The summer of 1978 brought more than just heat to the small community of Vidor, Texas. Whispers of a werewolf sighting began circulating among residents after local teenagers reported glimpsing a strange, shaggy-haired creature in the nearby forest. While many dismissed these tales as youthful imagination, the situation took a frightening turn on June 19, 1978, when Bobby Bussinger encountered something inexplicable on his property.

Bobby, a 20-year-old construction worker, and his 18-year-old wife Becky had recently moved into a house on North Tram Road despite warnings from Bobby's father, the previous tenant. Their peaceful rural life was shattered that June night when Bobby, investigating strange noises outside, came face-to-face with what he described as a six-and-a-half-foot tall, shaggy creature that pursued him back to his home. The incident triggered a series of events involving local law enforcement, media coverage, and a community gripped by fear and fascination.

Key Takeaways

A young couple in Vidor reported being terrorized by a large, aggressive creature that killed their dogs and damaged their home in June 1978.
Sheriff's Deputy Jack Reeves confirmed property destruction and witnessed a large form retreating into the woods during his investigation.
The "Vidor Werewolf" case drew armed curiosity-seekers to the area, prompting law enforcement to establish a stakeout and conduct a search of the surrounding woods.

The Legend of the Vidor Werewolf

Initial Whispers and Community Anxiety

During the summer of 1978, residents of Vidor, Texas began sharing stories about a possible werewolf roaming their small community. Local teenagers reported sightings of a strange, shaggy creature lurking in the nearby forest. While many residents dismissed these tales with laughter, others harbored genuine concerns about the potential threat. The rumors persisted throughout the community, creating an atmosphere of unease among some of the more superstitious locals.

Bobby Bussinger, a 20-year-old construction worker at the Goodyear plant near Beaumont, and his 18-year-old wife Becky had recently moved into a property on North Tram Road. The previous occupant—Bobby's father—had vacated the house due to disturbing experiences, including strange howling sounds and glimpses of a dark, hairy figure that sometimes clawed at the windows. Despite hearing these accounts, the newlywed couple dismissed them as exaggerations about normal forest wildlife.

The Night of Terror: June 19, 1978

On the morning of June 19, 1978, Bobby discovered a troubling scene during his routine property check: one puppy missing and two others fatally injured. After sunset that same day, the situation escalated dramatically when the couple heard what sounded like "a good-sized dog fight" outside their home. The disturbance included:

Banging on the house walls
Scratching at windows
Heavy footfalls around the property
Strange barking and yelping sounds

Armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, Bobby ventured toward the tree line at the edge of his property. In the moonlight, he encountered what he described as a dark, well-built creature covered in shaggy hair. Bobby estimated it stood approximately 6.5 feet tall and weighed between 200-250 pounds. When the creature began approaching aggressively, Bobby fired a panicked shot before racing back to the house.

The frightened homeowner barely made it inside as his wife held the door open, slamming and locking it immediately after he entered. The creature then:

Bounded onto the porch
Slammed against the door
Tore at window screens
Howled and yelped "like an injured dog"

Sheriff's Deputy Jack Reeves responded to their emergency call at 11:30 PM. Upon arrival, he noted the couple's extreme distress and investigated the property, hearing unusual growling and howling that he described as "a cross between the noise a hyena makes and that of an injured dog." Reeves observed significant property damage, including four destroyed window screens with broken frames.

After Reeves briefly left to patrol nearby, the creature returned within five minutes. The deputy later glimpsed a large form between two oak trees about 50 yards away before it retreated into the woods. That night, the Bussingers packed essential belongings and temporarily relocated to Becky's parents' home in Beaumont.

A search team of six officers led by Reeves, along with county pound master Albert Adams, combed the dense undergrowth near North Tram Road on June 21st. Their investigation was complicated by crowds of curious onlookers and thrill-seekers—many intoxicated and armed—who flocked to the area hoping to spot the "werewolf."

