Sierra Kills driver speaks up, gives exact date of Bigfoot shooting. Describes what happened.
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| Justin Smeja was introduced to Derek Randles after an encounter with a Sasquatch in the mountains of Northern Ca. Texas native, he now makes his home near Sacramento California and works in the construction trade. Avid hunter, tracker and fisherman, Justin specializes in scent control and camera set up. |
On October 8, 2010, what went down near Gold Lake CA on that day was something two people will never forget. Two bear hunters pulled up to a road between a canyon and saw a Bigfoot standing right in front of them. It was odd looking at first because they thought it was a bear waving its arms in the air. The driver of the vehicle pulled out his binoculars and couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Yes I had my binoculars that is what made it even more strange they were set up for classing mountain sides so it was fuzzy at first but when I cleared them it felt like my heart sank and I did not realize what I was looking at I would say it took a double take but I couldn't take my eyes off of it," the driver said.
But for whatever reason, his friend Justin pulled the trigger on the beast and it crashed into the brush near the side of the road. Two of her babies came out onto the road chasing after their mother on all four, this was unlike their mother who ran on two legs, bipedal. And for some unknown reason, maybe for the fun of it or for the fear it, Justin shot one of "the babies" as it was looking for its mother. Justin walked up to grab the baby as it dies in his arms. He realizes what he had just done. The driver was furious and both left the scene of the crime. It was a crime, that's how some people would describe this horrific event after hearing their story.
"Honestly I have two regrets first off I wish it had dropped where it stood because I know either way it died and it would have changed everything and second I wish the kid was never shot because it was unnecessary and I'm not about just the fun of the kill it's more to me than that it's an experience and that turned the day sour for me, and no we did not take any physical evidence home THAT DAY," said the driver.
"Honestly my first thought was a person in a bear suit."
When asked if he still had his half of the flesh sample that was recovered a few weeks later, the driver said, "I do have my part of what we recovered I'm holding onto it."
"How do you guys know the sex of the adult?" one person asked. "They ran DNA tests and came to the conclusions they came to I don't know how all that goes down I have seen nothin just what Justin tells me," the driver replied.
Here's the full transcript from Bigfoot Forums time-stamped late last night. Thanks to ArizonaBigfoot for the tip.
thedriver: Hey y'all new to the forum just got the Internet, interesting reads.. Just wanted to say what's up.
bipedalist : Welcome, you mean, Thedriver as in "Sierra Shootings" driver? If so, sounds like a wild ride. Welcome to the forums
Thedriver: Thanks
TimB: I'm really looking forward to another here-to-for participant extending the conversation. Should keep things moving until the new year...Tell us all about yourself "thedriver"!
slimwitless: Ever been bear hunting in the Sierras?
Jodie: Are you "The Driver" that doesn't have internet and is shying away from the public? Or did you read the thread and become a fan of the missing link in the story and decide to join us to liven things up a bit? Either way, you are welcome, look forward to the pot stirring. We can't let this stew sit for too long you know.
Thedriver: I bleed red white and blue, I love hunting, fishing, budweiser, my family, and a hard honest day of work trying to make a living to keep a roof over our heads and food in our mouths and in the middle of all this I had a crazy ride... Jodie I'm that guy, the generals buddy, the same guy you talked to when he was in la
HOLDMYBEER: So Driver, are you a part of all the secrecy or are you able to speak for yourself?
Thedriver: Speak for myself? I'm not looking to get attacked on here but in writing for myself right now on my new smart phone
HOLDMYBEER: I don't attack anyone. Just wondering if you bought into all the Non disclosure Agreement stuff or if you are able to shed any light on the mystery of the alleged shooting.
Thedriver: Well unfortunately I'm not into all the jazz of all the stuff that happens after and y'all know that cause I have been "quiet" but I was there I know what happened on October 8 2010 in my truck with Justin on what I thought was going to be a regular hunting trip
Tautriadelta: Hello Driver,.. Welcome to the BFF.
