YEAR: 1979

SEASON: Spring

MONTH: June

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Grundy County

LOCATION DETAILS: East of Seneca, we were pulled off a side road.

NEAREST TOWN: Seneca

NEAREST ROAD: IL Route 6

OBSERVED: I have told my story to very few people for the fact that all they do is laugh. I saw a bigfoot in the summer of 1979 just east of Seneca. I lived there for about 15 years just north of the river bridge. I was 15 years old at the time and I was coming home from Morris with a friend. We had pulled off the side of the road. My friend was outside the vehicle when we heard this horrible noise like a shrieking growl and before we knew it we saw a large human-like animal coming towards the car. I began screaming get in the car locked my door and we took off ending up doing about 90 mph fleeing. When I got home I was so terrified, that feeling has never left me. My family that was at my house when I arrived home has ridiculed me to this day and I do not travel that road for any reason any longer.

ALSO NOTICED: We heard the loud shrieking growl as the monster came toward our vehicle in large bounding steps.

OTHER WITNESSES: One other witness who was outside outside the vehicle.

OTHER STORIES: None personally.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Early evening just before dusk and the weather was a nice spring day.

ENVIRONMENT: Wooded area.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone, and visited the site on June 22, 2005. The following details can be added to the report:

• The witness observed the animal for about fifteen seconds.
• The animal was about 7 1/2' tall and weighed about 250 lbs.
• It was stocky with broad shoulders and large arms.
• The animal’s hair was dark and scraggly.

I took the following photo of the sighting area:



This sighting is one half mile east of BFRO Report # 11911.

This sighting is one half mile west of BFRO Report # 11831.

About BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

Stan Courtney has a special interest in wildlife audio recording. He has attended numerous BFRO Expeditions. See Stan's blog StanCourtney.com for recordings he has collected over the years.

Stan Courtney can be reached at [email protected]