The story I'm about to share takes place on two different
occasions. My grandparents live in rural
Southern Ohio near the edge of the Appalachian Trail.
Growing up. You always heard ghost stories
about what happens out there when the Sun goes down.
It's vital to describe the layout of my grandparents
property. So everyone understands this
story. My grandparents house sits on
five acres surrounded by thick Woods.
On the property seven different Trails lead around my
grandparents house, which we usually use for hunting and
other activities. One day my brother and I decided
to walk the trails. We enjoyed riding a four-wheeler
and taking in the scenery that we always loved.
My grandparents property was incredibly secluded there were
no neighbor's for miles and the only property that backed up to
theirs was owned by the government and was used for tree
sanctuaries and nature preserve. There was a trail that we often
use that split into two other Trails the trail to the left
Loops back around to the house and the trail to the right takes
you down to the creek where you can sit and watch all kinds of
Wildlife. My brother and I decided we
wanted to go down to the creek and watch for Animals while also
looking for remarkable rocks that I love to collect.
The only way to get down to the creek at the split is to walk as
the four-wheeler is too big to fit through the thick brush and
trees on that specific Trail. So we ditched the four wheeler
and took off on foot. The trail down to the creek is
about a mile long. The sun Shone through the trees
and it was a crisp fall evening with a slight breeze.
My brother and I wasted no time until we finally reached the
creek. As I said, we walked alongside
the water for about 15 minutes looking for cool rocks, as we
were walking. We stumbled across a broken down
shed that neither my brother nor I had ever seen before.
It's important to mention that my grandparents property has
markers letting everyone know where their property begins and
ends. Standing on the left side of the
creek the shed was on the opposite side.
My brother and I looked at each other with confused looks but
eventually my brother got distracted by something else and
continued his walk down the creek, but not me.
I felt myself fall into some sort of trance and felt as if I
needed to go inside I yelled for my brother to return and said
Jay. I think we should check this out
some more something inside me wants to go inside.
My brother has never really been a fan of anything remotely
scary. Seeing this rundown shed that
looked to be falling apart did not interest him.
My brother told me honestly dude.
This one just screams one of those scary movie situations and
I want no part of it. We are not going in there.
I chuckled because he was right something was telling me to go
in there. But I also knew it probably
wasn't the best idea as the sun was starting to set.
My brother and I collected our Rock findings and returned to
the house. This next part happened the
following weekend. my boyfriend came out to visit While he was
there, I mentioned that my brother and I had stumbled
across a creepy shed on the property that we had never seen
before. He became highly interested as I
described my desire to go inside.
I told him how compelled I was by the building.
That's all it took before we were out the door and returning
to the creek. My brother stayed behind saying
if you guys don't come back I told you so.
My ex-boyfriend and I laughed. Yeah, right.
We had overalls and flashlights as we didn't take the
four-wheeler and decided to walk the whole way down.
We had flashlights because when we left we knew we only had
about two hours until the sun went down.
Eventually, we made it down to the creek.
We walked the same way my brother and I did the previous
week and to my shock and disbelief.
There was no shed their I started frantically looking
around saying what how I swear. It was here my boyfriend at the
time and I decided to walk a little further venturing away
from my grandparents house. Still there was no sign of the
shed anywhere. We hadn't realized how long we
had been out there and the sun may be had 15 more minutes of
light left for the day. I was so determined to prove
myself right that I had seen this shed with my own eyes.
We pulled out our flash lights jumped across the bank on the
other side of the creek and began walking back the way we
came. I hope I had just missed it on
the way down as my ex and I were talking.
The sun was completely down at this point.
As we were walking and talking everything fell silent including
my ex. We were mid-conversation.
So I did the same when I heard him stopped dead in his tracks.
I started asking questions. What is it?
What's going on? What he said next sent chills
down my spine. I want you to listen to me very
closely. When I count to three we are
going to jump to the other side of the creek and we are going to
run as fast as we can and not stop at all until we get back
but don't look back. Don't say anything.
Okay? My heart fell to my stomach and
I just didn't question him. I just prepared myself to run.
one two three We sprinted as fast as we could I was in front
of my ex and I could hear him wincing in pain, but I heard
more than just our running. There was something chasing us.
We ditched the idea of running a mile back to the trail and ran
straight through the woods. When we returned to the house,
we were gasping for air covered in scratches from running
through thick brush. If we walk through the front
door, and I was so shocked that I could not answer my
grandparents questions. My boyfriend was gripping his
back and wincing in pain. My grandma lifted his shirt and
looked at his back. There were three long lashes
stemming from his shoulder down to his lower back.
It looked like something had swung at him or something and
scratched him. I was in a shocked state to say
the least. From one Appalachian to another
don't go looking for something that you don't want to find if
anyone knows what this could have been please let me know in
the comments down below this occurrence still keeps me up at
night when I think about it. I used to work for a private
investigation firm called AIS which stood for Atlas
investigative Solutions. At the time they were probably
the most highly regarded private investigation firm in the UK.
They only hired ex military and former police officers and even
then they were selected. They invited you for an
interview discussed your service record and credentials and were
very thorough they wanted the best.
In return they offered extremely generous wage packets.
In 1991 an old pal of mine received a call from one of
their recruitment officers not long after we had been
discharged from the Army. Since he had promised to be more
family-oriented post-discharge. He turned the role down in favor
of a local 9 to 5 job knowing I was a single guy more interested
in padding my bank account than living an easy life.
He put me in touch with the recruiter.
I should tell you right now that about 60 to 70% of private
detective jobs are extremely boring AIS might have been one
of the most reliable and well-respected firms in the UK,
but that didn't mean we were all off playing double O7.
The majority of our clients were upper-middle class professional
types with the occasional celebrity or High Society member
requesting some discreet information gathering.
The kinds of jobs we did for that lot were for the most part
the same as any other type of people only in a car in a
council estate waiting for someone secret lover to turn up
at a block of flats. You were sitting in a car
outside some fancy three-story Victorian Manor waiting for
someone secret lover to turn up in a Rolls-Royce.
The only difference was the location.
But what were fairly unique to the upper classes were what we
at AIS used to call? I personally dealt with half a
dozen separate cases involving kids of wealthy parents going
missing. I use that term very Loosely
because nine times out of 10, they were just going through a
bit of a rebellious period and had run away from home.
One girl ran off to live in an all vegan commune in Hackney the
police went and found her but she didn't want to go home since
she was newly 18. There was nothing they could do
about it. As long as she wasn't breaking
the law. She was free to do as she
pleased but that didn't wash with Mommy and Daddy they wanted
to know where their little girl was.
So we tail them keep tabs on them hack their phones and all
sorts. Their parents would be shelling
out tens of thousands every week for the privilege.
Like I said, I must have worked six or seven of those jobs just
on my own. So when I was informed there was
a missing person's case up for grabs.
I thought it'd just be more the same.
But then right away I could tell this one was going to be
different. The clients were based in my
native Scotland in a wee Village called Crossley near Glasgow and
this is partly why I was offered the job in the first place.
I thought that since they were paying big money to have their
missing person found they'd be living in some country house
with a Range Rover sitting out front but I was wrong they
weren't in poverty or anything. They obviously led a relatively
comfortable life. But they were not anywhere near
the class of client that I was used to dealing with at AIS nor
was their missing persons some spoiled brat who'd run off with
their dad's credit card. What they were was desperate.
The missing person they wanted tracking was their son a 21 year
old up and coming boxer who for the sake of his family's
anonymity. I will refer to only as Robbie
after he'd first gone missing his parents had reported it to
the police, but after months of Investigation the case hadn't
gotten anywhere. It wasn't like they made a bit
of progress questioned a few suspects and then the leads just
dried up Robbie's parents said officers had been met with a
complete wall of Silence. No one had seen him.
No one had spoken to him and it was like, he just walked out of
his parents house and disappeared Into Thin Air.
By the time I was called onto the job a campaign set up by
local volunteers had just run out of funding.
With the local police having only one officer working on the
case and only on a sporadic basis at that.
Robbie's parents then managed to collect enough cash donations to
get AIS involved which I can promise you was no small feat
and that's where I entered the picture.
The first thing I did was get all the background information
on the case, which included a fairly intimate profile of the
missing person. Usually speaking people who go
missing have had something go wrong in their lives be it drink
drugs infidelity or some other kind of addiction that either
results in big deaths or even bigger mistakes, but Robbie's
parents insisted that he wasn't involved in anything like that
at all. He never drank.
He never smoked. He was religious about his diet.
Everything in his life seemed to revolve around his potential
career as a professional boxer. He kept himself out of trouble
and had even gotten himself a job at a local pub so he could
save up some money to move to Glasgow where he'd have access
to some of the best boxing gyms in Scotland.
What I'm trying to say is there were no obvious warning signs
with this young man at all. Not until I asked if there had
been any sudden changes or if he'd met anyone knew in the
weeks or months prior. Robbie's mom told me that there
was something she told the police very early on in the
investigation that she felt they'd overlooked.
They asked her the same question about new people appearing in
Robbie's life before he disappeared and this is what she
told them. One evening in the days.
Just prior to his disappearance. Robbie had received a telephone
call from someone his mom didn't recognize.
This is back when a family tended to have just one large
telephone, which was usually kept in a fairly communal space.
For young Lads like Robbie. There was no such thing as
privacy when it came to telephone calls.
So when the phone rang that evening his mom was the first to
pick it up. She thought that she knew the
voices of all her son's friends and trainers.
He was a popular young lad and got a lot of calls from the
likes of friends coaches teammates and training Partners,
but his mom always asked who was calling and made pattern with
them anytime they called back. She knew a great many of them by
voice or demeanor, but she didn't recognize the man who
called that evening. When she asked the Man simply
told her I'm calling from the pub.
He didn't give a name. He didn't sound particularly
friendly either. He just asked for Robbie.
His mom called him to the phone and after a brief conversation
Robbie thanked the caller and hung up but not before
addressing him with the name, Tony.
Robbie's mom had never heard him mention anyone called Tony and
that immediately struck her as unusual.
Like I said, she thought she knew pretty much everyone in her
son's life. She even knew most of the people
he worked at the pub with along with the names of a few regulars
because Robbie would often come home and chat about his shifts
with her. He'd mentioned his boss and a
few of his colleagues by name. He even had special nicknames
for some of the regulars who came in but at no point had he
ever mentioned anyone named Tony and if they were close enough
that Tony was calling him at home.
She found it very strange that he'd never mentioned him before.
Robbie's mom had mentioned this to the police not once not
twice, but on three separate occasions and each time.
They told her the lead was a dead end.
No one called Tony worked at the pub.
None of the regular patrons recognized the name and in the
end the police told her it was an insignificant detail and they
were taking their investigation in a different direction.
Robbie's mom said that at the time she accepted their
decision, but as time went by it started to bother her more and
more. And it bothered me too.
To me the Tony shaped piece of the puzzle wasn't a dead end.
It was a loose end. The Tony thing wasn't the only
loose end because from what I learned the whole Pub angle had
been completely overlooked. Robbie had been due to work that
night but he never made it to the pub and the police decided
whatever caused his disappearance occurred during
the 30 minute walk between his home and his place of work.
I understand why the police focused on that one stretch of
road canvassing nearby houses for any potential Witnesses and
why they only saw the pub as a place to gather information, but
to me it was definitely something we needed to take
another look at the pub in this mysterious.
Tony character seemed to be connected in some capacity.
After talking to his many of Robbie's friends as I could
reach, which I had initially thought would be my primary path
of inquiry. I decided to move on to the pub.
But I couldn't just walk in declare myself a private
investigator and expect people to give up previously
undisclosed information. Instead I'd have to set myself
up as an unremarkable public in so I could gather as much
information as I could as covertly as I could.
The money Robbie's parents raised had bought them two weeks
worth of my time. So knowing I'd be spending a lot
of time in the pub. He used to work in I moved from
the Glasgow Travelodge that I was staying in to a small bed
and breakfast within walking distance.
Then over the next few days. I started showing my face around
the pub. My cover story was that I was a
recently divorced dad of two who was staying in a cheap bed and
breakfast nearby while trying to get back on my feet again.
