Devil Worshipers? Hook Man?

Well, it's time for another in the series of weird legends and urban myths around North idaho.  Before the Aryan Nation (all 6 of them) moved here, there were stories about another strange bunch of people roaming the hills and prairies around Kootenai County.  Devil worshipers and Hook Man.


Like all good legends, almost everyone knew somebody who (supposedly) knew first hand of strange doings but nobody ever saw anything that could be backed with fact or photo.  But it still made a great spooky story in the days before movies like Halloween and Friday the 13th.


Some of the tales of devil worshipers involved human and/or animal satanic ritual sacrifice.  People disappeared (well, there was some truth to that one) and dogs were found drained of blood.  Then there were chains of hooded people across isolated roads to stop cars so they could pull the passengers out and..., well, they were going to do something with them.


And Hook Man, well it was said he could show up anywhere, anytime, but mostly in the dark of night and usually when a romantic couple was parked in some back woods make-out spot.  He was old, evil, disfigured and, of course, had a hook for a hand.  The hook was a result of a logging/mining/hunting accident, depending on who was telling the story.  But he was out there and he was demented and a vengeful killer.


Perhaps the stories were in response to or balanced out the Blue Army that had come to Kootenai County.  Maybe there just wasn't enough creepy stuff in the area and people always need a good one for the campfire or to tell an impressionable young lady ("snuggle up, baby, I'll protect you").  Some say the stories were told in hopes of keeping folks from moving here.  Whatever the reason, they certainly got people's attention and were passed around like a box of Cracker Jacks.  But unlike the snack, these stories always got bigger.


Turns out almost every small town across America had a tale similar to Hook Man.  Where do you think they came up with the ideas for those movies?  A little creepiness goes a long way.


Many of the devil worshiper stories took place near Rathdrum.  Perhaps it was because in 1972 a mutilated cow was found on a local ranch.  That one has never been solved.


Now there was a real disappearance that everyone associated the devil worshipers with.  A Rathdrum couple named Ron and Rita Marcussen disappeared in late 1973 and it was assumed they had fallen victims of the devil's disciples.  When their remains were finally discovered it turned out it was just your run of the mill murder (if there is such a thing).

You may want to save this story for the campfire.