YEAR: 1979

SEASON: Spring

MONTH: June

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Grundy County

LOCATION DETAILS: East of Seneca, we were pulled off a side road.

NEAREST TOWN: Seneca

NEAREST ROAD: IL Route 6

OBSERVED: I have told my story to very few people for the fact that all they do is laugh. I saw a bigfoot in the summer of 1979 just east of Seneca. I lived there for about 15 years just north of the river bridge. I was 15 years old at the time and I was coming home from Morris with a friend. We had pulled off the side of the road. My friend was outside the vehicle when we heard this horrible noise like a shrieking growl and before we knew it we saw a large human-like animal coming towards the car. I began screaming get in the car locked my door and we took off ending up doing about 90 mph fleeing. When I got home I was so terrified, that feeling has never left me. My family that was at my house when I arrived home has ridiculed me to this day and I do not travel that road for any reason any longer.

ALSO NOTICED: We heard the loud shrieking growl as the monster came toward our vehicle in large bounding steps.

OTHER WITNESSES: One other witness who was outside outside the vehicle.

OTHER STORIES: None personally.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Early evening just before dusk and the weather was a nice spring day.

ENVIRONMENT: Wooded area.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone, and visited the site on June 22, 2005. The following details can be added to the report:

• The witness observed the animal for about fifteen seconds.
• The animal was about 7 1/2' tall and weighed about 250 lbs.
• It was stocky with broad shoulders and large arms.
• The animal’s hair was dark and scraggly.

I took the following photo of the sighting area:



This sighting is one half mile east of BFRO Report # 11911.

This sighting is one half mile west of BFRO Report # 11831.

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

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