YEAR: 1975

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: October

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Jackson County

LOCATION DETAILS: Three miles south of Gorham along Illinois Rt 3 go west on Happy Hollow Road.

NEAREST TOWN: Gorham

NEAREST ROAD: Illinois Rt 3

OBSERVED: The place where it happened was on Happy Hollow Road. It was some school function I think we were going to, I don't really remember. On Happy Hollow Road there were two wooden bridges. The second wooden bridge was over a creek and it was on our way coming out. It would have been the first bridge past our house.

As we came around the curve our headlights hit the bridge first and as we swung more around the curve then the headlights shown off the edge of the bridge and onto the creek bank. And that is where the creature was standing. It stood out because it was standing in front of the background of the trees and the brush. As the headlights hit it, then is when you seen the movement, then it turned and looked at us. The headlights hit its eyes and it turned away and we saw it walk off.

OTHER WITNESSES: My mother, my brother and my sister

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 7 pm Cold and clear

ENVIRONMENT: Heavy woods, creek

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone.

In summary:

• The animal was at least 8 foot tall.
• The animal had massively wide shoulders and was very muscular.
• The hair was jet black in coloring.
• The time was just after sundown, dusky dark lighting.
• The witness was unable to see any facial features.
• The animal was 75 yards from the vehicle.

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]