YEAR: 2001

SEASON: Winter

MONTH: December

DATE: December 31, 2001

STATE: Florida

COUNTY: Leon County

LOCATION DETAILS: East side of Tallahassee. North of Mahan Drive.

NEAREST TOWN: Tallahassee, Florida

NEAREST ROAD: Off Mahan Drive

OBSERVED: This sighting report was originally submitted by the witness' mother.

I contacted the witness and spoke with her about her sighting. She told me that on New Year's Eve, she and her family were at her uncle's house shooting fireworks. She and her cousin were playing with cap guns and had wandered towards a wooded area on the back of her uncle's property.

The witness stated that when she looked back into the trees, she could see something very large, standing half behind a tree looking at her and her cousin. She described it as being "furry" with red eyes. Her cousin also saw the creature.

They both turned to run back to their parents and the witness said when she turned back the creature was walking away on two legs. She further stated that it was walking funny and appeared to have a limp. When I asked her what she meant by walking "funny" she told me that it walked somewhat like an ape would walk.

She and her cousin both ran back to their parents and began telling them about what they'd seen but she said her uncle started making fun of them seeing a "bogeyman". A few minutes later she and her cousin, using a flashlight, went back to see if they could spot the creature again. She said that upon their return, it had apparently left because they didn't see it.

OTHER WITNESSES: No witnesses except the two mentioned.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: This happened New Year's Eve around 8:30 to 9:00 p.m. It was very cold, no wind, with a half to full moon. Some light from street lamps by the road, but no lighting besides moonlight where "it" was standing.

ENVIRONMENT: Wooded, shrubby area - above a steep embankment next to a busy street. Only structure nearby was her uncle's house.

Follow-up investigation report:

The witness was very credible in recounting her sighting. I must admit, I admire their tenacity since the only motivation to look for the creature again was to prove her uncle wrong after teasing them.