Search underway for Loose Primate in Campbell County, TN

October 20, 2003
Online article with video
By VINCE LENNON
6 News Reporter

JACKSBORO (WATE) -- Animal control officers in Campbell County are searching for a primate, perhaps weighing 400 pounds, that's on the loose. And nearly 100 pets are missing.

"I didn't really get a good look at his face because he didn't hang around all that long," Donna Keathley said about when she saw an ape-like creature last week in LaFollette. "But he's big and he's got a really bad stinkful odor to him."

LaFollette Animal Control Officer George Moses said, "I believe that the people believe that they see it. I don't have any reason to doubt them, that they're mistaken."

Moses said he hasn't seen the animal but he's certainly heard of it. He started getting calls about it three weeks ago. All the alleged sightings center on the College Hill community, just outside the LaFollette city limits.

Coinciding with the sightings are numerous reports of missing cats and kittens. "All told, over 100" are missing, Moses said.

According to Donna Keathley, when she startled the animal, "This kitten he threw at me, no one knows where it come from."

One College Hill man, who declined to be identified, claims the primate is an orangutan. He said he saw it Tuesday morning leaving stool samples on his property.

Many College Hill residents believe the animal escaped a circus that performed at the nearby National Guard armory a few months back. But the LaFollette Police Department and the Campbell County Sheriff's Department didn't take any reports of a missing animal.

Donna Keathley said her neighbors are ready to shoot the animal. "If I had a gun, I would've shot it."

Several people told 6 News Monday that they want the animal caught or killed before Halloween so it can't attack a child or another pet.

Campbell County officers warn anyone who sees the animal not to attempt capturing it. It's considered dangerous. Instead, any sighting should be reported immediately to LaFollette Animal Control at (423)-566-1383.

"... and I will love him and pet him and squeeze him and stroke him,
Damn George I broke another one."

Sorry I just had the picture of Bugs Bunny talking to that Yeti on the
beach in the sun.

Ha!

Wow, is this on the level? The station's not trying to pull some early "War of the Worlds" stuff this close to Halloween or anything? If I could afford a baby sitter and a few tanks of gas, I'd love to get down there!

-Sarge

Damn Sarge! Didn't you know? Tennessee is THE bigfoot hotspot
in the world!!! Where have you been boy? out in the cane break?

Hell everyone see's 'em down that way, just don't forget the graham
crackers now...

Um, "leaving stool samples on his property"? You mean, the way my dogs leave stool samples in my back yard? Isn't that just a fancy way of saying it was taking a dump?

Hehe, I knew there were a number of reports besides those "other" TN reports, I'm just surprised this one seems to be getting some decent press. Telling people to call animal control ( ) and that it's considered dangerous, can get a TV station in hot water with local authorities. That, and there was nary a smirk in the whole report. To me, that seems like they could either be planning some big Halloween spook show that will "pop" on the 31st, or that they're genuinely concerned about something down there.

If they start having exciting daily updates on this, I'm pretty sure it's up there with NORAD tracking Santa Clause.

-Sarge

I live very close to that area.This is the first I have heard of it. Jim?? Could be..I gotta check into this.

I'll be watching this one closely. I'll check into it a little further tomorrow and post an update. If it turns out to be something, I will try and get over there in the next few weeks, it's just two counties away. I don't think it's going to turn out to be anything important enough to pull your shorts out of your crack over though, so don't anybody hold their breath. Wish I could this weekend, but unfortunately i'll be out of town.


*lmao*

I realize this was said in jest, towards those that claim so many outlandish, ludicrous things on a regular basis, but that aside, don't knock our state and potential work other researchers are doing down here (sorry, that's just the way that comment landed with me)...

Tennessee does have a long history of reports of such cryptid animals, a great many of them showing up in the papers around these parts on a semi-regular basis (usually a couple every year or so)...

Once again, I realize this comment was most likely made in jest of certain individuals whom claim ridiculousness on a regular basis, but I simply wouldn't have felt right if I didn't make a comment concerning it...That, and these kind of comments are EXACTLY what people such as myself and Volsquatch are working against, due to those "particular individuals", and how their proven false claims are making the state of research in this state look to others...

Nothing personal...

Ah hell...

Nevermind my response...After reading it again and my response directly after it, I realize I was just being too overly defensive (we Tennesseans can be that way sometimes)...

