Sidney, during the applicant investigation. While there is no direct correlation in these specific files between Alsop's CIA affiliation and his career management of actress Judy Garland, the circumstances nonetheless provide a dark backdrop through progressing FBI reports and memos. From Bureau files: An apparent truth of the Carleton Alsop files is that those reported for decades to have abused and exploited Judy Garland seem to have included a man who became a CIA asset, or at least his neglect and complicity potentially factors, even if that is not the primary takeaway of the Carleton Alsop story. One might consider the circumstances somewhat reminiscent of the George White saga, an apparent rogue narcotics squad cop with a drinking problem who became an MKULTRA asset, haphazardly managing Agency brothels under its notorious Operation Climax. Alsop was often described by those the Bureau interviewed as an excessive drinker, as well as accused in multiple divorce proceedings of cruel and abusive behavior. Nonetheless, Alsop was often given highly supportive assessments from those interviewed by the FBI, many acknowledging his drinking habits but stating the behavior didn't seem to impair his judgment, and certainly not his patriotism. Confidential informants similarly stated his several divorces did not reflect unfavorably on his character, but were attributable to understandable circumstances, such as differing career paths. A minority of informants were much less generous, expressing concerns about Alsop's trustworthiness and even his ability to keep his mouth shut, given his fondness for night life. Obviously, he was ultimately considered loyal to the causes and retained for Federal service. The Stockton, CA, native and University of Southern California class of 1926 grad became well-connected in the circles of the rich and famous in both Los Angeles and New York City. According to Watergate “plumber” E. Howard Hunt, Alsop and he were the only members of Bryan's team who were not Princeton alumni (Director of Central Intelligence Allen Dulles was also a Princeton man). Alsop was undoubtedly seen as beneficial to intelligence services for any number of potential reasons during the 1950s Red Scare and Cold War climates. As a matter of fact, the Bureau's deep concern with the women in Alsop's life (they even investigated a man who became the husband of one of Alsop's ex-wives) probably reflects the hunt for Communists in Hollywood. In this writer's experience, the mid-20th century FBI typically had a tendency to lack interest in the potentially criminal activities of females, if not to a sexist fault (That opinion is not necessarily shared by professional historians, but just happens to have been developed through the material explored to date). It therefore seemed significant that FBI took such interest in women during this specific investigation. The Bureau also tapped some 16 redacted confidential informants in addition to many interviewees directly named, the latter consisting of people ranging from co-workers to telephone operators. Frances Stonor Saunders, author of The Cultural Cold War, reported Alsop worked with the CIA as part of a larger campaign to discredit Soviet efforts to attract attention to U.S. racial tensions and discrimination against people of color. Alsop monitored and reported on potential Communist activity in Hollywood and furthered CIA objectives through introducing specific themes into films. He and fellow psychological warfare asset Finis Farr secured the rights to Orwell's Animal Farm from the writer's widow, and E. Howard Hunt assisted with CIA-funding for production of an elaborate animated film version which began in 1951. These were the things Carleton Alsop did. Joseph Bryan III makes an appearance in the Alsop files in a 1953 FBI memo, Subject: Carleton William Alsop, when D.M. Ladd reminded the director an investigation of Bryan led the Bureau to conclude the man talks trash about the FBI: Disrespecting the FBI is not necessarily a bad thing, depending on who you ask and when you ask them, but it's safe to say Director Hoover would disagree adamantly, under any scenario. Incidentally, and arguably fascinatingly, all of the men referenced in the memo above and scheduled to visit the FBI lab, Bryan, Alsop, and Hugh Troy, worked together on the Office of Policy Coordination political and psychological warfare team. This all ties into a few obscure letters located in a previously obtained Joseph Bryan FBI file as described in Wayward Sons. The murky gist of the situation is Hoover was corresponding in 1950 with a Judge Edward Allen Tamm, who forwarded the director a letter from Cornelius Vanderbilt. All of this somehow relates to Bryan, but FOIA requests have not yet fully clarified the circumstances. What is clear is Bryan, like Alsop and many of his fellow Ivy League CIA recruits, rubbed elbows with those of influence who were attractive to the CIA for reasons ranging from control of newspapers to personal wealth. Interestingly, the Alsop FBI files specify to refrain from interviewing Vanderbilt about Alsop. What is also clear is that while some of these people overtly professed interest in UFOs, FBI files fail to demonstrate that to actually be the case, and UFO evidence is rarely to never so much as referenced, much less observable. For instance, another personal feud in which Bryan became embroiled during this same historic time period involved Robert A. Winston, a retired Navy and CIA man. As the work of James Carrion showed, Winston was curiously the author of a 1946 intelligence report which significantly called into doubt the legitimacy of the so-called ghost rockets of the era. It all keeps looping back around on itself. FBI records contain accusations of the spreading of derogatory rumors and the Bureau's efforts to find their sources and counter the narratives. Much like the UFO chase of today, the circumstances descend into