"The Minerva Monster"
Stark County, Ohio -
Paris Township
In August 1978, hunters with high-powered rifles, hunting dogs and lots
of beer stalked a creature in a wooded area off U.S. 30 behind the home
of a Paris Township family.
The beast was reported to be more than 6 feet tall and 300 pounds, covered
in dark, matted hair. It was said to have shown up often at the home
of Herbert and Evelyn Cayton -- so often that their daughter considered
it a pet.
One night, it stood at their kitchen window, directly under a security
light. Stark County deputies who investigated the sightings said they
were not a hoax. Years later, they said they could still not identify
the hair samples. The animal, tagged the Minerva Monster was never found.
