YEAR: 2009

SEASON: Summer

MONTH: August

DATE: 6

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Franklin County

LOCATION DETAILS: It happen in Orient Illinois on Chicago Avenue close to the city hall storage.

NEAREST TOWN: Orient

NEAREST ROAD: Chicago Avenue

OBSERVED: I used to live in a rural town called Orient Illinois. There is only about 240 people living in the town. I was driving up Chicago Avenue to get to my house, Its a rural road that is paved and has a few homes on it but for the most part any area in Orient is the country. The neighbor boy was seated in the front seat with me and my 2 daughters were in the back seat. My daughters said they had seen it also but I don't know for sure because we were on a hill going upwards and they were pretty small in height, so I will tell you for sure the boy and I have seen it. We were going really slow because of deer at night, so while me and the boy we conversing on and off there from my side of the road comes a maybe 7 foot creature with the most beautiful chestnut long hair that covered all of its body just jogging across the front of my car crossing over the headlights. It used no effort to cross but it sure did cover allot of land in a very short time. Me and the boy watched it cross the car and go into the woods: then we looked at each other and kinda screamed, shouted to each other: Did you just see that? We answered each other at the same time and then I told the boy lets drive down the way and see if we can catch up to it, so we did, but to no avail. He had disappeared. He and I told each other that we will take it to the grave and forever it's our memory! I am a firm believer in Bigfoot!

ALSO NOTICED: It ran moved so quietly. It moves at a good speed and it looks like it puts out no effort.

OTHER WITNESSES: My nieghbor boy.
My 2 daughters were in the back seat but I don't really know if they have seen it because the neighbor boy and I did, or if they really saw it. And the reason I say that is because, the road was on a slight uphill and they were in the back seat.

OTHER STORIES: None.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: It happen around 10:00 pm, and it was a beautiful evening, clear roads, clear sky.

ENVIRONMENT: Rural green forest.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone.

In summary:

• The animal was @ seven feet tall.
• The animal's weight was about @ 250 lbs.
• The animal had a slender build.
• Hair was straight, long and flowing and of a chestnut color.
• The movement was graceful and it used little effort as it crossed the road.

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