Shelby County
Shelby County, Illinois, is a rural county in central Illinois, established in 1827 and named for Kentucky statesman Isaac Shelby, with its county seat in Shelbyville. The county is known for Lake Shelbyville, a popular recreational area created by damming the Kaskaskia River, and has a population of around 21,000.
Bigfoot Sighting Report
Report Date: [July 27, 2026]
Incident Date: September 2016
Incident Time: Approximately 3:00 PM
Weather Conditions: Beautiful sunny day
Location:
Rural Tower Hill, Shelby County, Illinois (dead central Illinois).
Exact coordinates of the sighting: 39.48739° N, 88.95530° W.
The incident occurred on 1000 East Road, approximately one-half mile from the witnesses’ residence. The creature crossed the road from wooded area on one side into an open pasture belonging to a neighbor that contained a pond. The witnesses’ home at the time was situated on one acre of ground, completely surrounded by cornfields on all sides.
Witnesses:
- Primary witness (Barbara Lynn Porter)
- Husband
- Stepdaughter
All three witnesses observed the creature together from their vehicle.
Description of the Sighting:
While driving home, the witnesses observed a large, bipedal creature cross the road ahead of them. It moved from the trees on one side of the road into the open pasture toward the neighbor’s pond.
The creature was pure silver in color and quite massive in build. Its face was a darker color, almost black, contrasting against its bright silver hair. It had a primate appearance but featured what looked like a human nose. As it crossed, it turned its head and looked directly over its shoulder back at the witnesses in the car.
The creature’s size was estimated at a minimum of 5 feet from one shoulder to the other and approximately 8½ feet tall.
Witness Reactions:
No one spoke during the sighting or for the remainder of the drive home; all remained in complete silence due to shock. Upon pulling into their driveway, the stepdaughter broke the silence and asked if the others had seen it. She then described exactly what the primary witness had observed. The husband confirmed he had seen the same creature.
Additional Context and Follow-Up Experiences:
Following the sighting, the primary witness began extensive research into the subject. The family had previously noticed an unusual number of owls in their yard at night. After learning that these creatures are known to mimic owl calls, the witness now believes the sounds were produced by the same type of being rather than actual owls.
The idea that such creatures could have been hiding in the surrounding cornfields and watching the property created a lasting sense of unease.
Since the incident, the witness has become actively involved in Bigfoot research, including conducting tree knocks and whoops at locations where signs are present. The witness now resides in southern Illinois, an area noted for Bigfoot activity, particularly the region associated with the Big Muddy Monster.
Additional Encounters:
The witness has also had experiences outside of town on the other side, near Lake Shelbyville in the Hidden Springs area. In one instance, a very large and intricate structure was discovered situated right at the edge of a pond (near the Big Tree Trail area with Sassafras Pond and Hickory Pond). The structure appeared positioned as if to allow concealment while observing or ambushing deer coming to the pond for water.
End of Report
This report preserves the original witness account without alteration to the sequence of events, descriptions, or details provided.