STIGMATA

Magazine Overview

Title: STIGMATA
Issue: NUMBER ONE
Date: JANUARY 1978

This is the inaugural issue of STIGMATA, a newsletter dedicated to the continuing investigation into the occurrence of animal mutilations. The publication aims to serve as a platform for presenting factual data, while also acknowledging speculative material. It seeks to coordinate and assist investigative agencies and individuals involved in gathering information on these phenomena. The success of the project is stated to depend on the readers' willingness to participate.

Project Stigma and Reader Participation

Project Stigma is described as an "on-going probe into the relentless wave of animal (primarily livestock) mutilations and mutilation-deaths." The newsletter emphasizes that it has "no pet theories to promote" and prefers to focus on factual data. Readers are encouraged to contribute raw data, comments, and observations. Confidentiality can be maintained if requested. Project Stigma is interested in establishing a data exchange and is seeking information, including photographs of mutes, for sale or trade.

Publication Details and Future Plans

STIGMATA currently has no formal publication schedule but anticipates publishing on an approximately bi-monthly basis. The initial edition is distributed without charge. To receive future issues, readers are asked to send a self-addressed, stamped, no. 10 envelope (SASE) to Project Stigma at P. O. Box 1094, Paris, Texas 75460. The publishers note that future issues may be enlarged with photographs and illustrations, which could necessitate a subscription fee. They intend to maintain the current 'fee' (SASE) for as long as possible to keep overhead low.

1977 "MUTE" Chronology

The issue includes a detailed chronology of "MUTE" (Mutilated Unidentified Terrestrial Entity) incidents reported in 1977. This listing is presented as incomplete, acknowledging that many incidents may go unreported or unpublicized. The chronology covers incidents from January to December 1977, detailing locations (counties and states within the USA, and one instance in Alberta, Canada, and Dartmoor, England), the types of animals involved (primarily cattle, but also goats, rabbits, dogs, pigs, horses, and hogs), and whether the reports were confirmed or unconfirmed. The summary notes that while 1977 saw fewer incidents than the "extensive and inexorable wave of 1975," the mutilations "have yet to cease." Several entries mention specific details, such as "sexually abused, perhaps by humans(?)" for a Texas cow, or "cow parts, including head, found with girl's panties and bra near lake in city park" in Johnson County, Texas. One December entry from Costilla County, Colorado, mentions "unidentified helicopter; nocturnal revolving lights" in conjunction with three cow mutes.

Future Topics and Editorial Stance

The publication indicates that it will examine individual mute incidents of particular significance. It also outlines several questions to be addressed in future issues, including: the potential relationship between mutilations and UFOs, the role of "mystery helicopters," the occurrence of relevant human mutilations, and the jurisdiction of agencies in mutilation probes. The magazine also provides a phone number (214-784-5922) for reporting fresh mutilations, with the aim of dispatching an investigative team by air to sites in the Western U.S. for on-site investigation of carcasses within 48 hours.

Copyright and Association

STIGMATA is published in association with SAAPVIC and is copyrighted 1978 by Thomas R. Adams. The issue concludes with a quote attributed to Sheriff Gary D. Shoemaker of Teller County, Colorado, from 1975: "It's a strange thing."

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary theme is the ongoing investigation into animal mutilations, presented as a serious phenomenon that requires systematic data collection and analysis. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, seeking factual data without pre-conceived theories, and encouraging broad reader participation. There is a clear intention to explore potential links to other unexplained phenomena, such as UFOs and unidentified aerial objects ('mystery helicopters'), suggesting a ufological context for the investigations. The publication emphasizes the need for timely, on-site investigation of evidence.