I'm in a not too decent mood at the moment, and Howling's post just settled the wrong way with me...

My bad man...No harm no foul...

I clicked onto their "Sound Off" viewer-feedback forum, which has separate threads for each topic. No thread for this topic yet. Maybe someone here should start one, urging viewers (and the station!) to supply more info. (Hmm--why didn't I do that when I was there--too shy, I guess. And also not from the area. It would be better if a TN resident made this request.)

So true sometimes. I think a lot of it stems from the "barefoot hillbilly" stereotypes that have plagued us for so long. The MG/JC/Chattahoochie crap isn't doing us any favors in that area either.

On a more laid back and sensible note, Campbell and Anderson counties both have a history of Bigfoot sightings, those I've talked with and looked into being primarily around the Briceville and Lake City areas (which would put those sightings somewhere in the neighborhood of 12 miles or so, from the Jacksboro area)...

Not implying that this animal was indeed an unknown primate, as is associated with Bigfoot, but I find it interesting that it was described as "Oragutan" by that one individual...

I would like to speak with some of the eyewitnesses myself. There are a lot of questions that need answered that haven't been. A more thorough description of the creature is neccesary. Your right, the "Orangutan" description is very interesting...

When did you guys get shoes...?

About the same time they started putting pictures of lost husbands on the back of beer cans.....

Hey Vol, you've got the name of the lady in the article. Why not call directory assistance, get her number and see if she would be interested in sharing with a fellow Volunteer!

Here's another story, from a different TV station...

http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.as...99&nav=4QcHIdMZ

As WVLT VOLUNTEER TV News first reported last week, there is some monkey business going on in Campbell County. Some people there said they have seen a primate terrorizing residents and pets.

Chloe Morroni talked with a primate expert to find out more about the creature.

Campbell County's 911 center has been receiving calls about the creature for weeks. "They're saying it's a chimpanzee, a large chimpanzee," said 911 dispatcher Kamille Barnes. "It's killing their cats."

Barnes lives in the College Hill community, which is where the creature has been sighted. She believes it came into her house. "My basement door was left open, and something came in and scattered all the clothes and stuff stored in the basement," she said.

UT Veterinary School primate expert Dr. Edward Ramsey said the creature that is making its presence known in Campbell County is likely not a chimpanzee like those found at the Knoxville Zoo. "Chimps are really rare as private pets, so chances that this is a chimp are pretty remote," he said.

He did say it may very well be some type of monkey. "There are unfortunately still a fair number of monkeys still in private hands," he said. "We've had one or two times [that] an animal escaped from a private zoo in Pigeon Forge."

Ramsey said that whatever kind of primate it may be, he does not believe it's responsible for the recent pet deaths in the area. "Odds are, if it killed anything, I don't think it would kill many and it wouldn't kill repeatedly. Virtually every primate is herbivorous."

He said that if a monkey is on the loose, it's a perfect example of why most exotic animals don't make good pets. "We don't think it's appropriate for people to keep -- specifically -- macaques as pets because of the ability to carry fatal disease," he said. "They're not trainable in the traditional animal sense of the term."

LaFollette animal control is investigating the situation. Knoxville Zoo officials said if the animal is caught, the zoo likely would not be able to take it, and it may have to be euthanized.

Working on it..

Lol!. They just did a quicky about it on the local news, out down here in Florida, WINK. Described as a 400 lb ape with a bad stink. One lady, an eyewitness explained what she saw. Hope somebody gets a picture of it. Might turn out to be interesting. Sounds like its putting a hurting on the local kitty population. QUESTION? Has anyone ever heard of apes or orangutans eating cats? Thought they were vegetarians.

Typing up an update at this very moment. I have a lot of new information to pass along...

