# The founding accounts were invented or deliberately embellished for gain.

> Still possible: The founding accounts were invented or deliberately embellished for gain.

Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/answers/ANS0D014BBR7Q9Y/the-founding-accounts-were-invented-or-deliberately  
Publisher: Mysteries Department  
Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page)  

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[Questions](https://mysteriesdept.com/questions)[Skinwalker Ranch](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch)[Did anything happen at the ranch between 1994 and 2010 that ordinary causes cannot explain?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/questions/QST0D0147PJ363M/did-anything-happen-at-the-ranch-between-1994-and-2010-that)Answer

Answer · Skinwalker Ranch

# The founding accounts were invented or deliberately embellished for gain.

The founding accounts were invented or deliberately embellished for gain.

**Still possible** Answers **1** questionPublished0

## Where it stands

**Still possible** Its tests haven't settled it: one piece of evidence for, two against. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

## What it predicts

- The Shermans' accounts are inconsistent across tellings in ways that track audience and timing.
- Financial or reputational benefit accrued to the tellers in proportion to the claims.

## What would rule it out

- Evidence that the Shermans reported events to neighbours, police or veterinarians before any buyer was in view, in terms matching the later account.

## Evidence 1 for · 2 against

[The Shermans sold within months of going public and Terry Sherman was retained as caretaker.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/evidence/EVD0D014BKJ6GJQ/the-shermans-sold-within-months-of-going-public-and-terry)

Suggestive

FOR

[The 1996 account was given to a newspaper, with names, before any buyer appeared.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/evidence/EVD0D014BVC07P6/the-1996-account-was-given-to-a-newspaper-with-names-before)

Suggestive

AGAINST

[The Shermans said they lost money on the sale to Bigelow.](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/evidence/EVD0D014KNC1EZW/the-shermans-said-they-lost-money-on-the-sale-to-bigelow)

Suggestive

AGAINST

## The questions it answers

[Did anything happen at the ranch between 1994 and 2010 that ordinary causes cannot explain?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/skinwalker-ranch/questions/QST0D0147PJ363M/did-anything-happen-at-the-ranch-between-1994-and-2010-that)

Most likelyThe reports grew from ordinary events and misperception in a place with a reputation, amplified by the people…

## Cite it

```
Mysteries Department. (2026). The founding accounts were invented or deliberately embellished for gain. [Answer ANS0D014BBR7Q9Y]. https://mysteriesdept.com/r/ANS0D014BBR7Q9Y
```

Key

**ANS** 0D014BBR7Q9Y

Kind

Answer · hypothesis

Origin

Published

Version

1

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