The Fouke Monster
A family in rural Arkansas said a tall, hairy creature reached through their window, and a film about it filled cinemas.
What was reported
In May 1971 the Ford family, who had just moved into a house outside Fouke, in south-west Arkansas, reported that a hairy creature about 2 metres tall had been prowling around their home at night and had reached through a window. Bobby Ford said it grabbed him on the porch, and he was treated for shock.
Stories of a creature around Boggy Creek went back years. The 1972 low-budget film The Legend of Boggy Creek, made partly with local people, was a surprise hit, and the town still celebrates its monster.
Explanations offered
Investigators found three-toed tracks that some thought were faked. Bears, which live in the region, and other animals have been suggested, along with hoaxes inspired by the publicity. No creature has been caught or clearly photographed.
- When
- May 1971
- Where
- Fouke, Arkansas, USA
- Witnesses
- The Ford family and neighbours
- Status
- Unconfirmed
Famous cases are real, widely reported events. Each file sets out what witnesses said and the explanations that have been offered, without taking a side.