personal arguments and conflicting statements from one instance to the next. One might reasonably question if creating confusion and chaos were some of the players' intent for reasons that had little to nothing to do with ghost rockets, UFOs... tic tacs or UAP. So, why did the Alsop FBI files extend into the 1970s if it started as a 1950 applicant investigation? The answer to that may lie in this writer's observations that once a person becomes the subject of an investigation to clear them for security purposes, they often stay under surveillance indefinitely. That may be to ensure they remain a low security risk. In other words, keep tabs on who they hang out with and watch for signs they become compromised and start spying for adversaries. Just because someone was apple pie in 1950 doesn't necessarily mean they're not fed up and drowning in debt in 1952. Records on Alsop show he and Hoover publicly spoke favorably of one another and employed similar language in personal letters exchanged. Hoover even eventually stated in written FBI orders that he considered Alsop a personal friend. Alsop and his family were to be extended the highest courtesies as they traveled abroad. FBI men were positioned to receive the family at airports and even assist them through customs, in one instance removing their car from a cruise ship for them. Was this protecting the safety of a United States asset, or perhaps something more akin to offering an encouraging slap on the back while keeping a watchful eye on a man deemed to have poor self-control and subject to changing loyalties with the direction of the wind? Perhaps only Hoover – and more research – could truly tell.

Thomas Winterton told EFR he objected to the release of Uintah County 2023 PhenomeCon contracts because he does not like the details of his financial agreements made public. He also suggested in an email received Saturday it was EFR "tasked with doing the research" to prove or refute his revenue-related claims surrounding the event before closing the message by threatening EFR with "legal action." "I am very upset at your targeted untrue claims and if you make one more untrue claim about me, I will take legal action," Winterton wrote in response to a request for comment emailed Tuesday. "I contacted my attorney yesterday and had a consultation over the phone with him about you and Ms. Lukes. I will not tolerate anyone to repeatedly impugn my name or make false claims damaging my reputation without taking legal action." It is not entirely clear exactly what Winterton deems "untrue" and "false" about EFR reporting on PhenomeCon. He has expressed ambiguous objections and insinuations via a variety of online mediums about material obtained by EFR through the Utah Government Records Access and Management Act (GRAMA). Proponents of PhenomeCon, which promotes doubtful paranormal claims, argue ticket sales offset the expenses covered by Uintah County public funds, and that attendees spend dollars in the area. Critics counter that the revenue raised is primarily shared among select event organizers and speakers, leading to multiple conflicts of interest. The Tuesday EFR email sought comment from Winterton about why he objects to EFR obtaining PhenomeCon contracts, known as "Talent Agreements," from Uintah County. The County budgeted $215k for the event in 2023. He was also offered an opportunity to provide documentation to support his claims the conference creates over $600k in local revenue during the week it takes place. "Just like ANYONE," Winterton wrote, emphasis his, "I do not like the details of my financial agreements made public. Surely you could understand this." He added, "Making the details public could easily lead to hard feelings with other events moving forward." EFR reported throughout what has now become a two-year process of investigating the Uintah County public PhenomeCon records that it often seemed the involved parties did not understand the GRAMA, the transparency responsibilities of managing public funds, and the fundamentals of public records legislation. That assessment results from interactions with government officials, PhenomeCon organizers, and those entering into agreements with them. It could be well argued that Mr. Winterton's above statements support that assessment. To wit, a cornerstone aspect of the GRAMA, the Freedom of Information Act, and any open records legislation is the public has a right to know how its business is conducted. As EFR successfully argued in its case versus Uintah County at the State Records Committee, resulting in release of the contracts at issue, the GRAMA is an impersonal process. The only relevant factor when requests are submitted is whether or not the responsive records are subject to disclosure. In an arguably rambling paragraph about PhenomeCon finances, Winterton wrote in part, "How do you know that the sales numbers would not have reflected a $600K drop had Phenomecon not taken place? The truth is Mr. Brewer, is that neither you nor anyone else can honestly make that claim, because the overall numbers do not even begin to tell the story. I can go much more in depth on this but you are the one tasked with doing the research, so I will just say that if you make the claim that the sales tax numbers do not support the $600K, then be prepared for me to do another YouTube video sharing the facts and making your claim look like complete lies." In closing, Winterton wrote, "Your last report was grossly misrepresenting. I have yet to see any public retraction or apology to the Skinwalker Ranch team. IF you do another report that refers to me in any form, and you misrepresent or lie in it at all, thereby attaching my name to some type of unethical or illegal behavior, You [sic] better make sure you have your facts straight and well sourced because at this point, I am very upset at your targeted untrue claims and if you make one more untrue claim about me, I will take legal action."

