Jacob Gray - Olympic National Park - Washington

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JOE ERATO: Thousands of people
have mysteriously vanished in
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America's wilderness join us as
we dive into the deep end of the
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unexplainable and try to piece
together what happened you are
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listening to locations unknown
Oh what's up everybody and
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welcome back to another episode
of Locations Unknown. I'm your
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co-host Joe Erato and with me as
always is a guy who can build a
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snowman from rainfall Mike
Vandebogart.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Ah thank you
Joe and thank you once you're
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welcome Mike. Yeah thanks Joe.
Ah thank you to all of our
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amazing listeners for tuning in.
Just a couple of announcements
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before we go in here so first
like to give a new Patreon shout
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out to Craig Cisneros. That's
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JOE ERATO: Cisneros.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Cisneros. So
thank you so much for supporting
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JOE ERATO: Yeah, thank you,
Craig.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: And we're
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JOE ERATO: And then YouTube's a
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, free.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Follow us on
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You get to try it out and we're
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episode after this episode. So
check it out. Also, if you want
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to call the show, you can call
208-391-6913, leave a voicemail
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or text the show. Check out the
other shows on the Unknown Media
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Group Network, Peanut Butter and
Mountain Podcast, Off the
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Trails, The Weirdos, We Know Who
Runs This Park, and Crime Off
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The Grid.
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If you've not listened to the
Crime Off The Grid interview we
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did with them during the live
stream, check out our podcast
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feed or go over to YouTube. The
interview was really fun. It was
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good. And we're going to get
them back to do a longer
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interview because they have so
many cool stories.
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All the war stories. All the war
stories. And like I said, you
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can support us on Patreon,
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subscriptions on Apple, Spreaker
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support us monetarily, just like
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different social media
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JOE ERATO: Yeah, take all your
loved ones' phones and go
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subscribe for them. They don't
even have to know about it.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: It's free.
Create five accounts on each of
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them and subscribe with all of
them. I'm kidding.
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JOE ERATO: No, yeah. All right,
everybody, let's gear up and get
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out to explore Locations
Unknown.
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April 6th, 2017. A lone cyclist
sets out into Washington's
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Olympic wilderness, towing a
trailer packed with camping gear
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and determination. Days later,
Park Rangers find the bike and
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gear abandoned on a remote road,
but no sign of the traveler.
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What follows is a baffling
series of search efforts, false
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leads, and clues scattered
across one of the most rugged
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national parks in the country.
With unpredictable weather,
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dense forests, and towering
mountains, this is landscape
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that just doesn't give up its
secrets easily. Join us this
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week as we investigate the
mysterious disappearance of
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Jacob Gray.
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So we are going to Olympic
National Park.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I've hiked
there. It's cool.
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JOE ERATO: I'm going to be going
there with my wife and daughter
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in a couple months. Because
she's going to college.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah.
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JOE ERATO: And we were going to
do trips with our kids right
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before they go to school, and
she wanted to go hiking in the
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Pacific Northwest, and I was
just so proud. It brought tears
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to my eyes that that's what she
wanted to do with her time.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: It's cool.
We did a multi-day backcountry
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trip where we actually camped
out on the beach in Olympic
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National Park.
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JOE ERATO: That'd be nice. We're
not doing any overnight camping
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because we want to hit so many
spots. We're actually going to
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be up in, is it? Is it
Vancouver's up there? Yeah.
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We're going to be in Canada and
do some national parks, come
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down into Washington and Oregon.
So we're hitting a ton of spots.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah. When I
was out there, we did Mount
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Rainier National Park and then
we did Olympic and it was cool.
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We actually have to get tide
charts and we had the track, the
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tide.
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JOE ERATO: Oh, so you don't get
washed away?
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah. Well,
or you just can't, you can't
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traverse it. Yeah.
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JOE ERATO: You can try.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: The weirdest
thing was every night when you
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have a campfire on the beach and
then you can get going, there
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would be all these little bugs.
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And they'd hop along and they'd
hop into the fire oh they're
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like the sun yeah i don't know
what like you just look at the
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sand and hundreds of them just
like bouncing they look like
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little fleas almost and just
right into the fire sometimes
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you think of like how do things
exist you wonder you wonder you
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really wonder there's just so
many of them anyone's listening
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who knows what those were i
still to this day have i
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probably could have looked it up
but i never did So leave a
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comment on what type of bug that
would have been.
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JOE ERATO: Yeah, that's awesome.
All right, so we are at Olympic
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National Park, as we said, in
Washington State. The
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sublocation is Daniel J. Evans
Wilderness. It's roughly 6.5
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miles up the Sol Duck Hot
Springs Road.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Sol Duke.
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JOE ERATO: Sol Duke Hot Springs
Road near milepost 66.3, about
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40 feet east of the Sol Duke
River. It was established in...
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1938 by President Franklin D.
Roosevelt. It sees about 2.95
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million visitors per year as of
2023, making it the 10th most
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visited U. S. National Park.
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The Park boasts a local economy
of about 393 million per year
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and supports over 2,990 jobs in
the region. A little habitation
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history of the area. 12,000 plus
years ago, Paleo-Indians likely
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arrived in the Olympic Peninsula
region after the last ice age.
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Early inhabitants were
hunter-gatherers living off of
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abundant marine life, game, and
plant resources.
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Archaeological evidence from the
sites like the Manus Macedon
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site, that's near Sequim, it's
13,800 years old, I was going to
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say 13.8 million, suggests early
human activity in the area.
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In pre-1700s, the Olympic
Peninsula was and remains home
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to several coast-ish tribes,
each with distinct languages and
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cultures. It depended heavily on
fishing, especially salmon and
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whales, built cedar longhouses
and dugout canoes, and practiced
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potlatch ceremonies. They
maintained deep spiritual ties
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to the mountains, rivers,
forests, and ocean.
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1,700s to the 1800s, so in 1778,
British explorer James Cook maps
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the Pacific Northwest Coast.
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1790s to the 1800s, increased
visits by fur traders, Russians,
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Spanish, British, and later
American expeditions. By the
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mid-1800s, disease, especially
smallpox and land pressures,
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severely affected the native
populations. In the late 1800s,
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so 1885 to 1890, explorers like
Lieutenant Joseph O'Neill and
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the 1890 Press Expedition
traversed the Olympic interior,
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documenting its rugged and wild
nature.
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The mysterious and forbidding
nature of the mountains
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contributed to legends of them
being the last unexplored region
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in the continental U. S.
Scientific interest and public
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fascination with the region's
biodiversity began to grow. So
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we'll get into a little bit of
the climate. It is a western
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lowland, temperate rainforest.
Annual rainfall is 140 to 170
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inches. So winter temps will be
from 35 to 50 degrees
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Fahrenheit.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: And that is
the western lowland. So this
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breaks it up into different
pieces.
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JOE ERATO: Okay, so this is the
western lowlands. Yeah. It's
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mild and wet. Summer temps, 50
to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool,
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humid, and some sun. So some key
traits of this area, extremely
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lush forest with moss and ferns.
If you've ever seen the Twilight
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movies, that's where they filmed
a lot of that. We're going to go
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hit some Twilight spots.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Most of the
X-Files was filmed in the
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Pacific Northwest in Canada.
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JOE ERATO: It's better when you
think of it as the Twilight
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movies.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Oh, I think
of it as X-Files.
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JOE ERATO: I'm just messing with
you.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: A lot of
like anything that was filmed
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out in a forest was usually the
Vancouver area. Okay. So.
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JOE ERATO: Yeah, I'm excited to
see all of it. I mean, it just
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looks beautiful. So I'm so
excited. Frequent rain, overcast
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skies, fog is common in the
mornings, rare snow at low
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elevations. So the mountain
interior, this is Hurricane
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Ridge and Mount Olympus.
Elevations are from 3,000 to
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7,980 feet. It is a alpine slash
subarctic climate. Sees about 35
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feet annually in some zones of
snowfall. So winter temps are...
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Just a bit
of snow. Just a bit.
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JOE ERATO: Less than 25 degrees
Fahrenheit, heavy snowfall in
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the winter. Summer temps 30 to
60 degrees.
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Brief but dry so key traits in
that area long winters with deep
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snow packed if you didn't know
35 feet is pretty deep a barrier
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whole house yeah short hiking
season July to September
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avalanches are common in winter
and spring clear skies and
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wildflowers in the summer So the
rain shadow region, this is the
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northeast, Gwim in Port Angeles.
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This is funny. It's not sharing
the screen. For those listening,
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for whatever reason, the TV we
have in here is connected to my
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ring doorbell.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: And we've
learned Joe gets a lot of
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deliveries to his house.
Apparently.
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JOE ERATO: And this has never
happened. I don't know why this
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is happening. But anyway, yeah,
all of a sudden, the TV will
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just show people at my front
door.
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Like Amazon delivery drivers,
whatever. My kids ordered food.
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So that's really hilarious. I
should have shared the screen.
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That would have been funny. That
would have been funny. If it
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happens again, first of all,
they're having friend sleepover.
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They're off of school tomorrow.
Oh, okay. So they're, like,
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getting pizza and stuff. But
anyway. All right, back to this.
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MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: The rain
shadow region.
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JOE ERATO: The rain shadow
region. It's a semi-arid and
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rain shadow. Annual rainfall, 16
to 20 inches only. Winter temps,
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30 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
Summer temps, 55 to 75 degrees
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Fahrenheit. Key Trach, much
drier than the rest of the Park.
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Sunny more often supports
grasslands and drier forests.
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The terrain.
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The mountainous interior, the
dominant feature is the Olympic
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Mountains, including
glacier-covered Mount Olympus,
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which towers over 7,980 feet. It
has jagged ridges, creeks, deep
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glacial valleys, over 60 named
glaciers. There are frequent
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rock slides, steep ascents, and
avalanche chutes, high-elevation
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meadows, and alpine lakes. So
it's pretty difficult.
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Pretty rugged mountain we stayed
in the western lowlands and we
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were there and obviously on the
coast we didn't really venture
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into that part of the Park okay
i'm gonna try and get there
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we'll see though yeah in the
temperate rainforest we have the
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western slopes the locations of
ho the keats the cool no and the
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00:12:03,353 --> 00:12:09,119
bagash eel valleys good job yeah
i maybe we'll see key features
218
00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,259
in the area low elevation flat
to rolling valley floors thick
219
00:12:13,123 --> 00:12:23,172
Watch out for that.
220
00:12:24,110 --> 00:12:26,797
At the mid-elevation, these are
the transition zones between the
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00:12:26,813 --> 00:12:29,938
coast and the alpine areas. So
some of the features are rolling
222
00:12:29,985 --> 00:12:33,844
hills to steep forested slopes,
dense Douglas Fir, red cedar,
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00:12:33,845 --> 00:12:36,844
and maple forests, intersected
by rivers, creeks, and
224
00:12:36,906 --> 00:12:40,297
waterfalls, often muddy and
root-covered trails. Then that
225
00:12:40,313 --> 00:12:43,223
brings us to the Pacific
coastline. The western edge is
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00:12:43,284 --> 00:12:45,725
73 miles of protected wilderness
coastline.
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00:12:46,165 --> 00:12:49,168
It has rocky headland, sea
stacks, tide pools, and pocket
228
00:12:49,188 --> 00:12:53,032
beaches, driftwood-strewn
shores, and dense coastal forest
229
00:12:53,149 --> 00:12:56,899
just inland. Frequent elevation
changes via cliffs and rope
230
00:12:56,954 --> 00:12:59,680
assist routes. Tidal crossings
required in some routes. That's
231
00:12:59,681 --> 00:13:01,227
what we were talking about
before where you have to, like,
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00:13:01,821 --> 00:13:04,243
move at low tide and not be
there when high tide comes in.
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00:13:04,244 --> 00:13:05,821
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, you
pick up a tide chart from the
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00:13:05,930 --> 00:13:09,586
ranger's office and know when
you can hike because you'll just
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00:13:09,587 --> 00:13:10,868
be stuck. You won't be able to.
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00:13:11,138 --> 00:13:14,902
JOE ERATO: Keep going forward
yeah so no bueno no all right
237
00:13:14,921 --> 00:13:18,003
some of the animals or dangers
you might run into in the area
238
00:13:18,183 --> 00:13:22,652
black bear mountain goats
roosevelt elk cougars coyotes
239
00:13:22,653 --> 00:13:25,175
and then there's ticks
mosquitoes biting flies yellow
240
00:13:25,214 --> 00:13:29,199
jackets wasps and those bugs
that jump into fire when you're
241
00:13:29,277 --> 00:13:31,621
gonna watch out for those
because they just have nothing
242
00:13:31,622 --> 00:13:36,417
to lose no so steep rugged
terrain just loose scree rock
243
00:13:36,480 --> 00:13:39,666
fall and steep slopes especially
in the alpine zones Slippery
244
00:13:39,727 --> 00:13:41,749
trails from moss roots or wet
surfaces.
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00:13:42,249 --> 00:13:45,553
You can get hypothermia because
it's cold and wet. Sudden
246
00:13:45,592 --> 00:13:49,077
weather changes, lightning,
jardia and bacteria, and there
247
00:13:49,078 --> 00:13:52,100
is no cell service in most of
the Park's interior unless you
248
00:13:52,116 --> 00:13:53,842
have a new phone that has
satellite.
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00:13:53,920 --> 00:13:54,139
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yes.
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00:13:54,483 --> 00:13:56,108
JOE ERATO: I just got a phone
with satellite. Oh, did you? It
251
00:13:56,139 --> 00:13:57,858
feels so good. It's the new
Pixel.
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00:13:58,092 --> 00:13:58,842
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I got it.
253
00:13:58,843 --> 00:14:00,202
JOE ERATO: It has SOS for
satellite.
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00:14:00,233 --> 00:14:02,733
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, the
new iPhone for, I think still,
255
00:14:02,936 --> 00:14:04,608
you're able to send satellite
texts.
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00:14:04,609 --> 00:14:06,030
JOE ERATO: They're going to put
us out of business.
257
00:14:06,592 --> 00:14:06,749
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: What?
258
00:14:07,217 --> 00:14:07,999
JOE ERATO: Satellite phones.
