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Hello friends, Steve Stockton here with you. Welcome to our
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latest episode. Now, hunting can be an excellent way to
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connect with nature and is a valuable resource for wildlife management.
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Spending hours in a stand while searching for prey can
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lead to exciting encounters with various animals you may not
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have expected to see. Hunting provides unique experiences that others
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may never have the chance to enjoy. However, it is
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essential to remember that it also comes with risks. In
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this video, We'll discuss cases of individuals who went missing
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while hunting. Join me. Let's walk and see. First up,
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Mitty Rivers. Mitty Rivers, a 74-year-old experienced outdoorsman, went missing
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on November 12, 1945, while hunting near Long Trail Road
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and Vermont Route 9. He was on a weekend hunting
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trip with four other hunters in the mountains and was
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familiar with the local area. Mitty and his son-in-law, Joe Lazon,
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walked together before reaching a fork. Mitty planned to separate
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from Joe, telling him he'd only be gone for a
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short distance before he would join them at camp for lunch.
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As 3 p.m. passed and still no sign of Mitty,
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the rest of the hunting party started searching before contacting
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the authorities. They conducted an extensive search but the only
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evidence they found was a single rifle cartridge in a stream.
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The speculation was that Mitty might have leaned over and
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the cartridge had fallen out of his pocket into the water.
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So what happened to Mitty Rivers? Unfortunately, Mitty's body was
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never found and the case remains unsolved. With so many
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years past, we can only hope that what happened to
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Mitty will someday be revealed. Next up, Mark A. Strittmater.
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Mark A. Strittmater, a 44-year-old hunter, went missing on October 19, 2019,
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while hunting alone in Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming. Before
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entering the forest, he was last seen at a convenience
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store in Saratoga, Wyoming. His last communication was a text
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message sent to his girlfriend, Kimberly Meese, at around 11 a.m.
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on that same day. When he failed to return from
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the hunt, search teams were deployed and his truck was
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found on Forest Road 801. Mark's disappearance became one of
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Wyoming's most prominent missing person cases. An early season snowstorm
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hindered search efforts, which continued for over a week with
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no success. Another three-day search in 2020 yielded no results.
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In November of 2020, the Carbon County Sheriff's Office released
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a new statement stating that a hunter had discovered Mark's binoculars.
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This discovery initiated a third round of searching, which involved
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a canine unit. The report mentioned that the search also
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yielded other items that could have belonged to Mark, but
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no remains were found. Then, on October 16, 2022, a
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group of hunters discovered a firearm concealed beneath some vegetation.
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The hunters immediately notified a game warden, who then informed
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the Carbon County Sheriff's Office. This discovery led to a
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series of searches by Carbon County officials and volunteers from
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the University of Wyoming's Department of Anthropology and the Wyoming
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State Archaeologist's Office. This led to finding human remains and
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personal belongings in the area located south of Rawlins. A
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member of one of the search parties said that the
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remains were 325 yards from where his team conducted their
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initial search efforts. The Sheriff's Office said the remains were
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confirmed as Mark Strittmater's through an examination that included known
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dental records. So, what happened to Mark Strittmater? Mark wore
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light clothing into the woods and was likely unprepared for
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the early season snowstorm. The most plausible explanation is that
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he succumbed to the harsh weather conditions. Next, Philip Carnell.
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Philip Carnell, a 58-year-old resident of Sykeston, Missouri, went missing
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on November 13, 2022, while hunting in the Ozark National
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Scenic Riverways near Cave Spring. He was dropped off in
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the area by a friend, but failed to return from
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hunting later in the day. Family and friends could not
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locate him and reported him missing. Emergency responders started searching
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the area for him that evening. Volunteers and emergency responders
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combed the area on foot, in vehicles, on horseback, and
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by boat. Aircraft and drones made multiple passes over the area,
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while dog teams were deployed to pick up scent trails.
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Phillips' footprints, along with his gun and some of his gear,
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were found. After two intense days of searching, his body
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was found by volunteers on horseback. It's suspected that Philip
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became lost and crossed a slough onto a small island
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while tracking a deer. The coroner ruled that the condition
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of his body was consistent with hypothermia and exposure. Next up,
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Michael Fowler. On October 19, 2020, Michael Fowler, a 73-year-old hunter,
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went missing while hunting in the North Creek Road area
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of Butte County. He'd been camping with his wife since
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October 17 and checked in at lunchtime the previous two days. However,
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on the night of October 19th, he did not return
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to the campsite, causing his wife to seek help from
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the local authorities. Fowler was riding a red Honda ATV
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when he left camp, the Butte County Sheriff's Office wrote
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in a press release, noting that their officers were joined
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by Clark County Search and Rescue personnel and volunteer searchers.
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They continue, searchers began an extensive search of the area
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in an attempt to locate the ATV and Fowler. On
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the second day, Searchers located Michael's ATV. Parsons reported that
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his rifle and hunting jacket were leaning against a nearby tree.
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His body was discovered 10 days after he went missing
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by canine teams just a half mile from his rifle
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and jacket. According to his family, Michael Fowler died doing
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what he loved. In a social media post by Michael's granddaughter,
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she stated, I am so happy that he has been
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found and that's what's most important in the end. The
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closure for my family and I is what we wanted
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from the beginning. Now, the disappearance of Corey Kelly. Corey Kelly,
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a 38-year-old man, disappeared on October 16, 2006, while on
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a grouse hunting trip in the Beltrami Island State Forest
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woods with his friend, Jim Naproot. It was Jim's first
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time hunting in the area, while Corey had spent much
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time there during his youth, as his uncle had a
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cabin there. The two friends set up camp in the forest,
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and Jim went to town to get gas, leaving Corey
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and his dog behind to gather firewood. The two hunters
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had planned to meet at a designated point. When he
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returned to the area, Jim flashed his vehicle's lights and
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honked the horn to help Corey find his way back
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in the darkness, but Corey never returned. He pursued some
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game when I was gone, which isn't unusual for him,
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Jim said. I had no reason to worry. My dog
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obeys him, and it was beautiful out. When it started
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to drizzle, I became more concerned, but by that time
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it was light, so there was nowhere to go. Jim
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solicited the help of two passers-by the following day, and
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after a brief search, they alerted authorities. On October 25,
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Jim's dog, Sammy, who had accompanied Corey, was found. This
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whole thing has been mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. I
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can't even imagine what Corey's family's going through, Jim said.
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Everybody's coming up with their own ideas of what went wrong,
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but it shouldn't have happened. That's it. Jim joined the
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search later, hopeful they would find Corey alive. Despite dozens
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of searches conducted by 62 agencies and spanning 6,500 hours
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during late fall and early winter, Corey could not be
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located in the heavily wooded area. On October 27, a
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search discovered some of his clothing and other personal items
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15 miles east of where he was last seen. They
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can't believe he got about 14 miles from where the
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campsite was. He probably got there by the first night.
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He must have been flying through the trees, the bushes.
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I can't believe he could have gotten that far, said
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Corey's mother, Jan Kelly. They're thinking he might have backtracked
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a little the next day. Sadly, on April 27, 2007,
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helicopters spotted a body north of the Rapid River Walking
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Trail Bridge off Rapid River Road near Moose River Road
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north of Fortown. The body was later confirmed to be Corey's.
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Corey's family said they were grateful for the many hours
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of assistance professional and volunteer personnel provided in this search
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and recovery effort. We've had a lot of people praying
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for us and helping us through this, Corey's mother said.
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Next up, Jeremy Childress. On October 15, 2004, Jeremy Childress,
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a 31-year-old experienced hunter, went on an annual elk hunting
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trip in Tillamook Forest's rugged and treacherous terrain with his
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hunting partner, Shane Louie, and Shane's 12-year-old son. However, they
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lost track of their campsite soon after. According to Shane,
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they spent two days looking for their camping spot. Shane
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and his son eventually returned to their truck around 4.30 p.m.