Thedriver: And I'm not saying you attacked me that was for everyone who wants to talk to me cause I won't add to the bull or take any from anyone
HOLDMYBEER: Well, good. With not much to go on, a lot of people just start guessing about the facts, and you know how that can go. Why don't you tell us your side?
slimwitless: Welcome to the forum, driver. We'd all like to hear the story from your perspective.
Thedriver: What do you want to know cause that's a long long thing to write what I can say is Justin has told the story as it was the facts are the facts and the only thing that differs is what seat I was in and what went through my mind when it all went down and If you want me to be able to poetically give you and nail biter story that will be difficult seeing as it was over a year ago last month and alot has happened in my life since then that has nothing to do with that day of Bigfoot in general but facts are facts
slimwitless: I understand. What did you think you were looking at when you happened upon the adult?
Thedriver: Honestly my first thought was a person in a bear suit
HOLDMYBEER: Yeah, I guess I would have thought the same.
Tautriadelta: That certainly is a reasonable reaction. Hard for a person to wrap their mind around.
slimwitless: Were you looking at it with binoculars? When did you realize it was something else entirely?
Thedriver: Yes I had my binoculars that is what made it even more strange they were set up for classing mountain sides so it was fuzzy at first but when I cleared them it felt like my heart sank and I did not realize what I was looking at I would say it took a double take but I couldn't take my eyes off of it
slimwitless: Do you have any regrets? Did you guys bring back any physical evidence from the scene?
HOLDMYBEER: I'll bet it was pretty hard to forget.
arizonabigfoot: Welcome to the forums Driver. I might as well get a question out of the way while I can. It's been floated out there that you may have a sample yourself. Is this the case? Did you keep anything from that day, or did you ever go back?
PacNWSquatcher: 'TheDriver'...Do you ever regret not grabbing the bodies, and becoming millionaires many times over?
Thedriver: Honestly I have two regrets first off I wish it had dropped where it stood because I know either way it died and it would have changed everything and second I wish the kid was never shot because it was unnecessary and I'm not about just the fun of the kill it's more to me than that it's an experience and that turned the day sour for me, and no we did not take any physical evidence home THAT DAY
HOLDMYBEER: Driver, something like that experience probably follows you around. I know it would me. When thoughts about that day come into your mind, what do you remember the most. Was it the view through the binocs, or the shooting of the kid or what?
slimwitless: Did you believe or even think about bigfoot before this happened? At what point did that thought occur to you?
Thedriver: I can tell you that a million is not what in after I work hard every day and come home to my loving pregnant wife and my son and I feel great putting in a honest day of work im not looking for handouts if I was I would go on foodstamps, unemployment, and welfare I wasn't raised that way
arizonabigfoot: Do you have anyone advising you on what to say and what to avoid? Are you being coached up or just coming straight out with your version?
Thedriver: Bigfoot is something I believed was a great story but nothing more and I remember most when the big one was shot seeing the two children run out feeling like I had done something wrong but I did not see them and if I did we all would have nothing to talk about cause that shot would have never been taken
Bigfoot is something I believed was a great story but nothing more and I remember most when the big one was shot seeing the two children run out feeling like I had done something wrong but I did not see them and if I did we all would have nothing to talk about cause that shot would have never been taken
Nonnobis: Wow, Thedriver, what an astonishing adventure. Have you felt like you had to keep this story to yourself, mostly? I can only imagine how traumatic the whole thing was.
Thedriver: I'm a grown man and nobody can put words into my mouth I believe in what our country was founded on and I have freedom of speech and can say whatever I want to
arizonabigfoot: When the children ran out, did they remind you of human kids, or were they more like ape like?
HOLDMYBEER: When the children ran out, did they run after the adult or did they run towards you or how did that play out? Did they make sounds?
slimwitless: Thanks for talking about this driver. Is there any truth to the Ken Walker version that you threatened General after the little one was shot?