259
00:14:08,482 --> 00:14:11,484
Put everyone's cell phones gonna
have satellite us our show oh
260
00:14:12,125 --> 00:14:14,328
yeah no one if you bring your
phone you're not gonna go if you
261
00:14:14,329 --> 00:14:19,433
go missing satellite so all
right yeah maybe and don't buy
262
00:14:19,434 --> 00:14:21,738
the new phone yeah don't buy it
this is weird it's like we want
263
00:14:21,739 --> 00:14:23,715
you to be safe but maybe not
well we still have a lot of
264
00:14:23,738 --> 00:14:26,746
cases to cover we have like
thousands we'll be all right
265
00:14:26,747 --> 00:14:30,168
yeah we'll be okay so essentials
for safe backcountry travel
266
00:14:30,418 --> 00:14:33,199
topographic mapping map and
compass we always say that.
267
00:14:33,652 --> 00:14:36,810
GPS or satellite communicator,
if you have a new phone. Bear
268
00:14:36,870 --> 00:14:40,430
canisters and bear spray. Layers
for wet and cold weather. You
269
00:14:40,450 --> 00:14:42,753
want to have the ability to put
dry clothes on, especially if
270
00:14:42,754 --> 00:14:46,069
you're camping in your tent.
Water filter and purifications.
271
00:14:46,132 --> 00:14:49,132
You're not getting the Giardia.
First aid kit, headlamp, and
272
00:14:49,171 --> 00:14:51,772
knowledge of routes, exit
points, and weather windows.
273
00:14:51,850 --> 00:14:53,749
Mike, how about you tell us
about Jacob Gray?
274
00:14:54,155 --> 00:14:57,358
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, so the
name of tonight's case is Jacob
275
00:14:57,468 --> 00:15:02,030
Randall Gray. He was born
November 15th, 1994. Went
276
00:15:02,093 --> 00:15:08,355
missing April 6th of 2017. He
was a male, age 22. Proximate
277
00:15:08,375 --> 00:15:12,841
height was 5'11 ". Proximate
weight was between 145 and 160
278
00:15:12,884 --> 00:15:17,330
pounds. He had brown hair, hazel
eyes. Other features, light
279
00:15:17,392 --> 00:15:19,533
facial hair, lean, muscular
frame.
280
00:15:20,197 --> 00:15:24,197
He was known for quiet demeanor
and intense eyes. Clothing gear
281
00:15:24,498 --> 00:15:29,220
he was last seen in. He had a
touring style bicycle with a red
282
00:15:29,299 --> 00:15:33,338
and yellow Burley cargo trailer.
He had a tent, sleeping bag, and
283
00:15:33,463 --> 00:15:38,885
standard backpacking provisions.
He had a bow and arrows. He had
284
00:15:38,978 --> 00:15:43,228
food, lighter, insulated
clothing. He had identification
285
00:15:43,260 --> 00:15:43,588
with him.
286
00:15:43,869 --> 00:15:46,697
JOE ERATO: For those wondering,
intense eyes convey a strong
287
00:15:46,760 --> 00:15:49,760
emotional state or are perceived
as captivating or even.
288
00:15:50,025 --> 00:15:50,786
Intimidating.
289
00:15:50,886 --> 00:15:52,228
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Can you
maybe pull up a picture of
290
00:15:52,267 --> 00:15:52,968
intense eyes?
291
00:15:53,148 --> 00:15:55,769
JOE ERATO: I think the audience
can know what you're talking
292
00:15:55,770 --> 00:15:58,073
about. This is important for the
people who just signed up for
293
00:15:58,152 --> 00:15:58,831
YouTube. Yeah.
294
00:15:59,855 --> 00:16:01,816
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I'm curious
what intense eyes look like. I'm
295
00:16:01,855 --> 00:16:03,198
sure I've seen intense eyes.
296
00:16:04,222 --> 00:16:05,581
JOE ERATO: I feel like it's
going to be, you know, when they
297
00:16:05,582 --> 00:16:08,238
talk about smoldering, like when
you smolder.
298
00:16:08,644 --> 00:16:08,784
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah.
299
00:16:08,956 --> 00:16:11,300
JOE ERATO: I bet it's going to
be that. Okay. Oh yeah. Look at
300
00:16:11,331 --> 00:16:11,566
that.
301
00:16:13,050 --> 00:16:16,566
You know what? These eyes are
really intense. Yeah. If you're
302
00:16:16,597 --> 00:16:17,238
just listening.
303
00:16:17,873 --> 00:16:19,595
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Go Google
search intense eyes and you'll
304
00:16:19,596 --> 00:16:23,719
go oh yeah i get it yeah oh she
looks crazy some are more
305
00:16:23,720 --> 00:16:29,645
intense those are other that's
crazy yeah oh type in intense
306
00:16:29,707 --> 00:16:34,387
eyes nicholas cage then we'll
get back to the episode oh weird
307
00:16:34,402 --> 00:16:42,559
that search was already in my
search bar yep.
308
00:16:42,996 --> 00:16:45,981
JOE ERATO: So that's basically
it first of all the first one is
309
00:16:45,996 --> 00:16:48,574
just googly eyes Second one is
face-off.
310
00:16:48,855 --> 00:16:51,097
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Fun little
story about that second picture
311
00:16:51,098 --> 00:16:53,939
of Nick Cage. When Joe and I
used to work together, I came in
312
00:16:54,021 --> 00:16:57,306
one day, and Joe had gotten
there earlier and printed out
313
00:16:57,384 --> 00:17:02,548
about 1,000 of those and hid one
in every nook and cranny of the
314
00:17:02,626 --> 00:17:08,407
office in between folders, taped
it to the backs of cabinets. So
315
00:17:08,517 --> 00:17:10,282
every time I opened something
for the next...
316
00:17:10,513 --> 00:17:13,415
JOE ERATO: Three months i find a
picture of that Nick Cage and if
317
00:17:13,496 --> 00:17:15,519
any of our employees are
listening you just outed me
318
00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:17,878
because i started doing that oh
you're doing that again and i
319
00:17:17,921 --> 00:17:22,183
told no one there are once again
they're like anytime no we're
320
00:17:22,206 --> 00:17:25,769
not anytime i'm at work i have
like my tablet that i keep
321
00:17:25,808 --> 00:17:29,136
around yeah i have a hundred of
them yeah back there and if i
322
00:17:29,152 --> 00:17:33,214
have the opportunity to pop one
under a keyboard and email went
323
00:17:33,277 --> 00:17:37,870
out like from housekeeping yeah
for a while it's like whoever is
324
00:17:37,950 --> 00:17:41,152
putting nicholas case please
stop and i went around
325
00:17:41,492 --> 00:17:44,656
pretending not upset okay guys
come on this is a professional
326
00:17:44,676 --> 00:17:47,543
work invite like who's doing
this and i'm the one like going
327
00:17:47,558 --> 00:17:52,441
around doing the witch hunt and
so that is funny oh yeah it's i
328
00:17:52,465 --> 00:17:56,027
love it's called caging caging
caging i'm a huge fan of Nick
329
00:17:56,074 --> 00:17:59,183
Cage and caging the workplace
and you just real quick we'll
330
00:17:59,215 --> 00:18:02,152
cut this part out do you have
the zoom right on the screen
331
00:18:02,449 --> 00:18:06,806
just double check so oh yeah
let's see here yeah We're good.
332
00:18:07,046 --> 00:18:08,327
Okay. We're in like the
infinite.
333
00:18:08,348 --> 00:18:10,750
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I apologize.
Our previous episode. See, it's
334
00:18:10,809 --> 00:18:13,590
right. Okay. Yeah, we had it all
goofed up. I'm going to have to
335
00:18:13,633 --> 00:18:15,551
fix that. But we'll cut all this
out. Yeah.
336
00:18:15,692 --> 00:18:16,176
JOE ERATO: No, we won't.
337
00:18:16,177 --> 00:18:17,176
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: This is how
the sausage gets made.
338
00:18:17,177 --> 00:18:19,661
JOE ERATO: But yeah, basically
it's all the funny, weird. Yeah.
339
00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:22,348
Weird faces in a cage. You cut
out just his head and just put
340
00:18:22,349 --> 00:18:22,786
him places.
341
00:18:22,817 --> 00:18:24,379
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: And those
are some intense eyes in a lot
342
00:18:24,380 --> 00:18:24,661
of these.
343
00:18:24,662 --> 00:18:26,379
JOE ERATO: These are all
intense. He's an intense
344
00:18:26,426 --> 00:18:26,911
individual.
345
00:18:27,739 --> 00:18:29,067
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Take his
face off.
346
00:18:29,348 --> 00:18:31,708
JOE ERATO: Yeah. My face off.
347
00:18:31,925 --> 00:18:33,427
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: This is the
second episode in a row we've
348
00:18:33,447 --> 00:18:34,328
talked about Nick Cage.
349
00:18:34,388 --> 00:18:36,050
JOE ERATO: I love Nick Cage. I
have a Nick Cage pillow.
350
00:18:36,328 --> 00:18:36,870
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Do you
really?
351
00:18:37,011 --> 00:18:39,374
JOE ERATO: I do. I have a pillow
where it's his face. It's just
352
00:18:39,394 --> 00:18:42,593
his big face. And I got my son a
Nick Cage blanket where the
353
00:18:42,632 --> 00:18:44,195
whole blanket is just his face.
354
00:18:44,437 --> 00:18:45,140
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Oh, my gosh.
355
00:18:45,218 --> 00:18:46,656
JOE ERATO: It's a funny joke in
my life.
356
00:18:46,703 --> 00:18:48,624
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: That's a
little terrifying, though. Yeah,
357
00:18:49,249 --> 00:18:49,859
it is. Yeah.
358
00:18:49,999 --> 00:18:51,999
JOE ERATO: But it's funny. I'll
take a picture of it and share
359
00:18:52,000 --> 00:18:53,484
it on the socials just so
everyone can see it.
360
00:18:53,485 --> 00:18:54,343
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Okay.
361
00:18:54,344 --> 00:18:55,703
JOE ERATO: All right. Let's go
back to the task at hand.
362
00:18:55,704 --> 00:18:58,109
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Back to the
actual case. So we were talking
363
00:18:58,124 --> 00:19:00,468
about gear he had on him. So he
did have an identification on
364
00:19:00,469 --> 00:19:04,645
him. He did not have a GPS or
satellite communication on him
365
00:19:04,786 --> 00:19:08,911
or that equipment wasn't found.
Personality, so he was quiet,
366
00:19:09,028 --> 00:19:13,974
introspective, and deeply
connected to nature. Described
367
00:19:14,013 --> 00:19:18,333
as highly intelligent, gentle,
and contemplative. Often read a
368
00:19:18,380 --> 00:19:19,958
philosophy in spiritual
writings.
369
00:19:20,536 --> 00:19:23,661
He avoided social media. He was
very private but deeply
370
00:19:23,724 --> 00:19:26,692
thoughtful. He believed in
testing himself and seeking
371
00:19:26,739 --> 00:19:30,147
solitude. He was extremely
independent and confident in the
372
00:19:30,148 --> 00:19:33,991
wilderness, and he was close to
family, especially his father,
373
00:19:34,030 --> 00:19:38,799
Randy, but he didn't always
share his hiking plans. Medical
374
00:19:38,854 --> 00:19:41,401
issues, no known physical health
issues.
375
00:19:42,315 --> 00:19:47,362
Being a young, fit 22-year-old,
not uncommon. And he had no
376
00:19:47,440 --> 00:19:50,268
confirmed history of mental
illness, but friends and family
377
00:19:50,346 --> 00:19:53,346
did note that he was reflective
and possibly going through an
378
00:19:53,347 --> 00:19:56,150
intense period of
self-discovery. And emotional
379
00:19:56,210 --> 00:19:58,712
searching. So just keep that in
the back of your mind as we're
380
00:19:58,713 --> 00:20:04,098
going through the timeline. He
occupation unknown. Oh, is that
381
00:20:04,099 --> 00:20:04,637
a video of him?
382
00:20:05,302 --> 00:20:07,239
JOE ERATO: I'm going to see. You
can keep going. I'll turn the
383
00:20:07,240 --> 00:20:10,067
volume down just in case. But
yeah, this is like a Jacob Gray
384
00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:13,161
missing page. Oh, I'll start
pulling stuff up. I'm not
385
00:20:13,208 --> 00:20:15,052
sharing it just yet. I'm getting
things queued.
386
00:20:15,395 --> 00:20:17,677
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Getting
things queued. Okay. So we don't
387
00:20:17,678 --> 00:20:21,752
know what he did for work. But
he was into wilderness
388
00:20:21,893 --> 00:20:24,816
exploration and long-distance
biking. Like we said, he was
389
00:20:24,895 --> 00:20:28,797
into reading. He did surfing and
other outdoor adventure sports,
390
00:20:28,875 --> 00:20:32,219
and he did practice archery.
Like I said, he carried a bow
391
00:20:32,383 --> 00:20:35,266
with him. So his experience in
the wilderness, from everything
392
00:20:35,305 --> 00:20:36,359
I read, was pretty high.
393
00:20:36,953 --> 00:20:39,250
He grew up exploring the
outdoors in Santa Cruz,
394
00:20:39,312 --> 00:20:43,156
California. He had also
previously completed several
395
00:20:43,953 --> 00:20:47,919
solo wilderness trips, so this
wasn't unusual for him. And he
396
00:20:47,920 --> 00:20:51,202
was very comfortable
understanding basic survival
397
00:20:51,282 --> 00:20:54,665
skills and navigating rugged
environments. Experience in this
398
00:20:54,724 --> 00:20:58,970
location, it's not known if
Jacob had ever been to Olympic
399
00:20:59,032 --> 00:21:00,470
National Park prior to this
trip.
400
00:21:00,548 --> 00:21:03,642
He had spent time in the Pacific
Northwest, including Port
401
00:21:03,673 --> 00:21:06,782
Townsend, Washington, where he
stayed with his grandmother
402
00:21:06,798 --> 00:21:11,657
before departing. And he appears
to have studied the area but did
403
00:21:11,704 --> 00:21:15,064
not share the route with any
friends or family, which
404
00:21:15,189 --> 00:21:18,432
obviously leaves. Uncertainty
about whether he had a
405
00:21:18,532 --> 00:21:20,094
destination or a specific goal.
406
00:21:20,594 --> 00:21:23,317
JOE ERATO: And I have his bike
in Burley. And if you don't know
407
00:21:23,318 --> 00:21:25,438
what a Burley is, it's one of
those like child carriers that
408
00:21:25,439 --> 00:21:27,563
you pull behind a bike. So he's
probably using it for gear,
409
00:21:27,641 --> 00:21:28,040
obviously.
410
00:21:28,118 --> 00:21:29,321
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: But yeah,
that's what he was using.
411
00:21:29,322 --> 00:21:32,954
JOE ERATO: It seems like it's
just kind of not crashed. But
412
00:21:33,079 --> 00:21:34,985
would you call that strewn
about?