I tried to find the phone number to eyewitness Donna Keathley, I did find it, but it has been disconnected. Then, upon finding the number to the Campbell County Animal Control, I called and spoke with one of the officers there. This lady informed me that Mr. Moses was out of the office on a call, and that they have been literally inundated with calls in the last few days regarding this creature. I told her that I was very interested in hearing about this creature, and that I have been interested in unknown primates for years, and if she would please give me some information on it, I would deeply appreciate it. She said that she has taken only a few of the calls that have come through regarding this creature, and that I was the first one to call that sounded sane enough and serious enough to speak with, so she would give me the latest information on what is happening. She said that they are the ones handling this case, but are in serious need of some assistance with this creature. She said that there many, many people out searching for this creature as we speak, in the woods, on foot, and 4x4's, and she has been informed by many of them that they are going to shoot the creature as soon as it's spotted. She said that they are very concerned for the well being of the creature and the citizens of the town, and in her opinion it will not be long before someone brings it in, and more than likely it will be dead. She said that they have informed people not to try and capture this creature alive, it would be extremely dangerous because the reports that they have been getting puts this creature at or around 400 lbs. She said that just this morning a call came through from someone saying they were going to shoot the creature, and that they have heard that there is a $60,000.00 reward out for a creature like this. I told her that it was probably someone thinking it's a bigfoot, and asked her if they left their name, and she said no. She said that she is afraid this thing will balloon out of control because of all the press it's getting. I asked her about the sightings and she said that a large ape-like creature has been spotted in and around the area, and many, many calls have been coming in with eyewitness reports. She said the closest and longest contact with the creature has been with a family that lives close by. She said that this is the same family who reported seeing the animal deficating on their property. She said that the first contact witht this family came when the lady of the house was sick, and told her husband to come and listen because she thought she heard voices on the front porch. The husband went and opened the door and was eyeball to eyeball with an erect, hairy, reddish colored creature, somewhere around 5 feet tall, and the smell was overwhelming. The man reported that the creature had what looked like a "mohawk" on top of it's head, apparently that's the best description he could give. That is when this family first put the call through about the creature. In the next few days, this family witnessed the same animal hanging from a tree that was over their catfish pond with one hand, and trying to grab fish out of the pond using the other hand. They also witnessed this animal deficate on their property, and as of yesterday, they have brought the feces by animal control and shown it to them. She said that everytime this family sees this creature, that it runs off before they can get close to it, and that they haven't had a camera nearby to take a picture at these times either. She said that the man was going to try and take a plaster cast of the footprints that this creature is leaving. She said that this family has a big place and many, many cats, and that the cats have been dissapearing left and right, and they are saying that the creature was most likely responsible, but she highly doubts it. She asked me if I could help in any way, and that they are desperate for some help with this creature at this time, and I told her that I would ask around and see what I could do. She said that they are very concerned that this thing will still be going on when Halloween gets here, and that it would be awful if some child in a costume was hurt by someone with a gun trying to shoot the creature. She said that she was very reluctant to be talking with me about this, but she knows they need help with this, and that's why she told me what she knew. She said that one thing the press has screwed up is the fact that there was a circus in town a few years ago, and that she heard that there was a report of a missing animal. I asked her for the number to the people who have the feces, and she said that she is covered up at the moment, and that I could call back later. She said that she was very busy at the moment, and needed to get off the phone, so I told her that I would be in contact with her as soon as I could. Remember, this nice lady was trying her best to talk to me and take care of a number of other jobs all at the same time, so she did the best she could as far as telling me what has been going on. I have to go out for a while right now, but I will go ahead and post this information that I have found. What kind of help can be given to these people at Animal Control? Any suggestions?

Wow Vol, very impressive work. I can't wait to hear more!

I have no suggestions for them. I have one for you, though. Keep it up! Great work!

I'm wondering if maybe we have the 'rogue juvenile' scenario playing out in Tennessee. Now wouldn't that be something...

Excellent work Vol!
I'm not sure if this was mentioned, but was there any indication from witnesses/media that the creature was bipedal?

Vol,

It sounds to me like the animal control office really needs to get the help of a primatologist. Someone who is very familiar with the behavior of a creature such as an orangutan (which is what this sounds like) and who would have the resources to tranquilize and capture the animal.

And to tell the truth, if a circus were to lose such an animal, it would really be no wonder that they might not report it. That way if the animal causes any harm to humans or property, they won't be held liable.

Good reporting, dude!

(BTW, love your new sig.)

Great work,Vol...I agree with Fish on the orang...going by the description...but either way its got to get your adrenaline going...

Fox, here Fox........

Just kidding, but what I'm wondering is, could this animal be suffering from some disease, such as Rabies or something?

It seems that its aggressive and odd behavior is similar to other animals suffering from such afflictions. If so, it could be extremely dangerous.

Great job Vol, you do your state proud!

