BISHOPVILLE, S.C. — Something apparently attacked Bob and Dixie Rawson’s van in the early morning hours of Feb. 28.

They woke up that morning to find the front fender chewed up, bite marks through the front grill, wheels on both sides bitten and metal crumpled in a wad. There was also blood on the front and sides of the car.

The Rawsons’ evidence has created a stir nationwide and talk locally of the legendary Lizard Man, even though there has been no "official sighting" since July 1988.

After the Rawsons contacted a Columbia TV station, the story was aired on CNN.

In March, filmmaker and self-proclaimed Bigfoot hunter Tom Biscardi and his five-man team visited Bishopville equipped with thermal imagers and high-tech cameras.

Biscardi’s 2007 film "Bigfoot Lives" won several awards, including best documentary at the Pocono Mountains Film Festival. The documentary includes videos and interviews that show evidence of Bigfoot sightings in Texas, Minnesota, Ohio and Arizona.

Biscardi conducted initial forensic tests and sent the evidence to California. He described the initial evidence as compelling.

"You’ve got the real deal here," he said.

While Biscardi hasn’t ruled out it as a bear, he thinks it was more likely a Bigfoot.

"They’re called different names in the different communities," he said.

The creatures have three toes, Biscardi said. They range in height from 6 to 9 feet and weigh 300 to 800 pounds. They are hairy creatures. They climb trees and move around by doing what Biscardi describes as knuckle walking. More than 3,500 of the Bigfoot creatures exist nationwide, he said.

"They’re nocturnal creatures, and they’re migratory," he said. "They move from south to north this time of year."

Biscardi said he doesn’t know if Bishopville’s latest incident is related to the 1988 sighting of the Lizard Man.

"I am going to talk with Liston Truesdale, who was the sheriff 20 years ago," Biscardi said. "But I’m mainly concerned with what happened to the Rawsons’ van. I haven’t fallen off a turnip truck. I’m a firm believer that what you have down here is unknown."

Biscardi doesn’t buy local authorities’ theory that a coyote damaged the Rawsons’ van.

"You can look at the jaw pressure that it took to do this damage," he said. "It wasn’t a coyote. I think what you have here more than likely is a Bigfoot creature."

Biscardi said the Rawsons are good, straight-up people.

"I wouldn’t have come 3,100 miles here from California if I didn’t think there’s something here," Biscardi said. "My main concern is to find out what’s happened here now. This woman (Dixie Rawson) is afraid. They have cats who haven’t come around since this happened."

More than a month after the incident, Dixie Rawson said she is still concerned about what might be lurking near her home.

"Let’s just say that when I go outside, I have my gun with me," she said.

Biscardi said he works with state and federal officials in many states whenever there’s a sighting.

"I have to admit I have a problem here in South Carolina," Biscardi said. "What is law enforcement doing to protect these people? Where is the Department of Natural Resources? Where are the game wardens here?"

Lee County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Beth Hedegor said the chamber is embracing the Lizard Man. While she personally believes the creature that attacked the Rawsons’ van was some type of known animal, probably a bear, she said the publicity is a windfall.

"We are not fighting this," she said. "This doesn’t have to be a negative. We consider this an opportunity."

"Lizard Man is Back" T-shirts are for sale at the chamber office on Main Street and at the Blossom Shop nearby.

"We have sold more than a hundred so far," said Vickie Moniz, the shop’s owner. "And we are ordering more."

Moniz also welcomes any publicity about the Lizard Man.

"I think I’ll go out there (to the Rawsons) and give this team from California a free Lizard Man T-shirt," she said.

Copyright: Rome News-Tribune