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on October 17th, but Jeremy walked alone into the thick
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brush ahead. It was the last time anyone saw him.
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An extensive search turned up no clues as to his whereabouts.
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The location where Jeremy disappeared is characterized by steep and
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rugged terrain covered with brush, with many gullies and fallen trees.
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Wild animals like bears, cougars, and coyotes also inhabit the area.
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Authorities do not suspect foul play in Jeremy's disappearance. as
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presumed he got lost or injured in the wilderness and
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passed away. In 2006, based on that theory, Jeremy's wife
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obtained a death certificate for him. In reports issued just
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months after Jeremy's disappearance, the undersheriff stated that the area
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typically sees one or two hunters go missing every season. Still,
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the majority eventually find their way back to a road.
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In a 2014 interview with the Statesman Journal, Jeremy's mother, Becky, Grimes, said,
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I still have hope that one day he'll be found.
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I'd much rather have him here with us than up
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there on that mountain. I still can't go up there.
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And now, Alan Theus. In November 2003, Alan Theus, a
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52-year-old hunter from Eden Valley, Minnesota, went on vacation to Montana.
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he planned to collect rocks and hunt mule deer in
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the upper Missouri River Breaks area. Before leaving, he told
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his mother he would return home by the month's end.
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Allen was a passionate outdoorsman who used to reside near
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the area he planned to hunt. However, he hadn't visited
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the location in quite some time. Allen worked for about
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10 years for Geocom, a company specializing in global positioning systems,
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and was recognized as a responsible employee with a good reputation.
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On November 22, Allen checked into the Super 8 Motel
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located in Lewistown. He paid a portion of his bill
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in advance, and his checkout date was November 24. However,
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he didn't leave on the assigned date and left behind
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most of his belongings at the motel, except his hunting
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clothes and rifle, which were not in the room. Allen
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was reported missing on November 26, two days after failing
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to check out of his motel as scheduled. A search
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plane found his truck parked near the Stafford Ferry on
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the Missouri River, with an empty rifle case and his
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boots on the floor. No other evidence of his whereabouts
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was ever found. Fergus County Sheriff Tom Killam said, It's
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extremely rugged, eroded ground. It drops several hundred feet from
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the top down to the river bottom. It's beautiful country,
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but it's terribly unforgiving. You need to know what you're
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doing going into it. These breaks, they are inside-out mountains.
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So what happened to Alan Theus? Authorities believe Allen became
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lost in the wilderness and ultimately succumbed to the elements.
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He was legally declared deceased eight years after his disappearance. Next,
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Raymond Lee Matlock. 28-year-old Raymond Lee Matlock went missing during
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a hunting trip in Raymond, Washington on November 7th, 1998.
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Two companions stated he disappeared while hunting elk in the
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nearby Bowen River area. The Pacific County Sheriff's Office, dozens
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of volunteers, U.S. Coast Guard boats, and helicopters extensively searched
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the dangerous area of tidal mudflats. The search lasted several days,
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but had to be called off due to heavy rain.
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But after a month, the search resumed with the help
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of cadaver dogs, but unfortunately, the only item found was
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Raymond's hat. In a 2017 article from the Times-Colonist, Jack
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Knox discusses how Raymond's body was unknowingly discovered off Vancouver
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Island on December 3, 1998, more than 124 miles from
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where he went missing. Authorities did not realize that a
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body could travel such a significant distance. The body was
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spotted by individuals aboard an American vessel near Port Renfrew
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and was retrieved by the U.S. Coast Guard in Neah Bay, Washington,
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who brought it to the island. An autopsy on the
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remains found no evidence of violence, disease, drugs, or alcohol.
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Full-body x-rays were performed and no fractures were observed. An
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investigation was also conducted with B.C. and U.S. police to
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check for any connection to missing persons, but none was found.
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As a result of these findings, the remains were buried
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at the Royal Oak Burial Park in Saanich on May 26, 1999. However,
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The skull was retained with hopes it might be used
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later for identification after technological advances. After two post-mortem exams,
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facial reconstruction, and dental record comparisons, investigators found a key clue,
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a missing front tooth on the upper left side. No
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fingerprints were found, but they hoped a T-shirt with a
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truck and surfboard design and a Jimmy Z logo printed
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on it could help identify the man. A crucial development
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occurred in Raymond's case following the launch of Canada's Missing.ca,
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the National Center for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains website.
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One of the members noticed certain similarities between the Port
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Renfrew case and the Raymond Matlock case on the U.S.
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NamUs website. A DNA comparison was necessary to connect the
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remains to Raymond Matlock. It took the B.C. Police Missing
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Persons Center several months to locate Raymond's mother, Carolyn Matlock.
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was able to provide a DNA sample in 2015. Due
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to the limited biological material, it took much longer to
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construct a helpful profile from the stored skull. And then,
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on December 21, 2016, 18 years after Raymond went missing,
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the DNA match confirmed the remains belonged to him. The
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coroner concluded his death was an accident, like drowning, with
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hypothermia as a potential factor, after he possibly fell into
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a body of water while fully clothed. After the positive
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identification was made, Raymond's remains, which were initially buried in
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Royal Oak Burial Park, were exhumed, cremated, and reburied with
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his family in Texas at no cost, providing the family
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with a closure they desperately sought. Now we have Charles Huff.
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In late November 2004, Charles Huff, a 76-year-old retiree, Navy veteran,
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and resident of Lakeland, Florida, expressed his desire to go
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hunting in the Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area which spans
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parts of Polk, Lake, and Sumter counties. Charles had a
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collection of guns and frequently went hunting alone in his
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younger years. However, his wife Shirley was apprehensive about him
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going alone and advised him against it. Charles agreed to
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go hunting with his son-in-law, Todd Tharrington, on Thanksgiving morning
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to please his wife. However, he kept his plan to
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scout for deer before the trip with his son-in-law a secret.
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On the morning before Thanksgiving, Shirley left for work. and
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a neighbor saw Charles leaving in his white 1994 Mazda
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truck shortly after her departure. When Shirley returned home from work,
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she noticed a package of meat in the sink that
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had gone bad, and there was no note to explain
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Charles' absence. Shirley grew anxious and decided to call her daughters,
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but none of them had any information about Charles' whereabouts.
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As the night progressed with no sign of him, Terry Griffin,
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one of Shirley's daughters, became increasingly worried and contacted the authorities.
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Shirley Huff spoke with a Polk County Sheriff's deputy on
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Thanksgiving morning. Todd Tharrington recalled a place in the Green
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Swamp Wildlife Management Area where he and his father-in-law used
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to fish. Later, Tharrington and Rob Griffin, another son-in-law, went
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to the remote location in Sumter County where they discovered
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Charles Truck parked off a dirt road known as Tannock Grade.
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Law enforcement officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
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Commission and the Polk and Sumter County Sheriff's Offices searched
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for Charles Daly from dawn to dusk, with approximately 40
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personnel involved. All three agencies dispatched helicopters and canine teams
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to assist in the search efforts. However, heavy rainfall impeded
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the dogs' ability to track the scent, and the recent
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cold snap was a cause for concern for the older
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man's safety. The search saw participation from officials of almost
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00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:28.500
all local law enforcement agencies, hunters, and volunteers. Additionally, several
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Lakeland restaurants generously donated food for the searchers. Despite ten
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days of extensive searches, Charles' relatives had to reluctantly give
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authorities permission to stop. A few months later, volunteers with
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cadaver-sniffing dogs combed the area again, but unfortunately, this effort
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also failed to yield any results. So, what happened to
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Charles Hough? Charles was believed to be happy with his life,
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and there was no sign that he would abandon everything
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he had. Moreover, his bank accounts and investments were left untouched.