413
00:21:35,188 --> 00:21:35,844
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: We'll get
into it.
414
00:21:36,110 --> 00:21:38,376
JOE ERATO: Yeah, OK. I'm sorry.
I'm getting way ahead.
415
00:21:38,391 --> 00:21:39,126
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: You're
getting way ahead.
416
00:21:39,313 --> 00:21:39,672
JOE ERATO: I'm sorry.
417
00:21:40,829 --> 00:21:41,501
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Here's a
picture.
418
00:21:41,516 --> 00:21:43,579
JOE ERATO: He's a good looking
guy. All right, go on. Sorry.
419
00:21:43,719 --> 00:21:45,172
Ok. I did what you did.
420
00:21:45,344 --> 00:21:47,496
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I know. I
was better about it.
421
00:21:47,696 --> 00:21:50,138
JOE ERATO: I know, right? You
need to chastise me now.
422
00:21:50,439 --> 00:21:51,459
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: It's your
turn. All right.
423
00:21:52,662 --> 00:21:55,806
Well, the timeline starts April
5th of 2017, which is a
424
00:21:55,845 --> 00:22:01,166
Wednesday. I did find one source
that listed April 4th, but all
425
00:22:01,167 --> 00:22:03,767
the other news sources stated
April 5th. So we're going with
426
00:22:03,814 --> 00:22:08,814
April 5th of 2017. Jacob leaves
his grandmother's home in Port
427
00:22:08,877 --> 00:22:11,752
Townsend, Washington, heading
out alone on a bicycle trip
428
00:22:11,861 --> 00:22:15,270
loaded with camping gear. He
departs in the evening. Toying a
429
00:22:15,310 --> 00:22:18,713
yellow and red Burley bike,
which Joe preemptively shared.
430
00:22:19,713 --> 00:22:20,295
JOE ERATO: Pull it up again.
431
00:22:20,416 --> 00:22:22,436
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Burley bike
trailer. It was filled with
432
00:22:22,459 --> 00:22:26,037
supplies. His plans were to
journey through Olympic National
433
00:22:26,061 --> 00:22:29,342
Park and eventually east towards
Vermont to visit his brother.
434
00:22:30,342 --> 00:22:33,162
And I don't believe that Vermont
is in the state. There must be a
435
00:22:33,584 --> 00:22:39,241
town in the area called Vermont.
Maybe he did plan to ride his
436
00:22:39,242 --> 00:22:42,162
bike all the way to Vermont. I
don't think that's the case.
437
00:22:42,491 --> 00:22:43,178
We'll have Joe.
438
00:22:43,626 --> 00:22:45,569
JOE ERATO: Investigate if
there's a is there a Vermont
439
00:22:45,628 --> 00:22:51,253
Washington i'm sure there is so
like i had mentioned yes town in
440
00:22:51,651 --> 00:22:55,956
wait no there's a Washington
Town in Vermont Washington
441
00:22:56,557 --> 00:22:58,823
Washington Town in Orange County
Vermont all right keep going
442
00:22:58,979 --> 00:22:59,917
okay we'll.
443
00:22:59,918 --> 00:23:01,151
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Get to the
bottom of this because i kind of
444
00:23:01,152 --> 00:23:04,432
want to know now if he nothing
else i read said he was actually
445
00:23:04,448 --> 00:23:08,667
planning to ride cross country
to Vermont yeah just keep going
446
00:23:08,807 --> 00:23:12,406
i think it's going to take me a
minute okay Like I said. In the
447
00:23:12,687 --> 00:23:19,515
character profile, he was
experiencing the outdoors, but
448
00:23:19,535 --> 00:23:22,976
we don't know if he had been to
Olympic National Park before.
449
00:23:23,578 --> 00:23:28,000
It is now April 6th of 2017.
This is a Thursday. In the
450
00:23:28,078 --> 00:23:30,859
afternoon, visitors in Olympic
National Park discover an
451
00:23:30,860 --> 00:23:36,297
abandoned mountain bike with a
gear trailer along the Solduk
452
00:23:36,375 --> 00:23:41,404
River Springs Road near Solduk
River. And Joe is now showing
453
00:23:41,405 --> 00:23:43,186
the picture of that bike again.
454
00:23:44,045 --> 00:23:45,908
JOE ERATO: Yeah, I don't think
there's a Vermont there. He
455
00:23:45,928 --> 00:23:47,108
might have been trying to go to
Vermont.
456
00:23:47,510 --> 00:23:47,791
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Okay.
457
00:23:48,553 --> 00:23:50,709
JOE ERATO: And I'm not seeing, I
did a quick Google search, but I
458
00:23:50,710 --> 00:23:54,639
figured if there's a city, I put
Vermont, Washington State, and I
459
00:23:54,655 --> 00:23:57,873
was not finding it. So I don't
think there is. And if I'm
460
00:23:57,905 --> 00:23:59,186
wrong, tell me about it.
461
00:23:59,826 --> 00:24:02,420
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I just asked
our friendly overlords.
462
00:24:02,764 --> 00:24:03,217
JOE ERATO: Chad GPT?
463
00:24:03,967 --> 00:24:06,342
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: No, just AI
on Google. There is no town
464
00:24:06,733 --> 00:24:07,201
called Vermont.
465
00:24:07,264 --> 00:24:08,748
JOE ERATO: So he must have been
going to Vermont.
466
00:24:09,150 --> 00:24:10,832
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: So you talk
about the pictures here quick. I
467
00:24:10,833 --> 00:24:12,313
don't look something up, but
this is gonna bug me.
468
00:24:12,434 --> 00:24:17,020
JOE ERATO: Okay, here's a
picture of a bike Really? What
469
00:24:17,039 --> 00:24:18,856
I'll do is I'm gonna play this
video. I don't know if there's
470
00:24:18,996 --> 00:24:22,262
audio on it, but it's from a
Facebook page It's a find. I
471
00:24:22,263 --> 00:24:25,340
think was it called? Yeah find
Jacob Gray So let's get some
472
00:24:25,465 --> 00:24:29,309
audio going here and see it says
he's just doing selfie faces.
473
00:24:33,898 --> 00:24:35,539
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: All right
he's just doing a 360 here so he
474
00:24:35,540 --> 00:24:39,038
didn't say anything but okay
it's on top of a mountain i have
475
00:24:39,057 --> 00:24:42,881
an update on the Vermont Situate
Vermont Gate Vermont Gate so i
476
00:24:42,897 --> 00:24:45,397
probably should have included
this detail because it really
477
00:24:45,460 --> 00:24:48,999
bugged me when i just kind of
glossed over it but he actually
478
00:24:49,100 --> 00:24:53,342
did plan well his mother said
that he was potentially planning
479
00:24:53,389 --> 00:24:57,686
to bike to Vermont and that it
might take him two years to make
480
00:24:57,687 --> 00:25:02,639
the trip oh wow so clarification
he was actually thinking about
481
00:25:02,766 --> 00:25:04,730
biking all the way to Vermont
from Washington State.
482
00:25:04,970 --> 00:25:12,601
All right. Like I said, it's
April 6th of 2017. It's a
483
00:25:12,602 --> 00:25:15,323
Thursday. He... Visitors in
Olympic National Park discovered
484
00:25:15,324 --> 00:25:18,085
the abandoned bike, like I said,
near the Sol Duke River Springs
485
00:25:18,143 --> 00:25:20,706
Road, near the Sol Duke River.
486
00:25:21,452 --> 00:25:24,874
Rangers respond and find the
bike and trailer upright and
487
00:25:24,913 --> 00:25:29,624
intact with camping gear spread
out on a tarp nearby. The spot
488
00:25:29,702 --> 00:25:34,467
is about 6.5 miles up the road
from Highway 101, and the gear
489
00:25:34,514 --> 00:25:38,764
is plainly visible about 40 feet
from the road and 40 feet east
490
00:25:38,842 --> 00:25:39,608
of the riverbank.
491
00:25:40,264 --> 00:25:45,872
Now this was a dispatch from law
enforcement that was sent out to
492
00:25:45,873 --> 00:25:49,077
the public it said Jacob Gray's
bicycle and gear trailer is
493
00:25:49,335 --> 00:25:54,522
found off is found off soldook
road on April 6 2017 Rangers
494
00:25:54,600 --> 00:25:57,803
noted the equipment was in
working order and even observed
495
00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:01,249
arrows stuck in the ground near
the tarp recognizing the
496
00:26:01,264 --> 00:26:03,670
situation unusual Park law
enforcement Rangers conduct a
497
00:26:03,686 --> 00:26:06,749
hasty search of the area that
evening checking the immediate
498
00:26:06,750 --> 00:26:11,561
woods and riverbank for any sign
of the cyclist at At this time,
499
00:26:11,861 --> 00:26:15,403
no missing persons report had
been filed, so at first, Rangers
500
00:26:15,466 --> 00:26:17,067
weren't sure whose gear it was.
501
00:26:17,868 --> 00:26:21,708
The abandoned gear included a
wallet, ID, food, camping
502
00:26:21,771 --> 00:26:26,474
supplies, and even a bow with
arrows. This raised concern that
503
00:26:27,114 --> 00:26:29,786
its owner may have fallen into
the cold, fast-flowing Solduk
504
00:26:29,864 --> 00:26:35,505
River. It's now April 17, 2017,
which is Friday. Park staff
505
00:26:35,646 --> 00:26:38,489
identify the gear's owner as
Jacob Gray after finding a list
506
00:26:38,490 --> 00:26:40,333
of phone numbers among his
belongings.
507
00:26:41,140 --> 00:26:44,803
Ranger Brian Ray contacts Gray's
family to notify them of the
508
00:26:44,844 --> 00:26:48,629
situation. That day, Rangers
widened the search along the
509
00:26:48,668 --> 00:26:51,707
Selduck River, the Springs Road
corridor, checking trailheads,
510
00:26:51,934 --> 00:26:56,153
and the nearby Selduck River
Springs Resort, but no witnesses
511
00:26:56,551 --> 00:26:59,411
there were called seeing the
cyclist. And what do we got up?
512
00:26:59,551 --> 00:27:00,661
Okay, you've got the spot.
513
00:27:01,582 --> 00:27:05,145
JOE ERATO: Yeah, this points to
Selduck Hot Springs Resort up
514
00:27:05,207 --> 00:27:05,723
here.
515
00:27:05,739 --> 00:27:05,942
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Okay.
516
00:27:06,161 --> 00:27:07,004
JOE ERATO: So there's like the
river.
517
00:27:07,942 --> 00:27:09,926
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: So that's
the general area where he went
518
00:27:10,004 --> 00:27:10,364
missing.
519
00:27:10,640 --> 00:27:14,081
JOE ERATO: Yeah, it's like
Northwest Olympic National Park.
520
00:27:14,599 --> 00:27:18,482
Okay. Near an Olympic National
Forest. So if you're from the
521
00:27:18,501 --> 00:27:19,638
area by Crescent Lake.
522
00:27:20,279 --> 00:27:23,763
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Okay. So by
now, with Gray still missing and
523
00:27:23,764 --> 00:27:26,302
his gear left behind in good
condition, Park officials
524
00:27:26,326 --> 00:27:32,247
suspect he may have been injured
or swept into the 40-degree
525
00:27:32,279 --> 00:27:34,701
Fahrenheit river and plan to
keep searching, though river
526
00:27:34,763 --> 00:27:36,466
conditions were hazardous at the
time.
527
00:27:37,513 --> 00:27:39,709
According to one ranger's
report, there was already
528
00:27:39,809 --> 00:27:42,151
speculation that if Gray was in
the river, they might have to
529
00:27:42,192 --> 00:27:45,096
check the river in the summer
when the water goes down due to
530
00:27:45,174 --> 00:27:50,760
spring runoff levels. It's now
April 8th to April 10th of 2017,
531
00:27:50,799 --> 00:27:54,831
so this would be Saturday to
Monday. Intensive search efforts
532
00:27:54,862 --> 00:27:56,049
continue over the weekend.
533
00:27:56,924 --> 00:28:00,237
Olympic National Park search
teams concentrate on the Solduk
534
00:28:00,284 --> 00:28:03,768
River itself, which is running
high and swift with snowmelt.
535
00:28:04,468 --> 00:28:06,811
They searched the riverbanks and
scanned the water where
536
00:28:06,830 --> 00:28:08,754
possible, looking for any sign
of Gray.
537
00:28:08,934 --> 00:28:12,317
Despite the challenging
conditions, Rangers on foot and
538
00:28:12,395 --> 00:28:16,176
a swift water rescue team
surveyed areas along the east
539
00:28:16,223 --> 00:28:19,403
side of the river near where the
bike was found, but no trace of
540
00:28:19,465 --> 00:28:23,223
Jacob was there. During this
period, Jacob's family begins
541
00:28:23,285 --> 00:28:26,145
traveling to Washington to
assist in the search. His
542
00:28:26,207 --> 00:28:30,598
father, Randy Gray, drives north
from Santa Cruz, California
543
00:28:30,692 --> 00:28:33,598
through the night, and other
relatives fly in from out of
544
00:28:33,660 --> 00:28:33,942
state.
545
00:28:34,540 --> 00:28:38,565
By April 11th, 2017, which is
Tuesday, trained mountaineers
546
00:28:38,566 --> 00:28:41,808
from Olympic Mountain Rescue,
which is a volunteer Search And
547
00:28:41,827 --> 00:28:44,593
Rescue unit, joined the effort
to bolster manpower and
548
00:28:44,648 --> 00:28:48,655
expertise. Some sources, when I
was researching this, did state
549
00:28:48,671 --> 00:28:52,538
this happened on April 12th, and
others stated it happened on
550
00:28:52,554 --> 00:28:53,163
April 11th.
551
00:28:53,164 --> 00:28:57,507
So just, I wanted to note that.
So by this time, Jacob's father,
552
00:28:57,757 --> 00:29:00,523
Randy, and his sister, Mallory,
have arrived at the Park to aid
553
00:29:00,632 --> 00:29:04,629
in the search, and They are
dismayed to learn that no
554
00:29:04,848 --> 00:29:07,427
large-scale search had been
initiated yet by authorities
555
00:29:07,470 --> 00:29:08,951
beyond the Park's limited
efforts.
556
00:29:10,048 --> 00:29:13,748
Taking matters into their own
hands, the family presses Park
557
00:29:13,810 --> 00:29:17,709
officials for more action.
