Overview of the Encounter

The witness, referred to as Don, was in his early 20s, a frequent camper and outdoor enthusiast engaged in activities such as hunting and fishing.

Date: unknown

Year: 1978

Location: West Central Illinois

Land Managed By: State Parks

Nearest Town: Joliet

County: Will County

State: Illinois

Nearest Landmark: Local State Parks

Witness Accounts

The witness, Don, recounts an encounter that took place in the spring of 1978 while he was mushroom hunting in a wooded area of West Central Illinois, near Joliet. Don described himself as an avid outdoorsman who frequently participated in activities like camping, hunting, and fishing. On this occasion, he was out looking for morel mushrooms, which typically grow in May and June. While navigating the woods with his dog, he initially believed he heard a deer crashing through the underbrush. This sound startled both him and his dog, prompting him to take cover behind a substantial tree. This decision was made out of caution as it was past deer season, and deer were not likely present in the area. Don described the creature he sensed as large and hulking, estimating its height to be between 13 to 14 feet tall and its width to be around 5 and a half feet. He noted that it was completely pitch black in color. The sound made by the creature was unsettling, reminiscent of a demonic type of noise. Both he and his dog were in a standoff with this entity for about 35 to 45 seconds, during which he was unable to see the creature but felt its presence very distinctly. During this tense moment, his dog, a Siberian German Shepherd mix, displayed signs of unease. After giving a muffled bark, the dog returned to Don, suggesting that it too was aware of the creature nearby and wanted to retreat. Despite the proximity of the entity, Don remained motionless, wary of provoking it. After a brief silence, the creature seemed to move away, causing significant disturbance as it shook the tree and knocked down branches in its wake. The witness indicated that he was surprised by the sheer force of the animal's movement, which led him to conclude that it could not have been a deer. Don noted that deer typically move quietly through the woods, whereas this creature made a deliberate choice to make noise as it moved. He described the creature’s movements as deliberate and purposeful, akin to that of a human walking through the brush. The encounter left Don feeling perplexed and uneasy, especially given his background in hunting and familiarity with animal behaviors. He had not shared the experience with anyone for many years, primarily suppressing it until about 25 to 30 years later. Don also mentioned anecdotal stories he heard from a local girl he dated a year later, who talked about sightings of a "wild man creature" in the area, known colloquially as “Harry Larry.” It became apparent that there was a local history of such encounters, which only heightened Don's realization that his own experience may not have been an isolated incident. In his subsequent conversations, Don affirmed that he continued to investigate and explore the area where the encounter occurred, even noting that he had recorded some audio vocalizations that were reminiscent of what he had heard during his initial encounter. He indicated a strong inclination to delve deeper into these occurrences, stating that despite the passage of many years, the memories of that day remained vivid and impactful. In summary, Don's encounter with the large black creature in the woods of West Central Illinois in 1978 was characterized by an intense standoff marked by sound and movement, without an actual visual confirmation of the creature. His experience reflects a broader context of local folklore and continues to resonate in his recollections of outdoor experiences.

Source

YouTube

Note: Information above was collected and summarized by A.I. Dates, name and location could be inaccurate or wrong.