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Lawyer Rob Griffin stated that it was unlikely that the
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search party missed Charles in the section of the green
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swamp they covered on foot. He suggested two possibilities. Charles
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00:18:10.150 --> 00:18:13.509
walked a long distance before passing away or was abducted
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00:18:13.670 --> 00:18:16.910
and taken far away from his truck. The family also
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thinks that robbery could be a possibility. Griffin estimated the
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worth of Charles' hunting rifle to be $ 500. Furthermore, Charles
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wore a Rolex watch and a ring with a large diamond.
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In my heart, I feel like there was foul play,
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that someone out there knows what happened to him, Shirley
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Huff said. But you know, you can't say for sure.
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Despite an extensive search and years of investigation, Charles Huff
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00:18:43.029 --> 00:18:47.230
was presumed dead in 2010. His disappearance is classified as
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00:18:47.289 --> 00:18:50.450
a cold case, and the Sumter County Sheriff's Office requests
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anyone with information to contact them at 352-569-7000. Alternatively, to
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00:18:59.650 --> 00:19:11.599
remain anonymous, you can contact Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Next, Steve Keel.
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00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:16.799
In August of 2022, Steve Keel, a 61-year-old former Marine
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00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:20.859
and avid outdoorsman from Dover, went caribou hunting with his
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friend Brian Collins in the Alaskan wilderness, approximately 60 miles
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00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:29.759
south of Deadhorse. On August 27, Steve left to retrieve
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00:19:29.779 --> 00:19:33.339
supplies about six-tenths of a mile from their campsite and
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told Brian he would be right back, but he failed
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00:19:35.700 --> 00:19:39.849
to return. Brian was not initially worried, but after Steve
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00:19:39.869 --> 00:19:42.589
had been missing for a day, he knew something was wrong.
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After Steve disappeared, members of the Dover community, including Brian,
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And Steve's two adult sons. also experienced outdoorsmen, gathered to
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00:19:52.430 --> 00:19:54.759
search for him in the remote and treacherous area where
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00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:58.460
he went missing. An extensive ground search was conducted, and
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00:19:58.500 --> 00:20:02.140
over $ 200, 000 was spent on helicopter equipment and fuel to
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00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:05.880
aid in the search for Steve. Steve was wearing camouflage,
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00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:10.160
which may have hindered helicopter searches. Despite their best efforts,
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00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:14.759
there was no trace of Steve. A $ 15, 000 reward was
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00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:18.240
also offered for any information. There was thought to be
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00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:21.559
a break in Steve's case in August of 2023 when
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00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:24.700
a family search team reported a possible deceased person in
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00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:28.680
a shallow tundra lake. The troopers sent a specialized dive
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00:20:28.700 --> 00:20:31.690
team to the site. After searching the entire floor of
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00:20:31.730 --> 00:20:34.670
the small lake, the team found no human remains or
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the item the group believed to be a body from
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00:20:36.670 --> 00:20:40.690
a sonar image. Steve's wife, Liz Keel, shared on the
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Search for Steve Facebook page that they will be doing
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everything we can moving forward to bring Steve home. Next up,
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00:20:49.329 --> 00:20:55.009
Raymond Jones. On September 7, 1968, Raymond Jones, who was
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39 years old at the time, went bow hunting for
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00:20:57.569 --> 00:21:00.230
mountain goats on the east fork of Hayden Creek in
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00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:03.480
Lemhi County. Despite being in the company of other hunters
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00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:06.940
at the camp, Raymond went missing alone. When he failed
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00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:09.720
to return to camp, His hunting partners notified the local
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00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:12.839
sheriff's office and a search was conducted by Land and Air.
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00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:18.759
An Associated Press article dated September 15, 1968, covered Raymond's disappearance.
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00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:22.119
The report described the search that followed, which was halted
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00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:25.640
due to heavy snow a few days later. However, the
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00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:30.420
search resumed when authorities discovered footprints in an unsearched area. Unfortunately,
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00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:32.809
no trace of the missing hunter was found and the
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00:21:32.849 --> 00:21:36.730
search was called off again. Raymond was officially declared deceased
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00:21:36.950 --> 00:21:40.180
in 1970. I believed for a long time that he
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00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:43.460
would be found. I kept hoping. It was probably 15
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00:21:43.460 --> 00:21:46.880
years before I finally gave up, said Raymond's son, Jeffrey,
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00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:49.259
who was 12 years old when his father went missing.
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00:21:50.019 --> 00:21:52.700
Rumors and stories kept circulating that somebody had seen him
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00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:55.250
or that he took off. I heard all this stuff
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00:21:55.609 --> 00:21:57.589
and just kept expecting or hoping that he would walk
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through the door one day. 53 years later, on September 17, 2021,
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A bowhunter looking for a shortcut discovered two weathered black
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boots sticking out from under a boulder in rocky terrain.
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He said when he found him, he knew this was historic.
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Someone who had been missing a long time, the hunter
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told Jeffrey. He's not a religious person, but he said
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it felt like he was meant to be there. The
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remains were identified as Raymond's by the finding of his
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credit card and other belongings. Jeffrey said after the identification
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of his father, I feel blessed that I know in
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my lifetime what happened to him. I'd given up hope
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of ever finding out. Raymond had a proper burial at
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Miles City Cemetery, finally providing his family with a closure
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00:22:42.230 --> 00:22:47.930
they had so desperately sought for decades. Next, Pacey Staines.
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00:22:47.950 --> 00:22:52.670
24-year-old Pacey Staines, a U.S. Army veteran, was hunting around
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00:22:52.690 --> 00:22:56.930
the 5300 block of North Dietrich Road in Junction City, Kansas,
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around 7.45 a.m. on August 20, 2023, when he went
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00:22:58.910 --> 00:23:05.069
into a wooded area alone. The last contact anyone had
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00:23:05.109 --> 00:23:09.400
with Pacey was around 1245 p.m. that day. Gary County
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00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:12.680
deputies responded and searched the area to locate Pacey, but
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00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:16.180
were unsuccessful. Gary County deputies remained in the area until
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00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:19.640
members from the Gary County Sheriff's Office, Dickinson County Sheriff's Office,
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00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:23.430
Shawnee Fire Department, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the
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00:23:23.450 --> 00:23:26.950
Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Junction City Fire Department were
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00:23:27.009 --> 00:23:31.059
able to initiate a search for Pacey during the daylight hours. Sadly,
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news sources reported that on August 22, 2023, at around 6.13 p.m.,
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Pacey's remains were discovered by the Gary County Sheriff's Office
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00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:42.519
and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks in a
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densely forested area near Milford Lake. A gravesite service was
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held for Pacey on August 31, 2023, and he was
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00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:55.460
buried in Kansas Veterans Cemetery in Manhattan, Kansas. His obituary
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00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.960
describes him as a dependable family man who lit up
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every room entered with his smile. At the time of
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00:24:00.769 --> 00:24:04.009
this video, Pacey's cause of death is still under investigation
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00:24:04.289 --> 00:24:07.869
or has not been released to the public. Next up,
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00:24:08.210 --> 00:24:13.940
Jay Schreckengast. 56-year-old Jay Schreckengast, a Seattle, Washington deputy fire chief,
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00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:18.299
was reported missing on November 2, 2021, in mountainous terrain
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00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:21.700
about 24 miles west of Natchez. He was hunting for
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00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:24.079
elk and never checked in with his family that night.
387
00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:28.099
After Jay went missing, The search firm involved 60 agencies
388
00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:32.099
and thousands of hours of trained searchers. They used ground teams,
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00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:38.200
ATV riders, military helicopters, drones, and search dogs to locate him. Unfortunately,
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00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:41.980
after 12 days of searching, Jay's body was found near Cliffdale,
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00:24:42.309 --> 00:24:44.410
about a half a mile from where his pickup truck
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00:24:44.470 --> 00:24:47.750
was parked on November 2. The sheriff's inspector said that
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00:24:47.809 --> 00:24:50.849
Jay was found in steep, hard country, with tons of
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00:24:50.910 --> 00:24:54.069
ravines and steep inclines, with elevation reaching over 2,500 feet.