It took several records requests, multiple granted appeals, and an order issued by the Utah State Records Committee, but Uintah County was finally convinced to release its 2023 PhenomeCon contracts to Expanding Frontiers Research (EFR). Legal counsel for Uintah County argued the contracts, which the County calls “Talent Agreements,” were exempt from disclosure, right up to the point the State Records Committee unanimously ruled otherwise in March. Nonetheless, Uintah County then delayed providing EFR the records until three days past the end of the 30-day period allowed for compliance that began April 1, the date the order was formally issued. Access a folder containing the PhenomeCon contracts recently obtained as well as other documents referenced and linked in this blogpost. EFR first obtained heavily redacted versions of the contracts along with dozens of responsive emails through appeal in December. The contracts show names of PhenomeCon speakers and amounts they were to be paid in speaker fees. The more recently received unredacted documents verify how select speakers were in some instances paid five to six times more than their speaker fee. The additional compensation was based on revenue collected through “add on” events they attended, per diem allowances, and similar items. PhenomeCon attendees pay an initial price to get through the door and are then offered opportunities throughout the weekend to pay more money to gain further access to the speakers and participate in extra, or add on, activities. Select speakers receive up to half the net revenue generated during those activities. One of those speakers is Thomas Winterton. He is credited with suggesting the creation of the conference that began in 2021, is a member of a conference organizing committee, and is among the speakers who personally profit most from the county-sponsored event. The circumstances reflect noncompliance with what may be the most fundamental part of universally accepted ethics of managing public funds: no one influencing their allocation benefits personally from their disbursement. Winterton is a cast member of the cable television show The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch and, as Uintah County counsel indicated to the State Records Committee, strongly objected to the release of the contracts sought by EFR. Winterton's speaker fee is listed as $1,000. The unredacted formula for establishing his total compensation may now be viewed and includes up to an additional 50% of revenue collected from certain add on events, namely, a behind the scenes dinner, VIP meals, and “Escorted Trips to the Perimeter of Skinwalker Ranch.” From Thomas Winterton's 2023 PhenomeCon contract: Cross-referencing payouts to Thomas Winterton from a file of PhenomeCon expenses obtained through a 2023 records request demonstrates there were $5,873 in payments actually reported to be issued to him for that year's conference. There were also $750 in payments issued to his wife, Melissa Winterton (a $300 speaker fee plus another $450 for add on activities). Some of those payouts are documented in the image below, page one of a three-page 2023 PhenomeCon expense file: That brings the total since 2021 in Uintah County payments issued to Thomas Winterton and his Dabato, LLC, for PhenomeCon, an annual three-day conference, to $16,368. That does not include additional compensation issued to his wife. Winterton's Intermountain Economic Consulting, a firm operated with Secret of Skinwalker Ranch fellow cast members Brandon Fugal and James Morse, was additionally issued a combined $175,500 from Uintah, Daggett and Duchesne Counties in 2021 for economic development services. It is unclear specifically what was provided in exchange for the funds or if the county commissioners were satisfied with the return on the public's investment. None of the several commissioners emailed and left telephone messages chose to respond to the requests for comment made in preparation for EFR's related 2022 blogpost, Skinwalker Cast Members Received $175k in County Economic Development Funds. Additional information revealed in the now unredacted 2023 PhenomeCon contracts includes a paragraph stipulating the “Talent... shall not make any disparaging or derogatory statement regarding the Event or any person or entity connected to the Event”. The contracts also require “exclusivity,” forbidding speakers from appearing at “any fan-related event” within 300 miles between July and October. There is a confidentiality clause, stating, "Talent shall not disclose the terms of this Agreement to any third-party, except Talent's attorney, agent or tax professional (on a need-to-know basis only), who shall agree to be bound by the foregoing confidentiality obligation." Additional contract stipulations include frequency of promotional social media posts and mandatory attendance at press and media events. Uintah County offers to provide the speaker with material for posting on social media as well as personnel for assistance in “dealing with the public” during photo and autograph sessions, ensuring the promotion of PhenomeCon in ways the County and event organizers find most advantageous. EFR contends that substantial conflicts of interest arise when individuals claiming to be conducting scientific research