The Linda Cortile Incident

A Chance Discovery and One of Ufology’s Most Controversial Cases

June 12, 2026

Sometimes historical artifacts appear in the most unexpected places.

During a spring cleaning project last year, I came across an unusual collection of materials that appeared to have been discarded by someone else doing a cleanup of their own. Among the items was a small red Squier guitar and a scrapbook filled with newspaper clippings, magazine articles, correspondence, and UFO-related material. Although I eventually discarded the guitar and later replaced it with another one—a guitar I haven’t played in years—I kept the scrapbook because of the unusual contents it contained.

As I sorted through the collection, one item immediately stood out: a letter addressed to Linda Cortile, a name familiar to anyone who has studied some of the most famous UFO abduction cases of the late twentieth century. The letter, dated November 12, 1992, offers a glimpse into how widely discussed the Cortile case had become within UFO circles only a few years after the alleged events.

A Letter to Linda

The letter was sent from Albuquerque, New Mexico, and signed simply as “Gene.” It references UFO magazines, symposium recordings, and the growing attention surrounding Linda’s experiences.

The text reads:

221 Bryn Mawr Dr. S.E.
Albuquerque, NM 87106
November 12, 1992

Dear Linda,

Here is the magazine I spoke about the last time we talked. This could be a good addition to your scrapbook. You are keeping a scrapbook, aren’t you?

You might check the magazine racks for UFO Magazine, UFO Universe, The International UFO Reporter, Fate Magazine, and some others. I’m sure they are, or will be, doing stories about your experiences. How does it feel to be an unknown celebrity? Oprah, Phil and Geraldo are waiting.

I promised you videos of the symposium. Well, there are eight tapes, each two hours long. I’ve made two copies so far, and I’m now working on your copies. I should have them for you in a few weeks.

Maria Rowlette told me about the conversation the two of you had. I knew Maria was from New York, but I didn’t know she was from the same neighborhood. She and Richard are good people. Keep in touch with them.

That’s all for now. Give my best to your husband and the kids. I’ll write again soon.

Sincerely,

Gene

Whether Gene was a fellow researcher, conference organizer, or friend of Linda’s remains unclear. What is clear is that by late 1992, the Cortile case had already attracted considerable attention among UFO researchers and enthusiasts.

Who Was Linda Cortile?

Linda Cortile became one of the most recognizable names in UFO research after reporting an extraordinary encounter that allegedly occurred in New York City during the early morning hours of November 30, 1989.

Her account was later investigated extensively by UFO researcher Budd Hopkins, who considered it among the strongest abduction cases he had ever examined.

Unlike many UFO abduction reports, the Cortile case allegedly involved multiple witnesses who claimed to have observed portions of the event from outside her apartment building.

The Alleged Manhattan Abduction

According to Cortile’s account, she was sleeping in her Manhattan apartment when she was awakened by several non-human beings. She later claimed that she was taken from her residence and transported into a hovering craft above the city.

The most sensational aspect of the story involved reports that witnesses observed a woman being lifted from a high-rise apartment and drawn toward a UFO hovering over the East River.

If accurate, the incident would represent one of the most public UFO encounters ever reported, taking place in one of the world’s busiest urban environments rather than in a remote location.

The Witnesses

The case gained further notoriety when several individuals reportedly came forward claiming to have witnessed the event.

Among them were two men identified under pseudonyms in published accounts. They allegedly described seeing a glowing craft and observing what appeared to be a human figure moving upward toward it.

Additional witnesses were later discussed through interviews, letters, and correspondence collected during the investigation. However, many remained anonymous, making independent verification difficult and contributing to ongoing debate about the case’s credibility.

Budd Hopkins’ Investigation

For years, Budd Hopkins gathered witness testimony, correspondence, and supporting statements related to the incident. His findings were eventually published in the book Witnessed, which presented the Cortile case as one of the most compelling UFO abduction investigations ever documented.

The book detailed numerous interviews and introduced a complex network of witnesses, researchers, and alleged government-connected individuals who were said to have knowledge of the event.

Skepticism and Controversy

Despite its fame, the Linda Cortile case remains controversial.

Critics have pointed to inconsistencies within witness accounts, the extensive use of pseudonyms, and the absence of physical evidence that can be independently verified. Skeptics argue that extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence and that many aspects of the story remain difficult to confirm.

Supporters counter that the volume of testimony, correspondence, and documentation surrounding the case makes it one of the most significant UFO investigations ever undertaken.

A Scrapbook Connection to UFO History

The discovery of the scrapbook and the 1992 letter serves as a reminder that history is often preserved in unexpected ways. While the authenticity of UFO claims remains a matter of debate, surviving correspondence provides a valuable window into how these stories circulated through conferences, magazines, personal networks, and research communities before the age of social media.

For researchers and historians of ufology, documents such as this letter help illustrate the cultural impact of the Linda Cortile case and the attention it received during the early 1990s. More than three decades later, the incident continues to be discussed, analyzed, challenged, and defended—remaining one of the most enduring mysteries in modern UFO lore.

Sources

Witnessed by Budd Hopkins
Personal correspondence dated November 12, 1992, addressed to Linda Cortile
Contemporary UFO publications referenced within the letter, including UFO