As the Squatch Turns S01E08 [Grab Some Popcorn]

Editor's Note: This is a guest post by Jeffrey Kelley, an administrator for the Facebook group, The Squatchers Lounge! (Click on link to join).

Just before 10am the message from Dr. Jeff Meldrum is posted.

"Just learned by way of Kathy Strain that the entire "Bridge Group" meeting has been cancelled."

What has happened? Is "Daisy" ok? Did Quantra pull out? It was a tense hour until the next announcement was released by the Independent Researchers.

Official Announcement Regarding Ed Smith/Quantra from Indepenent Researchers
Posted by Rob Gaudet on January 9, 2013 at 10:22am

In communications with Ed Smith, Quantra claimed to have involved a public relations firm that negated the need for outside researchers involvement. This occurred within 48 hours after the announcement of the composition of the list of independent researchers.

There has been nothing presented to the individuals involved to substantiate any claims of Ed Smith. The researchers involved attempted to verify the claims in reference to Quantra but were denied an opportunity to do so.

What does it all mean? No one involved seems to know. "Quanta" hires a PR firm that decides against using the best persons in the field to verify the claims and see the evidence? That seems strange. The "Bridging Team" did consist of an awful lot of members, possibly too many to be productive in such a cloak and dagger situation.

What will come next? According to a source close to the "Bridging Group" no meeting will be held with anyone outside of the "Quantra" group. Where does that leave the community? Right back where it was a few days ago, waiting on answers and proof of the extremely exciting news that bigfoot has in fact been captured and studied.

The community has been a buzz all day since the meeting announcement was released. No new news from the MABRC site. It even appears to have been taken off line as of 12:34CST. Much talk of I told you so but no one has any more information than the next person does. Not even those named to be part of the bridging team.

There is still hope. Perhaps the bridging team just grew too large. Maybe the PR firm feels the evidence is enough to not need the big names in bigfooting to share in the glory and fame. Maybe they plan to sell "Daisy". Only time will tell now.

Here it is. The bombshell report as to why the Bridging Group meeting was canceled.

Statement form Ed Smith regarding the capture of a Sasquatch specimen:

Two former members of the O-6 and myself attended a meeting with Mr Alexander, Mr. Parson and some of the principles of the Quantra Group.

We were informed that it had been determined that the public relations firm representing the Quantra Group would handle the release of information concerning the specimen, therefore, the Bridging Group would not be required.

We voiced our objections and we were asked to leave the repository site.

Here is what I know: I remain positive that the Quantra Group has a live or dead specimen. While this meeting took place at the western Tennessee repository, the specimen was captured in southeastern Missouri. Then transported to the Arkansas repository located the southern portion of the state.
The capture operations are continuing.

Here is what I don't know: the press conference is a certainty, but I would not venture a guess as to when.

Here is what I think : the specimen is gravely ill or injured from what I can surmise is injuries from handling after capture.

It's believed by the three of us that private investors are in play, our understanding is it moved 1.5 million last night to the upside.

It is also our thinking that there is serious split in the ownership view relating to the operations of the group. I.e. some want to stop the operation and others wish to continue

I know how this must sound and we know that others will, think what they must, but so be it. We have worked to relay information and endeavored have it validated for all to know. We have not succeeded.
I would like to thank the members of the Bridging Group for stepping forward under ill-regular circumstances and I personally apologize for any undue inconvenience.

I would like to thank DW "Darkwing" Lee for his assistance in getting information out when I could not and his leadership in assembling the Bridging Group. I would like to extend a thank you to the MABRC members and members of the forum, I know this has not been easy.

And remember: The MABRC ownership, management, organizational members, forum members and affiliates are NOT responsible for the content of my posts or the data that has been presented in them over the years.

I will become an observer right along with everyone else. What is it they say on the BFF, "where's the popcorn" well pass some over here.

Be safe,
Ed Smith

The news was of a secret meeting in Tennessee. Why cancel the Bridging Group they are here to help? Ownership seems split on what path to take next. Should they continue to study “Daisy" or should it stop. Is the animal alive or has it perished from mishandling of the specimen as alluded to by Ed Smith. While Ed is now POSITIVE that "Quantra" has a live or dead specimen they are no longer willing to share any further information.

More back ground of the "Quantra" infrastructure is revealed with talk of "Repositories" in more than 4 locations such as AR, TN, Mo and TX have been mentioned as well as an operation in OK from the first few posts.

From the TX meeting to the secret location in TN Ed Smith has worked hard to get more information to the community. Although he is certain a press conference is coming, Ed Smith admits he has no clue on a time line. Ed now claims to be an outsider after negotiations broke down during the FBI like meeting in Tn.
Is this the end of the story? Is "Daisy" still alive? Why did "Quantra" clam up and cancel the meeting? The answers to these questions and more are still to come.

In a shocking move upon returning the MABRC forum Admin posted that

"Ed Smith has been suspended from the MABRC forums."

Is this the end? Was it just one big troll? Has the MABRC learned the truth; even, with last statement of confirmation that he is still positive that the group has an animal. Let the distancing begin. After 11 days of stirring up the community it seems that no one wants to take the blame for this new development. But is there blame to be place? Many people have asked the hard questions and not getting any answers which would lead most to not believe in the story. Are they completing the documentary on just how they would go about capturing a bigfoot and how the community would react? So many questions left unanswered.

Shortly after Rob Gaudet of Squatch Unlimited posted:

"MABRC leadersip has decided that Ed Smith's account on the MABRC forums should be suspended until he can produce anything factual to back up claims about Quantra."

This gives us further details as now it seems a split is immerging between the gospel of Ed Smith who just days ago was the messiah of the bigfoot world is now asked to put up or shut up to get his posting rights back on the forum. As this is the only means of the community having contact with Ed Smith could this be the end of all contact with the story of "Daisy"?

Dw "Darkwing" Lee posts on the Facebook forums:

"Dw Darkwing Lee
Special MABRC Organizational Online Meeting tonight at 8 PM Central time, e-mails have been sent out to all members regarding it. Another e-mail will go out 30 minutes before it starts with the meeting ID."

Is there new information? Did Ed Smith come up with some proof of his claims? Was he able to produce plane tickets from both TX and TX from the last few days? Who where the 2 people he claims that they met with "Quantra" principals? Will they come forward and be heard? It seems with every new posting more questions are created than answers given. Does the MABRC have responsibility if it all turns out to be a hoax? These are still the answers many people are screaming for throughout the bigfoot community. Dr. Meldrum has been silent since his announcement that the bridging group meeting had been canceled.

Everything has fallen silent as the solemn news that the meeting was canceled. Many meetings behind closed doors are taking place to try and jockey for what they see as the proper path to follow. I will say at least at this point the MABRC is taking a stand and asking for reasonable proof of statements before allowing their forum to be used in any further communications.

Come back next time for the next episode of As the Squatch Turns.

Here are the links to previous episodes of "As the Squatch Turns" by Jeffrey Kelley:

• As the Squatch Turns S01E01 - Daisy is in the box
• As the Squatch Turns S01E02 - Ed Smith Answers Questions
• As the Squatch Turns S01E03 - Ed Smith comes forward with more details
• As the Squatch Turns S01E04 (Includes a video) - The Team is Set
• As the Squatch Turns S01E05 - The presumed promise
• As the Squatch Turns S01E06 - The Meeting is Set
• As the Squatch Turns S01E07 - The interrogation of Ed Smith