Bobby and Becky Bussinger's Encounter

Strange Sounds and Vanishing Pets

In late February 1978, newly married couple Bobby (20) and Becky Bussinger (18) moved into a property on North Tram Road in Vitor, Texas. The house, previously owned by Bobby's father, had been abandoned due to unsettling experiences, including strange howling sounds and sightings of a shadowy figure. Despite hearing local rumors about a "werewolf" in the area, the young couple dismissed these stories as exaggerations about normal wildlife.

Their peaceful beginning was disrupted on June 19, 1978. That morning, Bobby discovered one of his eight dogs missing, while two puppies had been fatally injured with wounds to their hind quarters. The situation escalated that evening when the couple heard what sounded like "a good-sized dog fight" outside their home.

Strange activity intensified as the night progressed. The walls shook with heavy banging, window screens rattled, and unusual barking and yelping sounds filled the night air. These disturbances prompted Bobby to investigate with his 12-gauge shotgun in hand.

The Confrontation with the Entity

As Bobby reached the edge of their cleared property, illuminated only by moonlight, he encountered something extraordinary. Standing before him was a dark, muscular creature covered in shaggy hair. Bobby estimated it stood approximately 6.5 feet tall and weighed between 200-250 pounds.

The encounter quickly turned dangerous when the creature began moving aggressively toward Bobby. In his account to the Texas Leader newspaper, Bobby described:

The creature approached rapidly without fear
He fired one shot in panic
He barely escaped back to the house
His wife held the door open as he rushed inside

The creature pursued Bobby to the house, where Becky quickly slammed and locked the door. What followed was a terrifying siege as the entity:

Bounded onto the porch
Slammed against the door repeatedly
Tore at window screens
Howled and yelped "like an injured dog"
Attempted to peer through windows

Aftermath and Damage to the Home

At 11:30 PM, Deputy Sheriff Jack Reeves responded to the Bussingers' call about a prowler. Upon arrival, he found the couple visibly shaken. His investigation revealed:

Property Damage:

Four window screens completely torn from the house
Multiple broken window frames
Evidence suggesting they were removed by "somebody's bare hands"
Two deceased dogs on the property

During his investigation, Reeves heard unusual sounds from the woods that he described as "a cross between the noise a hyena makes and that of an injured dog." When he returned to his patrol car, he received a radio message that something had returned to the Bussingers' home. He spotted a large form between two oak trees approximately 50 yards away before it retreated into the woods.

The frightened couple packed their belongings and pets, then stayed with Becky's parents in Beaumont. Though they initially declared they wouldn't return "until they find it, whatever it is," they surprisingly returned home the very next night—only to report seeing the creature again the following morning at 8 AM.

Sheriff's officers organized a six-man search team on June 21, combing the dense woods near the property. Their efforts were complicated by crowds of curious onlookers who arrived, many intoxicated and armed, hoping to catch a glimpse of what newspapers had dubbed "the werewolf."

Law Enforcement Response

Deputy Reeves' Initial Investigation

Deputy Jack Reeves arrived at the Bussinger residence on June 19, 1978, after receiving a call about a prowler around 11:30 PM. Upon arrival, he found Bobby and Becky Bussinger in a state of genuine panic. Assessing the situation as serious, Deputy Reeves conducted a preliminary investigation of the property, walking toward the timberline where he heard unusual sounds in the distance. He described the noises as resembling "a cross between a hyena and an injured dog."

The deputy documented significant property damage, including four window screens ripped from the house with broken frames. He also observed two deceased dogs on the property. In his statement to Texas Leader newspaper reporter John Rice, Reeves emphasized that the situation was "extremely serious" and noted that the screens appeared to have been torn out by "somebody's bare hands."

After speaking with the Bussingers, Deputy Reeves implemented immediate surveillance. He drove his patrol car a block away and waited for the prowler's return. Within five minutes, he received a radio alert that something was scratching and banging on the windows at the back of the house. Upon returning to the property, Reeves spotted a large form standing approximately 50 yards away between two oak trees before it retreated into the woods.