Thedriver: It's not that I wanted to keep it to myself Justin talks to y'all and we talk to eachother and that has always worked out just fine for me
So the kids ran on all fours unlike the adult untill it was shot and the chased the adult, and I don't know who Ken is but I never threatened him we exchanged words like wtf why would u do that but never threatened him
slimwitless: Do you still have your half of the flesh sample?
Thedriver: I do have my part of what we recovered I'm holding onto it
slimwitless: Thanks. How do you guys know the sex of the adult?
Thedriver: They ran DNA tests and came to the conclusions they came to I don't know how all that goes down I have seen nothin just what Justin tells me
TimB: Did I read it correctly- the young creature was shot for the fun of the kill?
HOLDMYBEER: So Driver, what is next for you? You said your life has changed a bunch since the shooting. You have plans to do something with Olympic Project or something tied to sasquatch?
slimwitless: Okay, thanks. How many times have you been back to the site? Are you actively involved in the investigation or the book?
Thedriver: Right now I plan on calling it a night getting up for work in the mornin and going to work like I do everyday bf was not my life and is not my life and as of right now I'm going to keep spending my time on work and family that's what my priorities are and try to make ends meet
bipedalist : Welcome, you mean, Thedriver as in "Sierra Shootings" driver? If so, sounds like a wild ride. Welcome to the forums
Thedriver: Thanks
TimB: I'm really looking forward to another here-to-for participant extending the conversation. Should keep things moving until the new year...Tell us all about yourself "thedriver"!
slimwitless: Ever been bear hunting in the Sierras?
Jodie: Are you "The Driver" that doesn't have internet and is shying away from the public? Or did you read the thread and become a fan of the missing link in the story and decide to join us to liven things up a bit? Either way, you are welcome, look forward to the pot stirring. We can't let this stew sit for too long you know.
Thedriver: I bleed red white and blue, I love hunting, fishing, budweiser, my family, and a hard honest day of work trying to make a living to keep a roof over our heads and food in our mouths and in the middle of all this I had a crazy ride... Jodie I'm that guy, the generals buddy, the same guy you talked to when he was in la
HOLDMYBEER: So Driver, are you a part of all the secrecy or are you able to speak for yourself?
Thedriver: Speak for myself? I'm not looking to get attacked on here but in writing for myself right now on my new smart phone
HOLDMYBEER: I don't attack anyone. Just wondering if you bought into all the Non disclosure Agreement stuff or if you are able to shed any light on the mystery of the alleged shooting.
Thedriver: Well unfortunately I'm not into all the jazz of all the stuff that happens after and y'all know that cause I have been "quiet" but I was there I know what happened on October 8 2010 in my truck with Justin on what I thought was going to be a regular hunting trip
Tautriadelta: Hello Driver,.. Welcome to the BFF.
Thedriver: And I'm not saying you attacked me that was for everyone who wants to talk to me cause I won't add to the bull or take any from anyone
HOLDMYBEER: Well, good. With not much to go on, a lot of people just start guessing about the facts, and you know how that can go. Why don't you tell us your side?
slimwitless: Welcome to the forum, driver. We'd all like to hear the story from your perspective.
Thedriver: What do you want to know cause that's a long long thing to write what I can say is Justin has told the story as it was the facts are the facts and the only thing that differs is what seat I was in and what went through my mind when it all went down and If you want me to be able to poetically give you and nail biter story that will be difficult seeing as it was over a year ago last month and alot has happened in my life since then that has nothing to do with that day of Bigfoot in general but facts are facts
slimwitless: I understand. What did you think you were looking at when you happened upon the adult?
Thedriver: Honestly my first thought was a person in a bear suit
HOLDMYBEER: Yeah, I guess I would have thought the same.
Tautriadelta: That certainly is a reasonable reaction. Hard for a person to wrap their mind around.
slimwitless: Were you looking at it with binoculars? When did you realize it was something else entirely?
