YEAR: 1980

SEASON: Spring

MONTH: April

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Fulton County

LOCATION DETAILS: Go towards Youth Acres at Canton Lake - come to split in road. Go north to bottom of road. (hill).

NEAREST TOWN: Canton

NEAREST ROAD: Youth Acres road

OBSERVED: I was at my grandparents. They lived at Canton Lake. I went down to the bottom of the hill, where they lived to smoke. I heard a loud crushing noise to my right. Keep in mind there is a cornfield in that direction, but what I saw was not a cow or bear or anything I could possibly explain. They simply don't stand on two legs. Tall, black, and very foul smelling. It must have been there when I came down the hill, I only saw it after I had been there awhile. I looked, when I heard the rustling. Standing not twenty yards from me, was something I will never forget, nor want to. There was no screaming beast [except for me]; Just a being looking at me! I did, however notice that this "being" was very calm, looking at me. I on the other hand was not calm at all. It made a gesture [raising of arms] that was all I saw. I ran up the hill to my grandparents. My granddad asked me where my bike was - I told him I didn't know.

ALSO NOTICED: I found it unusual that the lake (so I thought) smelled very bad that day. Also, all of this did not happen until I settled in for my smoke. It must have been not expecting me.

OTHER WITNESSES: No witnesses. Although my granddad was very concerned after the fact. I was shaken up pretty good.

OTHER STORIES: I used to take my grandads dog for walks, when the weather was nice. I had heard howls or something like howls, at night. The dog would go nuts. Once in awhile the neighbors would complain about dogs getting upset. I on the other hand knew why and just chose to ignore it in my own way.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Afternoon - 2-3 p.m. sunny, no wind, gorgeous day. I had a
t- shirt on.

ENVIRONMENT: To the west is Canton Lake. east is a cornfield. Lakeside is somewhat swampy, to the east is a deep gulley. Part of the field that cant be planted. Small trees line the gulley.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone.

He stated that the animal was six to seven feet tall, always on two feet, with a short neck. It had long arms that were not in the same proportion as a human's. His impression was that it would have weighed over three hundred pounds.

The witness also said that its face was pale with a fleshy area around the eyes and nose. He commented on how the animal's face looked somewhat humanlike and appeared to be shocked at his being in the area.

The youth stood and watched the animal for about twenty seconds and then turned and ran back up the hill to his grandparents.

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 illinois@bfro.net