Jacobson even demands an intense
558
00:29:17,748 --> 00:29:21,052
search in a conversation with a
Park ranger. That same day,
559
00:29:21,396 --> 00:29:24,834
Randy Gray, an experienced
surfer, puts on a wetsuit and
560
00:29:24,865 --> 00:29:28,318
personally begins searching the
frigid Solduk River for any sign
561
00:29:28,334 --> 00:29:28,740
of his son.
562
00:29:29,209 --> 00:29:33,066
So that's... This is the...
Constant story we've heard
563
00:29:33,146 --> 00:29:36,667
throughout many cases.
Obviously, family really want
564
00:29:37,167 --> 00:29:41,394
their loved one found, and it
sometimes doesn't matter how big
565
00:29:41,410 --> 00:29:45,175
the search is. It can seem like
it's not big enough, and I
566
00:29:45,214 --> 00:29:46,902
understand why they feel that
way.
567
00:29:46,941 --> 00:29:47,894
JOE ERATO: Oh, 100%.
568
00:29:48,207 --> 00:29:51,644
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: But you've
got to give Randy Gray credit.
569
00:29:51,722 --> 00:29:54,800
He, like, you know what? He just
put a wetsuit on and started
570
00:29:54,941 --> 00:29:57,988
searching the river himself. We
don't have many cases where the
571
00:29:58,113 --> 00:29:59,847
father is doing...
572
00:30:00,184 --> 00:30:02,866
Difficult searching like that a
lot of people will do ground
573
00:30:02,946 --> 00:30:06,632
searches with the rescued but no
one i don't think we've had a
574
00:30:06,651 --> 00:30:09,171
case where we've had a family
member do something like that
575
00:30:09,210 --> 00:30:12,194
yet yeah pretty impressive
really got to give credit to
576
00:30:12,499 --> 00:30:15,812
Randy Gray for doing that He was
diving into pools.
577
00:30:15,892 --> 00:30:19,056
He was checking behind
waterfalls. He was scanning
578
00:30:19,095 --> 00:30:23,236
under log jams. He even
sustained mild hypothermia and
579
00:30:23,282 --> 00:30:25,017
trench foot throughout the
process.
580
00:30:25,018 --> 00:30:26,743
JOE ERATO: So he was in the
water a long time.
581
00:30:26,798 --> 00:30:29,361
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah. And
when he wasn't in the water, he
582
00:30:29,407 --> 00:30:31,611
was bushwhacking through the
dense rainforest along the
583
00:30:31,612 --> 00:30:35,423
banks. He refused to give up.
The coordinated search effort
584
00:30:35,517 --> 00:30:39,876
also expands on land. Olympic
Mountain Rescue crews
585
00:30:39,939 --> 00:30:42,845
methodically scour both sides of
the river and surrounding
586
00:30:42,876 --> 00:30:43,314
forest.
587
00:30:43,862 --> 00:30:47,102
Notably, they find evidence on
the east bank suggesting Jacob
588
00:30:47,583 --> 00:30:50,602
may have slipped on a mossy rock
at the water's edge and fallen
589
00:30:50,645 --> 00:30:53,946
in, as well as possible
footprints and disturbances
590
00:30:54,024 --> 00:30:56,766
indicating someone climbed out
of the river further downstream
591
00:30:56,821 --> 00:31:00,501
on the opposite bank. This clue
prompts searchers to consider
592
00:31:00,532 --> 00:31:03,563
that Gray managed to reach the
west side of the Solduk River
593
00:31:04,266 --> 00:31:04,923
after the fall.
594
00:31:05,641 --> 00:31:10,454
It's now April 12th of 2017, so
search teams extend their
595
00:31:10,532 --> 00:31:14,183
operation beyond the National
Park boundary. Olympic Mountain
596
00:31:14,363 --> 00:31:18,206
Rescue Volunteers and Kallalam
County authorities explore
597
00:31:18,245 --> 00:31:21,409
roughly a four-square-mile area
on the west side of the Soul
598
00:31:21,433 --> 00:31:24,636
Duke River into Olympic National
Forest land outside the Park.
599
00:31:25,253 --> 00:31:28,097
The theory at the time was that
if Jacob had exited the river on
600
00:31:28,098 --> 00:31:30,894
the west bank, he may have
trekked into the woods or along
601
00:31:31,722 --> 00:31:35,378
old roads there. So, indeed,
searchers discovered weak old
602
00:31:35,425 --> 00:31:39,128
boot prints among the tree roots
on the river bank leading toward
603
00:31:39,488 --> 00:31:40,175
the west side.
604
00:31:41,018 --> 00:31:43,842
And at the time, they presumed
these to be tracks from Jacob.
605
00:31:44,483 --> 00:31:47,885
They also noted a scuff Mark on
a mossy boulder in the river
606
00:31:47,943 --> 00:31:49,924
consistent with someone
scrambling out of the water.
607
00:31:51,088 --> 00:31:55,815
Despite these new clues, no
definitive sighting of Gray is
608
00:31:55,893 --> 00:32:00,885
made. Family members included
Jacob's mother, Laura, who flew
609
00:32:00,932 --> 00:32:04,822
up from the family's home in
Bellevue, Washington, joined the
610
00:32:04,823 --> 00:32:06,463
ground search teams in the
field.
611
00:32:07,454 --> 00:32:10,557
Morale, though, was tested
through this time by rain and
612
00:32:10,576 --> 00:32:14,459
rough terrain, but the discovery
of Prince fueled hope that Jacob
613
00:32:14,521 --> 00:32:18,084
might be sheltering somewhere in
the vast part of the National
614
00:32:18,107 --> 00:32:21,725
Forest. So they weren't giving
up hope just yet. Sorry.
615
00:32:23,490 --> 00:32:24,615
That stupid microphone.
616
00:32:25,287 --> 00:32:26,256
JOE ERATO: It's because you keep
touching it.
617
00:32:26,257 --> 00:32:26,475
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I know.
618
00:32:27,475 --> 00:32:29,396
JOE ERATO: If you stop futzing
with it, it would just be fine.
619
00:32:29,412 --> 00:32:32,818
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I know. So
it's now April 13th of 2017.
620
00:32:32,834 --> 00:32:33,459
We'll cut all that.
621
00:32:33,818 --> 00:32:34,240
JOE ERATO: No, we won't.
622
00:32:34,521 --> 00:32:36,898
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: It's
Thursday. A canine unit is
623
00:32:36,918 --> 00:32:39,720
brought in. As the search
continues, an Everett Mountain
624
00:32:39,759 --> 00:32:42,761
Rescue canine team with a
cadaver dog searches along the
625
00:32:42,780 --> 00:32:47,397
west bank of the Solduk River
downstream of the bike site. By
626
00:32:47,483 --> 00:32:50,741
now, it's been nearly a full
week after the disappearance.
627
00:32:51,624 --> 00:32:54,257
The search leaders acknowledge
they may be looking for a
628
00:32:54,288 --> 00:32:58,163
recovery rather than a rescue,
and that's a pretty accurate
629
00:32:58,164 --> 00:33:00,897
assessment based on the fact
they believe he did fall in and
630
00:33:00,898 --> 00:33:03,725
then climb back out, and we're
talking the weather. The river
631
00:33:03,726 --> 00:33:07,163
was 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
That's incredibly cold. That is
632
00:33:07,164 --> 00:33:09,325
really cold. I don't know if
anyone's ever done a polar
633
00:33:09,347 --> 00:33:12,487
plunge, but it's about that
temp.
634
00:33:12,530 --> 00:33:14,374
JOE ERATO: I always tried to get
you to do it with me, and you
635
00:33:14,413 --> 00:33:14,835
never did.
636
00:33:15,109 --> 00:33:16,413
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I'm not a
polar plunge person.
637
00:33:17,132 --> 00:33:19,296
JOE ERATO: For those watching
the screens, I'm just playing a
638
00:33:19,359 --> 00:33:22,085
video his sister put together of
pictures and videos. So there's
639
00:33:22,086 --> 00:33:24,226
no audio, but it'll just be
playing in the background. Okay.
640
00:33:25,038 --> 00:33:29,148
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: So, like we
said, they are really coming to
641
00:33:29,149 --> 00:33:32,804
the realization that this is
probably leaning more towards a
642
00:33:32,835 --> 00:33:36,578
recovery at this point than a
rescue. And indeed, two cadaver
643
00:33:36,618 --> 00:33:40,480
dogs independently alert to some
large log jam in the river about
644
00:33:40,481 --> 00:33:43,519
a mile downstream, suggesting
the possible presence of human
645
00:33:43,582 --> 00:33:46,457
remains in or under the tangle
of debris.
646
00:33:47,121 --> 00:33:50,863
Rangers are unable to dismantle
that log jam safely in the high
647
00:33:50,879 --> 00:33:54,175
water, but they make note of it
for later investigation. But
648
00:33:54,285 --> 00:33:58,222
aside from the dog hits, no new
clues are found on this day.
649
00:33:58,597 --> 00:34:01,488
Olympic National Park issues a
press release on April 13th.
650
00:34:02,190 --> 00:34:05,232
Appealing to any hikers or river
rafters who might have seen
651
00:34:05,314 --> 00:34:09,377
Jacob Gray to come forward with
information. The NPS release
652
00:34:09,478 --> 00:34:12,502
also summarizes the search
efforts to date and confirms
653
00:34:12,556 --> 00:34:16,908
Jacob has been missing since
April 6th. It's now April 14th
654
00:34:16,962 --> 00:34:22,603
of 2017. This would be a Friday.
After eight days of intensive
655
00:34:22,650 --> 00:34:25,853
searching, the National Park
Service scales back the
656
00:34:25,916 --> 00:34:26,447
operation.
657
00:34:27,181 --> 00:34:29,822
Olympic National Park officials
announce the transition to a
658
00:34:29,916 --> 00:34:33,067
limited continuous search.
Meaning Park Rangers will
659
00:34:33,087 --> 00:34:36,190
continue investigating any new
leads that arise, but there will
660
00:34:36,191 --> 00:34:39,072
be no active large-scale field
searches going forward.
661
00:34:39,752 --> 00:34:43,358
Acting Park superintendent Lee
Taylor thanks all those involved
662
00:34:43,359 --> 00:34:47,225
for their exhaustive efforts and
expressed sympathy to Jacob's
663
00:34:47,318 --> 00:34:50,865
loved ones during these very
trying times, which was quote.
664
00:34:51,506 --> 00:34:54,584
So effectively, the formal MPS
search is suspended due to lack
665
00:34:54,585 --> 00:34:58,506
of results. The Park had no
coordinated search crews, dog
666
00:34:58,568 --> 00:35:00,897
teams, and even aerial
observation.
667
00:35:02,039 --> 00:35:04,902
So no helicopters were deployed
and the Coast Guard was notably
668
00:35:05,443 --> 00:35:09,126
never requested. With the Park's
operation winding down,
669
00:35:09,146 --> 00:35:12,728
responsibility now shifts more
to local authorities and the
670
00:35:12,806 --> 00:35:19,778
Gray family to decide the next
steps. So April 15th, 2017. This
671
00:35:19,798 --> 00:35:20,560
is a Saturday.
672
00:35:21,260 --> 00:35:26,786
The Clallam County Search And
Rescue team takes the lead on a
673
00:35:26,927 --> 00:35:31,552
final intensive push over the
weekend. On April 15th, the SAR
674
00:35:31,606 --> 00:35:34,677
team, deputies, and dozens of
volunteers mobilize to search
675
00:35:34,716 --> 00:35:38,130
the rugged terrain west of the
Solduk River, including areas
676
00:35:38,224 --> 00:35:41,802
both inside and outside the
Park. The searchers split into
677
00:35:41,896 --> 00:35:45,567
ground teams and grid search the
forest west of the river.
678
00:35:45,894 --> 00:35:48,317
While others cover the
riverbanks. They post flyers
679
00:35:48,337 --> 00:35:51,278
about the missing man at
trailheads, Park visitor
680
00:35:51,317 --> 00:35:55,544
centers, gas stations in Port
Angeles, to the east, and forks
681
00:35:55,661 --> 00:35:58,606
to the west, spreading the word
to the community at large.
682
00:35:59,028 --> 00:36:01,872
So during this operation,
searchers reportedly locate a
683
00:36:01,888 --> 00:36:04,419
pair of men's shorts a couple
miles downstream from where
684
00:36:04,450 --> 00:36:08,122
Jacob's bike was found. The
shorts are in Jacob's size and
685
00:36:08,200 --> 00:36:11,763
even the same brand, which was
Burnside, is a pair he owned,
686
00:36:11,856 --> 00:36:15,295
raising suspicions they could
belong to him. So they actually
687
00:36:15,315 --> 00:36:20,039
collected the clothing and sent
it to the Washington State Crime
688
00:36:20,219 --> 00:36:22,063
Lab in Seattle for DNA testing.
689
00:36:22,864 --> 00:36:25,465
Though later, when the results
came back, they were
690
00:36:25,543 --> 00:36:29,309
inconclusive or not matching,
and the shorts were ultimately
691
00:36:29,426 --> 00:36:33,965
not proven to be Jacobs. Other
minor items and possible traces
692
00:36:33,997 --> 00:36:37,481
are documented, but nothing
proves to be a clear
693
00:36:37,512 --> 00:36:37,981
breakthrough.
694
00:36:38,434 --> 00:36:43,059
By April 16th, the county SAR
officials also scaled down their
695
00:36:43,137 --> 00:36:47,433
active search. Having exhausted
the areas of highest probability
696
00:36:47,493 --> 00:36:52,036
with no sign of Jacob. So at
this point, it's been 10 days.
697
00:36:52,860 --> 00:36:55,884
Pretty intensive search, though
there was no aerial searching,
698
00:36:56,165 --> 00:37:01,352
which is a little unusual. I
guess this is a very rugged,
699
00:37:01,399 --> 00:37:02,009
dense area.
700
00:37:02,165 --> 00:37:03,149
JOE ERATO: Yeah, you're not
going to be able to see
701
00:37:03,196 --> 00:37:03,915
anything. Yeah.
702
00:37:04,587 --> 00:37:07,790
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: So timeline,
fast forward now. It's between
703
00:37:07,915 --> 00:37:11,884
April and June of 2017. In the
weeks following the official
704
00:37:11,962 --> 00:37:16,878
search, Jacob's family refuses
to give up. Randy remains in the
705
00:37:16,919 --> 00:37:19,761
Olympic Peninsula for some time
after the formal search ends,
706
00:37:20,378 --> 00:37:23,081
searching relentlessly on his
own with friends.