That way it made sense for me to be hanging around the pub all
day nursing pints and maybe putting a few quid on a horse
race or two while I was there. It was that kind of lower end
Country Pub pints pies and the odd punt from the compulsive
gamblers sat in their weak Corners clutching the racing
papers and as much as I hate to say it, I actually fit right in
having spent so long in the Army.
I was used to hanging around a dodgy Pub or two and being
perched on a bar stool nursing a few pints was probably the best
time on the job I've ever had It was actually quite a good laugh
at times the bar staff and regular seemed like decent folk,
but still I kept my mind on the job and did as much listening as
I could. I popped in and out for a few
days a pint around lunchtime one in the late afternoon.
Then I'd usually head back in the early evening when it was
busy. By my fifth day.
I was getting quite a warm welcome from some of the
regulars and even the Moody faced bar man seemed to soften
up a bit. They were obviously getting
quite comfortable with me which suited me loads because it meant
that I could start asking the odd question without ruffling
anyone's feathers. But as it turns out I didn't
need to ask any to hear Tonys name being mentioned.
I was sat there Thursday night pretending to watch whatever
football they had on the Telly when this scruffy looking bloke
in a green Parco walks into the pub.
He says hello to one or two people but only in passing as he
walks straight up to the bar with a very serious look on his
face. He ends up standing right next
to me as he gets the barman's attention.
But then thinking that he's just going to put in a drink order
the barman just looks at him as he's pouring a pint as if to
say, what do you have having? The scruffy bloke then shakes
his head back in him over and then asks him is Tony going to
be in tonight. He didn't whisper it by any
means, but he clearly didn't want a broadcast his question to
the whole Pub. The only trouble was he was
saying it right next to the one person who had a vested interest
in overhearing him and as you can imagine the second I heard
that name my ears pricked up. The guy asked after Tony and in
a similarly muted voice the barman told him that Tony would
be by later on that evening the scruffy guy then asked the
barman to pass on an apology to Tony if he saw him first the
barman just replied. Save it.
I'm not the one you've got to impress and the way he said it
it was like his scruffy acquaintance was on the way to
the Gallows after the quiet scolding from the barman the
scruffy fellas scuttled out of the pub looking very very
worried. And right away, I'm beginning to
get an idea of who this Tony guy is but again, I've changed his
name to protect the innocent. He was obviously someone people
were afraid of which meant that Robbie's mom had no idea how
right to be concerned. She really was.
Having heard Tony was stopping by later that night.
I finished my pint then ducked out for a few hours to eat
something neck a few cups of coffee and generally sober up a
bit so I would be fit to work. A few hours later.
I was back on that very same bar stool eyes peeled for anyone who
even looked like they might be Tony.
I was halfway through my second pint and becoming increasingly
worried that the barman's tip might have been incorrect when
in walks a bloke that looked as wide as he was tall.
He's got this massive gold watch on all kinds of rings a gold
chain around his neck. He's obviously got a few quid
and he doesn't mind showing it off either.
He also looked like he'd spent most of his life lifting weights
and not without a bit of help from the pharmacy if you catch
my drift. I had to wait until he got to
the bar before I got actual confirmation.
But as he Strode through the bar the way everyone looked at him
behind his back told me everything I needed to know. he
gets to the bar and I hear You all right Tony from the barman.
Tony orders again is a seat down the bar from me and then he in
the barman start talking in low voices.
But this time because the pub is in a wee bit busier state in
their further down the bar. I have no idea what they're
saying. I got the feeling that I was
missing out on something. I wanted to hear but then again.
I wanted everything that came out of his bloody mouth.
So I stayed put kept my eyes forward and tried to pick up on
what I could which sadly wasn't very much.
But then after finishing his pint of Guinness, I heard Tony
tell the barman. See you Sunday then off he went.
I kept up my cover and popped in over the Friday and Saturday
just to keep up appearances. Then come Sunday.
I was in the pub from the moment the doors opened waiting for
Tony to show up again. He walks in just after 3 plants
himself at the bar. Then asks, the barman to put the
boxing channel on after ordering his pint of Guinness.
The barman does as he's told right away then for the next few
minutes Tonys glued to the TV above the bar riveted by
whatever boxing highlights were playing now.
I happened to know a thing or two about boxing enough to be
able to use it as a means of striking up a conversation.
But the thing that really struck me in that moment was when I
reminded myself that Robbie my missing person had been a
passionate and dedicated boxer. I simply cannot overstate how
much of a Russian is when it seems like a lead is coming
together like that. And again it proved how write
Robbie's mom really was to be concerned about him.
Her son in this Tony bloke were now connected in two ways and
considering the kind of esteem people held him in I realized
just how much of a balls up the police had made and not
following up the lead. So as I'm sipping my pint I
start making comments on the boxers form on their striking
ability stuff like that. I'm not directly addressing the
Tony character. I'm just invoking that ancient
public and tradition of talking loudly until someone joins in
the conversation. It probably sounds a bit mental
now that I've typed it out like that, but it worked and before
long me and Tony were having a bit of sporadic back and forth.
I introduced myself not offering up my real name but a variation
on it then bought him a pint when I had finished off my own.
He asked how I knew so much about boxing and I told him
another variation on the truth when I said that I used to help
a friend train for fights back when I was in the Navy.
Turns out he too was an amateur boxer back in the day and he
retained a huge passion for it throughout his life.
He then asked what I was doing out in Crossley and I gave him
the whole sob story about being freshly and bitterly divorced.
Tony looked fairly disinterested by the end of my explanation.
So in an attempt to keep his interest I asked him if he ever
bet on matches. What with him knowing so much
about boxing? He made a bit of a face and then
said something like that rubbish.
No not anymore. To keep the conversation going I
made out that I used to be quite a big time Gambler before I got
married and then I was planning on getting back into it.
Now that the wife didn't have a grip on my finances.
He sort of rolled his eyes, but he was still with me when I
asked him if he had any tips or anything.
Like any talented young boxers that he might know of?
He then told me that the best piece of advice he could ever
give me was not to gamble on professional boxing at all.
According to him it was all rigged.
The refs were all paid off the fighters all took Dives and were
working from scripts all to funnel money into the hands of
The Bookies. Maybe it's the cynic in me, but
I can't say I didn't agree with him a wee bit.
So I asked him a very genuine question.
And quiz him on what Combat Sports were fit to bet on.
He just sort of looked off at the Telly for a while.
Not saying anything then got this very Sinister look about
him. Tony was smiling, but he had
this look in his eye this wolfish almost bloodthirsty
look. He started telling me about
these small-time kickboxing fights in Thailand that he'd
been to. And how if he knew the sport he
could win thousands of US dollars a night betting on these
tiny 100 person spectator events on the outskirts of Bangkok.
He said big Fighters just do it for the money, but the smaller
up-and-coming lads who put way more emphasis on honor and
skill. They quite literally fight for
their lives. A few wins in the lower
divisions could mean getting their names on bigger and better
cards and the money they earned could end up catapulting their
families out of poverty that according to Tony was the purest
form of fighting there was everything else was just
theater. He seemed to know an awful lot
about boxing outside of the actual sport.
He knew about the gambling side, but he seemed to know a weed bit
of the promotional side, too. I then asked what he did for a
living as in if he was involved in that promotional side or if
he ran a gym or anything. He said he visited a gym which
was only two obvious from the looks of him, but that he hadn't
been involved in organizing events for years and years.
According to him. It was a lot of stress not too
much money and then added I'll stick to the side of the TV
screen. Thank you very much.
I took two things away from this part of our conversation.
Number one. Tony didn't answer my question
in that he danced around telling me what he did for a living and
number two. He was lying.
I know it's a bit of a detective story cliche at this point, but
you really do get a sense of when people are lying to you and
when Tony told me that he hadn't been involved in boxing
promotions for years and years. I knew that wasn't true
everything else. He told me was correct, but that
part wasn't he was still involved in some capacity.
He just didn't feel comfortable telling a stranger.
Which to me was basically like striking oil.
I had my number one person of interest connected to my missing
person in more than one facet and not only did I have a strong
suspicion that he was lying to me, but I was 90% sure that he
was involved in some kind of organized crime.
Robbie needed money to move into Glasgow and if Tony was involved
in loan sharking then that might well account for his
disappearance. And by that I don't mean like
when he couldn't pay they rolled him up into a carpet and chucked
him in a lock. I mean a lot of people get
themselves into debt then just voluntarily disappear mainly
because they're so afraid of the previously mentioned carpets.
People do it with big Banks too. They try all sorts of scams.
They disappear change their names even faked their own
deaths. So when some big former boxers
threatening to break your legs, if you don't get his money to
him on time voluntary disappearances are surprisingly
likely. I wasn't 100% certain that Tony
was loan sharking, but I wasn't about to ask him during that
first conversation. When you're working with a cover
story those first contacts are all about winning trust push too
hard and you push them away. I had to wait until the next day
to see Tony again, but when I did I had a plan waiting.
I told him that I love to buy him a pint but I was skinned.
My soon to be ex-wife wouldn't let me into our joint account
because we'd already signed the divorce papers.
So until I could sell off some possessions.
I was brassic. Any loan shark worth his salt
would have seen that as a clear business opportunity.
But all Tony did was offer his sympathies before offering to
buy me a pint instead. I accepted his offer quietly
taken aback that might loan shark Theory had potentially
been ruled out. Then I asked him if he just so
happened to know anyone who might be interested in lending
me a bit of short-term cash. Again, he shook his head and
told me that he didn't know anyone who could help me.
But then after a pause, he asked me.
Have you definitely got some money coming in on Friday?
It was a very loaded question. But the thing that really got my
attention was how Tony suddenly seemed to have a bit of that
wolfish look about him like the one he had earlier.
I told him that yes, I definitely had some money coming
in that Friday which by that point was only the day after
next. He then asked me you definitely
know your boxing. Eh.
Enough to put money on it. Again, I told him yes.
I knew my boxing and most definitely enough to put a few
quid on at which point Tonys became very intense.
He looked me over for a few moments then told me.
If you want to make enough money to last you a good few years be
in the pub closing on Saturday night with a couple of grand in
cash. And at that he finished off his
pint of Guinness and said his goodbyes then walked out of the
pub. I immediately informed my bosses
that I had a huge potential lead regarding a person of interest
and then told Robbie's parents that their suspicions regarding
the mysterious Tony character had most definitely been
warranted. The only problem was I had no
physical evidence that Tony's criminality was connected to
Robbie's disappearance only strong suspicions.
We knew Robbie needed money. That was the only reason he was
working in the pub. It was a stepping stone to
something greater. So what if Tony had been the one
to offer it to him via some kind of illicit gambling operation?
Robbie could have gotten In Too Deep made a bet that he couldn't
honor or he could have threatened to expose Tonys
criminality after being duped out of his wages.
There were a ton of possibilities.
But like I said, I didn't have evidence for any of them.
However, what I did have was a golden opportunity to gather set
evidence by meeting Tony back at the pub at come closing time on
Saturday. I didn't have any kind of secret
or hidden cameras I could use but I did have one of those
small old-fashioned dictation machines that I could place in
the chest pocket of my jacket. That way I could record any
conversations we had and potentially obtain audio that
would be of huge interest to the police.
And that was the only Surefire method that we had to get the
investigation into Robbie's disappearance back on track and
to make sure that it was headed in the right direction.
It was an exciting moment the first time in my career that I
felt like a proper secret agent. But unfortunately for me that
midnight meeting would result in my second brush with almost
certain death. As instructed I made sure that I
was at the pub before closing time on Saturday night.
It was a nervous wait, but eventually Tony showed up.
However, instead of coming inside and sitting down at the
bar like he usually did he just caught my attention from the
doorway and then beckoned me to follow him.
I walked out of the pub with Tony to my front and as we
walked to his car he turned his back to me giving me the perfect
opportunity to reach into my chest pocket and switch on my
dictation machine the tapes were tiny and only had about 45
minutes worth of recording time to them.
