Case file · Cryptid
Bob Heironimus: 'I was the man in the suit'
Bob Heironimus of Yakima, Washington, says he wore an ape suit for Roger Patterson in the 1967 Patterson–Gimlin film; his claim was set out in Greg Long's book 'The Making of Bigfoot' (2004).
2004 CE · 46.60, -120.50 · status: claim
The account
Heironimus, who knew Patterson and lent a horse for the expedition, said he was paid for the job but never received the full amount. Costume maker Philip Morris separately said he sold Patterson a gorilla suit. Bob Gimlin, Patterson's partner, has always said he saw the creature himself and was not part of a hoax.
The sceptical view
Supporters of the film point to differences between Heironimus's descriptions and the figure; skeptics note the film's subject fits a person in a costume and that Patterson planned a Bigfoot docudrama.