ISU anthropologist, Bigfoot researcher dies of brain cancer
Source: East Idaho News
POCATELLO — A local professor who drew worldwide attention through his research on a creature of legend has died.
The family of Don Jeffrey Meldrum, who held a Ph.D. in anatomical sciences and was a professor of anatomy and anthropology at Idaho State University, announced his passing in a post on his professional Facebook page on Thursday.
Meldrum spoke about his research on Sasquatch, a cryptid commonly referred to as Bigfoot, in many professional and popular publications, and was interviewed by media outlets, including EastIdahoNews.com in 2019.
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“It is with profound sadness that the Meldrum family shares that Dr. Meldrum has passed following a battle with brain cancer. The illness was brief, and he passed with his family at his side,” reads the post, written by his wife, Lauren Stewart.
Read more: https://www.eastidahonews.com/2025/09/isu-anthropologist-bigfoot-researcher-dies-of-brain-cancer/
He was on TV numerous times. Smartest guy I ever saw who was actually open to idea that Sasquatch's can be real. RIP.
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RIP to this guy but he's like those Navy pilots that LLOOVVEE talking to ANYONE about UFOs. Attention-seekers then book-sellers and speech-givers. Blah blah blah. Whatever. Call me "Mr. Skeptical." 
Met him a couple times. As an alum from the Anthropology Dept. at ISU, I can say that he didn't get much respect which I thought was too bad. I mean, what if? Isn't academia about asking questions and seeking answers? Idaho has a large, vast wilderness and a lot of other wild places. When I worked in the wilderness, folks around there were sure bigfoot roamed the area... including the Indians.
