Ray Santilli’s Alien Autopsy Hoax Exposed on Sky Doc
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- Ray Santilli and Gary Shoefield created the alien autopsy hoax in a Camden flat in the 1990s, employing a Doctor Who sculptor and a magician to film it.
- The alien prop was filled with animal organs such as a lamb’s brain and pig’s pluck to appear convincingly moist.
- Santilli claims the original footage was sold by a real Roswell soldier, suffered oxidation, and he “restored” it, citing Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper restoration as inspiration.
- Journalists demanded to meet the cameraman; Santilli and Shoefield filmed a homeless man in darkness, posing as the veteran, and the ruse was exposed when an investigator adjusted TV contrast.
- Reg Presley, a friend of Santilli, first publicized the autopsy story on the 1990s daytime show Good Morning With Anne and Nick, prompting global media interest.
- The documentary “The Alien Autopsy Scandal” aired on Sky Documentaries (Friday, 9 p.m.) revealing the hoax’s production details.
Why it matters: The documentary reveals that Santilli and Shoefield profited from VHS rentals of the fabricated footage, while journalists and viewers were duped, highlighting how easily staged visuals can be marketed as truth. In today’s AI‑driven media landscape, the story serves as a cautionary example of the fragility of public trust.
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