General Palm Springs Area: Joshua Tree Missing Hiker

[phydeux]

Just a thought, but also consider this might have turned into a criminal investigation. The JTNP staff may have called in the Riverside or San Bernardino Sherrifs offices to help out, and there may have been evidence found of criminal activity that they want to keep out of the public eye until they've have a chance to thoroughly investigate it. How long that will take is anybodys guess, as they may still be following up on evidence from the first series of searches, and not yet have classified this as a cold case. Having good samaritans tromping around the desert might actually ruin more good evidence that was missed during the first search and would be found on any searches performed to follow-up on new clues. Then again, he also might have fallen down one of the numerous mineshafts off of Keyes Road, including an unknown one. Tragic, but it happens.

[DayEarly]

Just a thought, but also consider this might have turned into a criminal investigation. The JTNP staff may have called in the Riverside or San Bernardino Sherrifs offices to help out, and there may have been evidence found of criminal activity that they want to keep out of the public eye until they've have a chance to thoroughly investigate it. How long that will take is anybodys guess, as they may still be following up on evidence from the first series of searches, and not yet have classified this as a cold case. Having good samaritans tromping around the desert might actually ruin more good evidence that was missed during the first search and would be found on any searches performed to follow-up on new clues. Then again, he also might have fallen down one of the numerous mineshafts off of Keyes Road, including an unknown one. Tragic, but it happens.

I agree with you on a couple of viewpoints.

First, it may actually be a criminal investigation which hasn't really been disclosed. There was another such case where a German tourist family went missing in their rental vehicle. Can't recall which desert. Initially, once the remains were found, it appeared they just got lost and perished. But I learned later through a S&R member that, yes, there was a question of foul play.

Secondly, an unmapped mineshaft was one of my first suspicions. A hiker friend who likes to hike / backpack solo in Arizona told me he once came upon an unmapped vertical shaft which he could have easily walked right into. He said it was "just a hole in the ground." That is one scary way to perish if its what happened in this JT park case.

As for someone's comment about "current topic," I can only say that after only one year, I'm sure it is a current topic to the police, the widow, and the missing man's friends. Anyone of us who went missing would be comforted in knowing that searchers were not giving up simply because the case went to yesterday's news.

In any case, I was just curious if anyone had heard anything but apparently not.

[Florian]

As for someone's comment about "current topic," I can only say that after only one year, I'm sure it is a current topic to the police, the widow, and the missing man's friends.

I was asking for clarification. I at first thought this was a recent case occurring a few days ago. Then i read the pdf you posted showing June 2010 date.

-Florian