A young boy who inspired a viral online story after surviving two days in the woods is going viral again on TikTok. The boy, Ryker Webb, is now the subject of bizarre conspiracy theories claiming he's a shapeshifting creature known as a skinwalker. Here's why.

Who Is Ryker Webb?

Ryker Webb is a young child from Montana who went viral in 2022 for surviving in the wild for two days. He went missing after wandering off and was found two days later hiding out in a shed. Webb was reportedly unharmed, but understandably hungry and thirsty.

Ryker's story went viral along with two photos of him, one before going missing and one after he was found. In the after photo, Ryker has a wide-eyed, traumatized stare that inspired some memes wondering what Ryker had seen while out in the woods as some people's minds went directly to horror movies.

Why Do People Think Ryker Webb is a Skinwalker?

Among all the memes and reactions to the story, the perceived differences in the before and after photos inspired theories that the child who was found was not Ryker Webb. The most extreme theories claim that Webb is a skinwalker, a cryptid from indigenous folklore that can shapeshift.

In support of the theory, rumors spread claiming that Webb had a DNA test after his rescue and was found to have different DNA. These theories largely spread on sites like Reddit and TikTok, along with a video of a completely unrelated child running up to a man in a truck, claiming the video shows Ryker shapeshifting.

While these theories are certainly viral, they're not confirmed in any way. Ryker was not reported to have undergone a DNA test and there is no proof that skinwalkers exist.

@hauntedtiktoker Real footpgae of Skinwalkers & Shapeshifters Disguising as a human #skinwalker #skinwalkers #skinwalkervibes #disguised #duisguising #creepy #horror #horrortok #horrortiktok #mystery #mysteries #conspiracies #creepyvideos #realfootage #crazy #shapeshifter #reptilian #scaringpeople #jeeperscreepers ♬ Jeepers Creepers – Jack Teagarden

@mr.darkcase.usa Strange story of Rykker Webb… #rykerwebb #rykkerwebb #horrorstories #realstories ♬ Spooky, quiet, scary atmosphere piano songs – Skittlegirl Sound

@d0llface3 Yes im recovering from the flu #fyp #truecrime #unsolvedmystery #solvedcase #internetcase ♬ original sound – D0l1face3

@trashabi Ryker Webb Mystery Solved. Kid spend More than 48h by him self in the Woods.#rykerwebb #rykerwebbcase #rykerwebbupdate #rykerwebbcase #mysterysolved #horrortok ♬ The Sound of Your Fear – Ghost Experiences

---

For the full history of Ryker Webb, be sure to check out Know Your Meme's encyclopedia entry for more information.