But there'd be no switching it on in his car without raising
suspicion and he had eyes on me as we walked out of the pub so I
had to do it there and then or not do it at all.
As we walked to his car. I saw two blocks sitting in the
backseat of a gray Mercedes. I'll be honest.
This did ring some alarm Bells, but there was also a chance that
wherever we were going to gamble my cash Tony thought it best to
take some muscle with him. So I walked over to his car
climbed into the passenger seat after giving the Heavies in the
back a nervous greeting and then off we went towards our mystery
destination. Obviously.
The first question I had for Tony was where are we going?
He gave me one of those wolfish smiles and told me you'll see.
We kept on driving for a minute or two.
And since I didn't know the area very, well.
I had no clue where he was taking us.
And then after the silence got a bit too uncomfortable.
I asked him. Are we going to bet on a boxing
match and he told me could be and then asked if I had it on
me. Assuming he meant the cash.
I lied told him. I did padding a bulge in my
jacket pocket that had a pair of rolled up socks in it.
Not exactly a Hollywood prop but little Bluffs like that can be
very effective. I then asked him what kind of
fight we were going to. Tony pause before speaking and
then asked if I remembered what he'd said about those Muay Thai
fights and Thailand. I remembered exactly what he'd
said about those young hungry Fighters and how ferociously
they fought. Tony had also mentioned that
some of those fights were unsanctioned events.
Sometimes organised between towns or Villages your best
fighter versus ours for honor glory and Untold riches for
those with the stones to risk their hard-earned money.
And that's when it clicked. Tony wasn't taking me to a
boxing match. He knew was rigged.
He was taking me to an unsanctioned illegal boxing
match that he had organized himself.
I had to remind myself that I was recording the whole
conversation. And since he was feeling
talkative, I decided to ask so much more direct questions
questions. I remember asking him with this
sort of feigned horror. It's not going to be bare
knuckle is it? Tony didn't say anything.
He just nodded. I then asked if the fighters
ever got hurt. He told me Combat Sports can be
dangerous. Sometimes people go down and
they don't get back up again, sad fact.
And it was my turn to stay quiet not so much because of the
brutal honesty behind Tonys words, but because I suddenly
realized what it happened to the missing Robbie a clean cut
Square go loud like him would never have gambled as wages
away. But what he might have done is
accept an offer to fight in one of those matches if it meant
walking away with a king's Ransom in prize money enough to
move to Glasgow enough to kick-start his dream sooner
rather than later. I thought I had the perfect
opportunity to ask and considering what Tony had just
said I felt like I was on the cusp of him admitting to being
involved in Robbie's disappearance.
But when I asked him if anyone had died in the ring recently,
he told me. I think that's enough questions
for now, don't you? And as he said that I started to
recognize some of the buildings we were passing, but they didn't
make any sense at all. They would have meant that Tony
had just driven us around in circles for maybe 10 to 15
minutes only for us to end up right back where we started.
I asked Tony again. Where are you taking me?
And once again, he told me you'll see.
And seconds later, we pulled up outside a building that I
recognized in an instant. It was the B&B that I had been
staying in. We sat there in the car for a
second before Tony slowly turned in his seat to look at me.
I kept up the act for as long as I could asking if he was pulling
some kind of wind up on me and his response made my blood run
cold. We Know Who You Are I was
scared, but I knew from my training that I had to stick to
my story no matter what. I told him.
I had no idea what he was talking about that I was exactly
who I said I was but it was no good.
I was still trying to reason with him when one of the fellas
in the backseat reached over my shoulder grabbed the dictation
machine out of my pocket and then held it up for Tony to see.
He took it and then asked me how many more of these have you got
and the heavy in the backseat must have seen me fiddling with
something in my jacket pocket as I walked to the car. but at the
time all I was thinking in my fear addled mind was how the
hell did they know? Seeing as it was most likely
pointless. I decided to stop lying and told
Tony that the dictation machine was the only one I had with me.
He then told me that we were going up to my room to have a
chat. And if I said a word to anyone
in the BNB anyone who might be awake at that time, then he'd
burn the whole place down with me in it.
We went up to my room and while Tonys Heavies ransacked the
place. It was very surreal.
Seeing them do it quietly. He told me to take a seat on the
bed. Apparently he and his boys had
decided to do a bit of research on me before they committed to
taking me to an illegal fight and whoever Tony was connected
to was a lot more capable and powerful than I could ever
imagine. Tony started explaining that I
had caused him and awful lot of trouble.
His routines would have to change he wouldn't be able to go
to the pub anymore all because he knew he couldn't trust me not
to tell my bosses everything. He said he might not have been
able to stop me talking in the past, but he'd certainly be able
to stop me from talking in the future.
And at that one of his Heavies pulled out a length of
electrical cord from his jacket pocket as the guy started to
fashion and improvised Neuse from the chord.
Tony explained that killing me would bring a lot of unnecessary
attention down on him and his business partners.
But faking a scene where I had ended my own life that would
cause a lot less of a fuss. I remember him saying something
like a lot of exquis end up that way.
No one would bat an eyelid if they'd found you hanging in a
Cupboard would they? I can't overstate just how
chilling that was knowing that Tony and his Partners somehow
had accessed to my service records.
But ironically it was that little detail that may well have
ended up saving my life. Back when I was in Northern
Ireland one of my sections Land Rovers was caught in an IRA
Ambush near a place called crossmaglen.
I was going as we fought our way out of it, but two of my section
mates lost their lives the injuries.
I sustained resulted in my eventual discharged from the
Army. And apparently Tony had read all
of it. He'd been ready to have me
killed. He'd been ready to fake a tragic
self-inflicted end. But after reading about the
incident in which I had received a mention in dispatches, he
decided it was bad formed to kill someone who'd already
cheated death once. He gave me some big speech about
how we were both soldiers and then War.
Honorable soldiers don't just kill each other when the battle
ends. The winners and the losers come
to an agreement and according to Tony that's exactly what we were
going to do. We didn't so much come to an
agreement as Tony imposed terms. The only reason he mentioned
young boxers getting killed in those illegal fights was that he
accepted certain people deserve to know what happened to their
missing family members. They needed to accept that their
loved ones weren't coming back. So that their hearts could men
and they could move on with their lives.
But that said Tony was all I was ever going to get out of him.
And if any of my colleague's decided to visit Crossley in the
future, it was me that was going to pay the price.
Tony and his boys didn't just know about my service record and
who I worked for they knew where my mom lived any further
attempts to interfere with their operation and it'd be her that
ended up hanging in a Cupboard with a wee notes saying that she
couldn't stand the arthritic pain anymore.
That was obviously the bit which terrified me most the idea that
he might hurt my own mother. But the thing that really broke
me was the fact that he knew her name where she lived and he knew
about the medical condition. She'd been struggling with for
the better part of a decade. And even as someone who was
immersed in the world of information retrieval, I was
astounded at how Tony had been able to get his hands on all of
that information in just a few short days.
That's round about the time that I realized.
Tony couldn't have been running the illegal boxing ring on his
own. He must have had some very
wealthy and very powerful Partners to get his hands on all
my personal information so fast. For all I know they hired one of
ais's competitors, which let me tell you would have set them
back in astonishing amount of money if they wanted to get
their info in that kind of time frame.
Then after we shook on our little agreement.
Tony and his heavy is left me in a ransacked bedroom having taken
all my notebooks and dictation tapes with them.
I left Crossley with my tail between my legs having been
dramatically an unexpectedly outmatched.
I told my bosses everything that I had been compromised that my
family was at risk and to their credit.
They made arrangements to ensure their safety, but more
importantly to me. I told Robbie's parents
everything too that hadn't been part of the deal between me and
Tony as I think he knew good and well that it was a term that I
had never accept. I told them that all though I
had no evidence of it. I knew for certain that Robbie
had been manipulated into taking part in an underground boxing
match. And I also told them that there
was a very good chance that Robbie had sustained fatal
injuries during one of those fights and that the events
organizers had then covered up his death.
In all probability his body would never be found and his
Killers would never be brought to Justice.
And even with all the information I was able to
forward to the police Tony would be on the Run knowing full.
Well that his part in the operation had been compromised.
I apologized to Robbie's parents over and over again for not
being able to bring their son home but they showed patience
and strength of spirit. And that was the closest
evidence. I've come across for their being
a big man upstairs. They told me what I had done was
enough that I'd brought the more answers and more closure than
the police had an almost a year of investigating.
It didn't matter to them that Robbie's Killers might in face
Justice in life. Because in their opinion the
Justice they'd faced in the great.
Thereafter would be far greater than anything.
They'd have to suffer on Earth. I was halfway through my third
year at College when I started to really understand the lay of
the land. This was no ordinary college
town. nestled deep in the Appalachian Mountains the crisp
frostbitten are of winter seemed to seep right into your bones
and the locals or townies as we students called them carried a
chill in their demeanor just as biting the school was a speck of
Academia in a town that hadn't changed much in decades a place
where the mountains loomed over every shoulder and eyes followed
you a bit too closely at the local stores.
Most townies didn't care much for us students.
We were Interlopers seasonal Invaders in their studies
slow-paced world. They viewed us with a mix of
Suspicion and disdain an undercurrent.
That was always there the rarely spoken out loud.
There was one place though where our worlds collided the club.
It was an old bar with a battered wooden sign and
windows. So fogged up with age and
cigarettes smoked that you couldn't see inside until you
pushed through the door. On Any Given night it thrummed
with a mix of Johnny Cash and the latest pop hits a bizarre
cocktail of old and new that somehow defined this town.
It was frequented by both students and locals a neutral
ground or so it seemed I'd heard stories about one particular
townie a rugged guy who looked like he'd been chiseled out of
the mountains themselves. He had a reputation.
Saturday nights he'd walk into the club with a storm cloud over
his head looking for trouble and he almost always found it last
weekend. He'd plopped down Uninvited at a
table of students. The air had thickened heavy with
the imminent threat of violence that seemed to follow him like a
shadow. Words were exchanged none too
friendly and it didn't take long before fists did the talking.
The students ended up in the hospital and the townie.
He walked away Scott free. The owner a Burley man with a
graying beard and weary eyes never interfered business as
usual. As I sat in my dorm room a small
cramped space I shared with the Buddy from back home the story
replayed in my mind. My dad a Stern man with a moral
backbone that could withstand any storm always told me son.
Don't you ever let yourself be a victim stand up for what's right
stand up for your friends. His words were a constant echo
in my thoughts a mantra that I couldn't shake off.
That week as the temperature dropped in the winds howled like
The Lonesome cries of the mountain.
I made a decision. No more we wouldn't cower.
We'd confront. Preparation was key.
I wasn't just going to walk into the lion's den without armor.
I gathered old magazines stacking them thick around my
torso securing them with electrical tape until I
resembled a makeshift Knight. Into my jacket pocket, I slipped
and empty Coke bottle just a piece of trash to anyone who saw
it but in the right hands it was as good as a baton.
Saturday night came with a Vengeance the cold biting harder
than usual as if it too since the Brewing storm, we headed to
the club early claimed to table with a good view of the door and
waited the place filled up fast the air mix of laughter chatter
in the undercurrent of music. That was too loud to allow for
easy conversation. My heart beat a rhythm against
the magazine armor and anticipation mixing with fear
and a stubborn unyielding resolve.
Tonight's the night. I whispered to my friends my
voice steady. We teach that jerk a lesson.
The door swung open letting in August of icy air and there he
was silhouette framed like a gunslinger in an old western
Showtime. The moment he stepped through
the door. The club's atmosphere thickened
like the pressure drop before a storm.
He scanned the room his eyes hard, unsmiling a hunter gauging
his terrain. My grip tightened around the
beer glass the cold sweat of it mirroring my own.
He ambled over and without an invite dropped into the chair
next to me. The old wooden seat groaned
under his weight as if it too protested his presence.
I kept my eyes on the Amber liquid in my glass watching the
bubbles rise and burst a momentary distraction from the
tension building at our table. Well, look who decided to join
us. I murmured my voice edged with
feign cheerfulness. My friend stiffened the banter
dying on their lips as they eye the Intruder.