395
00:24:55.730 --> 00:24:59.319
According to the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office, an autopsy revealed
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00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:03.180
Jay Schreckengast died from multiple blunt force injuries after falling
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00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:06.319
from a steep hillside more than once. We're saddened to
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00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:09.099
give news of Chief Schreckengast's passing to his family and
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00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:11.740
fellow firefighters, and we ask the public and press to
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00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:14.900
respect their privacy as they grieve his loss, Sheriff Clay
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00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:18.200
Myers said in a press release. In a statement by
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00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:21.799
the Seattle Fire Department, it was said, Deputy Chief Schreckengast
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00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:24.839
was a husband, father, and friend to all. and our
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00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:27.119
hearts are with his family right now, who have been
405
00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:30.839
at the site every day searching alongside search and rescue, fire,
406
00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:36.619
and law enforcement agencies. And lastly, Sean Higgins. On October 14, 2016,
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00:25:36.589 --> 00:25:42.589
41-year-old Sean Higgins, his 21-year-old son Trevor, and Trevor's uncle,
408
00:25:42.829 --> 00:25:45.950
Will Chandler, were hunting in the Shasta Costa drainage area
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00:25:45.970 --> 00:25:50.109
of Bear Camp, approximately 45 miles east of Gold Beach, Oregon.
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It was an area Sean knew well. Trevor and Sean
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00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:56.319
had split up to hunt independently, planning to reunite later
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00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:59.160
that day at their truck. After that, they were supposed
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00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:01.289
to drive and pick up Trevor's uncle, who had been
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00:26:01.309 --> 00:26:04.349
dropped off at another location in the woods earlier that day.
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00:26:05.130 --> 00:26:08.609
Sean's wife, Stephanie Higgins, told Dateline that Trevor was waiting
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00:26:08.630 --> 00:26:10.789
at the truck for his dad after getting a buck
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00:26:10.869 --> 00:26:14.470
the day before. However, his dad never showed up. He
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00:26:14.509 --> 00:26:16.680
grew concerned as it started to get dark and a
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00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:19.880
storm rolled in. Sean was on a footpath that ran
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00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:23.150
alongside a road, Stephanie explained. He's an outdoorsman who knew
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00:26:23.170 --> 00:26:25.490
the area, and he knew Trevor was waiting for him.
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00:26:25.869 --> 00:26:27.970
It doesn't make any sense that he didn't make it
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00:26:28.049 --> 00:26:31.369
out that evening. As time passed, Trevor's uncle arrived at
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00:26:31.410 --> 00:26:35.410
the designated spot, and they separated to search for Sean. However,
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00:26:35.730 --> 00:26:38.839
as the night approached, Trevor lost his way. Instead of
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00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:41.599
risking getting lost in the wilderness, he built a shelter
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00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:44.920
in that location and waited for help. Stephanie received the
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00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:47.480
unsettling news that her husband and son were missing early
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00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:51.019
the following day. According to her, when Trevor's uncle could
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00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:53.900
not locate either of them, he contacted the Curry County
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00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:57.420
Sheriff's Office for assistance. Search and rescue teams from multiple
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00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:00.460
counties across the state arrived at the location and assisted
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00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:03.579
Curry County's search and rescue in scouring the hazardous terrain
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00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:06.950
while the weather remained cold and wet. After four days
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00:27:06.990 --> 00:27:09.690
of searching, Trevor was found with the search teams around
436
00:27:09.750 --> 00:27:11.529
two and a half miles away from where he'd entered
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00:27:11.549 --> 00:27:14.960
the woods in search of his father. Following his discovery,
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00:27:15.180 --> 00:27:17.440
he was airlifted by the U.S. Coast Guard to Bay
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00:27:17.480 --> 00:27:21.259
Area Hospital due to severe hypothermia resulting from his prolonged
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00:27:21.299 --> 00:27:24.089
exposure to the cold and wet weather. The search for
441
00:27:24.119 --> 00:27:27.509
Sean persisted throughout the night, with multiple crews enduring the
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00:27:27.569 --> 00:27:30.769
cold and damp weather to widen the search area. K-9
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00:27:30.829 --> 00:27:34.230
units were deployed, and drones and helicopters scoured the sky
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00:27:34.410 --> 00:27:38.210
above the trees. The community also came together, with hundreds
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00:27:38.250 --> 00:27:42.109
of members supporting search efforts and providing food, clothing, and supplies.
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00:27:42.910 --> 00:27:45.940
Eleven days after Sean went missing, Curry County Sheriff John
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00:27:45.980 --> 00:27:50.180
Ward sadly had to call off the search. We weren't
448
00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:54.019
ready to give up, Sean's sister, Tara Fisher, told Dateline.
449
00:27:54.359 --> 00:27:56.789
There have been other searches over the years, but Sean
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00:27:56.849 --> 00:28:00.029
remains missing. Tara mentioned that there have been numerous stories
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00:28:00.089 --> 00:28:03.269
and rumors circulating regarding the disappearance of her brother, Sean,
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00:28:03.630 --> 00:28:06.950
including a possible encounter with Bigfoot. Some believe that Sean
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00:28:06.990 --> 00:28:09.680
might have fallen into a ravine so hazardous that it's
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00:28:09.779 --> 00:28:13.200
inaccessible to search teams. while others speculate he might not
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00:28:13.240 --> 00:28:16.720
even be in the woods. So, what happened to Sean Higgins?
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00:28:17.259 --> 00:28:19.720
Did he fall into a ravine or succumb to the elements?
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00:28:20.369 --> 00:28:22.049
We can only hope he will be found so his
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family can have some degree of closure. In April 2017,
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00:28:25.680 --> 00:28:29.529
a service was held for Sean in Coos Bay. Anyone
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00:28:29.569 --> 00:28:32.869
with any information regarding Sean's disappearance is asked to please
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00:28:32.910 --> 00:28:42.420
contact the Curry County Sheriff's Office, 541-247-3276. In conclusion, hunting
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is an activity that people from various backgrounds cherish. According
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to the Center for Humans and Nature, almost all hunters
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claim they hunt to experience nature directly. Hunting provides a
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unique opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors.
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In deer camps and duck blinds throughout the countryside, people
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from different social and political classes come together to share
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their passion for hunting and the environment. These places serve
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as a unifying force for individuals who share a love
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for nature and the outdoors. However, being mindful and prepared
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before venturing into the woods is crucial. Even experienced hunters
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can become vulnerable due to unexpected injuries, weather events or
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lack of preparation. Follow local hunting guidelines, bring proper gear
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and wear appropriate clothing to reduce the chances of being
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mistaken for game animals. Inspect your equipment before each use,
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have a plan and inform someone of your whereabouts and
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expected return time. Following essential safety tips, adhering to local
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guidelines and being prepared for the unexpected can make for
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a memorable experience and ensure your safe return. Well friends,
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there you have it. What do you think of these
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cases of hunters who went missing? I look forward to
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your comments, but please keep it friendly and respectful. Until
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we meet again, Be good to yourselves and each other.
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As for me, I'll see you a little further on
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down the trail. I'm Steve Stockton, and I'll talk to
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you next time. And please, tell your animals I said hi.
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Hello friends, Steve Stockton here with you. Welcome to our
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latest episode. Now, hunting can be an excellent way to
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connect with nature and is a valuable resource for wildlife management.
