While most alien abduction reports stem from rural or remote areas, the Linda Napolitano case stands out as a supposed alien encounter in the densely populated and heavily surveilled city of New York. The incident, reportedly witnessed by several third parties, has become one of the most controversial and debated cases in modern ufology.
The Incident: Beamed from a 12th-Floor Apartment
On November 30, 1989, Linda Napolitano claimed she was abducted from her apartment window on the 12th floor of a Manhattan building near the Brooklyn Bridge. According to her story, a beam of blue light levitated her through the window and she was escorted into a hovering alien craft by grey humanoid beings.
The astonishing part? Several unrelated witnesses allegedly saw the event — including two United Nations security agents and a foreign diplomat, who reported seeing a woman being taken aboard a craft in full view.
Investigations: Budd Hopkins and the Paper Trail
Renowned UFO researcher Budd Hopkins took the lead in documenting and investigating Linda’s case. Over several years, he gathered:
- Hypnotic regression tapes of Linda recalling her experience.
- Testimonies from anonymous witnesses (later dubbed “Richard” and “Dan”).
- And letters purportedly from those involved, confirming the sightings.
Hopkins believed this was a landmark case due to the urban setting, the presence of multiple credible witnesses and Linda’s detailed recollections under hypnosis.
Skepticism and Debate: Truth, Hoax or Delusion?
Critics raised red flags:
- No solid proof of the diplomat or agents ever surfaced publicly.
- Hopkins was accused of leading witnesses through suggestive hypnosis.
- Some ufologists and researchers deemed the case too sensational to be true.
However, supporters argue that Linda never profited from her story, maintained her version for decades and passed lie detector tests.
Legacy: The Cortile Case’s Place in UFO Lore
The Linda Napolitano (Cortile) case has been featured in:
- Books like Budd Hopkins’ “Witnessed“.
- Numerous UFO documentaries.
- Online archives and discussion boards to this day.
Despite the controversy, it remains one of the most publicized urban alien abduction cases, raising questions about visibility, secrecy and government involvement.