The Crimson Trail - A Barlow Scrapbook

ARIZONA, 1964: THE "PAINTED GRIN" KILLINGS

Two hikers murdered near Benson. Bodies displayed with theatrical makeup. First confirmed Barlow signature killings.

KANSAS, 1967: THE "SILENT AUDIENCE" INCIDENT

State Trooper Unit 4 disappeared while investigating carnival. Final transmission mentioned "smiling entities" before screams and silence.

NEVADA, 1963: THE "SEARCHLIGHT INCIDENT"

Three locals vanished after carnival visit. Military personnel observed on site the following day. Area "sanitized."

KENTUCKY, 1965: THE "HARVEST MOON MASSACRE"

Family of five found arranged in carnival seating formation. Bodies showed signs of "theatrical modification." Youngest child missing.

UTAH, 1968: THE "CHIMERA LAKE INCIDENT"

Final known location. Three search parties went missing. Military quarantine under guise of "chemical spill." Site remains restricted.

CONFIRMED VICTIMS: 47 ESTIMATED TOTAL: 100+

Case Files: The Barlow Bloodbath

Authorities across a dozen states linked the Barlow family's carnival to disappearances and grotesque discoveries between 1962 and 1968. Here are just a few recovered fragments...

CASE #AZ-07B-64

Case #AZ-07B-64 - "The Painted Grin" - Sonora Desert, AZ

SONORA DESERT, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 1964

NewspaperPolice Report

Desert Sun Chronicle - Oct 19, 1964

Hikers Discover Grisly Scene - Authorities were called to a remote desert location yesterday after hikers stumbled upon the remains of an unidentified couple. Sheriff Thompson described the scene as "deeply disturbing," noting signs of extreme violence. The victims' identities remain unknown. Curiously, the traveling 'Crimson Smile Carnival' passed through nearby Benson just last week, departing abruptly. Sheriff Thompson declined to comment on any potential connection but urged locals to report any sightings of the carnival's distinctive, dilapidated trailer...

INCIDENT REPORT - PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPT.

DATE: 641018

LOCATION: APPROX 15MI SE BENSON, OFF HWY ██

VICTIMS: 1 MALE CAUCASIAN (DOE, JOHN), 1 FEMALE CAUCASIAN (DOE, JANE)

DETAILS: BODIES DISCOVERED PARTIALLY BURIED. SIGNIFICANT TRAUMA. EVIDENCE OF POST-MORTEM MUTILATION. FACIAL FEATURES [DATA EXPUNGED] OBSCURED BY CRUDE APPLICATION OF RED/WHITE GREASEPAINT IN SMILEY FACE PATTERN. LIGATURE MARKS CONSISTENT WITH ROPE (JUTE?). TIME OF DEATH EST. 48-72 HRS. TRACKS NEARBY MATCH RV TIRE TREADS. SAMPLE OF PAINT COLLECTED (EVIDENCE BAG #AZ64-P01). SMELL OF DECOMPOSITION AND... CLOVES?

NOTE: CRIMSON SMILE CARNIVAL CONFIRMED IN BENSON 641012-641015. DEPARTED NIGHT OF 15TH. NO FORWARDING ADDRESS.

Why cloves?

AUTOPSY FINDINGS [RESTRICTED]

MEDICAL EXAMINER: DR. S. RAMIREZ

FINDINGS OF NOTE:

1. FINGERNAILS REMOVED PRE-MORTEM

2. UNUSUAL BLUE RESIDUE IN BLOODSTREAM (SAMPLE SENT TO FBI LAB)

3. STOMACH CONTENTS INCLUDE COTTON CANDY, POPCORN, SMALL METAL OBJECTS (TOKENS?)

4. CAUSE OF DEATH: EXSANGUINATION VIA MULTIPLE LACERATIONS

NOTE: FACIAL TISSUE SHOWS SIGNS OF CHEMICAL ALTERATION. EXTREME ELASTICITY NOTED. FBI CONSULTED.

CASE #KS-11A-67

Case #KS-11A-67 - "The Silent Audience" - Rural Kansas

WASHBURN COUNTY, KANSAS - NOVEMBER 1967

Witness TestimonyLost Media (Audio)

...yeah, the carnival was here. Creepy bunch. That tall fella, the Pa, he stared right through ya. And the little girl... saw her talkin' to her doll behind the big top. Doll looked too real. Heard laughin' late at night, sounded wrong. Then Jed, who runs the feed store, he went missin'. Just vanished. Found his truck by the highway, empty. Only thing left was one of them cheap plastic clown noses on the dashboard...

- Testimony of Maryanne Parker, [REDACTED], KS, Nov 1967

Lost Media Note - KHP Evidence Log

ITEM: Audio Cassette (Damaged)

SOURCE: Recovered from abandoned State Trooper vehicle (Unit 4 - see file KS-TRPR-LOST-67)

DESCRIPTION: Cassette heavily warped, playback intermittent. Contains fragments of Unit 4's final transmission. Audible sounds include static, what sounds like wet clicking or chattering, distorted carnival music loop, and a final, garbled phrase interpreted as "...it's smiling at me..." followed by abrupt cutoff.

STATUS: Unplayable / Archived.