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Spending hours in a stand while searching for prey can
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lead to exciting encounters with various animals you may not
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have expected to see. Hunting provides unique experiences that others
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may never have the chance to enjoy. However, it is
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essential to remember that it also comes with risks. In
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this video, We'll discuss cases of individuals who went missing
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while hunting. Join me. Let's walk and see. First up,
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Mitty Rivers. Mitty Rivers, a 74-year-old experienced outdoorsman, went missing
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on November 12, 1945, while hunting near Long Trail Road
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and Vermont Route 9. He was on a weekend hunting
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trip with four other hunters in the mountains and was
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familiar with the local area. Mitty and his son-in-law, Joe Lazon,
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walked together before reaching a fork. Mitty planned to separate
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from Joe, telling him he'd only be gone for a
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short distance before he would join them at camp for lunch.
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As 3 p.m. passed and still no sign of Mitty,
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the rest of the hunting party started searching before contacting
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the authorities. They conducted an extensive search but the only
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evidence they found was a single rifle cartridge in a stream.
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The speculation was that Mitty might have leaned over and
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the cartridge had fallen out of his pocket into the water.
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So what happened to Mitty Rivers? Unfortunately, Mitty's body was
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never found and the case remains unsolved. With so many
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years past, we can only hope that what happened to
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Mitty will someday be revealed. Next up, Mark A. Strittmater.
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Mark A. Strittmater, a 44-year-old hunter, went missing on October 19, 2019,
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while hunting alone in Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming. Before
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entering the forest, he was last seen at a convenience
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store in Saratoga, Wyoming. His last communication was a text
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message sent to his girlfriend, Kimberly Meese, at around 11 a.m.
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on that same day. When he failed to return from
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the hunt, search teams were deployed and his truck was
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found on Forest Road 801. Mark's disappearance became one of
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Wyoming's most prominent missing person cases. An early season snowstorm
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hindered search efforts, which continued for over a week with
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no success. Another three-day search in 2020 yielded no results.
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In November of 2020, the Carbon County Sheriff's Office released
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a new statement stating that a hunter had discovered Mark's binoculars.
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This discovery initiated a third round of searching, which involved
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a canine unit. The report mentioned that the search also
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yielded other items that could have belonged to Mark, but
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no remains were found. Then, on October 16, 2022, a
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group of hunters discovered a firearm concealed beneath some vegetation.
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The hunters immediately notified a game warden, who then informed
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the Carbon County Sheriff's Office. This discovery led to a
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series of searches by Carbon County officials and volunteers from
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the University of Wyoming's Department of Anthropology and the Wyoming
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State Archaeologist's Office. This led to finding human remains and
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personal belongings in the area located south of Rawlins. A
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member of one of the search parties said that the
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remains were 325 yards from where his team conducted their
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initial search efforts. The Sheriff's Office said the remains were
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confirmed as Mark Strittmater's through an examination that included known
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dental records. So, what happened to Mark Strittmater? Mark wore
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light clothing into the woods and was likely unprepared for
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the early season snowstorm. The most plausible explanation is that
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he succumbed to the harsh weather conditions. Next, Philip Carnell.
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Philip Carnell, a 58-year-old resident of Sykeston, Missouri, went missing
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on November 13, 2022, while hunting in the Ozark National
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Scenic Riverways near Cave Spring. He was dropped off in
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the area by a friend, but failed to return from
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hunting later in the day. Family and friends could not
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locate him and reported him missing. Emergency responders started searching
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the area for him that evening. Volunteers and emergency responders
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combed the area on foot, in vehicles, on horseback, and
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by boat. Aircraft and drones made multiple passes over the area,
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while dog teams were deployed to pick up scent trails.
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Phillips' footprints, along with his gun and some of his gear,
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were found. After two intense days of searching, his body
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was found by volunteers on horseback. It's suspected that Philip
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became lost and crossed a slough onto a small island
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while tracking a deer. The coroner ruled that the condition
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of his body was consistent with hypothermia and exposure. Next up,
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Michael Fowler. On October 19, 2020, Michael Fowler, a 73-year-old hunter,
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went missing while hunting in the North Creek Road area
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of Butte County. He'd been camping with his wife since
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October 17 and checked in at lunchtime the previous two days. However,
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on the night of October 19th, he did not return
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to the campsite, causing his wife to seek help from
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the local authorities. Fowler was riding a red Honda ATV
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when he left camp, the Butte County Sheriff's Office wrote
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in a press release, noting that their officers were joined
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by Clark County Search and Rescue personnel and volunteer searchers.
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They continue, searchers began an extensive search of the area
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in an attempt to locate the ATV and Fowler. On
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the second day, Searchers located Michael's ATV. Parsons reported that
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his rifle and hunting jacket were leaning against a nearby tree.
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His body was discovered 10 days after he went missing
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by canine teams just a half mile from his rifle
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and jacket. According to his family, Michael Fowler died doing
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what he loved. In a social media post by Michael's granddaughter,
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she stated, I am so happy that he has been
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found and that's what's most important in the end. The
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closure for my family and I is what we wanted
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from the beginning. Now, the disappearance of Corey Kelly. Corey Kelly,
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a 38-year-old man, disappeared on October 16, 2006, while on
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a grouse hunting trip in the Beltrami Island State Forest
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woods with his friend, Jim Naproot. It was Jim's first
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time hunting in the area, while Corey had spent much
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time there during his youth, as his uncle had a
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cabin there. The two friends set up camp in the forest,
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and Jim went to town to get gas, leaving Corey
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and his dog behind to gather firewood. The two hunters
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had planned to meet at a designated point. When he
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returned to the area, Jim flashed his vehicle's lights and
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honked the horn to help Corey find his way back
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in the darkness, but Corey never returned. He pursued some
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game when I was gone, which isn't unusual for him,
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Jim said. I had no reason to worry. My dog
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obeys him, and it was beautiful out. When it started
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to drizzle, I became more concerned, but by that time
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it was light, so there was nowhere to go. Jim
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solicited the help of two passers-by the following day, and
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after a brief search, they alerted authorities. On October 25,
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Jim's dog, Sammy, who had accompanied Corey, was found. This
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whole thing has been mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting. I
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can't even imagine what Corey's family's going through, Jim said.
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Everybody's coming up with their own ideas of what went wrong,
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but it shouldn't have happened. That's it. Jim joined the
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search later, hopeful they would find Corey alive. Despite dozens
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of searches conducted by 62 agencies and spanning 6,500 hours
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during late fall and early winter, Corey could not be
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located in the heavily wooded area. On October 27, a
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search discovered some of his clothing and other personal items
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15 miles east of where he was last seen. They
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can't believe he got about 14 miles from where the
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campsite was. He probably got there by the first night.
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He must have been flying through the trees, the bushes.
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I can't believe he could have gotten that far, said
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Corey's mother, Jan Kelly. They're thinking he might have backtracked
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a little the next day. Sadly, on April 27, 2007,
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helicopters spotted a body north of the Rapid River Walking
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Trail Bridge off Rapid River Road near Moose River Road
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north of Fortown. The body was later confirmed to be Corey's.
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Corey's family said they were grateful for the many hours
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of assistance professional and volunteer personnel provided in this search
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and recovery effort. We've had a lot of people praying
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for us and helping us through this, Corey's mother said.
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Next up, Jeremy Childress. On October 15, 2004, Jeremy Childress,
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a 31-year-old experienced hunter, went on an annual elk hunting
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trip in Tillamook Forest's rugged and treacherous terrain with his
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hunting partner, Shane Louie, and Shane's 12-year-old son. However, they
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lost track of their campsite soon after. According to Shane,
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they spent two days looking for their camping spot. Shane
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and his son eventually returned to their truck around 4.30 p.m.
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on October 17th, but Jeremy walked alone into the thick
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brush ahead. It was the last time anyone saw him.
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An extensive search turned up no clues as to his whereabouts.
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The location where Jeremy disappeared is characterized by steep and
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rugged terrain covered with brush, with many gullies and fallen trees.
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Wild animals like bears, cougars, and coyotes also inhabit the area.
