Here is the story and photo from our local News Paper The Record-Courier Thursday, January 26 2012 edition.
On Bigfoot’s TrailOn Oct. 2, 1992, Kent resident Timothy Stover Jr. experienced a life-changing event. At 10 p.m. Sunday, Stover can be seen re-enacting the event on Animal Planet’s “Finding Bigfoot” television series.
On that day nearly 20 years ago, Stover, now a contractor and lifelong hunter, said he was exploring the woods at Salt Fork State Park when he encountered the elusive creature known as Bigfoot.
It would be another 10 years before Stover shared his story with anyone, but he began conducting Bigfoot research and now spends about 30 to 40 hours a week in the field seeking evidence.
“I know what I saw that day was real. It wasn’t a pleasant sighting, I was scared to death,” he said. “Ever since then, I’ve been doing this.”
Armed with about $8,000 worth of high definition cameras, thermal cameras and other technology, Stover said he spends about every other day in the woods from sun down to sun up conducting research.
“We have a lot of fun with this Bigfoot stuff,” he said.
Stover said he recently found some foot tracks in the West Branch State Park that measure 17 inches long and 7 inches wide.
“You can’t prove what it is, but you sit there and go, ‘What the heck?’” he said.
Stover notes that other creatures such as the giant shark and colossal squid were also thought to be mythical at one point in time.
“You can’t just write it off,” he said. “I’ve learned my entire life to keep an open mind.”
Stover said he’s appeared on numerous radio shows throughout the years in addition to his own, Ohio Bigfoot Hunters, but his appearance on Animal Planet’s “Finding Bigfoot” is his first television appearance.
Working with the cast and crew of Animal Planet was a “blast,” he said. “They treated me like their best friend. It was an experience I will never forget.”
Eldorado’s Pizza Pie, located at 1331 S. Water St. in Kent, is hosting a viewing party of the episode Sunday.
Stover said he nearly didn’t accept Animal Planet’s initial offer to feature him on “Finding Bigfoot,” but after pressure from friends he went along with it.
“I wasn’t in this for the public spotlight,” he said. “I’m in it for fun and sharing research and it came to this.”

Timothy Stover Jr., a Kent resident and local Bigfoot researcher, shows a casting of a 17-inch long, 7-inch wide footprint he found at West Branch State Park. Stover will appear on Animal Planet’s “Finding Bigfoot” at 10 p.m. Sunday.