Anomalous Observational Phenomena: The 1973 Onilson Patero UFO encounter/Abduction Case

Sunday, 28 April 2024

The 1973 Onilson Patero UFO encounter/Abduction Case

The Onilson Pátero Case, is considered one of the classic cases of Brazilian Ufology, was investigated by several nationally renowned ufologists. One of the most prestigious UFO research institutions in Brazil, the Brazilian Society of Flying Saucer Studies (SBEDV), carried out an extensive investigation on the case, publishing a detailed research report in two SBEDV Bulletins, edition 94/98 (September - 1973 / June 1974) and edition 99/103 (July - 74 / April-1975). In this report, SBEDV transcribes research data from other UFO researchers in National Ufology, such as Max Berezovski and Silvio

This is an unedited version of the account without my conclusions as was intended in the fifth AE/CE3K case book Earth: The 'Lost' Contacts.

I have only made a few comments but left the account more-or-less as it was given in the 1970s. I have attempted to track down Patero but have hit a stonewall -Brazilian UFO groups seeming quite unwilling these days to cooperate.

The target of several investigations and speculations over it's veracity, the so-called “Patéro Case” is one of the classics in the history of Brazilian ufology and considered the Brazilian equivalent of Travis Walton case and the strange facts reported by the merchant Onilson Patero were even investigated by the Department of Political and Social Order (DOPS), which, at the time of the Military Dictatorship in Brazil, had the function of monitoring and repressing political movements. and social issues contrary to the established power. In this case Patero disappeared for six days and then re-appeared over 1000km (621m) from the location of the alleged abduction while his car was still at the abduction site.

On the night of 21st/22nd May, 1973, Onilson Pátero was returning home from the city of Oswaldo Cruz, where he had gone to work. and was on the road heading in the direction of Itajobi, in the north of the State of São Paulo. He had begun his journey at 23:00hrs and would travel 280 km to Catanduvas, in his 1976 Blue Opala car. See map of journey below:

Passing the "Salto" bridge of Avanhadava, approximately 150 km from Catanduva, he came across a bank truck parked on the highway and a person hitch-hiking nearby. His first thought was that the person was someone associated with the police station near Avadanha -a security guard? He decided to give the hitch-hiker and so Patero stopped and the man got into the car and Patero introduced himself and the man identified himself as Alex. Patero offered Alex a cigarette but he refused the offer stating that he did not smoke when he was traveling. Patero noticed that Alex carried something similar to a metal cigarette box which he kept close to his body.

"Salto" bridge of Avanhadava

During the trip Alex asked several questions about Patero - his education level and his way of life, how long he has lived in Catanduva, his time working and so on. Patero answered all of the questions and occasionally asked some himself and one of these was regarding Alex's work and Alex simply replied that he worked on "providing services". Throughout the conversation Alex proved to have a great memory and remembered everything that Patero had said. Here I ought to point out that this was not that long a conversation or journey so that Alex remembered everything Patero told him was far from extraordinary. At one point Patero told Alex where he lived giving both the house number and street name (not something I would personally give a stranger I had just met).

Now, when Alex was dropped off about an hour and thirty minutes later he thanked Patero for the ride and declared: "One of these days I will pay you a visit, on (Patero's street name)" and giving the house number. Remember folks; do not give complete and utter strangers you know nothing about your address!

Initially, Alex's destination was to have been Catanduva, the city where Patero was heading but at a certain point, on the Washington Luis highway, at the entrance to the city of Catanduva, he told Patero that he remembered that his destination was not Catanduva but Itajobi which was located 18 km away. It was dawn and there was no transportation available to Itajobi and it was also raining, which is why Patero decided to take Alex to his final destination. When they arrived in the town, Patero left Alex in the central square and refused the money that was offered him. Even with Patero's opposition, Alex placed a 50 cruzeiros bill in the pocket of the shirt he wore. After that, they said goodbye and Patero went home again. He looked at his watch, checking that it was approximately 0300 hrs.

Patero only had 7 kilometers left tbefore he got home but at this point unusual things began to occur; initially Patero noticed interference on his car radio. as if the volume were being turned down and then the car's engine started to fail. Shortly after all of this he noticed a blue light, about 20 cm in diameter, on one of his cars panels. This "spotlight" shifted to the right, positioning itself on the empty seat beside him. Then the focus of the light went down, moving to the left side in a wave motion and on to the pedals, where it disappeared. Where this beam of light hit the illuminated area was transparent, allowing Patero to see the engine running and the asphalt passing under the vehicle. Intrigued, he looked at the sky through the windshield in order to identify the origin and such phenomenon. However, nothing was seen and the rain was getting heavier.