On a summer day in July 2008, East Hampton native Jenna Hewitt sighted an unidentified creature on the beach of Ditch Plains on Long Island, New York. As journalists, curious locals and cryptozoologists flocked to the scene, many theories about this so-called “Montauk monster” emerged. Some claim it is a dead raccoon or pit bull, while others point to Plum Island — a secret Animal Disease Center located not far from where this creature was found. Although the body is long gone, the theory that the creature was a runaway laboratory experiment remains tantalizing to this day.