'The Manhattan Alien Abduction': How the head of the UN became part of the world's most infamous case
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: In 1989, Linda Napolitano, a Manhattan mother of two, reported she experienced something truly terrifying, an alien abduction. She claimed three strange beings appeared in her 12th-floor apartment, paralyzed her, and then floated her up through her window into their spaceship, where they performed bizarre experiments. More than three decades later, Linda’s story remains one of the most puzzling and talked-about UFO cases. Some believe her tale is real, while others doubt it, yet her story has continued to fascinate.
Netflix’s upcoming docuseries, 'The Manhattan Alien Abduction', dives into Linda’s story once more, including her recounting and new details. The series attempts to answer the big question on everyone’s minds; did Linda Napolitano experience an alien abduction? Here’s a look at what happened that night and why this story has so fascinated audiences.
Who was Linda Napolitano before the alleged abduction?
Linda Napolitano was leading a typical life in New York City, balancing family life with her role as a mother. However, everything changed for her on the night of November 30, 1989. She claims that she woke up around 3 am to find three small, gray beings standing over her bed. They looked at her intently before a strange blue light paralyzed her, according to Linda. Unable to move or call out, she claims she was lifted out of her bedroom, through her window, and up into a hovering spaceship.
Once inside the UFO, Linda recalls being laid on a table where these beings performed medical-like procedures on her, including inserting a strange metallic device into her nose. When she woke up back in her bed, she initially tried to believe it was just a nightmare. But when doctors later confirmed a strange lump in her nasal cavity, she became convinced her experience was real.
How did Budd Hopkins and ‘witnesses’ support Linda's story?
Linda eventually reached out to Budd Hopkins, a well-known UFO researcher and artist, who was immediately intrigued by her story. What made her case different, according to Hopkins, was that multiple people supposedly saw the abduction, too. Hopkins claimed that 23 witnesses — including two security guards named 'Richard' and 'Dan'—had reached out to him, saying they saw a woman and several strange beings floating up into the sky near the Brooklyn Bridge.
Hopkins published Linda’s story in his 1996 book, Witnessed, helping her story reach a wider audience. Richard and Dan reportedly wrote to Hopkins anonymously, describing their shock and guilt for not helping the woman they saw that night. These alleged witnesses added weight to Linda’s story, but since their identities remain unverified, critics argue that this "evidence" is shaky at best.
Did a world leader witness Linda's abduction?
A surprising claim that emerged from the case was that a high-ranking government official also witnessed the abduction. According to Hopkins, this official was possibly United Nations Secretary-General Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, who was in New York that night.
Hopkins reported that the diplomat was deeply disturbed by what he saw and later wrote to Hopkins, advising him to stop investigating the case. This official’s supposed involvement has led to much speculation. However, the diplomat himself never confirmed this, and without his testimony, the story remains speculative.
Why did Linda feel like she was being stalked?
Following her experience, Linda says her life took a frightening turn. Dan, one of the two security guards who had reportedly witnessed the abduction, began following her and even kidnapped her twice. During the first incident, she says he interrogated her, asking if she knew more about aliens. The second time, she was taken to a remote beach house on Long Island, where Dan allegedly pressured her to put on a nightgown like the one she’d been wearing the night of the abduction.
Linda’s story of being stalked and threatened by strangers after her experience is a common theme in alien abduction lore, but critics argue that it could also be an unfortunate coincidence. Still, Linda insists that these incidents were part of a larger conspiracy involving her abduction.
Was there enough evidence to support Linda's story?
From the beginning, Linda’s account has been polarizing, even within the UFO community. Although she claimed that X-rays revealed an unusual implant in her nasal cavity, no physical evidence ever emerged. The 'witnesses' who allegedly saw her being abducted have never come forward publicly, and the entire case hinges on the unverified testimony of people like Richard and Dan.
For these reasons, some UFO believers have questioned the credibility of her story. In addition, skeptics argue that Budd Hopkins may have unintentionally influenced Linda’s memory and that some elements of her story resemble other popular alien abduction tales. However, Linda’s unwavering conviction has kept her case alive, making her story a lasting enigma.
What new insights will Netflix’s 'The Manhattan Alien Abduction' provide about Linda's abduction case?
After all these years, Linda Napolitano’s story has refused to fade. Netflix’s 'The Manhattan Alien Abduction' will bring her case back into the public eye, featuring new interviews with Linda and dramatizations of her experience. The series also uses fresh visuals to depict what Linda says happened, including reenactments of her alleged abduction above the Manhattan skyline. For viewers, the show provides an opportunity to hear Linda’s story directly from her and to see for themselves why her account has both intrigued and mystified audiences.
Whether people come away from the series believing in Linda’s experience or not, the documentary adds another chapter to a story that has fascinated UFO believers and skeptics alike. As long as people remain fascinated by the possibility of life beyond Earth, stories like Linda’s will continue to captivate. With Netflix’s new documentary, her story finds a new audience ready to debate whether her tale is a case of genuine extraterrestrial contact or an elaborate mystery yet to be solved.
'The Manhattan Alien Abduction' trailer