Web9 Samuel Sammy Boehlke. I tend toward insomnia and the analog, and each night in bed I listen with earbuds to Coast to Coast AM on a tiny radio. Me and you, kid! I sat up straight up, as the crack of thunder ran through the cabin. To me, anyway. Because, now I know what's going on! Phil exploded. And, I dont mean he had high ambitions, either. He quipped. Loading up an Arctic Fox slide-in camper with food and gear, Randy invited the author to join him as he set out for Washington. I parked at a turnout in front of a massive ponderosa pine with Joes missing-person poster stapled to it, then jogged down to the point last seen and tried to retrace his run. 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Did it mean something? But its a minority who know someone gone missing.. I could just about muster two words. In the morning, at 6 a.m., the professional search began: starting at what searchers call the point last seen, the ranchs big ponderosa pine gate, a deputy fire chief from La Plata County named Roy Vreeland, 64, and his Belgian malinois scent dog, Cayenne, picked up a direction of travel, which pointed up Forest Road 250. A had a knot in my stomach that I thought would never come undone. We started off, walking in a bit of an awkward silence, scanning the floor for anything. He has self-published six volumes in his popular Missing 411 series, most recently Missing 411 Hunters: Unexplained Disappearances. Phil slid his radio back into its holster and flicked his head in the direction of the ATV. Nothing about Jacobs disappearance suggested foul play. The other two were sat at the top, like kings of the castle, talking to each other. Zoe and Jane are sisters, originally from Kenya; their family, British expats, left the country in the 1970s. The friends started out together. So Paulides began putting his own lists together and discovered what appears to be nearly 30 clusters of disappearances in national parks or forests; cases which meet a narrow set of odd characteristics. Over four straight months, Randy searched the wilderness for 12- to 14-hour days. Jesus, long night again? He asked as he put his goggles into the compartment under the seat. Collects underwear as trophies and the reason we never find the kidsis because he is eating them! I read about some horrible child abductor from 20 years ago, then low and behold, I have some dream about some horrible presence and an abused child. But Randy insisted, Jacob would have gone up. He couldnt explain why, it was just a gut feeling. A missing person is a local problem. Around 10 p.m., the Van Berkums called the Conejos County Sheriffs Department, and sheriff Howard Galvez and two deputies showed up around midnight. I thought that in the wild, someone would send in the National Guard, the Army Rangers, the A-Team, and that they wouldnt rest until they found you. . There are no large predators per se, so we cant worry about mammals taking them. Keller was feeling the stress. He suffered from asthma as a three-year-old but had kicked it by age 12. Claim: A comparison of two maps shows how most people in the United States seem to go missing near cave systems. I was so emerged in thought and conspiracy theories;that I hadnt felt the ATV pull up. I didnt, though. But more than a place to sleep and eat, the hunters offered their expertise and intimate knowledge of the region. Charleston. Paranormal researcher David Paulides is different than most, though, and thats what made him uncover a disturbing trend of seemingly paranormal disappearances in parks across the country. Its been a rough year and a half, he told me. Think about it, Edward Keller is a serial killer. They were telling me to bring them a child, who was sat on this Merry Go Round. But all those bets are off when you disappear in the wild. I tried to stop thinking about it, but the more I tried, the more my mind went digging. Keller would have to spend the long Colorado winter still not knowing. Damn, its hot. James, this is the head ranger, Mark! Phil, Its Alan. Jon Billman (foreground) and Randy Gray search for Jacob Gray in Olympic National Park. I heard there had been a lot of searching for two and a half miles, Rienstra said. There are scores more stories like this. In one such case, a toddler was found dead 12 miles (19 kilometers) from where he vanished, over two mountain ranges and numerous creeks. Since even small police departments keep lists of missing persons from their jurisdictions, he figured a large federal law enforcement agency like the National Park Service would do the same. They were identified as Amanda, Barbara, Dave and Mitchell Robertson. There was even a theory that hed been kidnapped in order to have his organs harvested