He didn't say a word his hand found my thigh squeezing tight a
Grimace of a smile on his face as if enjoying the discomfort he
elicited. The club buzzed around us but at
our table the silence was suffocating.
You certainly aren't shy I commented laughter forced and
Hollow the bar quieted the sudden drop in noise making my
next move feel like a spectacle. With my free hand, I pretended
to adjust my cap. And as my hand came down, I
flicked a pinch of Copenhagen snuff from my cheek right into
his eye. He recoiled cursing as his hands
flew up to his face. Seizing the moment.
I drove my fist into his throat and action as shocking to him as
it was to me. He stumbled back toppling the
chair a look of bewildered pain on his face.
Take It Outside the owner barked his voice cutting through the
chaos. Outside the cold hit us like a
wall but adrenaline kept the chill at Bay the town he was on
his feet Fury etched across his features as he lunged at me.
I dodged the Magazine's taped to my chest absorbing the brunt of
his poorly aimed punch. My hand found the coke bottle in
my jacket as he came at me again this time.
I didn't dodge I swung the bottle connecting with a
sickening thud against his skull.
He staggered days, and that's what my friends joined in.
The alley echoed with the sound of our boots against his body
the grunts and curses filling the air.
He fell then his cries cutting short as he curled into himself
defenseless the brutality of our actions the rage and fear
mingled into a potent toxic Rush.
We kicked until our breaths came heavy and harsh until the
distant wail of sirens pierced our Fury.
Let's go I shouted and we scattered the taste of violence
bitter in my mouth. Months later I saw him again.
He was by the bar in a wheelchair his body smaller
broken our eyes met his flinching with a vulnerability
that punched me harder than any fist could I looked away haunted
by the memory of that night by the justice and revenge.
We thought we served. Sitting there staring into my
drink. I felt the weight of my father's
words of the lessons on right and wrong.
Had we crossed a line. the victory fellow the lesson bitter
Actions and consequences, they follow you Echo back in ways you
can't predict and as I left the club that night the chill wasn't
just from the mountain are it was from the realization of what
we'd become of what I'd become. a protector a perpetrator the
lines had blurred and the reflection in the glass wasn't
one. I recognized anymore.
I think the worst investigation I ever worked on seemed like a
basic proof of infidelity job. At first we got a call from a
client who suspected his wife was cheating on him with a
colleague. He was often away on business
and had harbored suspicions for some time.
To gather solid evidence. He called us.
Some of you might wonder why he didn't just set up Nanny cams or
go through her phone. The explanation is simple
digital literacy. The client was in his 60s and
his wife was in her twenties. He was unfaithful but he
couldn't secure a clean break divorce without evidence to
contest the prenuptial agreement.
When he first suspected his wife of having her boyfriend over he
installed Nanny cams to catch them in the act.
Somehow they figured out the cameras were there and changed
venues to avoid getting caught. Next he tried to sneak a look at
her phone hoping to guess the password and sift through her
emails and such. She had it bricked before he
even had a chance and some tech kid wanted a hefty feed a bypass
the security and retrieve the data.
We charged him half that amount to obtain photographic evidence
of an intimate Rendezvous. Nothing salacious, of course,
but incriminating enough to facilitate a Swift and
inexpensive divorce. The wife was clever.
She avoided her boyfriend while her husband was in town.
But as the saying goes when the cats away the mice will play.
To catch her the husband planned a fake business trip didn't
leave the city and stayed in a nice Downtown hotel.
He paid us to tail his wife while demanding updates every
five minutes. That was me for five nights
following this woman and her boyfriend around the city while
my partner sat in the passenger seat taking pictures.
Each night. He'd take her to his condo in
the suburbs and every morning he drive her back home.
They had no clue. They were being followed
especially at night when it was dark and they visited high
traffic areas. I was on the night team from 8
p.m. To 8 a.m.
Since the boyfriend drove the target home so early my partner
and I would be there to see it blurry eyes and wired on Dunkin'
coffees. But then one morning the
boyfriend came out alone looking like he hadn't slept a wink all
night, but was somehow headed to the gym early dressed in a
hoodie and shorts after tossing a suspiciously full gym bag into
the trunk of his car. They took off.
At first my partner and I joked about it.
I woke him up pointed to our guy and probably made some
inappropriate joke about how he in the client's wife had been up
all night. We didn't grasp the significance
of this deviation until much later that day.
After spotting the red-eyed boyfriend walking out of his
condo alone. We handed over to the day team
and went home for some rest. When we were ready to start
again, I checked in with the day team amazed to learn they were
still parked outside. The boyfriend's condo.
He hadn't returned home from work.
And as far as they knew our clients wife hadn't left the
condo either. Our dating thought the pair had
a heavy night of drinking and dancing among other things but
by 8:00 p.m. With neither the wife nor her
boyfriend spotted they began to suspect something was amiss.
They informed us but we only really understood the situation
at about 8 p.m. I remember telling my partner 20
bucks says he's back before dark.
The guy must be running on fumes already.
A few hours later. I was handing over that $20
still staring at the guys empty parking spot.
We didn't have anything else to do but sit there watching the
condo for any sign of the wife. She was our Target not her
boyfriend. And if it any point we felt we
needed to track him to find her we deal with that as a king.
So for the second night in a row, we sat outside the
boyfriend's condo bored out of our skulls.
We were almost constantly in touch with the client and
obliged to be frank about the status of our investigation.
We had to level with him. There had been no sign of his
wife or her boyfriend for 24 hours.
He told us to keep him updated and left us to our work.
We waited all night, but still there was no sign of either the
Target or her boyfriend. By that point we suspected the
wife had tricked us into waiting there while she sneaked out a
backdoor. We called our boss who agreed.
We should check out the client's home for any activity.
There was no sign of anyone there.
But soon after it was no longer a problem.
The day team took over for the next 12 hours, and it was our
turn to rest. Come 8:00 p.m.
At our Handover. We learned there had been no
activity at the client's house or the boyfriends condo.
The day team had tried several other regular Hangouts of the
boyfriend in our clients wife, but there was no sign of them
anywhere. That meant 36 hours of no
contact, which is not what our clients pay us for but then
right as we were trying to think of a way to get back on track,
we got a call from our boss. The client had reached out with
some concerning news. His wife had been due to meet a
friend for a dinner date but hadn't shown up equally
concerned her friend had called her husband our client saying
that she hadn't sent any cancellation and wasn't
answering any calls. Obviously the loss of contact
was concerned but having one of her friends on the verge of
reporting her missing suggested a whole other level of urgency
was required. We had to make sure she wasn't
still in the boyfriend's condo. Since it was only a few minutes
past 9:00. I figured I might catch the
building superintendent to run an old scam on him and try to
get a look inside. I told my partner to stay put
God out of the car and walked right up to the apartment
building. I tried to open the door without
a key. And as soon as I started loudly
trying the superintendent came running to see who I was.
I explained that I was looking for a friend of mine how I
hadn't seen him in a few days and how I was worried about him.
The guy started giving me all that.
I can't let you in without prior permission, but I turned the
Hollywood up to 11 and started giving him a whole sob story
about how my friend had recently been diagnosed with cancer and
was taking it really hard. I added that his mom was in the
hospital with a busted hip having fallen down the stairs
when she heard the news and fainted.
I laid it on thick for the guy said whatever tear-jerking thing
came to mind and in the end he agreed to show me into the
boyfriend's apartment so long as it was under his strict
supervision. mission accomplished, right if the wife
was in there, I could say that I was mistaken and that I must
have given the wrong address. Sure, that was getting a little
too close to the Target for Comfort.
But these were not your regular circumstances anymore.
The client wasn't just concerned for his wife's Fidelity anymore.
He had a bad feeling that she might have stolen a bunch of
jewelry from him then ran off with her lover after losing
their tail. He hadn't told us that was a
possibility before but when he did it made the situation time
critical so to speak. Anyway, we headed up the stairs
to the second floor and the guy let me into the condo that we
had been staking out. He opened the door for me
reminding me that he was about to tail me everywhere.
Then off we went into the TV room the kitchen and eventually
the bedroom. I went to open it and found the
door was locked. I called out not specifically to
the wife just to anybody but no one replied the guy then started
saying how no one was home. But I started explaining how we
definitely needed to get that bedroom door open because I was
scared that my buddy had done something terrible either to
himself or someone else. He said he didn't have the keys
to the doors inside of these units which was understandable.
But then as he was talking he suddenly stopped his eyes went
wide and he pointed down at my hand.
There was blood like old half dried stuff smeared across my
lower fingers and palm all from where I had gripped the door
handle. My adrenaline started pumping.
I told the guy to call the cops because either they were going
to have to arrest me for criminal damage or they were
going to want to see what ever the hell was behind that locked
bedroom door. I knew I'd have to stay.
Anyway. I had freaking forensics all
over my hands. So when the guy agreed to go get
the cops, I just hung out in the hallway outside and called my
partner to let him know things had taken a real dark turn up
there. We suspected the worst but
having it confirmed didn't make it any easier.
The cops arrived with the whole team.
They got the bedroom door open and there she was lying on the
floor strangled. We didn't find out until much
later on but the wife had actually tried to break it off
with her lover after a night on the town.
She thought one last blowout would soften the blow but after
too many cocktails, the guy wasn't anywhere near as
level-headed as she figured he might be Somehow he came to the
decision that if he couldn't have her no one could.
That morning when we saw him wearing his workout gear and
looking like he hadn't slept he'd murdered our clients wife
Lester than an hour before we were sat there in our car having
no clue that a murder was happening less than 100 yards
away. It makes me sick to think about
even all these years later knowing that we were so close,
but there was nothing we could have done to stop it.
I heard lover boy went to prison for first-degree murder.
And that the rich client remarried not long after.
I have a ton of stories from my time as a private investigator,
but that's by far the one that haunts me the most.
It was a hot summer night and I couldn't believe we were
actually doing this. We were heading to Payne Road a
place that everyone in North Carolina whispered about the
stories were all kind of scary and honestly, I was a bit scared
too, but I didn't want to show it in front of Angel and Robert.
Are you sure about this? I asked as we drove closer to
our spooky destination the cars headlights barely cut through
the thick darkness of the Rural Road leading to the infamous
bridge where it all happened. Come on.
It'll be fun. Don't you want to see if the
stories are true Robert replied from the backseat his voice full
of excitement in a bit of mischief.
Angel just smiled at me from the passenger seat her eyes
sparkling with curiosity. The legend said that a long time
ago a man named Edward Payne did something terrible on that
bridge? They said he heard his family
and other people really badly all to make some evil spirits
happy. Now people said that the bridge
in the road were haunted by those spirits.
As we drove the road got narrower and darker there
weren't any street lights and the trees loomed over us like
giant Shadows. My hands were a bit sweaty as I
gripped the steering wheel tighter.
Finally, we saw the sign Edwards Road this was it I turned down
the road and my heart started to beat faster.
We drove for a while. The car's engine rumbling
quietly in the still night air. The road was bumpy and seemed to
go on forever. Let's stop on the bridge and
turn the car off Angel suggested when we finally reached the old
bridge. It was a part of the game
according to the stories. If you turned your car off on
the bridge, it wouldn't start again because the ghosts were
holding it back. I parked the car right in the
middle of the bridge and turned off the engine.
We sat there in silence waiting. one minute two minutes Nothing
happened. The only sound was our breathing
in the distant call of an owl. This is BS, I said feeling a mix
of relief and disappointment See, there's nothing to before I
could finish Angel reached over and turned the key in the
ignition. The car made a clicking sound
but it didn't start. She tried again.
Still nothing. my heart dropped Was the legend true?
Maybe it's just the car. I muttered trying not to sound
scared but my voice shook a little.
Robert laughed from the back or maybe it's the ghosts.
He joked, but I could tell he was a bit nervous now, too.
After a tense moment, I put the car in neutral and we all got
out to push it. It rolled forward slightly.
And when I tried the ignition again the engine roared to life.
We all jumped back in not wanting to stay a second longer.
As we drove away from the bridge.
