YEAR: 1985

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: December

STATE: Florida

COUNTY: Lake County

LOCATION DETAILS: The sighting was on the highway between Tavares and Lake Jem and I was almost to our subdivision. We lived on Tammi Dr. in a small subdivision on a canal that leads into Lake Beauclair.

NEAREST TOWN: Tavares

NEAREST ROAD: Will have to see a map.. the road between Tavares and Lake Jem will check out the hwy number

OBSERVED:
I no longer live in Lake Co. but I lived there from 1985-1999. I was working the night shift at a local hospital in Leesburg and lived out near Lake Jem area. I was on my way home about 11:15 one night and just ahead of me I saw the HUGE blackish brown creature run across the road. I slowed for a bit and it ran into the trees not far from the subdivision where I lived. I said to myself at the time.. what was that? A bear?? Do they run upright?? I got home and mentioned it to my husband (now deceased) and he just blew it off as nothing so I never mentioned it again until he had passed away and I moved to where I live now.

I was talking with a dear friend who really is into the bigfoot movement and she told me that it HAD to be a bigfoot as bears do not run upright and really I guess I knew that. That night that I saw it, as I continued down the road and turned into my subdivision I had my car window down and I definately could smell a stench that I had never smelled before. At the time I did not know much about the bigfoot but my dear friend has since educated me and I am totally convinced , especiallly since reading this article on Lake Co. Bigfoot that I was fortunate enough to have encountered one. Thank you for your research and positive reinforcement.

I can not remember if this happened late 1985 or very early in the year of 1986 but I believe it was late (oct-dec) 1985

ALSO NOTICED: Very very tall figure, hairy and dark running on two legs across the road. When I passed the area I could not see it any longer but a strange strong odor was in the air.

OTHER WITNESSES: I was driving home from work by myself.

OTHER STORIES: Not really

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Approx. 11:15 p.m. cool and clear weather

ENVIRONMENT: Just a country road some trees a few subdivisions back off the road. Ours was on the canal system. There was a small country store at the entrance to the subdivision and a small wooded park just past our subdivision. I will have to look at a map to recall the hwy numbers.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Caroline Curtis:

It was walking fast accross County Road 448, from right to left. It had just passed an old house by some woods and entered a small patch of bushes on the other side. She was the only motorist on the road that night.

The color was mostly black with some brown. She observed it from about 50 yards in her headlights. It did not turn its face toward her. It was covered with hair and had swinging arms and a healthy, meaty build. She compared the smell to road-kill.

She works as a pharmacy technician.

About BFRO Investigator Caroline Curtis:

• Worked as an Assistant to a Circuit Court Judge in Florida for thirteen years
• An avid outdoorswoman, growing up in the UP of Michigan on a family-owned fishing and hunting resort
• Certified Visual Tracker, Level 1
• Attended and assisted with numerous public and private BFRO expeditions
• She and the Florida BFRO organized South Florida Expedition 2008, North Florida Expedition 2008 and Central Florida Expedition in 2009.
  
• She and the Michigan BFRO organized the Lower-Michigan Expedition in 2011, Michigan UP Expeditions in 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018 and Wisconsin 2018
• BFRO Secretary for almost 20 years