I will post an update tomorrow as I will be in contact with Mr. Moses to discuss this further. We'll have to wait on more information to form a clearer picture of what this creature could be. I will try to make contact with the family who has the feces, and see what I can glean from them, especially as to the description of the footprints. I have been informed by a very wise and respected investigator that Orangs are primarily vegetarians, and this particular creature was after fish. Also, that no apes are expected to survive the winters since the circus loss, but a juvenile Sas could. Thank you oh wise one. Thanks to all of you for the support and suggestions, we should have a better idea of what Lafollette is dealing with in the next few days.

Article from WVLT-TV Volunteer TV
http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.as...23&nav=4QcHIepQ

No More Monkey Mayhem?

Last week, WVLT VOLUNTEER TV News was the first to tell you that an escaped primate was reportedly terrorizing pets and people in Campbell County.

Now, the monkey business may be over.

Sheriff's officials said they have picked up a lead the case. They received a tip that a Campbell County man's pet monkey escaped recently. Officials said the creature is now back in its cage.

Deputies plan to interview the man to make sure that his monkey was the one on the loose.

A 400-pound monkey?

Huh? Well, if it turns out to be the same critter, total over-exaggeration. Hope they report, or at least show a picture of what the pet monkey looks like.

Thanks for the update Vol. Good luck with the search!

Now IM wondering what the MG camp is saying about this? Is it near their neck of the woods and have they named it yet?

I'm sure if Janice was asked, she'd have some kind of answer...It'd be something to the effect of a prophesised "return of Blackie", angry at the fact he can't find any young women running around at all hours of the night...So what is a libido driven Bigfoot to do?!...

-KILL DA KITTIES!-

NYAAAAAAAAAAARK!

Me thinks somebodys fibbin ' Certainly a 15-50# wooly or spider monk
is gonna fit this show Even a 4 foot 100 pound langur monk ... kinda comes up a little short on a 5 foot 400 pounder (??????????? wha ?????????? ) Good luck Vol yer gonna need it Could the police maybe direct their concerns to crowds of people with weapons running around near Halloween time and end the dilemma with this? Naw.
Regardless, kinda neat excercise for practice investigations seems to me.

You've got that one right Stream.
But if you were the authorities and the stiuation was as bad as the poor animal control lady Volsquatch spoke to has related, wouldn't you put out a story to calm the waters? Even if it were false?
The idea of the 's with guns roaming around just creeps me out. Somebody is going to be hurt badly unless they get a lid on it.
Jan

..................just as an aside, and for a frame of reference, i was "introduced" to an orang at a zoo by its keeper a few years ago. was told it weighed 318#. it was sitting down at the time and appeared about 4-4.5' tall.

I have been unable to reach the office of Animal Control today. Even the answering machine is offline for some reason. Maybe they have decided not to take any more calls at this time regarding this incident. The size/weight ratio's did give me pause as well. I just report what I am told. If this is just an escaped "monkey" that is now back in it's cage, then this will stand as a prime example of how things get blown out of purportion re sightings of unidentified or unknown primates. I would have liked to had spoken with the family that had the most sightings, but it will have to wait until I can aquire the relevant information. I will try again tomorrow, and post a follow up. Stream, your PM inbox is full and not accepting PM's.


*lmao* Actually, it is probably the escaped monkey monster of Dr. Frankencoy. I can just see Janice now, in her basement stitching up various parts of stuffed toy monkeys......"IT'S DONE! IT'S DONE! We will call him........'CC'!.....short for CHINA CABINET.....because I was short one leg and had to use one off of my pawpaws old china cabinet....., now take him to the bushes so we can get a fuzzy picture of him and release it as proof.....Mary will never know....."

sounds like callin 911 and getting a busy signal... how will they know if its related to the prtimate or to to an actual emergency..?

good work Vol. I should get that fixed tonight. Hey on that orang comment, neat. Big big big rang. what gets me about this deal is the reference to so many facts that contradict. :rolleyes:

Well, at this point, I wouldn't use the word "facts" if your referring to this monkey business in LaFollette. Bad pun, baaaaaad . We'll just have to wait and see what develops.



I dunno. Maybe someone else wants to make the call?