I tried to laugh at all. See no ghosts just a little car
trouble. But deep down I wasn't so sure
the lights on the dash flickered oddly as we drove away and the
air felt colder. I glanced in the rearview mirror
half expecting to see something or someone sitting in the
backseat. We decided to go further down
the road ignoring the uneasy feeling in our guts.
I didn't know it then but the night was far from over.
Our adventure on Payne Road was just beginning and things were
about to get a lot scarier. As we drove deeper into the
night the Eerie feeling we had on the bridge didn't go away.
In fact, it got worse the road Twisted through Dark Woods that
seemed to watch us as we passed. I kept driving trying to focus
on the road ahead. But my mind was stuck on the
bridge and the car not starting. Let's turn around and go back.
Angel suddenly said I was surprised because she seemed the
bravest out of all of us are Really you want to go back
there? I asked my voice a little shaky.
Yes. I feel like we missed something.
Let's just take one more. Look she insisted.
Robert agreed and even though every part of me screamed to
just go home. I turned the car around we were
heading back to the bridge as we approached.
I felt a knot in my stomach. It was like something was
pulling us back something strong and not very nice.
We parked near the bridge again. But this time we didn't turn off
the car. We just sat there staring at the
dark road that crossed over the creek.
That's when we saw it. Right in the middle of the
bridge was a perfect circle. It looked like it was glowing
faintly a soft white light. That didn't make any sense.
What is that Robert whispered? I don't know, but I'm going to
find out angel said before I could stop her.
She got out of the car and started walking towards the
circle. Angel wait I called out but she
didn't stop. It was like she couldn't hear
me. Robert and I looked at each
other scared, but knowing we couldn't leave her alone out
there. We got out and hurried after her
as we got closer the air felt cooler in the silence louder.
My heart was pounding so hard I could barely hear anything else.
Angel reached the circle and stood right in the middle of it.
She looked back at us her face pale and her eyes wide.
It was like she was seeing something we couldn't guys.
I think we should go Robert said his voice barely a whisper.
I nodded feeling the same fear. I reached out and grabbed Angels
arm gently pulling her away from the circle.
Let's get back to the car. Now.
I said we all rushed back to the car jumped in and I hit the gas.
The car moved forward and as we left the bridge behind I didn't
dare look back. As we drove away the attention
in the car was thick. Nobody said anything for a few
minutes. Then Angel's phone, which was
lying on the dashboard started to make weird noises.
It was like a high-pitched screaming mixed with static.
She grabbed it trying to make it stop but the noises only got
louder. It won't turn off.
She yelled over the noise. Finally after what felt like
forever the noises stopped as suddenly as they had started.
Angel dropped the phone like it was hot and we all breathed a
sigh of relief. I don't know what just happened,
but I don't think we should ever go back there I said and for the
first time that night nobody argued with me.
We drove in silence each lost in our thoughts wondering if we had
really seen what we thought we'd seen or if it was all just our
imagination. But one thing was sure none of
us would ever forget what happened on Payne Road.
I was a private detective in Michigan for four years
following a long career in law enforcement.
Ironically it was during what was intended to be for short
quiet years that I encountered my most frightening and
disturbing case. Our agency received a call from
a woman who suspected her husband of having an affair.
She said she knew he was lying when he claimed to be working
late, but essentially said she couldn't deal with the emotional
stress of personally uncovering the affair if one was indeed
taking place. That's where I came in.
If the client's husband was engaged in an extra marital
Affair than it was my job to compile as much photographic
evidence as possible before presenting said evidence to the
client. On the surface.
It was pretty standard private investigator work.
The kind of thing that makes up about 30 to 40% of all our time.
But in actual fact it was one of the most disturbing and
mystifying events of my entire career.
So as I've already touched on the client had already done some
of the preliminary work herself. She was fine with him working
late. And at first she was proud of
him for sacrificing his time for the good of their children.
But her real suspicions began when they're rather active love
life petered out before dropping off completely.
Her husband then started to acting increasingly withdrawn
and seemed disinterested in pretty much anything.
That wasn't work related. She said that she tried talking
to him, but he just brushed the whole thing off as if she were
simply imagining things. Then an incident where he proved
a little overprotective of his cell phone proved to be the
final straw the client's husband seemed to descend into a minor
panic at the prospect of her gaining unfettered access to it
since she couldn't gain access to any of his devices.
She decided to check in with his place of work to see if he
really was working late when she found out that was a lie.
She attempted to follow him one evening after he clocked out of
work, but when she saw him driving toward the city limits,
she didn't have the nerve to follow him.
Her husband didn't work late every night.
So we had to wait for a call from the client.
But when we did I got into position and then taled him
after he got out of work at around 5:30.
Just like his wife had said He drove miles towards the city
limits and then drove a few more miles out into the country
before turning down a dirt road. I didn't immediately follow him.
That's not something you'd ever do during a covert Pursuit.
Not unless it was a life or death kind of situation.
If the dirt road had a dead end I could possibly give myself
away. So the thing to do was to keep
going pull over and then use Google Maps to see where the
road LED. According to Google the dirt
road led to two places the first being the next stretch of
highway over and the other being some kind of industrial
facility. At first I figured the whole job
had been a complete false alarm because if he was driving out to
some industrial site. It was most likely work-related.
Right but just to be certain I started looking into the company
that owned the site and how it might be related to the husbands
and employment. Figuring I might as well since I
was pulled over and had my phone in hand.
I saw that the sighting question according to google was
permanently closed. While that didn't mean the
husband was there for legitimate reasons.
It did raise my suspicions a little So in just sitting there
and peering at satellite images from 2013, I decided to double
back turned down the dirt road, I'd seen the husband go down and
then go check out the industrial compound for myself.
I pulled up outside the gates only to see a very derelict
looking place. all rusted shipping containers and falling
down warehouses Again, it didn't preclude the possibility that
the husband was professionally involved in some way, but I
still didn't know if he was actually there.
I couldn't see his car and for all I knew he'd carried on down
the dirt road to that other stretch of highway.
I'd have to tail him again to get a concrete idea of where he
was going. But luckily that's exactly where
the guy was headed. Next time I tailed him he turned
down the dirt road and I followed at a distance.
Then when we got to the chained up Gates of the derelict
industrial compound the husband stopped his car and then got out
just as I rolled past him. I could see him watching me out
of my rear view just standing next to his car still as a
statue and he waited until I was way down the dirt track before
he moved again. I managed to hover at the very
end of the track long enough where it met the highway that I
caught a glimpse of the client's husband driving his car into the
derelict industrial complex. Then when I circled back to take
a look the chain on the compounds gate had been locked
again, but when I peered past its iron bars, there were no
parked cars anywhere to be seen. I did a brief check of the
fencing around the compound and founded all so Rusty and
dilapidated that breaking in would be relatively easy.
Obviously we were in touch with the client at every stage of the
investigation. But as you can probably guess
she wanted to know what was in that compound just as much as I
did. Or more accurately.
She wanted to know what her husband was doing there if he
wasn't working in some capacity. The client was still insistent
on getting conclusive evidence. Or at least proving once and for
all that her husband wasn't being unfaithful.
As a private detective I had something of an advantage in
this situation. When I was a cop there was no
way that I could just force my way onto private property like
that unless I could handle the whole heap of trouble.
That would be headed my way if I was caught doing so.
But as a private investigator the worst thing that could
happen on the legal side of things.
Anyways would be getting charged with trespassing by some cops.
This obviously gave me a lot more operational maneuverability
and meant that I could get into the compound and finish the job
with out having to worry about getting my ass fired.
I didn't try to break into the compound until I had received
implicit instructions from the client after all a risk was
still a risk and I didn't want to take one unless I absolutely
had to but once we got the okay and a call saying the husband
was working late again, I readied myself to collect the
conclusive proof that the client was paying us for I repeated the
process of following the husband from his place of work to the
abandoned industrial site. But then instead of immediately
following him to his apparent destination.
I continued down the highway for around 10 to 15 minutes before
doubling back towards the site. Whatever he was doing and
whoever he was doing it with I wanted to catch them in the act,
you know not walk in on them setting up or just talking or
whatever and potentially jeopardize the entire
investigation. It'd be a delicate operation.
But it also perfectly illustrates why I was so
reluctant to let go of my vocation even after the standard
retirement age. While many of my peers were
content to move down to Florida Keys and spend their Twilight
years just fishing. I knew right from the second I
even heard the word retirement that I had missed the adrenaline
rush that came with the sharp edge of detective work.
I guess what I'm trying to say is I was actually pumped to
break into that site track down my Target and catch him in the
act. Not so much out of any ill
feeling towards him. I just wanted to get to the
bottom of this mystery. As I said, I waited around 20 to
30 minutes before parking my car on the dirt road and then I
searched for the weaker section of the fence that I had spotted
on my first time around. Then after getting inside an
armed with a flashlight a video camera I said about searching
the derelict industrial site for any sign of the client's
husband. The place was huge blocks and
blocks of old warehouses and what appeared to be abandoned
manufacturing facilities. But the gaps between them were
wide enough to drive a vehicle down and eventually I came
across a group of them all parked outside of this one
Graystone building that looked different from the others at
this point. I switched on the video camera
making sure to get a shot of the husband's vehicle along with its
place. But just as I got the shot, I
started to hear something real fainted first, but it got louder
and louder as I approached the building.
It was the sound of something crying out and it sounded like
pain but it sounded muffled too. Like either they were gagged or
someone was covering their mouth with a hand.
At that point I slid my flash light back into the holster on
my belt and then grabbed my pistol instead.
My heart rate was beginning to pick up and although I wouldn't
say that I was scared. I was extremely apprehensive.
Like I said earlier, I thought the job was going to be your
basic tale them and tape them kind of deal.
So to hear those screens was to realize that this wasn't your
basic private investigator work at all.
This was something different. I remember creeping towards the
front doors to the big concrete building and thinking to myself.
This is a real dumb idea. There was a good chance that I'd
be outnumbered and possibly outgunned too.
God forbid but the prospect of abandoning whoever was in there
screaming that was something I couldn't allow myself to do.
I guess more out of practice than principal, but still I
couldn't just walk away. So I opened up the door crept
inside and carried on walking very gently towards the source
of the screaming which appeared to be inside a room down a Dusty
dark core door. There was a pattern to it too.
The screams would start up. These skin crawling growls and
yells then they die off again. In between the screams, I'd hear
voices some laughing some talking and then the screams
would start up again just as loud as before.
I got closer and closer until eventually I'm right outside the
room the screams are coming from I took a breath made sure my
pistol was locked and loaded and then burst into the room only to
be greeted by something that looked like a scene from a
horror movie. Surrounded by five men a sixth
had been tied to a chair and by the looks of things they had
been taking turns torturing him. He'd been stripped to his
underwear had blood dripping from various cuts to his arms
and legs and there were also what looked like burn marks all
over his body. The first thing I yelled was
State Police, don't move. And that worked like a charm
initially. I directed everyone who wasn't
tied to a chair to stand facing the wall, except one who might
order to untie the victim. I told him not to look at me,
but he didn't listen and the second he saw my video camera.
He knew that I wasn't with the cops.
I mean what kind of State cop works alone while carrying a
goddamn video camera of all things?
He might have figured out who I wasn't but then again I wasn't
the one with the gun pointed in their face.
The guy freed the captive victim from the chair who was still
gagged and could barely walk. They were mumbling something
under their gag something at the time I figured was either thank
you or some variation on that, but I told them to save it until
we were actually in the free and clear.
The last thing I told those sadistic strangers was that they
should stay put because anyone who came chasing after me would
most likely be shot by my backup officers who were currently
rushing to the scene. It was a total Bluff.
But only one of them knew it for certain and he appeared to have
way more sense than I gave him credit for because he stayed put
with his buddies and opted not to get shot.
All I remember feeling is relief that the group weren't heavily
armed or that a shootout hadn't erupted as soon as I stormed the
room. They occupied.
I still had no idea what was going on at that point.
