I don't think it's true. Horror in the High Desert is probably just a made-up tale to give you chills and thrills. It's common in the horror genre to have fictional plots rather than real-life accounts.
Well, it's not a real story. It's likely inspired by various elements but is mainly the product of the creator's imagination to thrill and scare the audience.
It's mainly because popular fiction often focuses more on entertainment and mass appeal. High literature usually has deeper themes and more complex literary techniques.