WVLT TV NEWS UPDATE ON CAMPBELL COUNTY CREATURE:

Well, after re-reading this reply, it kindof sounds a little smartassed. I really didn't mean for it to come out that way. I just meant that maybe they are trying to avoid the "bigfoot" scenario as much as possible, at least for now? Who knows, maybe the answering machine was on the fritz and I just called when they were too busy to answer. Maybe I should have just said that in the first place. Maybe I shoulda took that left turn at Albequerque, damn that Daffy Duck and his screwy-ball sense of di-rection.....

Well, looks like we got ourselves a story developing.....:

http://www.wate.com/Global/story.asp?S=1492976

Did I read that right?...

Did these people respond to Skunk Apes as "Myakka Skunk Apes", in the context of that being another accepted name or moniker for them?...

Hmmm...

Interesting if that was indeed the case...Kinda shows how these animals get "names" assigned to them by either press or locals...I can see it now, 20yrs from now they'll be called "Myakkas" on a regular basis, just like wooddevils, boogers and (here locally) screaming jacks...

Update on Cambell County Creature

Today, I was able to speak again with the lady at Animal Control. She informed me that she was on duty in another part of the facility sporadically throughout the day, and Mr. Moses was out most of the day, and that would explain the unanswered phone. She said that they continue to be inundated with calls regarding this creature. Sightings are still coming in, just this morning a call came in from a local who saw the creature "run across his yard". They have been contacted by several media outlets, as well as private individuals with their own concerns as to the identity of this creature. Also, as of this morning, they have been contacted by the CBS Early Show with a request for an interview with Mr. Moses about the creature. I requested contact information regarding the eyewitnesses, and an update regarding the "local cryptozoologist", and she said that Mr. Moses would be in contact with me soon to give me an interview and he would be more suited to passing this information along. She did add that many people were now calling the creature a "skunk ape". On a more personal note, she informed me that there have been many sightings down through the years of a "hairy man" in the area, but people were afraid to come foreward for fear of being labled "crazy". She said that her own Mother and Father used to, in all seriousness, tell a story about how they saw the "hairy man", before they were married. Around 40 years ago, they were out hunting and saw the creature standing on a hill across from them. She said that her Grandmother and Great Uncle both confirmed the story and had said that they had seen the same "hairy man" in the past as well. I will post another update as soon as I complete the phone interview with Mr. Moses. The origin and identity of this creature is still uncertain, and until we can gain some clear pictures or video of this creature, or the creature itself, we should all be skeptical as to it being bigfoot related. It is still way too early to know either way.

Not to worry anyone....we now have "THE EXPERT" on the job!


East Tennessee keeps getting better and better for....
by Mary Green (Login bigfootlady)
Forum Owner

Bigfoot hunting! That's over there in J.R. Perry's, Stan's, Gene's, and Janice's part of the state! Sure sounds like a hairy hominoid to me and we all know they love cat meat! HUMMM, and this is a very bad joke, but maybe the bigfoot are related to the Chinese and other foreign nations who love cat meat! Wow, 100 cats, this one has gone on a feeding frenzy. Kind of reminds me of the bear, fattening up for the winter. This also gives credence to Janice saying the bigfoot seemed to fatten up for the winter months!

Later,
Mary


And we all know that Janice needs all the "credence" that she can get.

Oh...my...god.

UPDATE ON CAMPBELL COUNTY CREATURE

I have recently spoken on the phone with George Moses of Animal Control. We have discussed the sightings in detail, and there are too many variations in the descriptions to gain any kind of accurate description of the creature. The contact information for the eyewitnesses is not being given out at this time. The family who has reported the most sightings of the creature had around 87 cats on their farm , but now have only 9 left. The neighbors are also reporting that there are no more outside cats left as well. I was able to obtain the contact information for Chris Dotson, the local Cryptozoologist. As soon as I ended the call with Mr. Moses, I placed a call to Mr. Dotson. Mr. Dotson informed me that he is not affiliated with any organizations. We spoke in length about the investigation that he has started, and he sounds like a very competent and skilled researcher. He has and will be doing an on-site investigation. He has requested that I keep the details of his investigation private for the moment, and I have agreed. We will see what develops in the next few days, but I feel strongly that Mr. Dotson has the will and knowhow to reap some very good results from his investigation. I can say that from what he has told me, it looks more and more like were dealing with a Sas in Cambell County. I have asked Mr. Dotson to visit us here at bigfootforums.com, and he has agreed to come by this evening and preview the board.