But I knew it was some majorly bad juju and almost certainly
the doing of some organized crime Group, which meant that I
wanted to get the hell out of there with the victim as fast as
humanly possible. I got them to a hospital and
stayed with them until the cops showed up so I could give us a
statement on what it happened. After that, it was time to talk
to the client about what I had seen which I can assure you was
not an easy process. I guess no one wants to find out
that their spouse had been taking part in the brutal
torture of another human being and that they're better off
talking to a defense attorney as a post to the divorce kind.
But in this case the client took it particularly badly after
that. She no longer desired to retain
our services. So we parted ways after sending
her a bill. I guess the reason that this one
stays with me so much is not because I walked in on something
so horrible. It's because I have no idea why
it was happening. To this day.
I've never heard anything about any Michigan torture case.
I don't even know if the husband ended up getting arrested.
All I know is that taking that job meant that I was in the
right place at the right time to save someone a whole world of
life-changing torment. The moment I set my wheels on
the winding path leading into the Cascade Mountains.
I felt a weight begin to lift off my shoulders.
It's strange how the open road and Untamed Wilderness can
momentarily make you forget your troubles.
Even if those troubles involve a failing marriage and the harsh
memories of a second deployment in Iraq.
I drove my trusty 2000 Ford F-150 a companion that had seen
better days but was as determined as I was to escape
the noise of the world. The closer I got to the
mountains the more the landscape changed the trees grew denser
the air cooler and fresher and the sounds of civilization faded
away. It was just me my thoughts and
the road turning off the highway onto an overgrown path barely
noticeable from the road. I felt a thrill of Adventure
this road looked like it hadn't seen visitors in years exactly.
What I was hoping for the path was narrow and branches
scratched against the side of my truck as if warning me to turn
back. But I pressed on driven by a
need for solitude. The road ended in a quiet field
surrounded by dense woods with a small stream Meandering through
the middle. It was perfect.
I parked my truck near the edge of the field and stepped out
into the cool air. The silence was almost
overwhelming, but it was exactly the kind of piece I needed.
Setting up camp didn't take long.
I unfolded my old camper shell in the back of the truck pumped
up the inflatable mattress and threw some blankets on top.
I gathered wood for a fire thinking of how the crackling
Flames would be my only company to tonight.
Once the fire was going I sat back and cooked myself a decent
meal of steak and potatoes something.
I hadn't done in a long time. It felt good to take care of
myself like this. As the sun dipped below the
Horizon painting the sky with shades of orange and purple.
I sat by the fire a glass of single malt scotch in hand.
I watched the Flames dance and listened to the gentle sounds of
the stream out here away from everything.
I could almost forget about the stress of my job the pain of my
marriage falling apart and the chaos of life back at the base.
It was in this moment with the Stars beginning to peek through
the darkening sky that I felt good for the first time in a
long time. It was just me and the
wilderness. And it felt like I had the whole
world to myself. I savored my Scotch each sip
warming me against the cool night air.
But the piece didn't last. Later, as I settled into my
makeshift bed in the back of my truck wrapped in blankets and
ready for a night under the stars.
I was startled by the sound of a growl outside heavy footsteps
seemed to circle the truck and then a high pitched scream
shattered The Silence of the night my heart raced reaching
over I grabbed my 38 Special from where it lay with an Arms
Reach. I had always carried it with me
while camping never really expecting to use it.
Sitting up. I pressed my back against the
cab of the truck straining to hear more over the pounding of
my heart. But as quickly as it had begun
the noise stopped. I peeked through the camper
window but saw only the Shadows of the trees swaying in the
breeze. Maybe it was just my imagination
fueled by the isolation and the scotch.
Trying to calm my nerves I told myself.
It was nothing just the wind or a deer perhaps.
Despite my attempts to convince myself sleep didn't come easy.
I lay awake for a long time listening to the sounds of the
night. Wondering if the piece I saw it
was just another elusive dream. That night in the Cascades
taught me the meaning of fear in a way.
I hadn't known before even with my time in Iraq under my belt.
It was supposed to be a Quiet Retreat a few days of solitude
to clear my head. But as the darkness deepened
around my campsite my sense of Peace was shattered.
I had barely dozed off when a sudden violent shaking of my
truck jerked me away. My heart thumped wildly as I sat
up disoriented and alarmed. The night was Pitch Black the
kind of Darkness. You only find far away from City
Lights. Outside angry voices and Loud
bangs on my camper shell echoed through the air turning the
quiet night into a scene from a nightmare.
Gripping my 38 special. I tried to study my breath
listening to the chaos outside. Fear crept up my spine as I
realized someone or something was deliberately trying to scare
me or worse. The voices grew louder more
menacing and it seemed like the whole truck was being rocked by
a storm. I knew I had to get out of
there. With my heart and my throat I
crawled through the small sliding window into the driver's
seat. My hands shook as I fumbled with
the keys the noise outside growing louder and more
frenzied. When I finally got the engine
started I slammed the truck into gear ready to flee.
As my headlights sliced through the darkness I gasped.
A circle of people in dark robes surrounded my truck their faces
hidden shouting and waving their arms.
The sight of them so unexpected and terrifying in their sudden
appearance froze me for a moment.
But fear overpowered shock and I knew I had to act fast.
Throwing the truck into reverse. I heard shouts as I backed away
the robed figures jumped aside, and I didn't wait to see if they
would come after me. I turned the truck around and
sped down the narrow Mountain Road the trees blurring past as
I pushed the pedal to the floor. My heart raced as I navigated
the rough terrain expecting it at any moment to feel a hand on
my shoulder or hear the crack of a window shattering.
But none of that came. The road opened up and the dense
trees gave way to the clearer roads near the highway.
Relief washed over me as I merged onto the main road
though. My hands still trembled on the
steering wheel. That's when the flashing lights
caught me a patrol car pulling me over. the officer approached
cautiously I rolled down my window my breath still coming in
short gasps and relayed what had happened as best I could.
His expression changed from suspicion to concern as he
listened when I finished he nodded slowly his face grave.
You stumbled onto the grounds of a local cult.
He explained they don't take kindly to visitors your lucky to
have gotten away when you did. His words sent a chill through
me a cult right here in these Serene mountains.
It seemed impossible yet there. I was shaking and grateful for
the presence of this officer. He let me go with a warning to
stay clear of the area and suggested.
I find a safer place to spend the night.
As I drove away the adrenaline slowly faded leaving behind a
deep exhaustion. I couldn't shake the image of
those robed figures their hostile shouts echoing in my
ears. I knew one thing for certain my
search for Solitude would never bring me back to these
mountains. The day we moved into the old
house and Bitterroot Montana, I could already tell something was
off. The town was almost hidden from
the rest of the world with just a couple of gas stations a
church a school that looked too quiet and more bars than seemed
necessary. The houses were spread out each
one looking like it had its own set of Secrets.
I'm Alex by the way, I was about 13 when my mom decided it was
time for a fresh start away from the city and closer to the
unknown with our stuff packed in a rickety old moving truck.
We rolled into town under a sky. So wide and empty it made me
feel smaller than ever. Our new home wasn't new at all.
It was a small three-bedroom house with peeling paint and a
yard that looked like it hadn't seen a lawn mower in years.
Mom tried to make it sound magical like we were adventurers
settling in Uncharted Territory. But all I felt was a chill down
my spine as we stepped inside. The house was quiet too quiet.
Like it was holding its breath waiting for something.
Mom busied herself with unpacking humming Tunes to fill
the silence. I wandered from room to room my
sneakers echoing on the hardwood floors.
It should have felt exciting a new place full of nooks and
crannies to explore but instead I felt eyes on me watching it
made my neck tingle. I've always been into paranormal
stuff ghosts hauntings all of it.
So naturally I tried to convince myself.
I was just imagining things. It's easy to creep yourself out
when you're in a strange new place, right?
But it didn't feel like my imagination.
It felt like something was there.
Just out of sight. That night as I lay in my new
room surrounded by unpacked boxes and the soft glow of my
NightLight. I couldn't shake the feeling of
being watched. Every little sound made me jump
the house settling the wind against the window.
Even the distant bark of a dog it all felt like a warning the
next few days weren't much better.
I started noticing Shadows that lingered a little too long cold
spots in the hallway the faint smell of something burnt when
nothing was cooking. I tried to tell Mom, but she had
enough on her plate and I didn't want to add to her stress.
So I kept it to myself. Curiosity got the best of me one
evening and I found myself pulling out an old Ouija board.
I'd brought along. I set it up in the living room
the candles flickering as my fingers hovered over the
planket. Is anyone there?
I whispered half not wanting an answer.
The plaint moves slowly jerking towards yes.
My heart raced was it just my imagination?
I wasn't sure I wanted to find out.
Just then a cold breeze swept through the room blowing out the
candles. I sat there in the dark heart
pounding feeling more alone than ever.
The days began to blur together each one filled with Whispers of
the house is passed. Mom said I was just adjusting
but I knew it was more than that.
I could feel it a presence something lingering in the
corners where the light didn't quite reach.
Settling in Bitterroot wasn't going to be easy.
As I lay in bed that night listening to the sounds of the
house. I knew one thing for sure.
We weren't alone here and I needed to find out what was
hiding in the shadows. Things in Bitterroot went from
weird to downright creepy real fast.
It had been a few weeks since we moved into the old house and I
was starting to think that maybe I should have paid more
attention to all those ghost stories.
I loved so much. They seemed a lot less fun when
it felt like you were living in one.
One night. I woke up feeling like someone
had brushed their fingers across my arm.
I sat up heart pounding and flicked on my lamp.
There was nothing there of course, but when I pulled back
my sleeve I saw them light scratchy marks on my skin.
I didn't have my dog here to blame and I certainly didn't
remember scratching myself. It freaked me out, but who could
I tell? Mom was already stressed enough
and I didn't want to scare my little brother Q or my
step-brother d. Speaking of D.
He started seeing things too more than once he'd come running
into my room eyes wide as saucers swearing.
He saw Shadows moving in the hallway even cue who usually
dismissed our talks of ghosts as just Alex being weird couldn't
deny the chill that seemed to settle over our home.
It wasn't long before we all felt it like Eyes Were Always On
Us watching waiting. I decided to do something about
it. I grabbed my flashlight and
summoned all the courage I could muster then headed to the one
place in the house that always seemed the creepiest the little
crawl space in my closet. I remember pushing open the tiny
door the hinges squeaking loudly in the quiet my hand shook as I
Shone the light inside. The walls of the crawl space
were covered in scratches and weird symbols that made no
sense. It looked like someone had been
carving them for years. The sight sent shivers down my
spine. I quickly shut the door and
backed away my mind racing with questions.
Who or what had made those marks?
The days that followed were tense.
We were all on edge jumping at every Creak and Whisper Of The
Wind. One evening.
I was outside with d trying to catch a break from the stifling
fear that hung over the house. That's when we saw them three
figures standing at the edge of the backyard.
Just beyond the dim light of our porch.
They were like Shadows, but darker with eyes that seemed to
Glow a faint Eerie yellow. I grabbed dies arm my voice
barely a whisper. Do you see them too?
He nodded and we both stood there Frozen in fear.
After what felt like forever. We ran back inside slamming the
door behind us. We didn't go outside after dark
anymore. I spent the next few days
pouring over old books and internet forums trying to find
anything that could tell me what was happening.
I even tried some silly rituals. I found online anything to stop
the feeling of being watched. But nothing worked.
It felt like the Shadows were getting closer growing bolder.
One night as we all huddled together in the living room Mom
finally opened up. She admitted she felt it too the
oppressive watchful gaze of something unseen we decided it
was time to face this together as a family.
Whatever was haunting our house. We were going to confront it.
We weren't just going to be scared anymore.
As I lay in bed that night listening to the quiet Whispers
of the house. I knew one thing for sure.
We were stronger together. And we were going to find out
what was lurking in the shadows. The story I'm about to share
with you happened to a friend of mine and to this day it gives
him chills whenever he recounts it.
Through this tail will be taken to a land remote, but beautiful
for anonymity sake I won't name the town specifically, but I
will mention that it's a small yet famous town in Greece.
One place that my friend used to and still to this day visits
quite a lot. The encounter happened
approximately 11 years ago during one summer season back
when my friend Kay was still a young kid breezing through life
with no care in the world like every kid his age.