Thedriver: Yes I had my binoculars that is what made it even more strange they were set up for classing mountain sides so it was fuzzy at first but when I cleared them it felt like my heart sank and I did not realize what I was looking at I would say it took a double take but I couldn't take my eyes off of it
slimwitless: Do you have any regrets? Did you guys bring back any physical evidence from the scene?
HOLDMYBEER: I'll bet it was pretty hard to forget.
arizonabigfoot: Welcome to the forums Driver. I might as well get a question out of the way while I can. It's been floated out there that you may have a sample yourself. Is this the case? Did you keep anything from that day, or did you ever go back?
PacNWSquatcher: 'TheDriver'...Do you ever regret not grabbing the bodies, and becoming millionaires many times over?
Thedriver: Honestly I have two regrets first off I wish it had dropped where it stood because I know either way it died and it would have changed everything and second I wish the kid was never shot because it was unnecessary and I'm not about just the fun of the kill it's more to me than that it's an experience and that turned the day sour for me, and no we did not take any physical evidence home THAT DAY
HOLDMYBEER: Driver, something like that experience probably follows you around. I know it would me. When thoughts about that day come into your mind, what do you remember the most. Was it the view through the binocs, or the shooting of the kid or what?
slimwitless: Did you believe or even think about bigfoot before this happened? At what point did that thought occur to you?
Thedriver: I can tell you that a million is not what in after I work hard every day and come home to my loving pregnant wife and my son and I feel great putting in a honest day of work im not looking for handouts if I was I would go on foodstamps, unemployment, and welfare I wasn't raised that way
arizonabigfoot: Do you have anyone advising you on what to say and what to avoid? Are you being coached up or just coming straight out with your version?
Thedriver: Bigfoot is something I believed was a great story but nothing more and I remember most when the big one was shot seeing the two children run out feeling like I had done something wrong but I did not see them and if I did we all would have nothing to talk about cause that shot would have never been taken
Bigfoot is something I believed was a great story but nothing more and I remember most when the big one was shot seeing the two children run out feeling like I had done something wrong but I did not see them and if I did we all would have nothing to talk about cause that shot would have never been taken
Nonnobis: Wow, Thedriver, what an astonishing adventure. Have you felt like you had to keep this story to yourself, mostly? I can only imagine how traumatic the whole thing was.
Thedriver: I'm a grown man and nobody can put words into my mouth I believe in what our country was founded on and I have freedom of speech and can say whatever I want to
arizonabigfoot: When the children ran out, did they remind you of human kids, or were they more like ape like?
HOLDMYBEER: When the children ran out, did they run after the adult or did they run towards you or how did that play out? Did they make sounds?
slimwitless: Thanks for talking about this driver. Is there any truth to the Ken Walker version that you threatened General after the little one was shot?
Thedriver: It's not that I wanted to keep it to myself Justin talks to y'all and we talk to eachother and that has always worked out just fine for me
So the kids ran on all fours unlike the adult untill it was shot and the chased the adult, and I don't know who Ken is but I never threatened him we exchanged words like wtf why would u do that but never threatened him
slimwitless: Do you still have your half of the flesh sample?
Thedriver: I do have my part of what we recovered I'm holding onto it
slimwitless: Thanks. How do you guys know the sex of the adult?
Thedriver: They ran DNA tests and came to the conclusions they came to I don't know how all that goes down I have seen nothin just what Justin tells me
TimB: Did I read it correctly- the young creature was shot for the fun of the kill?
HOLDMYBEER: So Driver, what is next for you? You said your life has changed a bunch since the shooting. You have plans to do something with Olympic Project or something tied to sasquatch?
slimwitless: Okay, thanks. How many times have you been back to the site? Are you actively involved in the investigation or the book?
Thedriver: Right now I plan on calling it a night getting up for work in the mornin and going to work like I do everyday bf was not my life and is not my life and as of right now I'm going to keep spending my time on work and family that's what my priorities are and try to make ends meet
If you didn't understand what you've just read: Click here to read the full story about the Sierra Kills.
