YEAR: 1985

SEASON: Spring

STATE: Tennessee

COUNTY: Shelby County

LOCATION DETAILS: Turned off US Highway 51 towards shelby forest down Watkins extended. Traveled several miles

NEAREST TOWN: Memphis

NEAREST ROAD: Watkins Extended

OBSERVED: There were six of driving toward shelby forest one night just after dark. We had probably driven 5 or 6 miles from Highway 51 when I was something run accross the road in front of the car just inside for the headlight range. At the same time I saw this the driver of the car stopped immediately and looked around at everyone in the car. Apparently he could tell by my look I saw it too and then asked me directly if I saw "it". I said yes and then we drove in reverse until there was a turnaround between the divided highway and got out of there. To this day I am not sure what it was that I saw but it was on two feet and very fast. Watkins extended is divided and it crossed 4 traffic lanes and the median in just a couple of seconds. It was very big black and looked like it was covered with fur. It was hard to tell exactly since it was just inside the headlight range and happened very quicky. It ran with a slight forward tilt and with very little arm bend. No one else in the car saw it besides myself and the driver.

ALSO NOTICED: No

OTHER WITNESSES: Six people in the car only two of us saw it.

OTHER STORIES: No

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Night just after dark

ENVIRONMENT: Open fields surrounded by river bottoms and forest

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Tony Gerard:

I spoke to the witness by phone. He noted that the area of the sighting was much less populated and developed at the time than it is at present. The sighting was brief, only 3 or 4 seconds, but he noted that the body build was large. He estimated the height at over six feet. The body appeared to be hair covered, brownish or black in color and "pretty consistent in color from head to toe". The arms moved with the running motion "about like a human". No real impressions of head shape or arm length were noted.

About BFRO Investigator Tony Gerard:

Tony Gerard is a community college biology professor.