707
00:37:23,761 --> 00:37:26,863
He repeatedly hikes through the
Salt Duke Valley, rafted
708
00:37:26,941 --> 00:37:29,308
sections of the river, and
checks remote forest areas,
709
00:37:29,386 --> 00:37:33,027
hoping for any sign of his son.
And this is a quote from him. He
710
00:37:33,089 --> 00:37:36,995
said, I lost track of how many
times I searched the Salt Duke
711
00:37:37,027 --> 00:37:39,667
Valley, Randy later said, of
this time.
712
00:37:42,036 --> 00:37:44,339
The family at this time
maintains the Find Jacob Ray
713
00:37:44,397 --> 00:37:47,803
Facebook page to keep Jacob's
story in the public eye and
714
00:37:47,842 --> 00:37:51,405
coordinate volunteer efforts.
They share updates, memories,
715
00:37:51,428 --> 00:37:53,967
and pleas for help, garnering
support from both the local
716
00:37:53,991 --> 00:37:55,710
community and concerned people
online.
717
00:37:55,889 --> 00:37:59,178
Jacob's disappearance begins to
gain wider notice among outdoor
718
00:37:59,194 --> 00:38:04,319
enthusiasts and missing persons
advocates. The case is discussed
719
00:38:04,320 --> 00:38:09,020
on forums like WebSleuths and
Reddit. And it is noted as an
720
00:38:09,040 --> 00:38:11,942
example of the mysterious
surrounding people, the
721
00:38:11,962 --> 00:38:15,146
mysterious surrounding people
who vanish in America's national
722
00:38:15,185 --> 00:38:15,505
parks.
723
00:38:16,185 --> 00:38:18,669
Throughout the spring and early
summer, volunteer searchers,
724
00:38:18,731 --> 00:38:21,294
including members of Olympic
Mountain Rescue, continue
725
00:38:21,333 --> 00:38:24,536
periodic ground searches in the
Seau Duque area whenever
726
00:38:24,599 --> 00:38:27,724
conditions allow. By early
summer, snow at higher
727
00:38:27,755 --> 00:38:30,214
elevations is melting, which
could reveal new clues. The
728
00:38:30,254 --> 00:38:33,997
family remains in contact with
local SAR authorities and Park
729
00:38:34,038 --> 00:38:37,382
Rangers urging that search
efforts resume once river levels
730
00:38:37,421 --> 00:38:37,683
drop.
731
00:38:38,359 --> 00:38:44,070
So it's now July 29th of 2017.
With the improved conditions of
732
00:38:44,085 --> 00:38:47,992
summer, a massive coordinated
search is launched to recheck
733
00:38:48,007 --> 00:38:52,257
the Selduck River Corridor.
Local sheriff's office organizes
734
00:38:52,258 --> 00:38:55,445
the operation, calling over 100
Search And Rescue volunteers
735
00:38:55,992 --> 00:38:59,460
across western Washington. Teams
from...
736
00:38:59,638 --> 00:39:05,023
Multiple counties so kalalum
sonomish kitsap pierce mason and
737
00:39:05,024 --> 00:39:08,128
jefferson volunteer groups like
Olympic Mountain Rescue
738
00:39:08,183 --> 00:39:12,191
northwest search dogs and even
inmate search teams coverage
739
00:39:12,808 --> 00:39:15,417
converge for a single day push
one of the largest SAR
740
00:39:15,511 --> 00:39:19,277
operations in the county's
recent history and i did the the
741
00:39:19,324 --> 00:39:22,527
Facebook page show any of the
search efforts going on and yeah
742
00:39:22,528 --> 00:39:25,542
i was playing some of them i'll
go through it again there's a
743
00:39:25,558 --> 00:39:29,011
little album it was only of the
staging area okay.
744
00:39:29,230 --> 00:39:31,311
JOE ERATO: So it didn't really
have people out there looking.
745
00:39:31,532 --> 00:39:33,475
Yeah. I'll scroll up and get it
going. I'm not sure on the
746
00:39:33,476 --> 00:39:34,835
screen right now, but I will in
a second.
747
00:39:34,836 --> 00:39:38,917
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Gotcha. So
Jacob's mother, Laura Gray, and
748
00:39:38,979 --> 00:39:42,542
other family members join the
searchers at the command center,
749
00:39:42,643 --> 00:39:46,065
tearfully thanking everyone who
came out. This was a dispatch
750
00:39:46,206 --> 00:39:50,674
from the search. It was a Search
And Rescue volunteer's briefing
751
00:39:51,174 --> 00:39:55,906
for July 29th of 2017. Said over
100 people, including canine
752
00:39:55,907 --> 00:39:58,574
units and swift water teams,
participated in one of the
753
00:39:58,613 --> 00:39:59,977
largest searches in the region.
754
00:40:00,180 --> 00:40:04,465
History. The volunteers break
into 10 ground teams, eight dog
755
00:40:04,523 --> 00:40:07,586
teams, and a swift water rescue
unit to systematically cover
756
00:40:08,328 --> 00:40:11,188
roughly a 10-mile stretch of the
Solduk River and adjacent
757
00:40:11,250 --> 00:40:16,141
forest. As the search
progresses, cadaver dogs show
758
00:40:16,234 --> 00:40:19,656
interest in three separate
locations along the river,
759
00:40:19,719 --> 00:40:23,000
including a large log jam that
had been flagged back in April.
760
00:40:24,109 --> 00:40:26,859
Divers and swift water
specialists attempt to probe
761
00:40:26,891 --> 00:40:31,915
these log jams and deep pools.
Searchers also find and catalog
762
00:40:31,954 --> 00:40:34,797
about 20 pieces of possible
evidence, things like clothing
763
00:40:34,837 --> 00:40:39,161
fragments, a pair of sweatpants,
bandana socks, and bone
764
00:40:39,200 --> 00:40:42,020
fragments, but nothing
definitively linked to Jacob is
765
00:40:42,067 --> 00:40:42,442
recovered.
766
00:40:43,044 --> 00:40:45,926
A small piece of bone is found
on the riverbank, for example,
767
00:40:46,692 --> 00:40:50,489
and it was later examined by
anthropologists and determined
768
00:40:50,490 --> 00:40:54,458
to be from an animal, not a
human. By the end of the day, no
769
00:40:54,551 --> 00:40:57,864
human remains or clear sign of
Jacob is found. This was a quote
770
00:40:57,895 --> 00:41:00,004
from one of the Tsar people.
Can't talk.
771
00:41:00,784 --> 00:41:03,345
He said, I was hoping we could
find something. We were able to
772
00:41:03,523 --> 00:41:07,027
clear a lot of areas, so still
nothing. Despite the
773
00:41:07,105 --> 00:41:09,929
disappointing outcome, the Gray
family expresses their deep
774
00:41:09,984 --> 00:41:14,429
gratitude for the unprecedented
support. On the Find Jacob Gray
775
00:41:14,484 --> 00:41:18,484
page, they post thanks to
Sergeant Moore for superbly
776
00:41:18,609 --> 00:41:22,156
orchestrating the huge search
and to all the volunteers for
777
00:41:22,172 --> 00:41:24,047
their professionalism, skill,
and kindness.
778
00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:28,024
Randy Gray remarks on how
surreal it was to see so many
779
00:41:28,083 --> 00:41:31,266
people looking for a son and
holds on to hope that Jacob
780
00:41:31,348 --> 00:41:35,934
might somehow still be alive,
figuring out his life somewhere.
781
00:41:36,848 --> 00:41:40,614
Were you able to find a picture
of Randy Gray? Curious. Randy
782
00:41:40,653 --> 00:41:40,841
Gray?
783
00:41:40,950 --> 00:41:41,513
JOE ERATO: I will find it.
784
00:41:41,514 --> 00:41:42,200
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, the
father.
785
00:41:42,419 --> 00:41:44,778
JOE ERATO: I was taking selfies
of us for the Instagram page.
786
00:41:44,888 --> 00:41:45,622
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Ah, there
you go.
787
00:41:46,278 --> 00:41:47,216
JOE ERATO: I will find it. Let's
see.
788
00:41:47,747 --> 00:41:48,388
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Randy Gray.
789
00:41:49,981 --> 00:41:54,540
So Randy also voiced his desire
that What they've gone through
790
00:41:54,561 --> 00:41:57,879
will lead to faster, larger
search responses in the future
791
00:41:58,903 --> 00:42:02,481
National Park missing persons
cases. He was quoted, I hope
792
00:42:02,482 --> 00:42:05,684
this changes the whole aspect of
Search And Rescue so more lives
793
00:42:05,685 --> 00:42:09,418
will be saved. It's now
mid-August of 2017.
794
00:42:10,184 --> 00:42:14,949
So following up on the cadaver
dog alerts from July, officials
795
00:42:15,028 --> 00:42:17,809
plan a more focused search in
mid-August once water levels
796
00:42:17,871 --> 00:42:22,849
drop a bit further. Around the
third week of August, The local
797
00:42:22,969 --> 00:42:26,032
SAR and search dog teams
returned to three specific sites
798
00:42:26,491 --> 00:42:30,514
along the Solduke where the dogs
had signaled possible human
799
00:42:30,592 --> 00:42:30,858
scent.
800
00:42:31,421 --> 00:42:34,217
These include the massive log
jam that we've talked about a
801
00:42:34,218 --> 00:42:39,671
couple times and two other
riverbank spots that couldn't be
802
00:42:39,764 --> 00:42:43,327
thoroughly examined during the
July 29th operation. Smaller
803
00:42:43,389 --> 00:42:47,171
teams, so around 15 to 20 people
with three cadaver dog units,
804
00:42:47,811 --> 00:42:50,171
spent a couple days rescouring.
805
00:42:50,540 --> 00:42:54,083
Those areas in depth now there
we go is that a picture of Randy
806
00:42:54,403 --> 00:42:58,347
yep he kind of looks Jacob
little on the right of miller he
807
00:42:58,390 --> 00:43:02,929
reminds me of what's the guy's
name he he played a character in
808
00:43:02,952 --> 00:43:05,976
family guy he's got a real oh he
always plays a southern yeah i
809
00:43:05,977 --> 00:43:08,351
know you're talking about i'll
find him he was in the beginning
810
00:43:08,398 --> 00:43:11,726
of the big lebowski yeah he's
got a really low voice he always
811
00:43:11,788 --> 00:43:15,179
plays like yeah i know exactly
he looks kind of like him yep
812
00:43:15,382 --> 00:43:17,304
yes he does i thought the Exact
same thing.
813
00:43:17,351 --> 00:43:19,226
JOE ERATO: Yeah. I'll find them.
Okay. I know who you're talking
814
00:43:19,227 --> 00:43:19,413
about.
815
00:43:19,968 --> 00:43:22,610
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: By now, the
river is lower, so it's allowing
816
00:43:22,671 --> 00:43:25,876
searchers to get into crevices
and under logs that were
817
00:43:25,877 --> 00:43:29,555
previously inaccessible. Oh,
there he is. Sam Elliott. Sam
818
00:43:29,634 --> 00:43:29,938
Elliott.
819
00:43:30,196 --> 00:43:32,360
JOE ERATO: I literally searched
cowboy low voice.
820
00:43:34,259 --> 00:43:37,446
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: So for those
of you just listening, Jacob's
821
00:43:37,493 --> 00:43:39,493
dad looks a lot like Sam
Elliott.
822
00:43:40,055 --> 00:43:42,149
JOE ERATO: I was not sharing the
screen because I didn't want to
823
00:43:42,868 --> 00:43:45,415
have them see me type cowboy low
voice.
824
00:43:46,399 --> 00:43:48,055
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: But yeah, he
got the version of Sam Elliott
825
00:43:48,056 --> 00:43:48,180
with.
826
00:43:49,844 --> 00:43:51,886
JOE ERATO: Oh, yeah, he looks a
lot like Sam Elliott.
827
00:43:52,286 --> 00:43:53,468
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, like
he could be his brother.
828
00:43:54,490 --> 00:43:58,349
JOE ERATO: Holy cow. He's a
younger Sam Elliott. Kind of,
829
00:43:58,350 --> 00:43:59,130
look at, yeah.
830
00:43:59,935 --> 00:44:01,974
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Wow. Just
for anyone listening, you can
831
00:44:02,013 --> 00:44:06,818
get a picture of what, his dad
sounds pretty, I mean, he was
832
00:44:06,896 --> 00:44:08,568
scouring rivers, he's hiking.
833
00:44:09,880 --> 00:44:13,521
The commitment thing that I was
talking to you before, you know,
834
00:44:13,990 --> 00:44:15,443
I think an actor's job is to
find a way.
835
00:44:15,444 --> 00:44:16,552
JOE ERATO: This is Sam Elliott's
voice.
836
00:44:17,365 --> 00:44:18,927
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: And it
doesn't mean that his wife.
837
00:44:19,068 --> 00:44:20,908
JOE ERATO: So for those
listening, you might recognize
838
00:44:20,928 --> 00:44:23,250
that. Maybe not. But anyway.
839
00:44:23,528 --> 00:44:23,848
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Anyway.
840
00:44:23,969 --> 00:44:24,809
JOE ERATO: He looks a lot like
Samuel L.
841
00:44:24,810 --> 00:44:25,891
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: We're going
off on tangents tonight.
842
00:44:25,949 --> 00:44:27,070
JOE ERATO: Yeah, we need to stop
doing that.
843
00:44:27,992 --> 00:44:30,250
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: So
unfortunately, this targeted
844
00:44:30,328 --> 00:44:33,649
search again turns up no trace
of Jacob. The log jam is broken
845
00:44:33,672 --> 00:44:36,930
apart and nothing is found
beneath. Scent dogs no longer
846
00:44:36,977 --> 00:44:39,914
alert, strongly suggesting that
any trace picked up earlier may
847
00:44:39,930 --> 00:44:44,617
have been residual or a false
indication. With the last effort
848
00:44:44,633 --> 00:44:49,907
exhausted, the active search for
Jacob winds down. So as summer
849
00:44:49,926 --> 00:44:53,553
2017 ends, Jacob's whereabouts
remain a mystery.
850
00:44:53,835 --> 00:44:57,499
His family, though devastated by
the lack of answers, continue to
851
00:44:57,600 --> 00:45:01,069
honor his love of the wilderness
and keep the faith that one day
852
00:45:01,210 --> 00:45:06,588
there will be closure. It's now
spring slash summer of 2018, so
853
00:45:06,729 --> 00:45:10,330
more than a year has passed with
no sign of Jacob. The Gray
854
00:45:10,412 --> 00:45:13,436
family continues to keep the
story alive through social media
855
00:45:13,475 --> 00:45:16,920
and periodic media interviews,
making the one-year anniversary
856
00:45:16,921 --> 00:45:18,662
of his disappearance in April
2018.