When summer rolled around in school stopped being a nuisance
he and his parents would travel to that town to visit Kay's
Grandma who lived alone in an old but respectable house on the
outskirts. Naturally Kay after having
visited plenty of times before had become fast friends with the
kids in the town, especially one in particular whom all refer to
as J. K&J spent day after day of
summer playing around the town square playing pranks on locals
and making childhood memories the likes of which all kids make
during those tranquil months of the year.
But one memory one event will stand out Above the Rest.
Not because it was extremely funny or undeniably enjoyable,
but because it speaks of something unexplained. something
foreign in that famous Town of Greece approximately 80 years
ago a brutal event occurred during the first December of
Greece's participation in World War Two. that atrocity was
carried out by the German Army whose systematically destroyed
several Villages and towns in the region killing inhabitants
and burning homes as they move towards the town we speak of
Upon arriving on December 13 1943 the Germans gathered all
the inhabitants in the local school while proceeding to
separate the women and children from the men and boys over the
age of 12. In an all-too cruel decision the
men and boys were taken to a hillside near the town where
they were mercilessly machine gunned unmasks.
Despite the very few that managed to survive either by
pretending to be dead or managing to run away.
Almost 500 people lost their lives in a matter of seconds.
after the execution the Germans Set Fire to the town destroying
everything they could find the school along with many other
buildings was burned down as well and only by a miracle did
the women and children managed to escape the flames.
The survivors were left to deal with the devastating aftermath
including burying the dead and rebuilding their lives from the
ruins. Of course, it's natural that
such an event would scar an entire nation.
Let alone a small town. That's why after the war a
monument was built upon the hill where all those men and boys
were killed. It was a tranquil Place kaith
thought every time he visited a hill overlooking the town
Greenery all around and he did that quite often.
In fact, especially during late hours. in a town such as this
one there were not many things to look out for if any children
roaming around unattended was the norm.
So Kay and Jay took that Liberty a bit too far during the last
days of case stay in the town for summer.
The two friends decided it would be quite adventurous to visit
that Hill named the cross, especially late.
Case parents weren't and still aren't strict at all and curfew
for him was not a problem. Jay's parents would pose a
problem. However But Jay himself didn't
think so in the end slipping out seemed to be a breeze.
As the two friends walked towards the hill in the dead of
the night Kay could feel the atmosphere in the outskirts.
It was as tranquil as ever no cars.
No people no disturbances anywhere just him his friend and
the night sky It filled him with a sense of adventure.
He couldn't quite describe. Yet as the kids reached the
slope and laid down their backpacks and extremely outdated
cell phones for some music the feeling washing over Kay a
minute prior vanished as if it was never there.
Jay had grown silent too probably engrossed in the views
and tranquility. A silent stretched and stretched
causing K to feel uneasy. It was like he knew they were
not alone. The cross was always open to the
public as far as they knew but nobody could be here at this
hour, right? They weren't even trespassing or
anything and yet they fell out of place.
Kay gulped at the realization and looked around.
The story of that tragedy was no news to him and it was fair to
say he had heard it from his grandma more times than he could
count. She was only five years old back
then but the story is recounted to her by relatives always
stayed fresh and sharp enough for storytelling.
Despite knowing about the execution and the unjust deaths
of 500 Souls Kay never Associated that hill with regret
or pain. It had never felt off before
like it did now. As his thoughts began to drift J
The Chatterbox whipped his head around.
What are you looking at? K stood Frozen and it didn't
take long for Jay to notice his eyes widened body unmoving and
stiff and there it was the figure of a man clear as day
walking slowly yet deliberately towards the two boys.
He was his plane as anyone else in the town, but wore a very
outdated hat the likes of which Jay's grandfather never parted
with. The two kids stared not
breathing as they watched the man make his way towards them.
Absolutely Frozen in shock. It was a man a normal man.
But what was he doing here at this hour?
Kay's mind was a mess producing a thousand thoughts at once and
at the same time processing none.
That's when Jake got up from his position and cried out like a
wounded cat grabbing his friend as he ran run.
The two kids dashed down the hill blindly only by Miracle of
tripping over themselves or over some loose branches heaving and
panting they stopped at the foot of the hill and turned back to
look and relief. He didn't follow us who even was
that? Jay and Kay spoke in a frenzy
their hearts racing when the two of them managed to catch their
breaths J Who for some reason had regained his Vigor turned
back to his friend and said do you think we saw a ghost?
Cay hesitated thinking back to the Visage of the man He looked
normal. He finally said although barely
convincing even himself. Yeah, I guess he did.
As the two walked back home silently deciding that was
enough J turned on his heel and waved.
See you tomorrow. I better get back before they
catch on to me and lock me up till you leave.
K1 wanted to chuckle at his friend's nonchalant attitude,
but he couldn't find the courage.
How was he so calm maybe that man really was normal.
He nodded and went back home, too.
The next morning everything seemed the same as ever and
while Jay acted normally when talking to the other kids in the
Square knee last night wouldn't be the end of their Adventure.
Hey want to go back there tonight?
Sure enough. There was The Proposal.
K wanted to dissuade his danger ignorant friend, but he knew
better than to complain. This was Jay after all.
Do you really want to get possessed that bad?
Nope. Nobody's going to get possessed.
J shook his head We might not have seen a ghost after all.
K raised an eyebrow amused that Jay had left his weird fixations
aside for once. And who was that?
If not a ghost? Well, there must be an attendant
around the monument. There is the chapel close by
two, right? Kay was impressed seeing as how
his friend brought up a valid argument instead of relying on
the Paranormal to boost their adrenaline.
Could be but how do we know if it is the attendant?
Will figure that out as we go. Let's just meet up around here
later tonight. Okay?
Kay knew it was rather stupid to go back yet.
He could also feel the sense of adventure from yesterday Rising
within him once more. Okay, let's do it.
The two boys had an agreement and the plan was sealed later
that night Kay and Jake climbed up the hill just like they did
the day prior all be at a little more cautiously.
Nevertheless they reach their destination all the same.
At this time upon arriving there Jay whispered pointing at the
figure of the man. It was in fact the same man,
they'd seen yesterday. Kay's heart pounded no doubt
Jays did too but the two boys inched closer nonetheless.
They had decided after all that they would try to take a closer.
Look at the man if he didn't seem hostile towards them and he
didn't truth be told as Kay got closer and closer to the man the
man seemed almost serene. He was sitting down in the grass
looking out in the open not a care in the world. upon closer
inspection his clothes all the typical of the folk in such a
small town seemed rather old and his hat even more so As soon as
J decided that was close enough. He swallowed down the lump in
his throat and spoke. Hello.
There was a brief pause as he caught his breath.
Do you work here? Upon hearing that question.
The man finally turned towards the kid his face was simple and
his expression tranquil but beneath his eyes, there was
something almost sad melancholic.
I've worked everywhere around these parts was his answer
simple and short at first it seemed evasive but it was clear
through his tone that he didn't intend to dodge the subject.
He only seemed disconnected like he didn't want to be there.
But at the same time he didn't know where else to go.
Naturally, the two kids did not expect such a reply and they
stopped to think for a moment. Are you always here or just at
night J asked again? Trying to get the same answer in
a roundabout way. I need to go back to my wife and
kids soon. When the man spoke again Kay's
heart seemed like it had Frozen in place.
He couldn't explain why but his hair stood up all at once chills
coursing through his body. We need to leave too case spoke
softly towards J backing a few steps away and causing J to turn
and look. He was hesitant judging by the
look. He had in his eyes, but
ultimately pressed on. Are you from around here?
I am always have been the man replied this time merely looking
ahead towards the town a longing empty gaze piercing through the
night all the way to the few lights in town.
Are we disturbing you? Jay's last question left his
throat unexpectedly his eyes almost closing in anticipation
they did. Without another word Jay's body
moved the same way as Kay's as the kids shuffled away their
eyes wide and skin pale. When had the are grown so thick?
The man didn't turn to look at them as they left his eyes
stayed fixed forward his body on moving when they were out of
sight. K&J could not hold back any
longer and ran down the cliff back towards town barely
managing not to scream. when the two parted ways is always even
the energetic Jay had no snarky comment to make they bid each
other good night and went off on their way.
Thank God they lived. So close by Keith thought after
realizing what kind of dread he'd have to endure if he walked
in the dark all alone for long. Probably the same feeling of
dread that did not leave him all throughout the night.
The Tranquil Town didn't seem so peaceful in Kay's eyes anymore
the Knight seemed more eerie than ever and the cross even
more so. The next morning Kay talked
about the cross with his grandmother whose expression was
that of more than just reprimand?
Why did you go up there so late? What did you see?
Kay explained everything the man the atmosphere his words that
chilling feeling at the end that something just wasn't right and
that was when her words shattered all doubt within the
young boy. There is no attendant up there.
There's no man, that would go up there at night besides you silly
kids. Then what was it?
Kay wanted to ask but something told him he already knew the
answer to that. All those men 80 years ago Left
Behind many things families wealth all were taken away from
them. So unjustly.
It's only natural. They feel lost even after death.
Kay was expecting his grandmother to explain to him
how ghosts were not real how he was hallucinating or something
like that. But instead all her words did
was reaffirm what he himself had to do so East that that man
should not have been there because that man was dead.
That man could not be anywhere else than the cross because he
could never leave and has never left. a couple of days later kay
left alongside his parents to start up another school year in
the city he grew up in He and Jay spent a few more Summers
together and made countless other memories.
Years later k even visited the Cross Monument once again and
kept going back to enjoy the view.
But since that day, he always remembers to hold up a prayer
for those that left and for those that couldn't I have two
stories about my grandma's haunted house involving my
cousin Haley and my self. Sadly Hailey passed away in 2014
in a terrible car accident so she won't get to hear our
stories told but I'm sure she would have loved the idea of
them being shared. First off Haley and I were
always intrigued by ghosts haunting demons anything You
Name It We were interested in it.
We watched a lot of horror movies and TV shows her father
was big into horror as well. So he usually took us to the
theater to see the latest horror movie.
Haley and I even went as far as to create our own horror stories
along with drawing scary pictures to match.
We love the thrill of being scared together often huddling
under the blankets when things became a bit too scary for us.
It was mostly fun and games except for a few instances.
My mom never approved of our fascination with the Paranormal
we came from a Catholic Family that regularly attended church
on Sundays and set our prayers every night.
I had a lot of nightmares as a child and she always blamed it
on our creepy interests, which only makes sense.
All though to this day. I blame most of my fears on our
Catholic upbringing. Now my grandma's house had a lot
of religious Idols around the place and she was Catholic as
well. I never minded them.
It was normal for us to see a cross in every room.
Even though our grandma was religious.
She allowed us to watch all the scary movies and shows we could
find. She would tell us stories from
time to time one being about how she bought a Ouija board for my
aunt for one of her birthdays. Our grandma never went into
detail about the use of the board, but she did mention at
one point that she had a witch come over to look at the board.
I'm not sure why or what the witch did but our grandma kept
the board and hid it away in the Attic.
The attic door was one of those old style pull-down stairs
located in the back room of the house.
The attic itself had two parts. Half was a room for storage
where the Ouija board would be located and the other half was
made into a spare room with two beds.
The only way to access the storage part of the attic was
through a small wooden door with a sliding wood lock.
The first story takes place when Haley and I were around the age
of 10. One day we were at our grandmas
house during summer taking a break from playing outside.
My grandma was in the living room watching Judge Judy as she
always did in the afternoon. We came in to get some ice cream
and went to the back room where we would normally watch TV and
movies. That day we were watching a TV
show about exorcisms. It was a violent story that had
our full attention. Haley and I were glued to the TV
soon for getting about the world around us.
Out of nowhere. We heard a noise a scraping
sound coming from the wall next to the couch.
Our trans broke and we both quickly looked in the direction
of the sound. There was a cross hanging on the
wall, but it wasn't just hanging there.
It was slowly turning until it stopped directly upside down.
