YEAR: 1978

SEASON: Spring

MONTH: April

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Jackson County

NEAREST TOWN: Murphysboro

NEAREST ROAD: Road to Lake Kinkaid / Highway 3

OBSERVED: In 1978 I went fishing with a friend in his boat which was an 18 ft aluminum fishing boat to Lake Kinkaid, southwestern Ill. We trolled around the banks of the lake all morning and all day fishing for smallmouth bass till just before dark. Then my friend says lets cruise around awhile at speed. We cruised around for awhile then to a large cove across from the dam and stopped approximately 50 meters from shore.

Then we both witnessed something on a rocky (where brush was so thick people didn't walk) brushy cliff shaking the trees very violently making grunting sounds about at least 60 meters away, but we could not see what was shaking the trees. I was thinking to myself it would have to be a huge buck with antlers just crashing the trees. But then from that place a huge rock was thrown at us and landed 15 feet from the boat with a giant splash.

From the size of the splash this rock was at least 5 to 10 pounds. my friend said what the heck was that!!! We both knew this rock was thrown many times further then any olympic shotputter could have thrown and NO HUMAN could have thrown a rock that size that far. Then more shaking of trees and another huge rock was thrown at us coming very close to the boat. My friend says lets get the hell out of here and started the motor and we took off. My friend has since passed away in early 2008.

ALSO NOTICED: I think a beast capable of hurling gigantic rocks that far could only be a momo or bigfoot. I am sure they live around there and could be encountered again in that area.

OTHER WITNESSES: 2 my friend has passed away. I'm only witness of this event left.

OTHER STORIES: I later saw a news report in St. Louis channel 2 Titled "Pertsborns people" Where Reporter John Pertsborn traveled to Murphysboro on the trail of Momo sightings. He interviewed local people in the Murphysboro area who had seen and encountered I think he said 25 reported sightings in the last nine years. But that is what made it dawn on me what the possible explanation was for Jim and my encounter.
John Pertsborn still works for Fox2 in St. Louis

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Dusk, spring nice evening, clear.

ENVIRONMENT: Lake Kinkaid shoreline and around the craggy, rocky, brushy cliffs in a cove across from the dam.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone:

Although the witness did not have a sighting the details of the encounter suggests typical sasquatch behavior.

In summary:

• While fishing heard loud grunting coming from the shore.
• Trees were violently shaken.
• Two large rocks were thrown from the shore and landed in the water close to their boat.
• Distance the rocks were thrown was about 150 feet.
• This article discusses John Pertsborn of Fox 2 in St. Louis visit to the area: Monster is drawing attention.
• It is an area of dense forests with many waterways, including the Big Muddy River and the Mississippi River. It is probably one of the best locations in Illinois to have a sasquatch encounter.

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