857
00:45:19,162 --> 00:45:22,568
Again, the case begins to draw
broader public attention as an
858
00:45:22,569 --> 00:45:25,225
example of an unexplained
disappearance in the wild.
859
00:45:25,381 --> 00:45:30,115
Outdoor magazines and websites
mention Jacob's case among
860
00:45:30,193 --> 00:45:33,665
baffling National Park
mysteries. And the author John
861
00:45:33,725 --> 00:45:37,048
Billman follows the family saga
closely and later writes a book
862
00:45:37,087 --> 00:45:37,451
about it.
863
00:45:38,029 --> 00:45:41,536
Randy Gray continues to search
whenever he can. He extends his
864
00:45:41,591 --> 00:45:44,052
search beyond Washington,
following up on any rumors of
865
00:45:44,076 --> 00:45:48,396
possible sightings as far away
as Alaska and Canada, still
866
00:45:48,482 --> 00:45:52,630
holding out that sliver of hope
that Jacob might have survived
867
00:45:52,849 --> 00:45:55,880
and wandered elsewhere. However,
throughout this time, no
868
00:45:56,240 --> 00:45:58,115
credible sightings ever
materialized.
869
00:45:59,208 --> 00:46:02,632
It's August 10th now, 2018,
which is Friday. And this is
870
00:46:02,652 --> 00:46:06,214
when a breakthrough finally
happened in the case. So in a
871
00:46:06,234 --> 00:46:09,175
remote section of Olympic
National Park, it was late in
872
00:46:09,176 --> 00:46:12,757
the afternoon on August 10th, a
Park wildlife crew. So this
873
00:46:12,773 --> 00:46:17,155
would be a biologist studying
Olympic marmots. So not even
874
00:46:17,195 --> 00:46:20,741
involved with the case. They're
out there studying marmots.
875
00:46:20,742 --> 00:46:21,679
We've got some audience.
876
00:46:22,320 --> 00:46:22,663
JOE ERATO: Oh, we do?
877
00:46:23,101 --> 00:46:24,679
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah. So,
yeah, they were out there
878
00:46:24,710 --> 00:46:28,163
studying marmots. Happened upon.
Yeah, there you go.
879
00:46:28,991 --> 00:46:30,398
JOE ERATO: There's like having a
beer in the window.
880
00:46:30,773 --> 00:46:33,245
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: That's
Milwaukee. That's getting warm
881
00:46:33,305 --> 00:46:34,506
out. It's getting warm out.
882
00:46:34,525 --> 00:46:35,467
JOE ERATO: Well, keep going,
Mike.
883
00:46:35,687 --> 00:46:36,107
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: It's cold.
884
00:46:36,127 --> 00:46:37,127
JOE ERATO: You get so
distracted.
885
00:46:37,267 --> 00:46:37,549
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I know.
886
00:46:38,150 --> 00:46:38,990
JOE ERATO: Let the show go on.
887
00:46:39,533 --> 00:46:40,752
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Won't be
doing this too much. We got to
888
00:46:40,775 --> 00:46:42,775
take it in. Yes, we got to take
it in. Not going to have our
889
00:46:42,791 --> 00:46:43,736
windows for much longer.
890
00:46:44,072 --> 00:46:46,838
JOE ERATO: Yes, unless we buy
the building. Sign up for
891
00:46:46,861 --> 00:46:47,236
patron.
892
00:46:47,502 --> 00:46:49,494
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, right.
You've got one month.
893
00:46:51,619 --> 00:46:56,244
Like I said, biologists studying
Olympic marmots happen upon some
894
00:46:56,275 --> 00:46:59,244
abandoned equipment and clothing
in a very isolated area high in
895
00:46:59,245 --> 00:46:59,838
the mountains.
896
00:47:00,557 --> 00:47:01,338
JOE ERATO: You lose your spot.
897
00:47:01,688 --> 00:47:05,311
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: My computer
briefly froze there. Nice. They
898
00:47:05,312 --> 00:47:09,014
are near Ho Lake, a backcountry
alpine lake in the northwest
899
00:47:09,057 --> 00:47:13,018
part of the Park, about 10 miles
from the Seoul-Duke Trailhead,
900
00:47:13,502 --> 00:47:17,401
and roughly 15 miles west from
where Jacob's bike was found.
901
00:47:18,151 --> 00:47:21,182
The site is off-trail on a rocky
ridge above the lake at
902
00:47:21,183 --> 00:47:23,822
approximately 1,500 feet.
903
00:47:24,854 --> 00:47:28,432
It would have been snow-covered
at the time and avalanche-prone
904
00:47:28,494 --> 00:47:31,869
back in early 2017. The
biologists note that the
905
00:47:31,870 --> 00:47:35,313
clothing and gear seem out of
place and recall the ongoing
906
00:47:35,372 --> 00:47:39,997
case of the missing bicyclist.
They notify Park Rangers of the
907
00:47:40,020 --> 00:47:42,278
find due to late hour and rugged
location.
908
00:47:42,419 --> 00:47:47,130
A full examination has to wait
for the next day. The remote
909
00:47:47,177 --> 00:47:49,583
lake area in Olympic National
Park near where Jacob Reyes
910
00:47:49,645 --> 00:47:53,692
remains were found in August
2018. The site lies in the
911
00:47:53,770 --> 00:47:57,536
Daniel J. Evans Wilderness, far
from any road or easy access. So
912
00:47:58,192 --> 00:48:03,059
could you pull up a map and see
where this... Is? Because just
913
00:48:03,078 --> 00:48:04,580
look up H-O-H Lake.
914
00:48:05,061 --> 00:48:05,779
JOE ERATO: Oh, Ho Lake.
915
00:48:05,780 --> 00:48:06,522
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, Ho
Lake.
916
00:48:08,201 --> 00:48:11,529
JOE ERATO: I feel like we've
done, we were just looking at Ho
917
00:48:11,584 --> 00:48:14,092
Lake, weren't we? Oh, this is
really far away.
918
00:48:15,108 --> 00:48:17,537
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, 15
miles from where his bike was
919
00:48:17,600 --> 00:48:17,959
found.
920
00:48:18,490 --> 00:48:20,037
JOE ERATO: Yeah, if you're
watching the screen, it just
921
00:48:20,131 --> 00:48:20,756
went way over there.
922
00:48:21,193 --> 00:48:21,350
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah.
923
00:48:22,115 --> 00:48:23,272
JOE ERATO: What was the area
again they said?
924
00:48:23,975 --> 00:48:25,443
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Just near
that lake.
925
00:48:25,787 --> 00:48:27,084
JOE ERATO: So not in the lake,
near the lake.
926
00:48:27,100 --> 00:48:28,818
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: No, and it's
in the Daniel J.
927
00:48:30,220 --> 00:48:35,006
Wilderness area i think this
whole area might be that it's
928
00:48:35,104 --> 00:48:38,428
August 11th now 2018 Saturday so
early next morning law
929
00:48:38,429 --> 00:48:40,834
enforcement Rangers and
investigators hike into the lake
930
00:48:40,913 --> 00:48:43,733
area to search around the
coordinates provided by the
931
00:48:43,850 --> 00:48:48,834
marmot research team there they
discover skeletal human remains
932
00:48:48,959 --> 00:48:51,803
along with personal items that
had clearly been exposed to
933
00:48:51,866 --> 00:48:56,225
elements for some time they find
additional clothing a backpack
934
00:48:56,350 --> 00:48:59,053
and camping gear that
unfortunately matches the
935
00:48:59,054 --> 00:48:59,584
description.
936
00:48:59,812 --> 00:49:03,732
Of items Jacob Gray was carrying
when he disappeared a wallet
937
00:49:03,772 --> 00:49:06,635
containing identification is
also recovered strongly
938
00:49:06,693 --> 00:49:10,611
indicating the remains for
Jacobs that's so sad the remains
939
00:49:10,650 --> 00:49:13,455
appear to have been scattered
possibly by animals or weather
940
00:49:13,533 --> 00:49:16,314
but there are no obvious signs
of foul play such as bullet
941
00:49:16,377 --> 00:49:20,783
shells or weapons present the
location is a treeless ridge not
942
00:49:20,877 --> 00:49:24,877
far from hoe lake without
evidence of a formal campsite or
943
00:49:24,893 --> 00:49:28,877
shelter having been made
investigators theorize Jacob
944
00:49:30,048 --> 00:49:32,569
made it atop the ridge under his
own power.
945
00:49:32,729 --> 00:49:36,049
Notably, at the scene, they find
that Jacob still had ample
946
00:49:36,108 --> 00:49:40,350
supplies, including food, an
insulated jacket, and a lighter
947
00:49:40,772 --> 00:49:44,530
with him when he died. This
suggests he did not run out of
948
00:49:44,553 --> 00:49:46,905
provisions, but may have
succumbed to the harsh
949
00:49:46,967 --> 00:49:47,530
conditions.
950
00:49:48,155 --> 00:49:50,670
Rangers secured the area and
carefully collected the human
951
00:49:50,717 --> 00:49:54,858
remains for analysis, all while
keeping the discovery relatively
952
00:49:54,920 --> 00:49:58,653
quiet until a positive
identification is made. It's now
953
00:49:58,813 --> 00:50:03,136
April 13th, 2018, which is a
Monday. So news of the discovery
954
00:50:03,155 --> 00:50:07,257
is shared with the Gray family,
who at last received a phone
955
00:50:07,280 --> 00:50:10,562
call they had been both dreading
and desperately waiting for.
956
00:50:11,373 --> 00:50:12,354
Jacob has been found.
957
00:50:13,456 --> 00:50:18,340
The family announces the
development publicly on the Find
958
00:50:18,360 --> 00:50:21,985
Jacob Gray Facebook page on
August 13th, stating that
959
00:50:21,986 --> 00:50:25,563
Jacob's remains were located
near the lake in Olympic
960
00:50:25,649 --> 00:50:29,657
National Park. The announcement
quickly filters to the media.
961
00:50:29,875 --> 00:50:33,875
After 16 months of uncertainty,
the story shifts from a search
962
00:50:33,922 --> 00:50:37,594
to a recovery. So you're on that
page right now.
963
00:50:37,595 --> 00:50:39,125
JOE ERATO: Yeah, I'm on the
Facebook page. I'm going to go
964
00:50:39,157 --> 00:50:44,243
to the August 13th. There's
August 31st. I wonder if they
965
00:50:44,265 --> 00:50:45,304
don't have it on here anymore.
966
00:50:46,905 --> 00:50:48,128
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Well, that
could have been... Oh, that's...
967
00:50:48,129 --> 00:50:49,948
Oh, we've got to go to 2018. Oh,
2018.
968
00:50:50,511 --> 00:50:52,972
JOE ERATO: Okay. Oops. Good
call.
969
00:50:53,690 --> 00:50:54,190
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: No worries.
970
00:50:54,472 --> 00:50:56,159
JOE ERATO: They were sharing a
lot of stuff about other people
971
00:50:56,160 --> 00:50:57,097
that went missing, too.
972
00:50:57,440 --> 00:50:59,503
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, a lot
of these pages will do that,
973
00:51:00,097 --> 00:51:00,815
which is pretty cool.
974
00:51:01,144 --> 00:51:01,300
JOE ERATO: Yeah.
975
00:51:02,081 --> 00:51:03,097
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: We're
getting close.
976
00:51:03,909 --> 00:51:05,378
JOE ERATO: It was August 16th?
977
00:51:05,659 --> 00:51:05,784
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: 13th.
978
00:51:06,378 --> 00:51:08,966
JOE ERATO: 13th. Oh, I went past
it then. Yep. With a broken
979
00:51:09,026 --> 00:51:11,069
heart, I want to let you know
that Jacob's body was found this
980
00:51:11,127 --> 00:51:13,291
weekend at Ho Lake in the
Olympics. There are a lot of
981
00:51:13,311 --> 00:51:16,533
unknown details at this point,
but it has hit the news and
982
00:51:16,534 --> 00:51:18,674
people are finding out. I wanted
to post personally and thank
983
00:51:18,752 --> 00:51:21,135
each of you for your love and
support and help through this
984
00:51:21,197 --> 00:51:24,119
nightmare. I'll update this page
as more information becomes
985
00:51:24,135 --> 00:51:24,557
available.
986
00:51:25,135 --> 00:51:27,822
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: In her mind,
it made sense that he stayed in
987
00:51:27,823 --> 00:51:29,885
the wilderness rather than
attempting to hike out to
988
00:51:29,932 --> 00:51:33,814
civilization. She describes
herself as a wreck emotionally,
989
00:51:33,836 --> 00:51:36,877
but finding her son provides at
least an answer and the
990
00:51:36,900 --> 00:51:41,900
possibility of a proper goodbye.
On August 15th of 2018, a
991
00:51:41,939 --> 00:51:45,869
Wednesday, the Clallam County
Coroner's Office and King County
992
00:51:45,924 --> 00:51:48,424
Medical Examiner confirmed the
identity of the remains.
993
00:51:49,283 --> 00:51:53,533
They used dental records. The
skull and the skeletal remains
994
00:51:53,674 --> 00:51:57,158
were officially identified as
Jacob Gray. The King County
995
00:51:57,733 --> 00:52:00,877
Medical Examiner's forensic
anthropologist examines the
996
00:52:00,896 --> 00:52:04,000
bones for any indications of
cause of death or injury.
997
00:52:04,718 --> 00:52:07,707
There were no signs of traumatic
injuries such as a fracture from
998
00:52:07,708 --> 00:52:12,910
a fall or marks from an animal
or weapon were present on the
999
00:52:12,911 --> 00:52:17,394
remains. Olympic National Park
Superintendent Sarah Kreechbaum
1000
00:52:17,691 --> 00:52:20,582
issues a public statement
offering our deepest sympathies
1001
00:52:20,597 --> 00:52:22,972
to the Gray family and friends
in a difficult time.
1002
00:52:23,741 --> 00:52:26,444
The Park Service, along with the
Clallam County officials, also
1003
00:52:26,524 --> 00:52:28,845
state that there are no
indication of foul play at the
1004
00:52:28,864 --> 00:52:32,888
scene. All evidence points to an
accident or misadventure in the
1005
00:52:32,911 --> 00:52:36,395
wilderness. With the
identification complete, Jacob's
1006
00:52:36,450 --> 00:52:39,434
body in the form of recovered
bones is turned over to the
1007
00:52:39,474 --> 00:52:43,380
family. So, you know, they
finally got their closure. It's
1008
00:52:43,442 --> 00:52:45,067
now late August of 2018.