serve up and endorse sensational content and statements in exchange for financial compensation. The PhenomeCon and its relationship with cast members of The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch provide textbook examples of such conflicts of interest. It is abundantly clear the cast members, who dubiously claim to be doing scientific investigation at the ranch, have financial incentives to promote sensational content, dismiss prosaic explanations, and obstruct the release of data and information that would jeopardize their personal financial interests. They're arguably contractually obligated. Moreover, Thomas Winterton's participation on the organizing committee creates deeper conflict, given the public funds used to underwrite the conference. In spite of multiple requests, no protocols have ever been provided about how Uintah County and its organizing committee arrive at decisions about who is invited to speak and how their speaker fee and compensation packages are established, circumstances considered to be at the heart of government transparency and ethical best practices. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been budgeted by Uintah County for PhenomeCon. Proponents, such as Uintah County Travel and Tourism Director Lesha Coltharp, argue the event sells tickets to offset expenses and brings substantial revenue to the area. “Coltharp contends the real value is in the money PhenomeCon makes for local businesses,” FOX 13 News Utah reported in February 2023. “She estimates it to be a million dollars.” By September, she apparently opted to substantially back off that claim, cutting the figure in half. “Coltharp estimates the economic benefit to the city and county to be about a half a million dollars,” FOX reported at that time. Winterton denies the inherent conflicts of interest while, similarly to Coltharp, arguing PhenomeCon is responsible for substantial local revenue. During a November 2022 interview with EFR he drew from the hip and fired the assertion that the economic benefits “this year are well north of $600,000 for one week”: The facts of the matter may be explored in records published by the Utah State Tax Commission. PhenomeCon is held in September in Vernal, Utah. Tax records repeatedly fail to show anything particularly significant about September. The two adjacent months were more prosperous four of six times between 2021 and 2023, the years the conference was held. Furthermore, the amounts of taxable sales and purchases in Vernal in September 2023 were actually down from the previous year, while PhenomeCon, according to records obtained from Uintah County, was provided a budget of $215,000 that year, its highest allocation of funds to date. That budget included over $54k for speakers, over $67k for per diem, lodging and travel, and some $48k for catering. The 2021-2023 Vernal taxable sales figures: As shown above, taxable sales and purchases in Vernal during the month of September 2022 totaled $58.1 million, a 30% increase over September of the previous year. However, Vernal taxable sales for the prior month, August 2022, were $55.5 million, a comparable 26% increase over 2021. Neither month came close to taxable sales for October 2022, which totaled $84 million, a steep 84% increase over 2021. For 2023, the most recent conference year, Vernal taxable sales in September were $57.9 million, actually dipping from 2022, while August nonetheless showed an 11% increase over 2022 with sales of $61.6 million and outperforming September 2023. October 2023 taxable sales were down 23% from the prosperous 2022, but at $64.6 million were still significantly higher than September 2023. Thomas Winterton was emailed and provided the records from the Utah State Tax Commission. He was offered an opportunity to comment on the figures and once again invited to provide verification of his assertion PhenomeCon generates in excess of $600k in local revenue the week it takes place. He was also offered an opportunity to explain why he objects to the publication of PhenomeCon contracts. As of this writing, no response was received. Travis Taylor, PhD, is a popular cable television personality, regularly appearing on The Secret of Skinwalker Ranch and Ancient Aliens. His speaker fee was listed as $3,500 while he was actually issued $9,174.02, according to Uintah County records obtained. Taylor's “add on” events apparently included a behind the scenes dinner and a “VIP Lunch/Dinner.” Additional Skinwalker Ranch associates compensated during Uintah County's 2023 PhenomeCon include Erik Bard (speaker fee, add ons, travel and per diem totaling $7,428.34), Dragon Security (5,638.35), Caleb Bench (4,488.35), George Knapp (3,283.52), and James Keenan (2061.28), among others. Vernal City Manager Quinn Bennion, another reported member of the organizing committee, was issued $279 as part of a “PhenomeCon VIP Dinner.” While PhenomeCon proponents may argue the 2023 budget of $215,000 reportedly raised more than was spent, as suggested by a revenue document obtained, that money cannot be demonstrated to be going back into the community, but into the pockets of the so-called talent and those who cater to them. Critics will continue to assert the funds of the public are being used for the financial enrichment of the few.

