YEAR: 1977

SEASON: Spring

MONTH: June

DATE: 15

STATE: Indiana

COUNTY: Decatur County

LOCATION DETAILS: It was a small little campground along Flatrock River in a secluded part of northwestern Decatur County close to Rush and Shelby County.

NEAREST TOWN: Greensburg

NEAREST ROAD: None

OBSERVED: This happened to me and a friend of mine.

It was a clear spring day. We were at a campground where my parents camped in a secluded part of our county. It was a Wednesday, so most adults were at work. We pitched horseshoes and messed around while the dogs that hung around the campground all played. I had a .22 rifle of my brothers with some shells. My friend and I went down to river as it was traveling at a slow pace and I through in a pop can.

We took target practice at the can. I had one shot left and the can was pretty far down the river when I noticed how quiet it was. I put the gun on safety and ask my friend when is the last time you ever heard complete silence in the woods. No birds, no nothing.

The first noise we heard came from across the river. It kept getting louder and I told my friend that I was going to get the .22 shells that were on the picnic table up the bank by the horseshoe pit. I was halfway to the picnic table and I heard this loud noise and my friend hightailing it up the hill saying "There it is!"

I froze in my tracks and my friend stood right behind me. There stood this Bigfoot with one foot in the water and one on the bank. It had rusty reddish-brown hair which hung down over its eyes like a sheep dog. We stood frozen and so did it for around five minutes. I told my friend to take a good look because for the rest of our lives people are going to laugh at us for what we are now witnessing. I had one shot still in the chamber. I took the safety off and told my friend to run to the car when I fire the gun.

I first aimed the gun at the Bigfoot and it did not move. I debated for awhile then decided that this creature was not trying to hurt me so I shot up in the air. We ran to the car and drove straight home.

I told my mom and she did not believe me at first. I, still to this day, want to take a lie detector so bad to prove to them and everyone that I did, in fact, have a loaded gun aimed at a Bigfoot and decided not to shoot. I still don't own a gun and I am fifty and I definitely do not hunt.

The following Sunday was the Fathers' Day and my brother-in-law, who was nineteen went across the river in a rowboat to check things out. There were footprints everywhere. Only "four" toes. I wear a size thirteen shoe and I could put my foot in these prints with a couple of inches longer and wider to spare. My brother-in-law at the time, found a clump of hair that matched the description of what I saw stuck in the bark of a tree a couple of hundred yards into the woods by the cornfield.

A tree had fell down and was stuck in an angle into another tree and it was about 7 foot up on the tree that was leaning. He put it in a plastic ziploc and to this day, I don't know what he ever did with that sample. I told this to an Amish man who does not live far from where this happerned in the mid-90's and he told me that one of the men in his congregation had also spotted this creature along the river around that same time.

I am an honest, sensible man. I know what I saw and nothing will ever change my mind.

ALSO NOTICED: No, except what I reported earlier.

OTHER WITNESSES: Yes. my friend. Sitting on the bench, which the owner, fished from along the river.

OTHER STORIES: I told this to an Amish man who does not live far from where this happerned in the mid-90's and he told me that one of the men in his congregation had also spotted this creature along the river around that same time.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Mid afternoon on a sunny and clear around 3:30 to 4:00

ENVIRONMENT: River and woods.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by telephone.

In summary:
- The animal was six and a half feet tall.
- The animal weighed approximately 350 lbs.
- The animal was medium to heavy build.
- The hair color, which appeared to be greasy, was rusty reddish-brown. The hair hanging down from the upper arm was about 18 inches long.
- The hair covered most of the face and hung across the eyes making it difficult for the witness to make out any facial features.
- After 34 years the witness has lost contact with his friend.

Photos taken at the location, years later -

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