and sold on the black market. Were talking about something different. But the dogs followed his scent from his other clothing to that spot and no other belongings were missing from his bag. My eyebrows were touching my hair line and my eyes were wild. In his books, David Paulides reports on why some obvious explanations simply dont apply here but he stops short of giving his own theory. Duffy has since taken his dogs to search JonBent Ramseys neighborhood and to track stolen horses in Wyoming. He wore only red running shorts, blue trail shoes, and an Ironman watch. I, as the father of a missing boymy only son, actuallywould like to have as much resources as could possibly be made available, he told the officials. The missing defies logic. Joe Keller (right) went for a run in the San Juan Mountains in Colorado in 2015 and was never seen again. It was one of 300. National Park Service/Handout Peter Jackson, 74, went missing after texting his son on Sept. 17, 2016, that he was hiking to Yosemite. More than youd think! I said as I skipped down the steps, jumping on the back of the quad bike. Phils reaction to my confession of having a series of nightmares began to make me think there was something significant to it. Around 11 a.m. on Jan. 22, 1977, the bodies of Michael and Charlotte Sherman were found in the heavily wooded area of Powell Point in Grand Canyon National Park. Bodies are often found in previously searched areas, and often without clothing or footwear, even when hypothermia has been ruled out. Which would be good. The gray wolf gets its name from the thick, gray fur coat covering its body. Most investigations are eventually solved through reasonable causes: foul play, drowning, suicide or an animal attack. Its not likely that legislation would help the Stehling family, but an amendment to an existing law recently made it easier for volunteer search and rescue outfits to access federal wildlands with less red tape. My tower, tonight. After my run, I rinsed my face in Spectacle Lake; according to Duffy, R.C. State environmental officials are warning the public to avoid a Northwest Indiana lake while authorities investigate the deaths of dozens of ducks and other waterfowl in the area. A former cop has put together hundreds of case files regarding clusters of missing persons in national parks where the circumstances are strange. Charles was a keen photographer. One place that has long married spectacular nature with baffling disappearances is a mountain range on the east coast of the United States of America, which possesses vast natural vistas, thousands of miles of famous hiking trails, and the most visited national park in the country. Occams razor wasnt as dull as it had seemed for most of a year. Its syndicated on over 600 stations and boasts nearly three million listeners each week. At least he was trying, Joes mom, Zoe, told me. In 1966, 6-year-old Larry Jeffrey of Henderson disappeared while playing with his two brothers, setting off a massive 16-day search by as many as 1,000 men. He said the dream took place at night. The idea of my death was a total relief. Just what, Phil? I asked, eager for answers, as he was starting to worry me. Hanging with them, you know. Neiger lauds Streetmans database and wants to take it further. Small circular burns, where I had been used as an ashtray. I started to slowly nod, more in confusion than agreement. I could see why Phil and Mark got on. Joe Keller coaching at a Tennessee swimming championship in July 2015. The people who vanish often do so under the noses of other people. circled, tugged at vegetation on the bank, bit at the water, then jumped in and sat in the shallows. The search was organized by the Jon Francis Foundation, a Minnesota nonprofit that, since 2007, has helped more than 40 families with loved ones missing on public land. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. Danny Waldren was able to have abducted without alerting his family, thus, the adults surviving. But at four and a half milesfrom Joes point last seen, the lake was at the far end of the ground games probabilities. On Aug. 10, 2018, a team of biologists who ventured into the mountains to study marmots stumbled upon Jacobs clothing in a remote area of Olympic National Park. Blood droplets, drag marks, footprints, items of clothing etc. While researching a national park, a local ranger expressed his concern to Paulides about the missing persons cold cases involving the National Park Service. The person who came to confide in law enforcement veteran Dave Paulides was a government employee who told one heck of a story about people who vanish in national parks, places like Yosemite, but also national forests, including the