March 27, 1974, on Fort George Island, Florida, the Betz family—Antoine, his wife Jerri, and their son Terry—discovered an unusual metal sphere while investigating a small brush fire near their home. The roughly bowling-ball–sized object measured about 8 inches (20 cm) in diameter and weighed nearly 22 pounds (10 kg). Initially, they suspected it might be an old cannonball left behind by early explorers.
A few days later, as Terry played his guitar at home, he noticed that the sphere began emitting a deep, throbbing sound in response to the music. Intrigued by its behavior, he started experimenting with it. When struck with a hammer, the sphere produced resonating sounds, and after being shaken and placed on the ground, it moved on its own—rolling unexpectedly, pausing abruptly, and even changing direction without any apparent external influence.
The Betz family reported several instances of the sphere moving autonomously, almost as if it were following them around. Eventually, they decided to secure it in a trunk, taking it out only occasionally to show friends and family.
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Betz Sphere X-Rays ~ Original photocopy of the first Betz Sphere X-ray, previously unreleased to the public. The X-ray was initially taken by the United States Navy at Naval Air Station Cecil Field during the first analysis of the sphere before the National Enquirer’s Blue Ribbon panel convened in New Orleans. The first picture is the original photocopy image of the X-ray as we received it.
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In 1974, in the woods near Jacksonville, Florida, the Betz family stumbled upon a mysterious metal sphere that seemed to move on its own and defy explanation. What began as a strange curiosity quickly spiraled into a media sensation, drawing the attention of scientists, UFO researchers, and even the U.S. Navy and Marines. In this audio documentary, we revisit the reports, investigations, and unsettling events that followed the discovery of the Betz Sphere, before the object quietly disappeared from public view for nearly fifty years.