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Authorities do not suspect foul play in Jeremy's disappearance. as
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presumed he got lost or injured in the wilderness and
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passed away. In 2006, based on that theory, Jeremy's wife
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obtained a death certificate for him. In reports issued just
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months after Jeremy's disappearance, the undersheriff stated that the area
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typically sees one or two hunters go missing every season. Still,
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the majority eventually find their way back to a road.
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In a 2014 interview with the Statesman Journal, Jeremy's mother, Becky, Grimes, said,
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I still have hope that one day he'll be found.
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I'd much rather have him here with us than up
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there on that mountain. I still can't go up there.
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And now, Alan Theus. In November 2003, Alan Theus, a
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52-year-old hunter from Eden Valley, Minnesota, went on vacation to Montana.
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he planned to collect rocks and hunt mule deer in
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the upper Missouri River Breaks area. Before leaving, he told
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his mother he would return home by the month's end.
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Allen was a passionate outdoorsman who used to reside near
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the area he planned to hunt. However, he hadn't visited
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the location in quite some time. Allen worked for about
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10 years for Geocom, a company specializing in global positioning systems,
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and was recognized as a responsible employee with a good reputation.
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On November 22, Allen checked into the Super 8 Motel
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located in Lewistown. He paid a portion of his bill
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in advance, and his checkout date was November 24. However,
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he didn't leave on the assigned date and left behind
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most of his belongings at the motel, except his hunting
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00:11:03.919 --> 00:11:07.580
clothes and rifle, which were not in the room. Allen
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was reported missing on November 26, two days after failing
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to check out of his motel as scheduled. A search
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00:11:14.440 --> 00:11:17.019
plane found his truck parked near the Stafford Ferry on
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00:11:17.039 --> 00:11:19.899
the Missouri River, with an empty rifle case and his
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boots on the floor. No other evidence of his whereabouts
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was ever found. Fergus County Sheriff Tom Killam said, It's
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extremely rugged, eroded ground. It drops several hundred feet from
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the top down to the river bottom. It's beautiful country,
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but it's terribly unforgiving. You need to know what you're
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doing going into it. These breaks, they are inside-out mountains.
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So what happened to Alan Theus? Authorities believe Allen became
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lost in the wilderness and ultimately succumbed to the elements.
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He was legally declared deceased eight years after his disappearance. Next,
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Raymond Lee Matlock. 28-year-old Raymond Lee Matlock went missing during
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a hunting trip in Raymond, Washington on November 7th, 1998.
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Two companions stated he disappeared while hunting elk in the
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nearby Bowen River area. The Pacific County Sheriff's Office, dozens
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00:12:17.549 --> 00:12:22.009
of volunteers, U.S. Coast Guard boats, and helicopters extensively searched
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00:12:22.029 --> 00:12:26.809
the dangerous area of tidal mudflats. The search lasted several days,
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00:12:27.129 --> 00:12:29.059
but had to be called off due to heavy rain.
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But after a month, the search resumed with the help
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of cadaver dogs, but unfortunately, the only item found was
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Raymond's hat. In a 2017 article from the Times-Colonist, Jack
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00:12:41.330 --> 00:12:45.629
Knox discusses how Raymond's body was unknowingly discovered off Vancouver
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00:12:45.750 --> 00:12:49.929
Island on December 3, 1998, more than 124 miles from
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where he went missing. Authorities did not realize that a
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body could travel such a significant distance. The body was
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spotted by individuals aboard an American vessel near Port Renfrew
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and was retrieved by the U.S. Coast Guard in Neah Bay, Washington,
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who brought it to the island. An autopsy on the
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remains found no evidence of violence, disease, drugs, or alcohol.
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Full-body x-rays were performed and no fractures were observed. An
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investigation was also conducted with B.C. and U.S. police to
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check for any connection to missing persons, but none was found.
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As a result of these findings, the remains were buried
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at the Royal Oak Burial Park in Saanich on May 26, 1999. However,
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The skull was retained with hopes it might be used
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later for identification after technological advances. After two post-mortem exams,
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facial reconstruction, and dental record comparisons, investigators found a key clue,
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a missing front tooth on the upper left side. No
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fingerprints were found, but they hoped a T-shirt with a
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truck and surfboard design and a Jimmy Z logo printed
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on it could help identify the man. A crucial development
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occurred in Raymond's case following the launch of Canada's Missing.ca,
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the National Center for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains website.
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One of the members noticed certain similarities between the Port
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Renfrew case and the Raymond Matlock case on the U.S.
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NamUs website. A DNA comparison was necessary to connect the
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remains to Raymond Matlock. It took the B.C. Police Missing
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Persons Center several months to locate Raymond's mother, Carolyn Matlock.
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was able to provide a DNA sample in 2015. Due
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to the limited biological material, it took much longer to
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construct a helpful profile from the stored skull. And then,
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on December 21, 2016, 18 years after Raymond went missing,
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the DNA match confirmed the remains belonged to him. The
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coroner concluded his death was an accident, like drowning, with
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hypothermia as a potential factor, after he possibly fell into
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a body of water while fully clothed. After the positive
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identification was made, Raymond's remains, which were initially buried in
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Royal Oak Burial Park, were exhumed, cremated, and reburied with
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his family in Texas at no cost, providing the family
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with a closure they desperately sought. Now we have Charles Huff.
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In late November 2004, Charles Huff, a 76-year-old retiree, Navy veteran,
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and resident of Lakeland, Florida, expressed his desire to go
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hunting in the Green Swamp Wildlife Management Area which spans
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parts of Polk, Lake, and Sumter counties. Charles had a
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collection of guns and frequently went hunting alone in his
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younger years. However, his wife Shirley was apprehensive about him
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going alone and advised him against it. Charles agreed to
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go hunting with his son-in-law, Todd Tharrington, on Thanksgiving morning
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to please his wife. However, he kept his plan to
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scout for deer before the trip with his son-in-law a secret.
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On the morning before Thanksgiving, Shirley left for work. and
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a neighbor saw Charles leaving in his white 1994 Mazda
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truck shortly after her departure. When Shirley returned home from work,
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she noticed a package of meat in the sink that
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had gone bad, and there was no note to explain
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Charles' absence. Shirley grew anxious and decided to call her daughters,
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but none of them had any information about Charles' whereabouts.
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As the night progressed with no sign of him, Terry Griffin,
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one of Shirley's daughters, became increasingly worried and contacted the authorities.
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Shirley Huff spoke with a Polk County Sheriff's deputy on
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Thanksgiving morning. Todd Tharrington recalled a place in the Green
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Swamp Wildlife Management Area where he and his father-in-law used
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to fish. Later, Tharrington and Rob Griffin, another son-in-law, went
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to the remote location in Sumter County where they discovered
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Charles Truck parked off a dirt road known as Tannock Grade.
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Law enforcement officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation
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Commission and the Polk and Sumter County Sheriff's Offices searched
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for Charles Daly from dawn to dusk, with approximately 40
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personnel involved. All three agencies dispatched helicopters and canine teams
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to assist in the search efforts. However, heavy rainfall impeded
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the dogs' ability to track the scent, and the recent
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cold snap was a cause for concern for the older
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man's safety. The search saw participation from officials of almost
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all local law enforcement agencies, hunters, and volunteers. Additionally, several
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Lakeland restaurants generously donated food for the searchers. Despite ten
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days of extensive searches, Charles' relatives had to reluctantly give
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authorities permission to stop. A few months later, volunteers with
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cadaver-sniffing dogs combed the area again, but unfortunately, this effort
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also failed to yield any results. So, what happened to
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Charles Hough? Charles was believed to be happy with his life,
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and there was no sign that he would abandon everything
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he had. Moreover, his bank accounts and investments were left untouched.
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Lawyer Rob Griffin stated that it was unlikely that the
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search party missed Charles in the section of the green
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swamp they covered on foot. He suggested two possibilities. Charles
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00:18:10.150 --> 00:18:13.509
walked a long distance before passing away or was abducted
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00:18:13.670 --> 00:18:16.910
and taken far away from his truck. The family also
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thinks that robbery could be a possibility. Griffin estimated the
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00:18:20.609 --> 00:18:24.799
worth of Charles' hunting rifle to be $ 500. Furthermore, Charles
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wore a Rolex watch and a ring with a large diamond.
