The Scape Ore Swamp Monster or Lizard Man

Local residents have reported encounters with a reptile-like bipedal creature that is said to inhabit the Scape Ore Swamp. Known as ‘The Lizard Man Of Lee County’ or ‘The Lizard Man Of Scape Ore Swamp’, it is commonly described as up to 7 feet tall with glowing red eyes and covered in green scales with the facial features of a lizard /humanoid . It has frightened some residents of Bishopville , a small town in South Carolina USA ,and is said to have damaged cars. According to some researchers oral reports go as far back as 1972 but written documentation only goes back to 1988.

The first report of a sighting of the creature was in 1988, from a teenager named Christopher Davis. The young man said that late one night as he was driving along the area of the Scape Ore Swamp he had a flat tyre, and stopped to change it. As he was engaged in doing so ,the monster attacked him, but he was able to drive away and escape. He described the creature as a man with green scaly skin and long fingers and claws that jumped on his car roof. Two weeks after the incident, the Sheriff's Department did find some strange tracks and made plaster castings of what appeared to be three-toed prints measuring 14 inches in length. However, there is no report as to what happened to the casts or where they might be now.

Later more reports came in a Mr. George Hollomon Jr., , from Bishopville reported seeing the Lizard-Man while collecting water from an artesian well near the Scape Ore Swamp bridge. Hollomon and an unnamed friend were both frightened away by a creature fitting the description. A couple Brian Edward (23) and Michelle Nunnery (20), Elmore, informed the Sheriff’s office that they almost hit a bipedal creature whilst driving on Cedar Creek "Gum Springs" Road at 12:30 am. They provided statements and were interviewed by officers. In October 2005 a woman in Newberry County (approximately 70-90 miles from the sightings in Lee County) reported seeing two creatures outside of her home. The officer called to the home to investigate but no further action was taken. In 2008, , the Lizard Man apparently returned and caused havoc to cars and livestock.On a Thursday morning in February, Bobby and Dixie Rawson found on awakening that almost $2000 worth of damage had been done to their 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan. The front fender was chewed up, metal was twisted, the grill had bite marks and both sides of the wheels were bitten. There was also blood on the front and sides of the car. They also reported the disappearance of some of their cats. Based on how the damage looks, some have claimed that this is the “return” of the Lizard Man. The blood traces from the Rawsons’ vehicle were sent to a Veterinary lab in California and were found to be from a domestic dog. Lee County Sheriff E.J. Melvin believes it was a coyote or wolf. Soon after the incident at the Rawsons’ home, he discovered a dead cow and a dead coyote in a field . So what killed the coyote?

A strange story indeed. It could have been an alligator, not unknown in the area but I don’t think one could walk on two feet. It could be a cover up for the damage done to the vehicles , but that doesn’t explain the other sightings. One can only presume it was some sort of mis -identification. A furry creature would look scaly in the moonlight when wet and shiny from the swamp so bigfoot or bear perhaps?