Ohio’s Frog Man

In 1972, two Loveland, Ohio police officers independently reported encountering a bizarre creature near the Little Miami River—a 4-foot bipedal frog-like being that has become one of America’s strangest cryptids.

The Location

Loveland, Ohio:

• Near Cincinnati
• Little Miami River
• Suburban area
• March 1972
• Multiple sightings

First Sighting

March 3, 1972:

• Officer Ray Shockey
• 1:00 AM
• Driving on road
• Creature in road
• Frozen in headlights

What Shockey Saw

Description:

• 3-4 feet tall
• Bipedal
• Frog-like face
• Leathery skin
• Crouched position

The Creature’s Actions

What happened:

• Looked at officer
• Ran toward river
• Climbed over guardrail
• Disappeared
• Officer shaken

Second Sighting

Two weeks later:

• Officer Mark Mathews
• Same area
• Same creature
• Shot at it
• Creature escaped

Mathews’ Encounter

What occurred:

• Creature in road
• Officer fired
• May have wounded it
• Creature fled
• Corroboration

Earlier Sightings

1955 report:

• Businessman saw creatures
• Under bridge
• Three frog beings
• Wrinkled skin
• Earlier encounter

The Investigation

Police response:

• Officers reported officially
• Investigation attempted
• No explanation
• Case remains open
• Historic record

Possible Explanations

Theories include:

• Escaped exotic pet
• Mutated frog
• Unknown species
• Iguana misidentified
• Genuine unknown

The Iguana Theory

Later claim:

• Mathews suggested iguana
• With missing tail
• Trying to end attention
• Contradicts earlier
• Disputed

Physical Appearance

Consistent details:

• Frog-like head
• Large eyes
• Leathery texture
• Bipedal stance
• 3-4 feet tall

Cultural Impact

Loveland embraced:

• Frogman festival
• Local legend
• Merchandise
• Tourism interest
• Town identity

Recent Sightings

21st century:

• 2016 Pokémon Go player
• Claimed sighting
• Photographed something
• Ambiguous
• Continues

River Connection

Habitat:

• Little Miami River
• Amphibious creature
• Water access
• Specific area
• Pattern noted

Significance

Police officer cryptid sighting with corroboration from second officer in same location.

Legacy

The Loveland Frog represents one of the strangest American cryptids—credible police witnesses, a localized phenomenon, and a creature that defies easy explanation.