East Texas – In a shocking turn of events, a resident of Polk County has come forward claiming that Bigfoot, the mythical creature said to roam the forests, is the real reason behind his missing BBQ recipe.

Billy Joe Jenkins, a longtime resident of Livingston, says he noticed something strange happening in his backyard when his famous brisket recipe went missing last week. “I had set out to smoke a few briskets for the upcoming Texas Craft Fair, and when I went to check on them, they were gone,” Jenkins explained.

At first, Jenkins suspected a neighbor or perhaps a competing BBQ enthusiast, but after hearing strange noises coming from the woods behind his property, he became convinced it was Bigfoot who had taken his beloved recipe. “I heard grunting and rustling in the bushes, and then this giant hairy figure darted off into the trees with my secret sauce in hand,” Jenkins recounted.

Local authorities were initially skeptical of Jenkins’ claim, but after several reported sightings of a black panther wandering the area, they are not ruling anything out. “We’ve had reports of strange occurrences in the past, so it wouldn’t be entirely surprising if Bigfoot was behind this,” said Sheriff Turner of Polk County.

While some are skeptical of Jenkins’ story, others in the community are rallying behind him, offering to help search the woods for any sign of Bigfoot or the missing recipe. “If Bigfoot wants some good BBQ, he could’ve just asked. No need for all this sneaking around,” said longtime friend and neighbor, Betty Sue.

As the hunt for Bigfoot continues, the Texas Craft Fair may be in jeopardy of missing out on Jenkins’ award-winning brisket. “I just hope we can come to a resolution soon so I can get back to smoking meat and serving the good folks of Livingston,” Jenkins concluded.

In the meantime, the Polk County Pagan Market has offered to lend their expertise in tracking down elusive creatures, adding a whole new layer of intrigue to this bizarre saga in the heart of East Texas.