Linda S. Godfrey, who first reported on what became known as “The Beast of Bray Road,” died on Nov. 27 at Agrace Hospital in Janesville. She was 71.
Born March 20, 1951, in Madison to Roland and Elaine (Blado) Roberts, Godfrey was the oldest of seven children. After graduating from Milton Union High School in 1969, she went on to earn her degree in art education from UW-Oshkosh. On Aug.19, 1972, she married Steven Godfrey and they moved to Delavan in 1978.
In 1991, Godfrey was a reporter for Walworth County Week, a weekly supplement to The (Janesville) Gazette, when she was assigned to cover alleged sightings of a purported humanoid wolf-like creature near Elkhorn. “The Beast of Bray Road” has since become a part of Wisconsin folklore and has been the subject of multiple books, documentaries and a 2005 horror film.
The story launched a new career for Godfrey as an investigative researcher and author of more than 20 books including novels, true crime and cryptozoology.
She was a world-renowned cryptozoologist and appeared on numerous TV and radio programs and was a popular speaker at conferences and events across the country, according to her obituary.