Toiyabe west of Las Vegas. Heading for higher ground is a known strategy for a lost person, he says. As the two young men jogged by the corral, one of the female wranglers yelled, Pick it up! They smiled and Joe sprinted up the road before the two settled into their respective paces, with Collin surging ahead. There was a red pin on the map, where we stood at the camp site. What I was saying really was starting to make sense. They volunteered hundreds of hours and hiked hundreds of miles searching for Jacob in the Olympic Peninsula.. Tanya Barba, a longtime Bigfoot hunter and Olympic Project member, told Billman she believes Bigfoot is involved in many missing-toddler events. In late May 2016, I visited Conejos County. He quickly dropped out of school, worked at a nursing job and climbing gym, and was always on his bicycle, exploring the mountain trails at every opportunity. Over 18, you can run away all you want. Legg's disappearance sparked one of the southern Adirondacks' largest search and rescue missions, with more than 600 people searching the woods, but like Martin, Legg left no trail [source: Lehman ]. But bushwacking off the Duck Lake Trail, about three and a half miles southwest of the ranch, Keller and Gwaltney came upon a sleeping bag, a cook pot, a tarp, and some bug spraythe gear of the lost campers. By 9:30 there were 35 people out looking. [33] Three of the fifteen wolves on the island appeared to be forming a new pack in late 2019. My body felt savaged and I felt like I was going to constantly vomit. I just knew I wanted, whatever it was, to stop. Web398K views 2 years ago #missing411 #unsolvedmysteries Missing 411 is a profile of mysterious commonalities among seemingly unconnected missing persons cases in national parks and forests. A virus is as invisible as a missing person.. I dont put any theories in the booksI just connect facts, he told me. The National Institute of Justice, the research arm of the Department of Justice, calls unidentified remains and missing persons the nations silent mass disaster, estimating that on any given day there are between 80,000 and 90,000 people actively listed with law enforcement as missing. I thought that in the wild, someone would send in the National Guard, the Army Rangers, the A-Team, and that they wouldnt rest until they found you. It is also is home to ominous mysteries and strange An hour later, he started to worry. Perfect for those late nights and rainy days. Plus, he says, it wouldnt have been unusual for a young athlete like Joe to switch from run to scramble mode. And when an initial search turns up nothing, who'll keep looking? Although Paulides' writings are almost entirely about disappearances in national parks, the total number of disappearances he gives about 1,600 includes missing persons from all federal lands, which is a much larger area. His obsession shifted from Sasquatch to missing persons when, he says, he was visited at his motel near an unnamed national park by two out-of-uniform rangers who claimed that something strange was going on with the number of people missing in Americas national parks. wears his orange harness, with Duffy holding the lead. But going old-school has its advantages. Phil had instructed the teams that if they found anything of significance, they were to radio him immediately. We would search each square thoroughly, before ticking it off on the map and moving on to the next one. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Still, Joes death remains a mystery to his mother. MYSTERY WIRE With the summer travel season nearing and pandemic restrictions easing, millions of people will be heading for national parks and national forests. There needs to be a plan for applying resources for a little bit longer., The Keller family hired two private investigators, who turned up nothing. For Randy, every time he learned of a beachcomber finding a dismembered foot inside a New Balance shoe his sons brand of choice it was another catalyst for another bad dream.. I dont think theres a grand conspiracy to keep the numbers hidden, he says. It is not a revelation to report that people get lost in wilderness areas or forests. Wouldnt someone haverecalled seeing Joe if hed stayed on the road? Strangely, the most reliable info on missing people in the wild comes from Bigfoot hunters. The little girl who was on the slide, began crying and screaming, as her sister and parents were telling her it was home time. The Cleveland, Tennessee, native had been spending the summer between his freshman and sophomore years at Cleveland State Community College on a western road trip with buddies Collin Gwaltney and Christian Fetzner in Gwaltneys old Subaru. It appears that Joe scrambled