PARTIAL TRANSCRIPT - UNIT 4 FINAL TRANSMISSION

<static>
DISPATCH: Unit 4, please report status.
UNIT 4: ...found the carnival trailers abandoned about two miles off Route 40. No personnel visible but <static> still warm. Smells like cotton candy and something... metallic.
DISPATCH: Roger, Unit 4. Any sign of the missing persons?
UNIT 4: Negative, but there's... wait. There's movement in the big tent. Going to investigate.
<footsteps, radio crackle>
UNIT 4: <whispering> Dispatch, there's... there's some kind of performance happening. I can see... four figures on a small stage. They're not moving right. Something's wrong with their <static>
DISPATCH: Unit 4, please repeat. Are you in danger?
UNIT 4: They're wearing clown makeup but it's... Jesus Christ, it's moving on its own. The little girl just saw me. Her face is... oh God, it's coming off. There's something underneath, it's...
<wet clicking sounds>
UNIT 4: <struggling> It's smiling at me...
<scream, static, transmission ends>

CASE #KY-23C-65

Case #KY-23C-65 - "The Harvest Show" - Millfield, KY

MILLFIELD, KENTUCKY - SEPTEMBER 1965

NewspaperFBI Notes

Millfield Tribune - September 8, 1965

LOCAL FAMILY FOUND DECEASED IN BIZARRE SCENE - The bodies of the Wilson family were discovered yesterday in their farmhouse just outside town limits. Sheriff Davis has declined to provide details, citing an ongoing investigation, but sources close to the case describe the scene as "ritualistic" and "staged like some kind of twisted theater." The Wilsons—parents Robert and June, and their three children—were last seen attending the traveling Crimson Smile Carnival on Saturday evening. The carnival, which had been set up at the county fairgrounds for the harvest festival, departed unexpectedly Sunday morning, a full day ahead of schedule...

FBI FIELD NOTES - AGENT T. MATTHEWS

CASE #KY-23C-65 / "HARVEST SHOW"

OBSERVATIONS:

1. VICTIMS ARRANGED IN SEMI-CIRCLE FACING EMPTY CHAIR

2. ALL VICTIMS SHOWING SIGNS OF PHYSICAL MODIFICATION

3. BLUE RESIDUE IDENTIFIED AS IDENTICAL TO ARIZONA CASE (AZ-07B-64)

4. CARNIVAL TOKENS PLACED IN MOUTHS OF ALL VICTIMS

5. MESSAGE WRITTEN ON WALL IN UNKNOWN SUBSTANCE: "THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING THE SHOW"

NOTE: REQUESTING IMMEDIATE CROSS-REFERENCE WITH PROJECT CHIMERA FILES. PATTERN CONSISTENT WITH KNOWN TEST SUBJECTS.

CASE #UT-19F-68

Case #UT-19F-68 - "The Chimera Lake Incident" - FINAL SIGHTING

CHIMERA LAKE, UTAH - NOVEMBER 1968

Search ReportMilitary Action

SEARCH & RESCUE REPORT #3

Date: November 2, 1968

Location: Chimera Lake, Utah wilderness area

Team: S&R Unit 7 (Third attempt)

Mission: Locate previous search teams and investigate reported carnival encampment

...

Day 2: Located abandoned army jeep belonging to previous military recon team. No personnel. Found trail of strange blue fluid leading to cave system.

Day 3: Cave exploration revealed partial carnival setup. Tents, equipment all abandoned. Found unusual markings/symbols carved into cave walls. Team member Phillips reported hearing "carnival music" deeper in cave system.

Day 4: Located what appears to be a ritual site. Circle of painted stones. Center containing unidentifiable organic material. Multiple footprints but unusual gait/spacing.

Day 5: Phillips missing this morning. Heard screaming from deeper tunnels. Located tattered clown costume with unusual stains. Team reporting hallucinations. Radio contact intermittent.

Final entry: Something moving in tunnel darkness. Not human movement. Children laughing. Can smell cotton candy. They're watching us. Their faces keep changing. Getting closer. God help us, they're not wearing masks, those are their actual fa---

No further contact with S&R Unit 7

MILITARY ACTION REPORT - OPERATION STITCH-FACE

DATE: NOVEMBER 15, 1968

UNITS DEPLOYED: 7TH SPECIAL CONTAINMENT DIVISION

OBJECTIVE: TERMINATE ALL CHIMERA SUBJECTS AND RECOVER RESEARCH MATERIALS

OUTCOME: MISSION FAILURE

CASUALTIES: 17 PERSONNEL - 5 KIA, 12 MIA

STATUS: ALL BARLOW FAMILY MEMBERS UNACCOUNTED FOR

ACTION TAKEN: AREA QUARANTINED UNDER CHEMICAL SPILL COVER STORY. PROJECT CHIMERA OFFICIALLY TERMINATED. ALL FILES SEALED.

NOTE: ANOMALOUS ACTIVITY CONTINUES TO BE REPORTED WITHIN EXCLUSION ZONE. RECOMMEND PERMANENT MONITORING.

Just the tip of the blood-soaked iceberg, folks... Many more towns, many more smiles left behind... Where did they go next? Where are they NOW?