Records responsive to Mithril Capital were recently provided to Expanding Frontiers Research by the FBI. The Peter Thiel venture capital fund became the subject of FBI and SEC investigations as explored in a previous EFR blogpost. SEC issued a letter of “no enforcement action” and the controversial Thiel reportedly became a Bureau informant, though the incidents are not necessarily directly related. FBI initially advised EFR of the existence of over 500 records responsive to its FOIA request. EFR substantially reduced the scope of the request to the first few dozen pages in the interest of conserving expenses while effectively obtaining a comparatively expedited preview. Hundreds more responsive pages apparently remain unprocessed. As explained by FBI in its response letter uploaded at the end of this post, 38 pages of records were reviewed and 28 were released. The released records include reference to potential "fraud against Mithril's investors," as well as email exchanges indicating efforts to find “someone who would be willing and able to help the FBI,” as shown in the following image: FBI apparently opened an investigation into Mithril in 2019, amid concerns of fraud. As described in the memo below, the firm had raised approximately $1.3 billion, the fate of which was in question due to allegations an upper management figure fired qualified personnel and allotted “millions in management fees for himself”: An email sent from an undisclosed party to the San Francisco FBI office outlines the activity of various personnel and describes the firm's “Operation Tempo” as “non-stop.” Following some redacted statements, the writer of the email observes that something, “Doesn't make sense, but whatever,” before adding, “I wish I could offer more information.” The email: Other pages of the records obtained indicate multiple interviews were conducted and substantial FBI resources were “expended to resolve the case.” The investigation was apparently closed in 2023, however the Bureau may have chosen to consider that resolution achieved. Correspondence and records received from FBI concerning Mithril Capital are uploaded below. The responsive records are contained in the files titled Mithril FBI 4 and Mithril FBI 5: ------------------------------------------------ Thank you for your interest in our work at Expanding Frontiers Research. Please consider joining the EFR Patreon or making a contribution via our secure “Donate” button located on our homepage. Your donations help fund fees associated with our FOIA and GRAMA work, the costs of producing our YouTube show, maintaining our website, and general operating expenses. As a Patreon subscriber, you are provided and kept updated on the records we obtain, offered instructional information about submitting records requests, and much more. Expanding Frontiers Research is a Utah nonprofit corporation, tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. EIN: 88-3794616.

Expanding Frontiers Research is the winner of a 2023 Utah state-wide contest for the most effective use of public records requests during the year. The competition was sponsored by the Utah Investigative Journalism Project (UIJP), a nonprofit public service journalism and educational resource. EFR was recognized for its use of the Government Records Access and Management Act, or GRAMA. The Utah Investigative Journalism Project, operated by Eric Peterson, generously provided EFR with a $100 cash donation, an article announcing the award in the 2024 Utah Reporters Almanac, and a hard copy of the almanac as rewards for the organization's GRAMA work. “We are honored to have our work recognized by the Utah Investigative Journalism Project,” EFR director Erica Lukes stated. “The importance of the GRAMA can be seen in its use as an effective means to facilitate government transparency and public accountability.” While EFR regularly submits records requests to many agencies on a wide variety of subjects, it was the work on PhenomeCon that stood out. UIJP noted how the annual paranormal-themed conference, which is held in Vernal and leans heavily on unverified claims perpetuated through Skinwalker Ranch, was reported by EFR in 2022 to be financed by the Uintah County government. This led to a series of GRAMA requests submitted by EFR, including one in which emails were sought pertaining to the requesters, Jack Brewer, Erica Lukes and Expanding Frontiers Research. Among other material, the request resulted in EFR obtaining an email showing how Uintah County personnel discussed composing GRAMA responses to EFR, including one in which an employee wrote, "He wants more!", and added they would “rather not” provide different records than their colleague. EFR then appealed the GRAMA response in question to the Uintah County Chief Administrative Officer, arguing the response was incomplete and inadequate. EFR asserted GRAMA responses are not subject to what agency representatives would or would not rather provide, but that personnel are obligated to simply identify responsive records and process them if subject to release under the GRAMA. The appeal resulted in dozens of previously withheld records, including over 90 pages of PhenomeCon “Talent Agreements,” which are contracts undertaken between Uintah County and conference speakers. However, the contracts were heavily redacted, almost completely blacked out, except for names and amounts paid. Uintah County asserted the terms and conditions of the contracts were exempt from release per agreements with the service providers. EFR then appealed the contract redactions to the Utah State Records Committee, arguing that Uintah County lacked the authority to withhold terms of contracts undertaken with service providers who are paid public funds in return for their work. In a hearing conducted March 21, 2024, the State Records Committee heard the case and unanimously agreed with EFR. Uintah County has until May 1 to provide the contracts or appeal the ruling in district court. The Utah Reporters Almanac has been produced annually by the Utah Investigative Journalism Project since 2022. Previous winners of the yearly GRAMA contest are Salt Lake Tribune reporter Courtney Tanner and environmental activist Raphael Cordray, respectively. “EFR is thrilled to join the winners,” Lukes said.