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A series of social media posts from a cryptid-focused podcast has ignited speculation about widespread Bigfoot sightings in northeast Ohio, with enthusiasts pointing to what they describe as a concentrated burst of activity in the Mantua and Garrettsville areas southeast of Cleveland. The Bigfoot Society, a podcast and online community, says it has received six separate reports of alleged Bigfoot encounters between March 6 and March 10 in wooded areas in the region.

Why it matters

Bigfoot sightings are relatively common across the United States, but a cluster of multiple reported encounters in a small geographic area over a short period is considered unusual and potentially indicative of increased cryptid activity. The reports have generated excitement within the Bigfoot research community, which is eager to investigate further and potentially uncover new evidence of the elusive creature’s existence.

The details

According to the Bigfoot Society, the reported encounters include alleged sightings of a nine-foot-tall, brown-haired Sasquatch, as well as other details about the creature’s appearance and behavior. However, the group has not released any photographs, video, or independently verified physical evidence to corroborate the claims. Nonetheless, the podcast host described the cluster of sightings as a possible “flap” event, a term used in cryptozoology to refer to multiple sightings within a short time span.

• The reported sightings occurred between March 6 and March 10, 2026.
• The Bigfoot Society received the six separate reports during this four-day period.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The Bigfoot Society has urged residents in Portage County to remain vigilant and report any additional sightings or evidence to the group. The podcast host indicated that the community is eager to investigate the reports further and potentially uncover new evidence of Bigfoot’s existence.

Our team coverage of last nights severe storms continues. We’re speaking with a hail expert.
Victor Gensini, professor and meteorology program advisor at NIU, joins the show.

An elderly couple died after a possible tornado ripped through the town.

The couple’s family said they’re shocked that Tuesday night’s tornado leveled their grandparents’ home and took their lives.

“Obviously, we’ve never seen anything remotely resembling this,” said son-in-law Steve Rhefeldt.

A place that Ed Kozlowski, 89, and his wife, Arlene, 86, once called home is now gone.

“They were wonderful, just really wonderful human beings. You know, tough old guy and sweet old lady,” he said.

The Indiana Urban Search and Rescue team was spotted on Wednesday sifting through the debris along with Rhefeldt and his son, Matthew, who traveled from Peotone to see the damage.

The elderly couple was unable to get out of the debris alive. Relatives believe that everything happened within the blink of an eye.

“They’ve lived a good life, and boy, you kind of… I have to imagine this was just “hey, what’s going on?” and it was over that quick,” Steve said.

The family said they were in the process of planning Ed’s 90th birthday at the home the couple had lived in for years. Everything the couple built is now gone.

“We were talking on the way here. These cars, there’s big heavy V8 engines in big trucks, and the wind is literally taking his car, which was parked somewhere, maybe right there, and taking it and flipping it upside down,” Steve said.

The couple had four kids, seven grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Lake Village was left with extensive damage that crews are just starting to clear. Steven Travis said he survived the tornado but lost everything.

“Roof’s gone all in 20 seconds. I walked in the bedroom, got knocked down, climbed in the closet, and it was over. Come back out, climbed out, and the roof’s gone, everything. Trees are down, windows blowed out. Lost everything,” Steven said.

North Newton High School in Lake Village is serving as an emergency shelter for anyone displaced by the storm. The Lake Village Fire Department is also serving as a rallying point.

Newton County officials confirmed that more than 100 buildings were damaged in Lake Village and more than 30 were destroyed.