In the summer of 1969, strange things began happening in Tarrant County, Texas. Just outside of Fort Worth, sightings of the Lake Worth Monster, also known as Goatman, were first reported. The monster was first sighted near Greer Island on Lake Worth. Just after midnight, on July 10, John Reichart, his wife, and two other couples sat in their parked car. The group reported to police that a creature leapt from the trees above them onto their vehicle. The monster tried to grab Reichart’s wife, but he was able to start the car and speed away. The couples described the monster as “part man part goat” with fur, scales, and long claws. An 18-inch-long scratch down the side of Reichart’s car lent evidence to their report. The three couples were terrified. The Fort Worth police, believing their story, launched an investigation. This was big news.
The next day the Fort Worth Star Telegram featured a frontpage story on the monster. The headline read “Fishy Man-Goat Terrifies Couples Parked at Lake Worth.” News of the incident spread quickly. Radio and television coverage spread the story. Soon carloads of people began to descend on Greer Island. Many were armed and ready for a monster hunt.
The day after the initial attack, the creature was spotted again, appearing on a bluff overlooking the lake. Up to forty spectators were present, including members of the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Dept. Witnesses reported that the monster became agitated and howled as it moved, eventually hurling a tire approximately 500 feet towards the crowd. The ter- rified onlookers, including the deputies, dodged the tire and fled
