Thursday, July 27, 1972

‘Hey, Bud, Did You See A Monster Go By…’

The Pekin Daily Times

Tazewell Co. Sheriff’s officers discovered a serious safety hazard in East Peoria woods Wednesday night, but it wasn’t “Cohomo” (Cole Hollow Road Monster).

The real danger they did find was Homo Sapiens-about 100 monster hunters walking thru the woods in the area of Coal Hollow Road, many armed to the hilt. Sheriff’s officers were called to the scene at 7:45 p.m. Wednesday after Carl R. Harris, of 109 Vicic street, East Peoria, apparently shot himself in the leg with a .22 caliber pistol while looking for the reported “monster.” Officers cleared the area after the incident and several deputies patroled the area all night. An investigation in the area was to continue today.

“We have not seen or heard anything,” Sheriff Donahue said. Donahue said he has received a report from a farmer in the area who is also a hunter who said he has seen a very large deer in the Cole Hollow Road woods. Donahue said the deer could be responsible for the mysterious “monster tracks.” “We do not need any help from any citizens.” Donahue said, “especially those with any guns or other weapons.” Sheriff Donahue said his office would continue to investigate the problem and would notify the public of any new evidence.

Harris is in fair condition today at Methodist hospital. Doctors said the bullet entered three inches above the knee on his right thigh, passed thru the back of the knee and lodged in muscle tissue in the right calf. Harris told investigating Sheriff’s Deputies he and Richard Mudd, 1219 Fisher road, Creve Coeur, were in the area looking for the “monster” allegedly seen in the area. Harris said he took the gun along to protect himself. He said he did not trip or fall, the gun just discharged.

Mudd, who was reportedly walking ahead of Harris at the time of the accident, was not armed. The accident occurred about a quarter mile from Cole Hollow Road, Harris and Mudd were among about 100 persons in the woods stalking Cohomo.

Randy Emert, 18, of 3527 Twelve Oaks, Peoria, says he and many friends have seen some type of “hairy Creature” in the woods near Cole Hollow Road. He described “Cohomo” as being between eight and twelve feet tall, “kinda white and it moves quick.” Emert said he first saw “Cohomo” about two months ago but didn’t report it because “people would think we’re crazy.” He said he came forward with his own story when he heard about the sighting of Momo in Louisiana, Mo. Emert said he has seen “Cohomo” twice in the last two months.

In another sighting of a strange creature, Creve Coeur authorities said a witness reported seeing “something big” swimming in the Illinois River Tuesday. Emert claims he has heard Cohomo several times and says it “lets out a long screech kinda like an old steam engine whistle, only more human.”