1009
00:52:45,958 --> 00:52:48,645
In the weeks following the
discovery, officials worked to
1010
00:52:48,661 --> 00:52:52,013
determine how Jacob died on that
remote ridge. A forensic
1011
00:52:52,133 --> 00:52:55,852
anthropologist from King County
Medical Examiner's Office
1012
00:52:55,875 --> 00:53:00,196
conducts a detailed analysis of
the remains. By late August, the
1013
00:53:00,391 --> 00:53:04,915
Clalum County's assistant
coroner reports that the exact
1014
00:53:04,993 --> 00:53:08,610
cause and manner of death are
undetermined, which means could
1015
00:53:08,657 --> 00:53:11,204
not be determined due to
skeletal condition of Jacob's
1016
00:53:11,250 --> 00:53:11,500
body.
1017
00:53:12,172 --> 00:53:16,658
Hypothermia was strongly
suspected. Jacob likely died of
1018
00:53:16,678 --> 00:53:19,242
exposure to the elements, but
the anthropologist cannot say
1019
00:53:19,300 --> 00:53:21,902
that with 100% certainty given
the evidence.
1020
00:53:22,624 --> 00:53:24,605
She would go on to say there
were no injuries or signs of
1021
00:53:24,628 --> 00:53:27,409
foul play, so the death is
considered probably from natural
1022
00:53:27,425 --> 00:53:29,792
causes, meaning an accident
related to the environment.
1023
00:53:30,409 --> 00:53:33,472
Coroner's office rules the cause
of death as inconclusive, with
1024
00:53:33,769 --> 00:53:36,284
the most likely scenario being
that Jacob succumbed to the
1025
00:53:36,300 --> 00:53:38,894
hypothermia and the freezing
snowy conditions high above the
1026
00:53:38,941 --> 00:53:39,175
lake.
1027
00:53:40,253 --> 00:53:43,472
It's worth noting that Jacob had
been well equipped with food and
1028
00:53:43,503 --> 00:53:48,350
gear but He still potentially
got lost and succumbed to
1029
00:53:48,370 --> 00:53:53,214
hypothermia. Exactly why he went
so far into the mountains and
1030
00:53:53,268 --> 00:53:56,831
what happened in his final days
still remains unknown. The
1031
00:53:56,854 --> 00:53:59,550
National Park Service keeps the
case open pending the final
1032
00:53:59,573 --> 00:54:03,237
written forensics report, but
with no evidence of a crime, the
1033
00:54:03,331 --> 00:54:06,487
act of investigation soon winds
down.
1034
00:54:07,050 --> 00:54:10,395
September of 2018. With Jacob's
remains identified, the Gray
1035
00:54:10,475 --> 00:54:12,938
family proceeds with laying him
the rest. They organize a
1036
00:54:12,939 --> 00:54:16,602
memorial service in Santa Cruz,
California, the city where Jacob
1037
00:54:16,641 --> 00:54:20,083
grew up and where the family has
deep roots.
1038
00:54:20,942 --> 00:54:25,387
On Sunday, September 2, 2018,
around this date, family and
1039
00:54:25,388 --> 00:54:28,966
friends gather on the Santa Cruz
Coast for a traditional surfer's
1040
00:54:29,028 --> 00:54:33,294
paddle-out ceremony in Jacob's
honor. Randy Gray paddles into
1041
00:54:33,309 --> 00:54:36,774
the ocean on a surfboard along
with others. Forming a circle
1042
00:54:36,814 --> 00:54:39,777
beyond the breakers and placing
flowers on the water to say
1043
00:54:39,818 --> 00:54:42,779
goodbye to Jacob, who had been a
passionate surfer.
1044
00:54:42,798 --> 00:54:44,423
JOE ERATO: Here's a picture of
it.
1045
00:54:44,744 --> 00:54:45,400
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Oh, wow,
that's cool.
1046
00:54:46,025 --> 00:54:47,306
JOE ERATO: Yeah, look at how
many people are out there.
1047
00:54:47,541 --> 00:54:47,728
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah.
1048
00:54:48,384 --> 00:54:49,009
JOE ERATO: That's really cool.
1049
00:54:50,845 --> 00:54:52,525
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: So this was
followed by a memorial service
1050
00:54:52,556 --> 00:54:54,837
where loved ones celebrate
Jacob's life and share memories.
1051
00:54:54,947 --> 00:54:58,509
The family uses the occasion to
thank the many volunteers, Park
1052
00:54:58,572 --> 00:55:01,103
Rangers, and rescue
professionals who never gave up
1053
00:55:01,416 --> 00:55:02,541
on searching for Jacob.
1054
00:55:03,145 --> 00:55:05,528
In lieu of flowers, the Gray
family asked supporters to
1055
00:55:05,550 --> 00:55:09,655
donate to Search And Rescue
organizations that helped in the
1056
00:55:09,737 --> 00:55:13,198
effort to find Jacob. They
specifically highlighted the
1057
00:55:13,338 --> 00:55:16,561
Clallam County Search And
Rescue, Olympic Mountain Rescue,
1058
00:55:16,663 --> 00:55:17,561
and the Red Cross.
1059
00:55:18,843 --> 00:55:24,147
So after a 16-month ordeal, the
family finally had closure,
1060
00:55:24,632 --> 00:55:27,608
though a lot of questions
remained. I'll jump right into
1061
00:55:27,647 --> 00:55:31,132
theories before I open the floor
to what you think happened.
1062
00:55:31,350 --> 00:55:31,600
JOE ERATO: Okay.
1063
00:55:32,163 --> 00:55:35,725
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: So like I
said, the leading theory in this
1064
00:55:35,819 --> 00:55:38,944
one is hypothermia. So Jacob...
1065
00:55:39,156 --> 00:55:42,260
Potentially attempted to hike
from the Solduk River area into
1066
00:55:42,279 --> 00:55:45,342
the backcountry during bad
weather and succumb to
1067
00:55:45,681 --> 00:55:49,646
hypothermia hypothermia evidence
that supports this was his
1068
00:55:49,709 --> 00:55:52,748
remains were found in late
August 2018 at a remote ridge
1069
00:55:53,631 --> 00:55:57,920
over 10 miles from the road
where his bike was discovered he
1070
00:55:57,998 --> 00:56:00,935
still had food a lighter
insulated clothing and gear
1071
00:56:01,717 --> 00:56:05,076
indicating he wasn't unprepared
but likely overcome by cold and
1072
00:56:05,123 --> 00:56:08,428
fatigue the area where he's
found was snow covered It was
1073
00:56:08,488 --> 00:56:11,771
steep, prone to avalanches, this
time in April.
1074
00:56:12,591 --> 00:56:15,974
And like I had mentioned, the
forensic investigation found no
1075
00:56:16,076 --> 00:56:20,420
evidence of foul play, traumatic
injuries, or animal attack. And
1076
00:56:20,623 --> 00:56:24,084
they listed the cause of death
as inconclusive but suspected
1077
00:56:24,365 --> 00:56:28,662
hypothermia. How did he get up
there? He may have become lost
1078
00:56:28,865 --> 00:56:32,677
or intentionally sought higher
ground, underestimating the
1079
00:56:32,693 --> 00:56:35,271
difficulty of the terrain or
weather, and died from exposure.
1080
00:56:37,004 --> 00:56:40,848
Another theory was he got
disorientated. Is that right?
1081
00:56:41,130 --> 00:56:41,809
JOE ERATO: Disoriented.
1082
00:56:42,110 --> 00:56:42,731
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT:
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Disoriented.
1083
00:56:43,110 --> 00:56:44,052
Or disorientated.
1084
00:56:44,872 --> 00:56:46,677
JOE ERATO: It does work, but
you're wrong.
1085
00:56:46,997 --> 00:56:47,755
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: How did you
say it?
1086
00:56:47,856 --> 00:56:48,458
JOE ERATO: Disoriented.
1087
00:56:48,637 --> 00:56:49,216
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT:
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Disoriented.
1088
00:56:49,559 --> 00:56:51,575
There we go. So another.
1089
00:56:51,841 --> 00:56:54,239
JOE ERATO: Do you say
Worcestershire sauce?
1090
00:56:54,880 --> 00:56:55,942
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT:
Worcestershire? Yeah.
1091
00:56:56,348 --> 00:56:57,848
Worcestershire. Yeah.
1092
00:56:57,864 --> 00:57:00,630
JOE ERATO: It was spelled
Worcestershire. So you seem like
1093
00:57:00,645 --> 00:57:03,817
because you say disorientated,
you might say Worcestershire.
1094
00:57:03,895 --> 00:57:04,895
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: No, it was
Worcestershire.
1095
00:57:05,067 --> 00:57:06,255
JOE ERATO: Okay. So you say that
one right.
1096
00:57:07,309 --> 00:57:10,933
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I just want
to make sure all right so the
1097
00:57:11,011 --> 00:57:14,155
second theory is kind of ties
into the first one is that he
1098
00:57:14,214 --> 00:57:18,620
got disoriented there you go
after a river accident so he
1099
00:57:18,683 --> 00:57:21,761
might have attempted to cross
the river fell it's pretty
1100
00:57:21,823 --> 00:57:24,440
apparent those signs that they
found were probably from
1101
00:57:24,441 --> 00:57:27,472
probably from him it appears
that he had fallen into the
1102
00:57:27,503 --> 00:57:32,293
river and near his campsite
survived And he was either
1103
00:57:32,353 --> 00:57:35,275
confused or injured and began
wandering deeper into the Park
1104
00:57:35,314 --> 00:57:36,357
until he passed away.
1105
00:57:36,978 --> 00:57:39,760
JOE ERATO: Okay, so he had gear
on him, which would have made it
1106
00:57:39,783 --> 00:57:41,885
difficult to get out. Yeah.
1107
00:57:41,900 --> 00:57:43,728
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: And where
they found his remains, he had
1108
00:57:43,806 --> 00:57:47,431
insulated clothing, he had food.
Evidence supporting this theory
1109
00:57:47,510 --> 00:57:50,447
was search teams found signs,
like I said, someone had likely
1110
00:57:51,010 --> 00:57:55,635
fallen and exited the river. Dog
teams later were alerted to a
1111
00:57:55,681 --> 00:57:59,775
log jam downstream, which could
suggest he may have fallen in
1112
00:57:59,822 --> 00:58:03,647
then. Went downstream in the
water a bit until he hit that
1113
00:58:03,708 --> 00:58:04,227
log jam.
1114
00:58:05,431 --> 00:58:08,954
And this theory clearly fits
with all the footprints and
1115
00:58:08,970 --> 00:58:14,298
scuff marks they found during
the initial search. And it could
1116
00:58:14,313 --> 00:58:17,563
explain he crossed the river and
continued walking. That would
1117
00:58:17,579 --> 00:58:23,548
explain maybe why he was up
there. But the problem with this
1118
00:58:23,610 --> 00:58:27,595
theory is that it's unclear why
he would then hike uphill and
1119
00:58:27,673 --> 00:58:31,777
off-trail into heavy snow. In
the high country rather than
1120
00:58:32,218 --> 00:58:34,059
going downriver to safety. Sure.
1121
00:58:35,039 --> 00:58:36,082
JOE ERATO: Okay, I have
opinions.
1122
00:58:36,141 --> 00:58:38,266
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: But it could
just be because he was just
1123
00:58:38,285 --> 00:58:41,844
confused from being cold.
Another theory was intentional
1124
00:58:41,984 --> 00:58:46,133
solitude spiritual quest. So
like I mentioned very early on
1125
00:58:46,250 --> 00:58:49,977
in this episode, he may have
deliberately chosen to venture
1126
00:58:50,008 --> 00:58:53,555
deep into the wilderness for
personal, spiritual, or
1127
00:58:53,602 --> 00:58:57,961
psychological reasons, possibly
as a test of survival, retreat,
1128
00:58:57,977 --> 00:58:58,836
or self-discovery.
1129
00:58:59,512 --> 00:59:01,955
Evidence to support this was,
obviously, he was known to be
1130
00:59:02,035 --> 00:59:04,619
introspective and interested in
philosophy and wilderness
1131
00:59:04,677 --> 00:59:07,720
solitude. He was reportedly
reading spiritual and
1132
00:59:07,744 --> 00:59:11,322
philosophical material in the
months before he vanished. And
1133
00:59:11,361 --> 00:59:13,908
his family noted that he didn't
share any detailed plans with
1134
00:59:13,986 --> 00:59:17,908
anyone, which might point to a
personal mission or withdrawal.
1135
00:59:18,736 --> 00:59:21,595
Points against this theory are,
there's no hard evidence he
1136
00:59:21,626 --> 00:59:26,611
intended to die or to disappear.
And his preparation suggests he
1137
00:59:26,705 --> 00:59:30,393
planned to survive. He brought
food, gear. A survival bow,
1138
00:59:31,173 --> 00:59:34,238
that's not the behavior of
someone planning to walk into
1139
00:59:34,277 --> 00:59:34,878
their own death.
1140
00:59:35,078 --> 00:59:36,679
JOE ERATO: I agree with that
100%.
1141
00:59:37,179 --> 00:59:41,124
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Another
theory that people have made was
1142
00:59:41,226 --> 00:59:44,828
some type of mental health
crisis. Jacob experienced a
1143
00:59:45,265 --> 00:59:47,968
mental health crisis possibly
triggered by isolation,
1144
00:59:48,031 --> 00:59:51,187
exposure, or personal factors
leading to erratic behavior and
1145
00:59:51,249 --> 00:59:54,437
ultimately death in the
wilderness. Some of the evidence
1146
00:59:54,438 --> 00:59:56,093
that might suggest this.
1147
00:59:58,038 --> 01:00:03,247
Solo wilderness travel can
exacerbate or unmask mental
1148
01:00:03,306 --> 01:00:07,275
health struggles in people. Some
disappearances in national parks
1149
01:00:07,415 --> 01:00:09,915
have been linked to
psychological breakdowns or
1150
01:00:09,939 --> 01:00:14,993
confusion. And Jacob's actions
leading up to this, so leaving
1151
01:00:15,034 --> 01:00:18,757
his gear, crossing dangerous
train, traveling without clear
1152
01:00:18,816 --> 01:00:22,644
direction, could reflect
disorganized or irrational
1153
01:00:22,659 --> 01:00:23,144
behavior.
