ISU anthropologist, Bigfoot researcher dies of brain cancer [View all]

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/