YEAR: 2012

SEASON: Spring

MONTH: May

DATE: 29

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Cook County

LOCATION DETAILS: 143rd west of La Grange Rd in Orland Park off forest preserve.

NEAREST TOWN: Orland Park

NEAREST ROAD: 143rd close to La Grange Rd.

OBSERVED: My 17 year old and I were coming home from my best friend's house in Lockport, IL,151st to Wolf Road, to 143rd we were driving east on 143rd going to La Grange Road, at 12:20 am on the left hand side of the road, along side the road from the forest preserve was this 7-8 ft all black ape-like creature standing there, I slowed down but didn't come to a stop, I couldn't believe what my son and I saw, my son told me to turn around which I did, we headed back and saw nothing it must have headed back in the woods, my son and I both saw, broad shoulders, long arms it was huge, almost tempted to get out of car and look but we both said no and went home, I did call the Orland Park police dept next day to report and operator said that's a new one on him he never had a call on that before, all I know what we saw wasn't human.

ALSO NOTICED: n,a

OTHER WITNESSES: 2 my son and I, driving home

OTHER STORIES: na

TIME AND CONDITIONS: 12:20 a.m. dark starting to drizzle

ENVIRONMENT: Lots of trees

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with both witnesses by phone.

In summary:

• The animal was eight feet tall.
• The animal's estimated weight was 500 lbs.
• The animal's build was massive with broad shoulders.
• Hair was long and black in coloring.
• The witnesses were 25 feet from the animal, which was right on the shoulder of the road.
• The witnesses were unable to see the animal's face.

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