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In my heart, I feel like there was foul play,
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that someone out there knows what happened to him, Shirley
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Huff said. But you know, you can't say for sure.
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Despite an extensive search and years of investigation, Charles Huff
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00:18:43.029 --> 00:18:47.230
was presumed dead in 2010. His disappearance is classified as
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a cold case, and the Sumter County Sheriff's Office requests
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anyone with information to contact them at 352-569-7000. Alternatively, to
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00:18:59.650 --> 00:19:11.599
remain anonymous, you can contact Crimeline at 1-800-423-TIPS. Next, Steve Keel.
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00:19:12.539 --> 00:19:16.799
In August of 2022, Steve Keel, a 61-year-old former Marine
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00:19:16.980 --> 00:19:20.859
and avid outdoorsman from Dover, went caribou hunting with his
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friend Brian Collins in the Alaskan wilderness, approximately 60 miles
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00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:29.759
south of Deadhorse. On August 27, Steve left to retrieve
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supplies about six-tenths of a mile from their campsite and
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told Brian he would be right back, but he failed
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to return. Brian was not initially worried, but after Steve
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00:19:39.869 --> 00:19:42.589
had been missing for a day, he knew something was wrong.
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After Steve disappeared, members of the Dover community, including Brian,
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And Steve's two adult sons. also experienced outdoorsmen, gathered to
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search for him in the remote and treacherous area where
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00:19:54.779 --> 00:19:58.460
he went missing. An extensive ground search was conducted, and
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00:19:58.500 --> 00:20:02.140
over $ 200, 000 was spent on helicopter equipment and fuel to
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00:20:02.220 --> 00:20:05.880
aid in the search for Steve. Steve was wearing camouflage,
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00:20:06.180 --> 00:20:10.160
which may have hindered helicopter searches. Despite their best efforts,
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00:20:10.640 --> 00:20:14.759
there was no trace of Steve. A $ 15, 000 reward was
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00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:18.240
also offered for any information. There was thought to be
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00:20:18.279 --> 00:20:21.559
a break in Steve's case in August of 2023 when
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a family search team reported a possible deceased person in
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00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:28.680
a shallow tundra lake. The troopers sent a specialized dive
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team to the site. After searching the entire floor of
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00:20:31.730 --> 00:20:34.670
the small lake, the team found no human remains or
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the item the group believed to be a body from
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00:20:36.670 --> 00:20:40.690
a sonar image. Steve's wife, Liz Keel, shared on the
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Search for Steve Facebook page that they will be doing
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everything we can moving forward to bring Steve home. Next up,
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00:20:49.329 --> 00:20:55.009
Raymond Jones. On September 7, 1968, Raymond Jones, who was
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39 years old at the time, went bow hunting for
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mountain goats on the east fork of Hayden Creek in
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00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:03.480
Lemhi County. Despite being in the company of other hunters
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00:21:03.539 --> 00:21:06.940
at the camp, Raymond went missing alone. When he failed
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00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:09.720
to return to camp, His hunting partners notified the local
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00:21:09.779 --> 00:21:12.839
sheriff's office and a search was conducted by Land and Air.
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00:21:13.559 --> 00:21:18.759
An Associated Press article dated September 15, 1968, covered Raymond's disappearance.
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00:21:19.220 --> 00:21:22.119
The report described the search that followed, which was halted
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00:21:22.160 --> 00:21:25.640
due to heavy snow a few days later. However, the
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00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:30.420
search resumed when authorities discovered footprints in an unsearched area. Unfortunately,
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00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:32.809
no trace of the missing hunter was found and the
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00:21:32.849 --> 00:21:36.730
search was called off again. Raymond was officially declared deceased
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00:21:36.950 --> 00:21:40.180
in 1970. I believed for a long time that he
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00:21:40.200 --> 00:21:43.460
would be found. I kept hoping. It was probably 15
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years before I finally gave up, said Raymond's son, Jeffrey,
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00:21:47.099 --> 00:21:49.259
who was 12 years old when his father went missing.
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Rumors and stories kept circulating that somebody had seen him
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or that he took off. I heard all this stuff
347
00:21:55.609 --> 00:21:57.589
and just kept expecting or hoping that he would walk
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through the door one day. 53 years later, on September 17, 2021,
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00:22:04.180 --> 00:22:07.579
A bowhunter looking for a shortcut discovered two weathered black
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boots sticking out from under a boulder in rocky terrain.
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He said when he found him, he knew this was historic.
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Someone who had been missing a long time, the hunter
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told Jeffrey. He's not a religious person, but he said
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it felt like he was meant to be there. The
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remains were identified as Raymond's by the finding of his
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credit card and other belongings. Jeffrey said after the identification
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of his father, I feel blessed that I know in
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my lifetime what happened to him. I'd given up hope
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of ever finding out. Raymond had a proper burial at
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00:22:38.529 --> 00:22:42.190
Miles City Cemetery, finally providing his family with a closure
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00:22:42.230 --> 00:22:47.930
they had so desperately sought for decades. Next, Pacey Staines.
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00:22:47.950 --> 00:22:52.670
24-year-old Pacey Staines, a U.S. Army veteran, was hunting around
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00:22:52.690 --> 00:22:56.930
the 5300 block of North Dietrich Road in Junction City, Kansas,
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00:22:57.250 --> 00:22:58.670
around 7.45 a.m. on August 20, 2023, when he went
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00:22:58.910 --> 00:23:05.069
into a wooded area alone. The last contact anyone had
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00:23:05.109 --> 00:23:09.400
with Pacey was around 1245 p.m. that day. Gary County
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00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:12.680
deputies responded and searched the area to locate Pacey, but
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00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:16.180
were unsuccessful. Gary County deputies remained in the area until
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00:23:16.220 --> 00:23:19.640
members from the Gary County Sheriff's Office, Dickinson County Sheriff's Office,
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00:23:19.880 --> 00:23:23.430
Shawnee Fire Department, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the
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00:23:23.450 --> 00:23:26.950
Kansas Highway Patrol, and the Junction City Fire Department were
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00:23:27.009 --> 00:23:31.059
able to initiate a search for Pacey during the daylight hours. Sadly,
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00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:36.579
news sources reported that on August 22, 2023, at around 6.13 p.m.,
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Pacey's remains were discovered by the Gary County Sheriff's Office
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00:23:40.140 --> 00:23:42.519
and the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks in a
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00:23:42.539 --> 00:23:46.920
densely forested area near Milford Lake. A gravesite service was
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00:23:46.960 --> 00:23:50.700
held for Pacey on August 31, 2023, and he was
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00:23:50.740 --> 00:23:55.460
buried in Kansas Veterans Cemetery in Manhattan, Kansas. His obituary
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00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:57.960
describes him as a dependable family man who lit up
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00:23:58.099 --> 00:24:00.730
every room entered with his smile. At the time of
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00:24:00.769 --> 00:24:04.009
this video, Pacey's cause of death is still under investigation
382
00:24:04.289 --> 00:24:07.869
or has not been released to the public. Next up,
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00:24:08.210 --> 00:24:13.940
Jay Schreckengast. 56-year-old Jay Schreckengast, a Seattle, Washington deputy fire chief,
384
00:24:14.259 --> 00:24:18.299
was reported missing on November 2, 2021, in mountainous terrain
385
00:24:18.539 --> 00:24:21.700
about 24 miles west of Natchez. He was hunting for
386
00:24:21.799 --> 00:24:24.079
elk and never checked in with his family that night.
