YEAR: 2004

SEASON: Spring

MONTH: May

DATE: 2nd

STATE: Texas

COUNTY: Liberty County

LOCATION DETAILS: Coming from Cleveland, travel East on FM 787 for 12 miles until you pass a green sign saying RAYBURN and the Rayburn Baptists Church. Looking to the right there will be a pipline trail. If you come to a steep hill and another sign that says DOLEN, you went too far.

NEAREST TOWN: Rayburn

NEAREST ROAD: FM 787

OBSERVED: As a son of residents of Liberty County, I am reporting a possible encounter for my parents. Not clearly remembering which day, but it was early May when my parents seen something strange. As they were traveling West from Romayor towards Cleveland on FM 787, they seen a large creature run swiftly across the highway into the woods. It was in the morning, around 9:00, when a huge brownish-red haired creature crossed 70+ yards in front of them. As quickly as it happened, my father said it moved in a swift leaping motion. It had huge long arms, which one arm hit the ground to help it move faster. It had a wide, slouching, pear-shape body with long legs. Its fur or hair was brownish-red, like very dark and old dead pine needles. However, it was too far to describe or see its face. Describing the location of the encounter was near 4 miles west of the Trinity River. It was just a half a mile past the Rayburn town sign near a 100 yard stretch of woods and a pipeline trail. It was crossing from the North through the woods to the south which seems to be pipeline trail that leads to Highway 105. Not being sure on what they saw and being in a hurry had only made them slow down and look down the trail. However, there was no trace of it as they passed by. The next day I came over to visit and I remembered them telling me they had seen something cross them in Rayburn. They've told many family and friends and every time the story has been very accurate. However, I haven't seen anything like that.

ALSO NOTICED: Nothing known or heard at that this specific location.

OTHER WITNESSES: My Father and Mom.

OTHER STORIES: Througout the 15 years we lived in the area, we heard many stories of possible sightings. It was yesterday 24 NOV 2004 when we saw a report on channel 13 ABC Houston. About a sighting near Bay City (see Matagorda County Report #8832) and also a sighting a couple of months ago in Liberty County near the Trinity River (see Liberty County Report #8790). When we lived East of Shepherd (1990-1991) [in San Jacinto County] on a long road which ends at the Trinity River (Drews Landing). My Father, Brother, and his Friends would sometimes hear a large animal move through the woods (uprooting plants and small trees) while they hunted late at night. Also, late one winter night, my father seen a huge human-like thing on the outside of his green house while was in side. When a car had passed by and without hesitation; he ran for his life back to the house. Many people around the area said that they have seen this type of creature, but no one doesn't care or believe them.

TIME AND CONDITIONS: Morning, around 9:00 a.m. Sunny and nice conditions.

ENVIRONMENT: A 100+ yard stretch of mixed woods between the nearest roads and houses. Right before heading (West) to the stretch, there is a non-elevated bridge for a slough or small creek. Also, there is a telephone pole trail and a pipeline trail which heads south from the highway.

Follow-up investigation report:

I spoke to the submitter of the report who was able to put me in contact with his parents about the encounter. In talking to both witnesses, I learned that the male witness saw the animal cross the road, and the female witness saw the animal after it had already crossed the road.

The witnesses described the animal as a “rust” color or the color of “dead pine needles.” They further described it as being very quick, large and very hairy. The witnesses stated that the animal appeared to be stooped over while running and that it seemed to occasionally use a hand to push off the ground. When I asked the witnesses about the height of the animal, they both said that it was difficult to say because of the stooped nature of the animal’s run, but it appeared to be maybe six feet tall.

The witnesses stated that the animal never stopped running while it was in their field of view.

The witnesses told of a possible encounter that occurred in the same area about two weeks prior to this sighting at approximately the same time of the morning. The witnesses told of seeing an enormous puddle of blood in the highway (787) and a large blood trail leading to the guard rail at the bridge. Just on the other side of the guard rail was a large, hairy animal lying in a heap, somewhat sitting up. The witnesses passed at such a rate of speed that no details could be discerned, except that the color was reddish-brown or “rust,” just as in the sighting mentioned above.

By the time the witnesses could turn their vehicle around and pass by the area again, the animal was gone. The male witness wanted to stop the vehicle, but the female witness urged him not to do so.

Neither witness could say with certainty what it was they saw on other side of the guard rail, but they said they knew that it was large and hairy and reddish-brown in color.

The male witness told me that he has known for years of the existence of these animals, and he is troubled that hardly anyone takes the matter seriously. He also stated that he hopes no one will try to kill one of the animals, because he doesn't think they are harmful.

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