More Clown Sightings In South Carolina: Creepy Clowns Prompt Increased Police Presence

A series of strange clown sightings in South Carolina have parents and police worried, although there has been no indication of harmful intent thus far, according to authorities. Still, when details include clowns reportedly attempting to lure children into some nearby woods or back to an isolated house near a pond — the creepy factor alone is enough for parents to get involved and, ultimately, the police.

CBS News reported that the first clown sighting incident occurred in Greenville County, South Carolina, on August 21 when, according to the police report filed with sheriff’s office, a young boy told his mother he had “seen clowns in the woods whispering and making strange noises” at around 8:30 p.m. (EST). When she was led by the boy to where he said he saw the clowns, she told the responding deputies that she saw clowns as well “flashing green laser lights” before they ran off, disappearing into the woods.

Included in the first police report was a second clown sighting. A woman at the same apartment complex, Fleetwood Manor in Greenville, told the responding deputy she had observed a “large-figured clown with a blinking nose, standing under a post light near the garbage dumpster area.” The clown waved at her and she waved back, but, as was noted in the official report, the clown “did not approach her or harm her.”

After canvassing the area, children relayed stories of clowns trying to lure them into the woods with “large amounts of money.” Children told police they thought the clowns lived in “a house located near a pond at the end of a man-made trail in the woods,” according to the report obtained by CBS’ 48 Hours’ Crimesider.

Greenville County Sheriff’s Office Master Deputy Ryan Flood said deputies investigated the house but found nothing to help the investigation. Flood told Crimesider that the house was abandoned.

“Every time [deputies] have gone there they have not been able to find anything,” he said, “clothing or anything else that would indicate someone lives there.”

Flood also said that the witnesses all wished to remain anonymous and withheld their names.

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Strange stories such as these are the root of urban legends. But even Snopes.com, the urban legend debunking website, has no reason as yet to find the sightings of child-luring clowns anything other than valid claims.

The clown sightings were of enough concern that the Fleetwood Manor complex issued a letter to its residents warning them not to leave their children unattended. To reassure residents, they also noted that police were increasing patrols in the area.

Things might have gotten back to normal had not more clown sightings occurred eight days after the initial sightings. According to WSPA in Spartanburg, police responded to a call on August 29 outside Greenville where a young girl claimed to have spotted a man on a bike taking pictures of kids in the area. Somewhat later, a man wearing a black jacket and a clown mask came out of the woods.

The next night, Greenville Police were called to the Sherwood Crossing apartment complex after an individual confronted a clown, who left in a vehicle without incident. Witnesses also told the WSPA crew that clowns at a playground had been chased by residents and jumped into a car. The latter incident was not reported to the police.

Authorities say that none of the sightings could be validated. No photos or videos were taken and police did not witness or find evidence of clowns at the various scenes of disturbance.

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So are the children and some adults of Greenville County actually seeing clowns, and are the clowns doing the creepy things they’re being accused of doing? Or could the sightings be the result of some sort of twisted joke?

According to The Telegraph, there is a theory being suggested that the clowns are part of a PR stunt, some type of guerrilla marketing, connected to the release of the independent horror movie 31, a film directed by shock rocker and horror film director Rob Zombie. The movie is slated to be released on September 16.

Of course in the end, the clowns could be a marketing scheme, which in a way, would make the clown sightings something akin to a hoax. And that is Snopes.com territory…

[Photo by Dieter Spears/iStockPhoto]