387
00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:28.099
After Jay went missing, The search firm involved 60 agencies
388
00:24:28.259 --> 00:24:32.099
and thousands of hours of trained searchers. They used ground teams,
389
00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:38.200
ATV riders, military helicopters, drones, and search dogs to locate him. Unfortunately,
390
00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:41.980
after 12 days of searching, Jay's body was found near Cliffdale,
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00:24:42.309 --> 00:24:44.410
about a half a mile from where his pickup truck
392
00:24:44.470 --> 00:24:47.750
was parked on November 2. The sheriff's inspector said that
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00:24:47.809 --> 00:24:50.849
Jay was found in steep, hard country, with tons of
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00:24:50.910 --> 00:24:54.069
ravines and steep inclines, with elevation reaching over 2,500 feet.
395
00:24:55.730 --> 00:24:59.319
According to the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office, an autopsy revealed
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00:24:59.359 --> 00:25:03.180
Jay Schreckengast died from multiple blunt force injuries after falling
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00:25:03.220 --> 00:25:06.319
from a steep hillside more than once. We're saddened to
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00:25:06.359 --> 00:25:09.099
give news of Chief Schreckengast's passing to his family and
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00:25:09.119 --> 00:25:11.740
fellow firefighters, and we ask the public and press to
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00:25:11.799 --> 00:25:14.900
respect their privacy as they grieve his loss, Sheriff Clay
401
00:25:14.940 --> 00:25:18.200
Myers said in a press release. In a statement by
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00:25:18.240 --> 00:25:21.799
the Seattle Fire Department, it was said, Deputy Chief Schreckengast
403
00:25:21.859 --> 00:25:24.839
was a husband, father, and friend to all. and our
404
00:25:24.880 --> 00:25:27.119
hearts are with his family right now, who have been
405
00:25:27.140 --> 00:25:30.839
at the site every day searching alongside search and rescue, fire,
406
00:25:31.119 --> 00:25:36.619
and law enforcement agencies. And lastly, Sean Higgins. On October 14, 2016,
407
00:25:36.589 --> 00:25:42.589
41-year-old Sean Higgins, his 21-year-old son Trevor, and Trevor's uncle,
408
00:25:42.829 --> 00:25:45.950
Will Chandler, were hunting in the Shasta Costa drainage area
409
00:25:45.970 --> 00:25:50.109
of Bear Camp, approximately 45 miles east of Gold Beach, Oregon.
410
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It was an area Sean knew well. Trevor and Sean
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00:25:53.259 --> 00:25:56.319
had split up to hunt independently, planning to reunite later
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00:25:56.359 --> 00:25:59.160
that day at their truck. After that, they were supposed
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00:25:59.200 --> 00:26:01.289
to drive and pick up Trevor's uncle, who had been
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00:26:01.309 --> 00:26:04.349
dropped off at another location in the woods earlier that day.
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00:26:05.130 --> 00:26:08.609
Sean's wife, Stephanie Higgins, told Dateline that Trevor was waiting
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00:26:08.630 --> 00:26:10.789
at the truck for his dad after getting a buck
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00:26:10.869 --> 00:26:14.470
the day before. However, his dad never showed up. He
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00:26:14.509 --> 00:26:16.680
grew concerned as it started to get dark and a
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00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:19.880
storm rolled in. Sean was on a footpath that ran
420
00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:23.150
alongside a road, Stephanie explained. He's an outdoorsman who knew
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00:26:23.170 --> 00:26:25.490
the area, and he knew Trevor was waiting for him.
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00:26:25.869 --> 00:26:27.970
It doesn't make any sense that he didn't make it
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00:26:28.049 --> 00:26:31.369
out that evening. As time passed, Trevor's uncle arrived at
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00:26:31.410 --> 00:26:35.410
the designated spot, and they separated to search for Sean. However,
425
00:26:35.730 --> 00:26:38.839
as the night approached, Trevor lost his way. Instead of
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00:26:38.940 --> 00:26:41.599
risking getting lost in the wilderness, he built a shelter
427
00:26:41.619 --> 00:26:44.920
in that location and waited for help. Stephanie received the
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00:26:44.980 --> 00:26:47.480
unsettling news that her husband and son were missing early
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00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:51.019
the following day. According to her, when Trevor's uncle could
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00:26:51.059 --> 00:26:53.900
not locate either of them, he contacted the Curry County
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00:26:53.920 --> 00:26:57.420
Sheriff's Office for assistance. Search and rescue teams from multiple
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00:26:57.440 --> 00:27:00.460
counties across the state arrived at the location and assisted
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00:27:00.519 --> 00:27:03.579
Curry County's search and rescue in scouring the hazardous terrain
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00:27:03.720 --> 00:27:06.950
while the weather remained cold and wet. After four days
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00:27:06.990 --> 00:27:09.690
of searching, Trevor was found with the search teams around
436
00:27:09.750 --> 00:27:11.529
two and a half miles away from where he'd entered
437
00:27:11.549 --> 00:27:14.960
the woods in search of his father. Following his discovery,
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he was airlifted by the U.S. Coast Guard to Bay
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Area Hospital due to severe hypothermia resulting from his prolonged
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exposure to the cold and wet weather. The search for
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Sean persisted throughout the night, with multiple crews enduring the
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00:27:27.569 --> 00:27:30.769
cold and damp weather to widen the search area. K-9
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units were deployed, and drones and helicopters scoured the sky
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above the trees. The community also came together, with hundreds
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of members supporting search efforts and providing food, clothing, and supplies.
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Eleven days after Sean went missing, Curry County Sheriff John
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Ward sadly had to call off the search. We weren't
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ready to give up, Sean's sister, Tara Fisher, told Dateline.
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There have been other searches over the years, but Sean
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00:27:56.849 --> 00:28:00.029
remains missing. Tara mentioned that there have been numerous stories
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and rumors circulating regarding the disappearance of her brother, Sean,
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including a possible encounter with Bigfoot. Some believe that Sean
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might have fallen into a ravine so hazardous that it's
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inaccessible to search teams. while others speculate he might not
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even be in the woods. So, what happened to Sean Higgins?
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Did he fall into a ravine or succumb to the elements?
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We can only hope he will be found so his
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family can have some degree of closure. In April 2017,
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a service was held for Sean in Coos Bay. Anyone
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with any information regarding Sean's disappearance is asked to please
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contact the Curry County Sheriff's Office, 541-247-3276. In conclusion, hunting
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is an activity that people from various backgrounds cherish. According
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to the Center for Humans and Nature, almost all hunters
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claim they hunt to experience nature directly. Hunting provides a
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unique opportunity to connect with nature and enjoy the outdoors.
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In deer camps and duck blinds throughout the countryside, people
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00:28:59.829 --> 00:29:03.069
from different social and political classes come together to share
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their passion for hunting and the environment. These places serve
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as a unifying force for individuals who share a love
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for nature and the outdoors. However, being mindful and prepared
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before venturing into the woods is crucial. Even experienced hunters
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00:29:17.019 --> 00:29:20.539
can become vulnerable due to unexpected injuries, weather events or
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lack of preparation. Follow local hunting guidelines, bring proper gear
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and wear appropriate clothing to reduce the chances of being
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mistaken for game animals. Inspect your equipment before each use,
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have a plan and inform someone of your whereabouts and
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00:29:34.819 --> 00:29:39.059
expected return time. Following essential safety tips, adhering to local
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guidelines and being prepared for the unexpected can make for
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a memorable experience and ensure your safe return. Well friends,
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00:29:47.920 --> 00:29:50.299
there you have it. What do you think of these
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cases of hunters who went missing? I look forward to
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00:29:53.640 --> 00:29:58.170
your comments, but please keep it friendly and respectful. Until
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00:29:58.210 --> 00:30:00.970
we meet again, Be good to yourselves and each other.
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As for me, I'll see you a little further on
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down the trail. I'm Steve Stockton, and I'll talk to
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you next time. And please, tell your animals I said hi.
