Brian Rian Bigfoot’s Wichita debut follows a Bigfoot nabbing in Florida. Coincidence?

If you happen to follow Chase Billingham on social media, you already know the Wichita State University associate sociology professor is interested in everything about the city, particularly if it has to do with downtown.

Billingham says he was intrigued when Downtown Wichita introduced Brian Rian Bigfoot just after Thanksgiving for some fanciful holiday fun, including making social media rounds as people get their photos with him.

“I just wondered, where can I get a Bigfoot like that?” Billingham says.

He started looking into it and discovered that just before Brian’s late November debut, a Bigfoot went missing from in front of a Boynton Beach , Fla., Mattress Monsterz store in early November.

“It just seemed so odd to me,” Billingham says.

As he investigated the availability of 8-foot Bigfoot statues, Billingham says he found lots of them but none — except for the one in Florida — with a smile like Brian’s.

It made him wonder. Had Downtown Wichita somehow purchased its Bigfoot on the black market?

Emily Brookover is the organization’s director of community development who acquired Brian from Behind the Fence Gallery in Southampton, N.Y., and she has the receipt to prove it.

“They’re mass produced,” says Alison Jennerich, Behind the Fence director. “We have competitors, too.”

She says she’s pleased to hear Billingham found only one other who looks like Brian.

“That means our statue is kind of one of a kind, which is good for us.”

Brookover was very sorry to hear of the other Bigfoot’s disappearance.

“I would be heartbroken if anyone took Brian.”

She says that’s why she decided against ever leaving Brian outside overnight anywhere. Instead, he’s mostly hopping indoors among businesses.

“He’s been safe.”

The Florida Bigfoot is still unaccounted for.

“Bigfoot is missing!” reads a report on him at the Boynton Beach police department’s website.

“We don’t have any concrete leads on it,” says Stephanie Slater, the department’s public information officer.

“Who would steal a Bigfoot statue?” Slater wonders.

She says it’s a question a lot of people are asking.

“The story went national, obviously, because you’re calling me.”

The mattress store owner could not be reached for comment.

Brookover says she feels for him and the missing twin Bigfoot she’s dubbed Brandon.

“If we can help find Brandon, we will do anything we can.”

This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 5:00 AM.