Monsters Among Us Podcast Features Illinois Cryptid Encounter

Illinois has always been one of those states that quietly sits in the middle of the country, but when it comes to strange encounters, the Prairie State is absolutely loaded. A recent episode from the YouTube channel Drawn Into The Dark dives deep into Illinois paranormal tales, and honestly, it's a goldmine for anyone interested in cryptids, especially the hairy, upright kind. The episode, hosted by Derek Hayes on his show Monsters Among Us, features several callers sharing their experiences. One story that really stands out comes from a guy named Mitch, who recalls a childhood memory from around fourth grade. His mom was driving them through rural central Illinois to attend a storytelling event at a state park. This was back in the MapQuest era, so the directions were already sketchy. They ended up on a dark, wooded slab road where the brights weren't doing much good. After taking a wrong turn following the printed directions, they encountered a "bridge out" sign. While pulled over, Mitch saw something run past the rear lights of the car, and then a figure appeared at his mom's door, motioning for her to open it. Mom didn't hesitate. She threw the car in reverse, did a quick three-point turn, and sped off. Mitch looked back and saw a humanoid figure running back into the forest. Whatever it was, it was clearly interested in them, and Mom was terrified. Hayes himself points out that this sounds like it could be a cryptid encounter, and Illinois has no shortage of those. He mentions the Rockford and Chicago Mothmen, similar to the famous Point Pleasant, West Virginia sightings from 1966. There's the Wolfman of Chestnut Mountain near Galena, described as a dogman-like creature. And then there's the Coal Hollow Monster, a nine-foot-tall hairy hominid that supposedly terrorized a small mining community called Pean. But the real stars of Illinois cryptozoology are the Bigfoot-type creatures. The Big Muddy Monster, also known as the Murphy'sboro Mud Monster, is one of the most well-documented hairy hominid reports in the state. This creature has been reported in the southern Illinois region for decades, with sightings dating back to the early 1970s. Witnesses describe a large, muscular, ape-like figure covered in dark hair, often spotted near rivers and wooded areas. The name comes from the Big Muddy River, which runs through the region. There have been numerous witness reports, footprint finds, and even some grainy photographs over the years, though definitive evidence remains elusive. The episode also touches on other Illinois oddities, including the Piasa Bird, an ancient Thunderbird-like creature depicted in Native American rock art along the Mississippi River bluffs. The three-legged Infield creature gets a mention too, along with the Lake Michigan sea serpent. And Illinois isn't just about monsters, there's plenty of ghost activity too, with stories about Resurrection Mary, the Lady in White at Bachelor's Grove Cemetery, and the infamous HH Holmes, one of America's first documented serial killers. Another caller, Bev from southeastern Illinois, shares a more personal and eerie story. After her mother passed away, she received two phone calls on her cell phone with "Mom" appearing on the caller ID. Both times, when she answered, there was nothing but silence. It's a strange coincidence, or perhaps something reaching out from beyond. The episode wraps up with stories from Patrick and Megan about haunted houses in Chicago, including a friend's family home with a long history of paranormal activity. For anyone interested in Illinois cryptids, especially the Bigfoot-type creatures that roam the wooded areas of the Prairie State, this episode is definitely worth checking out. The humanoid encounter Mitch describes is exactly the kind of story that keeps the mystery alive. Head over to YouTube and search for the episode to hear all the stories in full.