up and then fellperhaps the lost-person behavior laid out by Professor Rescue, Robert Koester. Bodies are found in places that are all but inaccessible, or they are found in the open, in areas that were repeatedly searched earlier. She coined the term frozen grief for this mental anguish. You had another nightmare? The mystery caught the attention of journalist Jon Billman, who has been investigating missing persons in wild places since the late 90s. We had a very limited number of people, one volunteer told me. On August 4, 2015, after Joe had been missing for 13 days, Sheriff Galvez pulled the plug on the official search. Abandoned cabins had been searched and searched again. (02/28/2022) This story was updated to note that Alan Duffy's brother wen missing in the San Gabriel Mountains. There was a circle drawn around the pin, that to scale, was a 15-mile radius from the camp site. Correspondent Jon Billman (@jonbillman) wrote about mountain-biking legend Ned Overend in March 2016. Thanks for contacting us. Continued searches in August turned up nothing. If you go missing in a poor county, youre gonna get a short, somewhat sloppy search. Joe had just split wood with his uncle Davids 75-year-old father, Doug Van Berkum. I couldnt help but smile. Right, guys. Whereas the Robertson children,Riley and Ashleigh, were clearly taken by force. The preliminary cause of death, according to David Francis, was blunt force trauma to the head. Jane told me he also suffered a broken ankle. It looks more like that than anything else. 4:30 p.m. Come on, lets go. Phil said, sheepishly. I didnt want to go over. I went over and errr- I started to talk to him. Professor Rescue, author of the search and rescue guidebook Lost Person Behavior. I narrate creepypastas along with true scary stories. Mark chuckled. He died in this park, didnt he?. As far as family holidays were going, no one was touching this place with a 10-foot pole. I started to smile and nodding at Phil. How does a child travel 4,000 feet in elevation in his bare feet in two days? Barba asks. National parks like Yosemite operate almost as sovereign states. The program, which explores all sorts of mysteries of the paranormal, airs from 1 to 5 a.m. in my time zone. Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, knows exactly how many people are missing but wont release the information, Make the Department of the Interior Accountable for Persons Missing in Our National Parks and Forests., Good Samaritan Search and Recovery Act of 2013. Children as young as 2 or 3 years old are found a day or two later, many miles away and over mountain ranges. They ruled Danny as a drowning, remember? These are unusual things that dont make sense, that happen to cluster together in three to four, sometimes as many as 20 to 30 people missing at one location, Paulides said. A search-and-rescue effort doesnt always make a difference. Just as I was groaning at the thought of a 10-mile hike in the mud, I heard a buzzing noise, beginning to slowly drown out myexaggerated sigh. Shirtless, with blond anime hair and ripped muscles, he looked more like a California lifeguard than a Tennessee farm kid. No Joe. Most are eventually found, but theres a smaller category of cases that are never solved. ConejosSpanish for rabbitsis one of the poorest counties in Colorado. But the government does not actively aggregate such statistics. Duffy offered up a few more scenarios, some of which upset the Van Berkumssuch as when he told them that R.C. A flock of bird burst from a nearby tree, the large collection of feathers exploding and dispersing into the baby blue sky. But the search was already winding down. He believes the Park Service in particular knows exactly how many people are missing but wont release the information for fear that the sheer numbersand the ways in which people went missingwould shock the public so badly that visitor numbers would go down. It took the Kellers and their 17-year-old daughter, Hannah, less than 24 hours to get to the ranch from Tennessee, flying into Albuquerque, New Mexico, and renting a car for the three-and-a-half-hour drive north. The workout would be routine: an hourlong run, likely along Forest Road 250, which bisects the ranch and continues into the national forest, following the Conejos River upstream. My voice was uncontrollably weak and trembling. Back pack with food, water and other essential supplies, strapped to my upper back. The park superintendent, Cliff Spencer, a 32-year Park Service veteran, still holds search and rescue training exercises in the area, just in case they come across a clue. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform.
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