1154
01:00:23,823 --> 01:00:28,362
However, he never showed any
prior history of mental illness,
1155
01:00:29,503 --> 01:00:34,425
and his behavior before his trip
from those who saw him and were
1156
01:00:34,456 --> 01:00:36,753
with him didn't raise any red
flags. Now, obviously, you've
1157
01:00:36,862 --> 01:00:38,722
said this lots of times. That
doesn't mean anything, but...
1158
01:00:39,300 --> 01:00:39,852
JOE ERATO: Yeah, it's still...
1159
01:00:39,852 --> 01:00:39,972
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: He...
1160
01:00:41,394 --> 01:00:43,477
JOE ERATO: If you have obvious
signs, it pushes it more towards
1161
01:00:43,478 --> 01:00:43,997
that direction.
1162
01:00:44,137 --> 01:00:45,657
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: And
everything you were showing of
1163
01:00:45,658 --> 01:00:47,501
him, the videos, like he looked
happy.
1164
01:00:48,661 --> 01:00:50,266
JOE ERATO: Yeah, it doesn't
always mean everything. But like
1165
01:00:50,267 --> 01:00:52,102
the people that are around him,
if they didn't notice any
1166
01:00:52,188 --> 01:00:55,165
changes. I think that, well, the
spiritual thing, but usually.
1167
01:00:55,547 --> 01:00:56,852
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: That doesn't
seem like a mental health
1168
01:00:56,891 --> 01:00:57,172
problem.
1169
01:00:57,211 --> 01:00:59,055
JOE ERATO: I won't say usually
because I'm not an expert at
1170
01:00:59,056 --> 01:01:00,508
this, but no, yeah, I think.
1171
01:01:00,899 --> 01:01:02,258
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: That just
seems like a young guy like
1172
01:01:02,274 --> 01:01:03,430
trying to figure himself out.
1173
01:01:03,649 --> 01:01:05,102
JOE ERATO: Yeah, like we've all
went through those phases.
1174
01:01:05,180 --> 01:01:08,477
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, that's
not mental. And he had no prior
1175
01:01:08,555 --> 01:01:11,428
history of. Any mental illness.
Now that doesn't mean he wasn't
1176
01:01:11,469 --> 01:01:14,092
suffering from something, but I
just don't think.
1177
01:01:14,412 --> 01:01:16,272
JOE ERATO: I think questioning
things like that, especially
1178
01:01:16,354 --> 01:01:19,053
spiritually is a sign of
intelligence. Like he's, what is
1179
01:01:19,054 --> 01:01:19,537
he, 22?
1180
01:01:19,740 --> 01:01:20,139
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: 22.
1181
01:01:20,576 --> 01:01:22,303
JOE ERATO: And he's already
thinking about those types of
1182
01:01:22,304 --> 01:01:22,615
things.
1183
01:01:22,881 --> 01:01:22,998
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah.
1184
01:01:23,100 --> 01:01:23,600
JOE ERATO: I don't think I was.
1185
01:01:23,601 --> 01:01:24,998
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: The bigger
meaning of life. Exactly.
1186
01:01:25,162 --> 01:01:25,678
JOE ERATO: Like that's what I
think.
1187
01:01:25,679 --> 01:01:27,068
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I wasn't
thinking about stuff like that
1188
01:01:27,100 --> 01:01:27,459
at 22.
1189
01:01:27,460 --> 01:01:29,772
JOE ERATO: I was not. So I was
going to say like, like I think
1190
01:01:29,787 --> 01:01:32,428
there, there's a little bit of a
signs of intelligence there. Not
1191
01:01:32,475 --> 01:01:35,006
saying he wasn't, but that's a
little bit more mature than I
1192
01:01:35,037 --> 01:01:35,272
was.
1193
01:01:35,553 --> 01:01:39,304
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah. And.
He went out there very prepared.
1194
01:01:39,804 --> 01:01:42,347
Yes. Again, this wasn't
something he just did on a whim.
1195
01:01:42,449 --> 01:01:46,629
We've covered cases where it
probably is some kind of mental
1196
01:01:46,988 --> 01:01:51,535
health issue, and those people
tend to not prepare very well
1197
01:01:52,418 --> 01:01:55,824
for their hike. It's more of
something they do on a whim.
1198
01:01:56,558 --> 01:01:57,261
They just do it.
1199
01:01:57,824 --> 01:02:00,808
JOE ERATO: He could have been
going out there to introspect a
1200
01:02:00,840 --> 01:02:01,261
little bit.
1201
01:02:01,433 --> 01:02:03,402
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: And I don't
even know if just because he was
1202
01:02:03,527 --> 01:02:05,984
reading. Books on philosophy and
things like that doesn't
1203
01:02:06,025 --> 01:02:06,925
necessarily mean that.
1204
01:02:06,926 --> 01:02:07,966
JOE ERATO: I read books on
philosophy.
1205
01:02:08,044 --> 01:02:10,587
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, a lot
of people read. Yeah. So it's
1206
01:02:10,607 --> 01:02:12,834
just a theory. I wanted to put
it out there because he was
1207
01:02:13,654 --> 01:02:16,115
trying to connect with that. So
I don't think that's a very
1208
01:02:16,177 --> 01:02:19,740
likely theory. I agree with
that. Finally, the least likely
1209
01:02:19,818 --> 01:02:24,044
theory was foul play. And
there's really no evidence to
1210
01:02:24,076 --> 01:02:24,560
support it.
1211
01:02:25,388 --> 01:02:28,701
There is a lot. There are crimes
that happen in the wilderness
1212
01:02:28,702 --> 01:02:32,124
that go undetected, but There
was no evidence suggesting of
1213
01:02:32,143 --> 01:02:34,948
assault, robbery, or conflict.
His gear was undisturbed and
1214
01:02:34,967 --> 01:02:36,608
valuable items were left behind.
1215
01:02:37,491 --> 01:02:42,077
There were no wounds on the
bones, no disturbance, and there
1216
01:02:42,078 --> 01:02:45,600
were no witness reports or
rumors from others in the area.
1217
01:02:45,717 --> 01:02:52,209
So I think, and then you can
tell me what you think, I think
1218
01:02:52,210 --> 01:02:55,584
he accidentally fell into the
river. It's spring. It's
1219
01:02:55,725 --> 01:02:59,256
flowing. The snow melts. The
snow is melting. The rivers up
1220
01:02:59,288 --> 01:03:02,776
there get real. Quick. Yeah.
1221
01:03:02,777 --> 01:03:03,997
JOE ERATO: And it's cold water.
1222
01:03:04,016 --> 01:03:04,837
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: It's cold as
hell.
1223
01:03:05,177 --> 01:03:05,380
JOE ERATO: Yeah.
1224
01:03:06,040 --> 01:03:09,782
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: And he fell
in and it wouldn't take, it
1225
01:03:09,806 --> 01:03:13,048
wouldn't take you long to have
hypothermia set in at 40 degree
1226
01:03:13,087 --> 01:03:13,345
water.
1227
01:03:13,907 --> 01:03:16,110
JOE ERATO: Yeah. And that's, I'm
a hundred percent on your train
1228
01:03:16,111 --> 01:03:19,110
in that one. Yeah. I think with
the distance that was covered
1229
01:03:19,595 --> 01:03:21,688
where they were finding like
attempts to get out or things
1230
01:03:21,720 --> 01:03:26,095
like that, he was soaking wet
and And. I probably told it like
1231
01:03:26,255 --> 01:03:29,118
40 times in this show, but I've
experienced bad decision-making
1232
01:03:29,157 --> 01:03:32,321
from people who are suffering
mild hypothermia just in the
1233
01:03:32,403 --> 01:03:37,685
rain, not soaking head-to-toe
from a river of freezing water.
1234
01:03:38,224 --> 01:03:41,263
So that's where I see, okay, he
gets out of there. If he's
1235
01:03:41,325 --> 01:03:45,341
already suffering kind of the
consequences of that, you're not
1236
01:03:45,356 --> 01:03:47,435
going to do things that make
sense. If you're in hypothermia,
1237
01:03:47,919 --> 01:03:52,122
he might be thinking high ground
is something. You can't even put
1238
01:03:52,185 --> 01:03:54,359
logic or reason. If you're
suffering from it, you can start
1239
01:03:54,399 --> 01:03:56,802
doing things that are
absolutely, would seem insane to
1240
01:03:56,821 --> 01:04:00,464
somebody who's not in that
state. Yeah. So, yeah, maybe he
1241
01:04:00,526 --> 01:04:00,726
just.
1242
01:04:00,847 --> 01:04:04,206
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: The rational
thing would be to go downstream.
1243
01:04:04,972 --> 01:04:07,675
JOE ERATO: Yes. Try and go back
to where you fell in because
1244
01:04:07,676 --> 01:04:08,612
that's where all your stuff is.
1245
01:04:09,050 --> 01:04:10,534
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Oh, and if
you can't get across the river,
1246
01:04:10,597 --> 01:04:14,519
just walk, keep going
downstream. Yeah. Get to lower
1247
01:04:14,940 --> 01:04:17,222
elevation. That would help with.
1248
01:04:17,878 --> 01:04:19,222
JOE ERATO: Someone else got hit
by a scooter.
1249
01:04:19,503 --> 01:04:20,347
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Oh, that
would be too.
1250
01:04:20,362 --> 01:04:21,769
JOE ERATO: That would have been
a great way to.
1251
01:04:23,494 --> 01:04:24,414
To cap this one off.
1252
01:04:24,555 --> 01:04:27,717
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, the
rational thing to go down, get
1253
01:04:27,736 --> 01:04:31,295
to lower elevation, the weather
will be less severe the lower
1254
01:04:31,334 --> 01:04:34,396
you go. The last thing you'd
want to do if you're soaking
1255
01:04:34,397 --> 01:04:38,475
head to toe is hike up onto a
treeless high ridge that's
1256
01:04:38,521 --> 01:04:39,225
covered in snow.
1257
01:04:39,521 --> 01:04:40,365
JOE ERATO: Yep, completely
agree.
1258
01:04:40,443 --> 01:04:42,725
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah, I
think, sadly, that fall into the
1259
01:04:42,740 --> 01:04:44,943
river, assuming that was him.
1260
01:04:45,303 --> 01:04:49,403
JOE ERATO: I think it's highly
likely based on how... Remote
1261
01:04:49,404 --> 01:04:52,870
the area is led to hypothermia
because he was still a young fit
1262
01:04:53,368 --> 01:04:56,715
guy he was able to cover a lot
of distance in that condition so
1263
01:04:56,774 --> 01:04:58,880
i looked this up because i was
assuming that kind of from the
1264
01:04:58,919 --> 01:05:02,489
beginning i'd say the one thing
that i was trying to look for
1265
01:05:03,106 --> 01:05:06,926
any type of silver lining is
overwhelmingly the assumption is
1266
01:05:06,927 --> 01:05:08,630
it's a very painless death Yeah.
1267
01:05:08,991 --> 01:05:12,672
So like on a fall or an injury,
like you just get sleepy until
1268
01:05:12,715 --> 01:05:15,035
you fall asleep permanently from
hypothermia.
1269
01:05:15,235 --> 01:05:15,418
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Yeah.
1270
01:05:15,535 --> 01:05:18,563
JOE ERATO: So there's one caveat
is like, he's in a beautiful
1271
01:05:18,617 --> 01:05:22,180
place doing the thing you love.
There's the accent there, but it
1272
01:05:22,181 --> 01:05:24,633
was probably very painless
outside of the cold.
1273
01:05:25,071 --> 01:05:28,133
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: Would you
say to your state of mind? Isn't
1274
01:05:28,352 --> 01:05:29,774
the same level of consciousness?
1275
01:05:29,775 --> 01:05:31,758
JOE ERATO: You're probably not
realizing it. So you'd like none
1276
01:05:31,759 --> 01:05:35,263
of the doom, maybe. Maybe you
just feel cold. I've been very
1277
01:05:35,365 --> 01:05:35,644
cold.
1278
01:05:35,785 --> 01:05:37,908
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: It would be
really interesting to talk to
1279
01:05:37,986 --> 01:05:41,588
someone who survived extreme
hypothermia to get their
1280
01:05:41,611 --> 01:05:42,775
perspective from it. Yeah.
1281
01:05:43,009 --> 01:05:44,970
JOE ERATO: If anyone's listening
that has had that or knows
1282
01:05:44,994 --> 01:05:47,259
someone that has, I would be
very interested in that.
1283
01:05:47,260 --> 01:05:49,900
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: It would be
interesting to hear the phases
1284
01:05:49,963 --> 01:05:55,228
of it and what phase has to hit
when you kind of check out
1285
01:05:55,447 --> 01:05:57,853
consciously from it. You're
still moving around and doing
1286
01:05:57,900 --> 01:06:02,603
things, but almost, I don't
know, Maybe it's like you have
1287
01:06:02,634 --> 01:06:07,046
a... Short-term memory loss. You
don't remember what happened.
1288
01:06:07,206 --> 01:06:08,646
JOE ERATO: I would be very
interested in that.
1289
01:06:08,647 --> 01:06:11,146
MIKE VAN DE BOGERT: I'd be very
curious to see and hear from
1290
01:06:11,247 --> 01:06:14,611
someone firsthand who's
experienced extreme hypothermia.
1291
01:06:14,931 --> 01:06:15,087
Yeah.
1292
01:06:15,689 --> 01:06:18,290
JOE ERATO: I think we're in
agreement with probably
1293
01:06:18,329 --> 01:06:21,493
everybody else. Thanks again for
tuning into our show. We
1294
01:06:21,525 --> 01:06:23,884
appreciate you all for listening
and sharing Locations Unknown
1295
01:06:23,931 --> 01:06:26,337
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1296
01:06:26,384 --> 01:06:28,759
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1297
01:06:28,760 --> 01:06:29,837
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1298
01:06:30,358 --> 01:06:32,480
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1299
01:06:32,499 --> 01:06:35,363
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1300
01:06:35,964 --> 01:06:38,304
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1301
01:06:38,468 --> 01:06:41,773
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01:06:41,774 --> 01:06:44,593
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1303
01:06:45,210 --> 01:06:47,155
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1304
01:06:47,796 --> 01:06:50,280
There's also the special events
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1305
01:06:50,312 --> 01:06:53,468
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1306
01:06:53,484 --> 01:06:55,999
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1307
01:06:56,178 --> 01:06:58,420
And lastly, when enjoying the
beauty of nature, whether
1308
01:06:58,500 --> 01:07:01,703
backpacking, camping, or simply
taking a walk, always remember
1309
01:07:01,723 --> 01:07:05,805
to leave no trace. Thanks, and
we will see you all next time.