The Stakeout and Public Safety Concerns

Following the initial incident, Sheriff's officers organized a formal search operation. On June 21, 1978, a six-man team led by Deputy Reeves and joined by county pound master Albert Adams conducted a thorough search of the dense undergrowth near North Tram Road. The team focused particularly on a footpath at the edge of the Bussingers' property that led through three acres of heavy timber. Becky Bussinger had previously reported seeing a lean-to structure in the distance during one of her walks, constructed of scrap lumber and tree limbs.

The investigation soon faced complications from public interference. Large numbers of curiosity seekers began arriving at the scene, many intoxicated and armed. Sheriff Ed Parker issued a stern warning through the press:

Public Safety Warning from Sheriff Parker:

Stay away from the investigation area
Intoxicated armed individuals present serious danger
Risk of accidental shootings between civilians

Deputy Reeves attempted to calm public fears by suggesting they had identified a potential suspect. "If it's the man we think it is, he's been in Rusk State Mental Hospital before," Reeves told reporters, adding that it would likely "take five or six men to bring him in." This statement appeared to be an effort to redirect attention away from supernatural explanations while acknowledging the seriousness of the situation.

The sheriff's department maintained surveillance of the Bussinger property for several days, though the couple briefly fled to Becky's parents' home in Beaumont before returning the following night, when they again reported seeing the creature.

Public Response and Media Attention

The Bussingers Leave Their Home

Following the terrifying encounter with the mysterious creature, Bobby and Becky Bussinger made the difficult decision to temporarily relocate. They hastily packed their belongings and remaining pets into their vehicle after the incident on June 19, 1978. Sheriff's Deputy Jack Reeves escorted the frightened couple to Beaumont, where they sought refuge at Becky's parents' home. The young newlyweds told Texas Leader newspaper reporter John Rice that they would not return until authorities captured whatever was terrorizing their property.

Despite their initial resolve to stay away, the couple surprisingly returned to their home the very next evening. This unexpected decision came less than 24 hours after they had fled in terror, leaving many locals puzzled about what prompted their quick return.

The Search for the Vidor Werewolf

Local authorities launched a formal search operation on June 21, 1978, to locate the creature that had been dubbed "the Vidor werewolf" by the press. A six-man team led by Deputy Reeves and County Pound Master Albert Adams combed through the dense undergrowth near North Tram Road. The search focused particularly on a footpath at the edge of the Bussingers' property that led through three acres of heavy timber.

The search team investigated several leads:

A well-worn path Becky Bussinger frequently used when berry picking
A makeshift lean-to constructed from scrap lumber and tree limbs
Reports that the creature had been spotted again that morning around 8 AM

The investigation was significantly hampered by curious onlookers. Sheriff Ed Parker reported that carloads of:

Curiosity seekers
Joyriders
Intoxicated individuals (many armed)

"If they don't watch out, they'll shoot each other or this prowler. In either case, they'll be in big trouble if that happens," Sheriff Parker warned the public through local media.

Mental Patient Theory Emerges

By the afternoon of June 21, Deputy Reeves seemed eager to provide a rational explanation for the strange occurrences. He told reporters that authorities had identified a potential suspect, suggesting the "werewolf" might actually be an escaped mental patient. "If it's the man we think it is, he's been in Rusk State Mental Hospital before, and from what I hear, it will take five or six men to bring him in," Reeves stated to the press.

This theory represented a significant shift in the investigation's direction. Rather than pursuing a supernatural explanation, authorities now suggested the creature could be a disturbed individual living in the woods. The sudden emergence of this theory raised questions among locals about whether officials were seriously pursuing this lead or simply trying to calm public hysteria.

No official records indicate whether this suspect was ever apprehended or if the investigation into this theory yielded any results. The lack of follow-up reporting suggests the case may have gone cold or been quietly abandoned after public interest waned.

The Vidor Werewolf: Texas' Most Terrifying Paranormal Encounter of 1978