This video has too much Blair Witch-iness in it for us to ever feel comfortable going into the woods again.
James Rankin posted this video of the terrifying scene that greeted him on a trek through some woods in Long Island, New York, this week and it's set the internet aflame.
His first caption read:
This is something I stumbled across while hiking in the woods this afternoon. There's like 25 missing persons posters taped to the trees, along with some ratty old bedding, a shovel, a large tent, and a collapsed handmade wooden cage surrounding a filled-in hole. I tried to get as many of the posters in frame as I could but the video was aborted when I heard voices coming from the direction of the adjacent residence.
Before you go wondering if this is a hoax or part of a viral campaign for something, it's not.
Rankin later updated his post with more information saying:
To the people associated with the actual missing. This video wasn't made for entertainment or amusement, isn't staged, and isn't meant to show disrespect to your tragedy. At the time, I made and posted a video because I didn't know what this was or if I was in danger. I discovered this while hiking and wanted to put out a "distress call" of sorts on my social media in case this was the real deal and something happened to me. Friends of mine were able to follow my posts until I let them know that I was safely "out of the woods." Local law enforcement subsequently investigated, and were apparently told by the residents of the adjacent property that the missing-persons posters are being used as decorations for their "upcoming Halloween party." The police accepted that explanation and have announced they will not be pursuing the matter. Occupants of the house have said the posters will be removed, but I have not yet been able to verify this.
He then posted the below on Facebook.
Patch contacted the local police who confirmed that Rankin contacted them and the "situation is active" but didn't provide any other details.
Yeah, no more walking in the woods for us any time soon.