West Virginia ufo
© MUFON imageWitness photo of event area with illustration of craft.
A Hampshire County, West Virginia witness watched a spherical-shaped object hover near his home as it beamed a spotlight onto the ground, according to testimony filed with the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON) database.

The glowing and silent object appeared to be searching for something on the ground, the witness said.

Please keep in mind that most UFO reports can be explained as something natural or manmade. If West Virginia MUFON State Director John Ventre investigates and reports back on any of these cases, I will update this page.

The following report and its headline is unedited.

West Virginia, May 21, 2009 - roughly spherical illuminated object its light was golden with small red lights also sometimes. It was very definitely beaming a "spotlight" onto the earth

I just went out on my deck before retiring. My house is elevated -- very clear views for a great distance. To the North of my deck is a large mountain that I believe is Town Hill Mt. which I think lies in Maryland - I am very close to Maryland and am just beside the Potomac - I am in Hampshire County, WV.

Honestly -- I keep my eyes open for UFOs here because I can see so far and it is rural -- no lights, lots of stars. So -- tonight I finally saw one. It was roughly spherical - it was totally illuminated a rich golden, almost the color of cantaloupe. It very very definitely was beaming a spotlight down onto the ground.

West Virginia ufo
© MUFON image Witness stated that this photograph was enlarged and contrast enhanced.
Where it was - is a location I look at every day -- I know it well. There is nothing there but trees -- it was the base of this mountain and at times it "beamed" farther up the mountain. As if it were looking for something -- but there is nothing over there I don't think even any houses.

It stood PERFECTLY still a lot of the time. Usually with its "beam" shining down. If it were a helicopter I should easily have been able to hear it here -- it is very quiet here and this object was not very far away -- maybe 5 miles. Maybe 2 miles.

It eventually moved off toward the West -- that might put it heading over Keyser, WV, maybe Springfield or Ft. Ashby - maybe it would eventually get near Cumberland MD. When it moved off, it was slow. Still beamed down from time to time.

I assume that a helicopter does not glow golden with a consistent bright golden light all around it. I think a copter would have headlights -- but not the entire thing would be shining bright gold.

I don't know how quickly you read these reports -- but if you could forewarn someone west of me to be ready I think they could film it.

I tried to photo it -- will review the pix in a minute but I don't think they will be helpful.