Related:
I'm like the next person, I love a pub story or a big fish that got away tale, but until someone produces physical proof and DNA results that were taken under meticulous methods, I'm going to remain skeptical. I'm not seeing them profiting from it yet, though I understand the shooter is writing a book. I'm not sure how he can justify his position and not go on as one of the most hated people in America. If BF is proven to be real, we will hate him. If BF is found to be a sort of human, he will be vilified. I wanted proof that BF exists, but not from a hunter.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand why you think people will hate or villify him. What happenned, is done and over with. Even though this was not an accident, we dont know what he was thinking, honestly who cares........ its over.
ReplyDeleteIf this story is true, it will be the incident that is a part of the biggest biological discovery in our short history. With saying that, I dont think he will be a hero, but I do think, that if this leads to the proper species protection that these creatures need, Im sure a generation or two down the road "in the bigfoot world", this mother and child that were shot will be martyrs among their own kind.
Their deaths may have saved a habitat, that we keep taking, for future generations of their kind.
Thanks,
Paul
He may end up being congratulated by many for ending the myth, and ridicule that has been attached to people who believe in bigfoot's existence. I would agree that this may not have been the way we would want bigfoot to be proven, especially with the shooting of the child, but if their samples do end up helping to get bigfoot acknowledged and protected, then I think it's worth it.
ReplyDelete"Who cares?"
ReplyDeleteI'd say, if this is on the up and up, that adolescent left to fend for itself probably cares and most likely didn't make it without it's mother.
Either the mother was waving at her children to stay off the road or she was waving at the truck to protect those children from being hit.
Of course hating over it is just childish.
murderers
DeleteMah nahme is Wahwoop - ahnd I-ahm duh sahviving sah-quah - Ah will wait fah himm in tha fahrest ahn rip him ahpart fah wha he did to mah fahmily!
ReplyDeleteShawn - If you do have contact with the shooter I recommend he give a portion of his sample directly to who?
ReplyDeleteA lab...like Max Plank...where it will be handled with the highest standards and top scientists in the field of genomics...
Smeja, it doesn't take much to just pick up the phone and call Max Planck..see where you get. You might be surprised. Lots of BS and misinformation in the BF world...and Max Planck is not in the US...perhaps a bonus given the situation?
Why would you rely on anything less?
If all of this (I doubt) ever comes out as true(perhaps portions) I can't imagine the outcome for those involved, and I mean that sincerely. Too many variables as yet undefined.
ReplyDeleteIf true, little details like this might make it a very long wait on the purported (that's what it is now - purported - when was the last time Ketchum made a public statement? 2009?) Sasquatch Genome Study.
Once again though......... why does she have to comment on it. These people are buisiness people, and if I were in there shoes, I would not want a single bit of evidence or findings released until the entire study is complete and ready for publishing. Absolutly no credit lost for not talking about it. Anyone who talks about anything in the "bigfoot world" gets ripped apart. Personally, I think they are trying to stay as far away as possible from this world.
ReplyDeletePaul
I find the story believable but I'm remaining cautious.There's so much smoke and mirrors that I'm not sure who or what to believe.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Autumn that Justin will likely be vilified and possibly despised for needlessly killing these creatures.
I could see killing the mom being a mistake,but if he felt threatened and killed the child,why not kill the other one too?
Why bother shooting an animal he knew wasn't a bear?It couldn't be for money,since he didn't take the bodies.
I still have a suspicion that not everything is being told by either participant of the shooting.
Too many questions remain,too many "WTF?,that doesn't make sense."
The story just doesn't jive with me.
business people, eh?
ReplyDeleteCanadian, eh?
ReplyDeleteI don't understand how they could have left the kills without more evidence. No photos? No baby bigfoot in the freezer? No skull? No bones later?
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