YEAR: 1998

SEASON: Fall

MONTH: September

DATE: 28

STATE: Illinois

COUNTY: Shelby County

LOCATION DETAILS: It was on a straight piece of highway with nothing but fields and flatland to the east and Lake Shelbyville around 10 to 15 miles to the west. It was heading west.

NEAREST TOWN: Stewardson

NEAREST ROAD: Rte. 32

OBSERVED: I was with a friend, returning home from a baseball game in St. Louis. We were on route 32 in Illinois, just north of the Shumway turnoff by about a mile or so, when a large bi-ped appearing around 9' tall, came running out of a cornfield, crossed a ditch as if it weren't there and crossed the highway in three steps then over another ditch into another cornfield. It appeared to be greyish in color and ran with its arms down in a pendulum type motion. It was approximately 30 yards ahead of us. We both turn to each other at the same time and said, "Did you see that?" We slowed down, but it was too dark to see much. We returned late in the afternoon the next day to look for signs, but the area farmers had harvested the corn on both sides of the roads earlier that morning.

ALSO NOTICED: In a possible related incident, just a minute or two just before we saw this, a bird flew into the windshield of the truck I was driving. The reason I add this is it was at night and most birds of this size usually don't take flight in the dark.

OTHER WITNESSES: Myself and one friend. I'm not sure at this time if he would discuss it or not. I have not had contact with him for some time.

OTHER STORIES: No

TIME AND CONDITIONS: It was very close to midnight. It was dark with some moonlight. Cool, but clear conditions.

Follow-up investigation report by BFRO Investigator Stan Courtney:

I spoke with the witness by phone.

In summary:

• The animal's height was estimated at nine feet tall.
• The animal's weight was between 350-400 lbs.
• Appeared very muscular and thick.
• The hair was greyish in color.
• The animal was approximately 30 yards ahead of them in the headlights when it crossed the highway.
• They never saw the face.
• The sighting was close to midnight on a cool and clear night.
• The witnesses returned the next day to look for evidence but found none.
• I was unable to contact the second witness.

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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