Time seemed to slow down as we watched but somehow it happened
so fast, too. Haley and I took off screaming
running to get our grandma. We were panicking as we tried to
tell her what happened with the cross.
Our grandma got up to check out the cross and we followed
reluctantly. We all made it to the back room
to find the cross now lying on the floor.
Our grandma picked it up looking at it.
She told us there was no way it could have turned and hung
upside down for it had only been stuck to the wall with blue
sticky putty. Hailey and I looked at the cross
and disbelief wondering how this could have happened.
I'm not sure if she ever believed us but Grandma took the
cross and went back to watch her show in the living room leaving
us alone in the back room. We never did get a solid answer
to what happened. Still wondering about it to this
day. Now this is about my second
story. Fast forward a few years Haley
and I were about 13 years old. Our cousins were staying the
night at our grandma's house along with us.
We were all huddled together in the back room watching One
Missed Call. The movie had ended and most of
our cousins had fallen asleep during the film.
It was late. So Haley and I decided it was
time to go to bed. We wanted to sleep in the Attic
So we pulled down the stairs that led up to the attic room
with the beds. Haley had a hard time falling
asleep, so she often listened to music before going to bed.
We said goodnight to each other before she put her headphones
on. I fell asleep almost instantly.
I was completely out when suddenly I woke up to all the
are being knocked out of my chest.
I couldn't breathe. So I quickly sat up in bed only
to see the small wooden attic door to the storage room being
shoved open with such force it hit the wall.
Haley had been awake still and saw everything.
I caught my breath and looked at her.
She screamed at me asking if I was okay.
I didn't say a word before climbing out of bed and rushing
down the stairs as Haley followed me.
We found a different room where we slept on the floor.
There was no way we were going to sleep in that attic.
The next day we told no one what happened.
We didn't even check to see if that old wooden door was still
open. Once again, we had no
explanation for the event that happened to us.
I'll never forget it either the way the air felt like it was
sucked right out of me the way I gasped to catch my breath while
seeing that door being flung wide open.
The only thing I take from our experiences is that if you go
looking for paranormal things, you will not find them so much
as they'll find you. My name is John Prescott.
And I live in a small town called Pelham.
It's a pretty place. It's in the fall when the leaves
turn bright orange and red. I teach history at the local
high school and I love telling stories about our towns passed.
But right now I'm not feeling like telling any stories right
now. I'm worried because something
terrible has happened. It all started on a chilly
Autumn evening. The house felt extra empty and
quiet which is an usual because it's normally filled with the
sound of my daughter Emily laughing or talking.
As I walked through the house the old wooden floors creaked
under my feet. I forgot to turn off the coffee
machine again and the smell of burnt coffee hung in the air.
It was just one of those days where everything felt off.
Emily had stormed out earlier that day we had a big argument
about a sleepover. She wanted to go to but I said
no. She yelled that.
She hated me before slamming the door.
I thought she would come back after cooling down as she
usually did. But hours passed and there was
no sign of her. My heart sank deeper with each
tick of the clock. Outside the wind was howling
making the colorful Autumn Leaves danced wildly.
It seemed like even nature was upset.
My wife Sarah looked as worried as I felt.
We both hadn't slept well thinking about where Emily could
be. I kept looking at the door
hoping she would walk through at any minute, but she didn't.
Sarah and I decided to call Chief Parker the police chief of
Pelham. He's a serious man who was
always taking care of our Town's problems.
Soon he was at our doorstep with a concerned look on his face.
John Sarah, I understand how tough this must be.
We'll start searching right away.
Don't worry. We'll find Emily Chief Parker
assured us. Hearing his confident words made
me feel a little better, but my stomach was still in knots.
The whole town came together to help look for Emily.
It felt good to see everyone caring so much but as the sun
set with no sign of her my hopes started to fade Pelham may look
like a perfect postcard town, but it has its secrets.
I've spent years digging into our Town's history and I know
stories that never made it into the guidebooks.
Some of those stories are about Blackwood Forest the thick Woods
that surround our town. Strange things have happened
there and now I feared Emily might have gone into that
Forest. That night as I lay in bed
staring at the ceiling. I had a strange Vision.
It was a dark cave and Emily smiling, but there was something
wrong with her eyes. It was just a flash but it felt
real. I knew then that I had to go
into Blackwood Forest. Whatever Secrets it held I
needed to find out if it had taken my daughter.
I couldn't stop pacing couldn't stop thinking.
The house creaked the wind howled and somewhere deep in the
forest. I imagined Emily was out there
waiting for us to find her and find her we would I wouldn't
rest until we brought her home safe and sound.
The next few days felt like a blur our whole town of Pelham
was on edge looking for any sign of Emily.
The forest at the edge of town Blackwood forest was a scary
place filled with old stories and legends that made even the
bravest adults hesitate before entering.
One morning something strange happened.
People who had disappeared from our town years ago started
coming back. But they were different.
They looked the same but when you looked into their eyes, it
felt like they were not really seeing you.
They stood at the edge of town not really talking just there.
It was eerie, and it made everyone even more worried Chief
Parker called a meeting at the Town Hall.
He explained that these people who had come back were a mystery
and that we needed to be careful.
We don't know what happened to them in the forest.
He said his voice serious and a little scared.
That's when I knew this was bigger than just a search for
Emily. Something strange was happening
in Blackwood Forest after the meeting.
I went home and told Sarah about what the chief had said.
We were both scared, but we knew we had to keep looking for
Emily. We couldn't just wait and hope
she would come back like the others not when she might be
lost or scared that night. I had another Vision.
It was clearer this time. I saw Emily sitting in a dark
cave surrounded by Shadows. She looked calm but it was the
calmness that scared me. Her smile didn't reach her eyes,
which looked different like they knew something.
They shouldn't. I woke up sweating and shaking.
I told Sarah about the vision and we decided it was a sign.
We had to go to the forest and find that cave.
Maybe it was the key to finding Emily and bringing her back to
us. The next day we gathered a group
of volunteers. Some were friends some were
neighbors and a few were brave souls who just wanted to help.
Chief Parker tried to talk us out of it.
But when he saw we were determined he agreed to lead the
way he knew the forest better than anyone.
As we entered Blackwood Forest a chill ran through me the trees
were so tall and close together that very little sunlight made
it through the deeper. We went the darker it got and
the more I felt like the forest was watching us.
We searched for hours calling Emily's name and looking for any
sign of the cave from my vision. Just as we were about to give up
for the day one of the volunteers shouted.
He had found something. It was a small clearing and
there right in the middle was the mouth of a cave.
My heart raced as we approached it this was it this was the
place for my vision. I felt both scared and hopeful
could Emily really be in there. What if she was what if she
wasn't? As we stood at the entrance of
the cave. I took a deep breath.
Emily I called into the darkness there was no answer just the
echo of my own voice. But I knew we had to go in we
had to find out what had happened to my daughter.
Whatever it took I was ready. This was the moment we had been
preparing for. Standing at the entrance of the
cave. My heart pounded so hard.
I thought it might burst. Sarah Chief Parker and a couple
of Brave volunteers were with me.
We all shared nervous glances knowing we were about to step
into the unknown. This cave might hold the answers
about Emily and the other strange happening around Pelham.
With flash lights in hand, we entered the cave.
The air inside was cool and damp and it sent shivers down my
spine the walls were rough and covered in some areas with
strange Mossy growths that felt like they were watching us.
As we moved deeper into the cave.
I noticed weird symbols scratched onto the walls.
They looked old maybe even ancient.
These symbols I whispered to Chief Parker.
They look like the ones in those Old Town records, I found.
If Parker nodded his face serious, let's keep moving.
He said but everyone stay closed we can't afford to get lost in
here. The deeper we went the more the
atmosphere changed. It wasn't just dark it felt
heavy like the air itself was pressing down on us every now
and then we would hear strange sounds echoing through the cave
sounds that didn't seem like they belong to any animal.
I knew. Then it happened.
As we rounded a corner we saw a faint light ahead.
It wasn't from our flashlights. It was different eerie and blue.
We approached slowly. And that's when we saw her.
Emily was there sitting cross-legged at the entrance of
a smaller chamber within the cave.
She looked up as we approached and she smiled but it was not
the warm loving smile. I remembered this smile was
different almost too. Perfect.
You found me she said in a voice that echoed oddly against the
stonewalls Emily Sarah Cried Out rushing forward, but I grabbed
her arm to hold her back. Something wasn't right.
Yes, it's me. Emily continued standing up her
movements were smooth too smooth.
But I'm not the same daddy. I've seen things learned things.
things that you wouldn't believe I swallowed hard trying to find
the words. Emily we need to go home.
We miss you. We need you.
Emily tilted her head considering my words as if they
were a puzzle. Home she echoed.
This is home. Now the forest the cave they've
shown me so much. Behind us Chief Parker signaled
us to be cautious. He whispered John we need to be
careful. We don't fully understand what's
happened to her. I nodded understanding the risk.
Emily whatever you've seen or learned we can talk about it.
Just come back with us, please. For a moment something flickered
in Emily's eyes a hint of the daughter.
I knew. I want to Daddy I really do but
I can't not yet. It was heartbreaking here.
She was right in front of us, but still so far away.
I stepped closer reaching out to her.
That will wait will be here when you're ready.
Emily smiled again that strange unsettling smile.
Thank you, Daddy. I love you.
As we left the cave leaving Emily behind for now the weight
of the situation settled over me.
We hadn't truly brought Emily back, but we had found her.
And maybe just maybe there was still hope that one day she
would return to us truly herself again.
As we walked back through the forest the Morning Light began
to filter through the trees. It was a new day and with it
came a new determination. We would find a way to help
Emily no matter what it took. It was late November near
Christmas my two brothers Colin and Tyler and I were out cave
exploring. We would often Venture into
local public caves and explore them until we reached a dead end
where it became humanly impossible to fit through some
kind of hole. However, we did get bored of the
same old caves. So this time we decided to
venture out into other states. Living in Georgia.
We took a road trip to Colorado and explored many caves.
The locals we talked to had a bit of knowledge about where to
find caves and which ones were good.
And which ones were bad. A lot of the locals told us
about one cave in particular saying it was very dangerous,
but very fun to explore if you knew what you were doing at 22
19 and 17 years old respectively the word dangerous was all we
needed to hear. We Gather all the information
about the caves whereabouts then headed out around 6 a.m.
The next morning It was easy enough to research because it
was situated just inside the national park, but could be
easily accessed by a number of trails depending on how far we
want to hike. The locals gave us the rundown
on where to park and walk in. Fast-forward to when we arrived
at the gravel parking lot for the trails.
We were honestly expecting a decent amount of cars, but we
only saw one beat up station wagon that looked like it was
from the 50s. With moss and weeds growing into
it. kind of creepy But you have to remember this was a routine
situation for us wrapping our gear out in some CD middle of
nowhere parking lot. It was all normal.
We'd all seen cars in much worse shape.
Some of them would literally be propped up on cinder blocks
Windows blown out and engines striped.
People leave the craziest stuff behind a Trailhead parking lots.
It's weird. Some of them are so unkempt and
Rural that they just get left there for years and years at a
time. So honestly, none of us really
thought much of it and headed into the woods.
The trail was plain as day. We double checked the terrain
and Direction against the map that we printed out everything
matched up. Now that we had a location and
we had a direction and with all our gear packed we could
confidently step into the forest and start our journey.
We got maybe 30 minutes into the woods during that time to
discussing our emergency plan if something were to go wrong.
That's when we heard this blood-curdling scream.
It echoed through the forest from what sounded like a couple
of miles away. We all kind of froze in fear,
but a few minutes later we started off again as if nothing
had happened. Are we not going to talk about
that I said to them? Dude, it was probably just some
stupid coyote. My older brother.
Colin said yeah, there are mountain lions out here too,
man. They make sounds like a woman
screaming. It's pretty normal stuff.
Tyler explained that was enough for them.
I however still had this apprehension about venturing
into an unknown area, especially with screams in the air.
We've done a lot of hiking lots of calving but never have we
just casually strolled by a noise like that.
Regardless we were already well into the wilderness.
I couldn't just turn back by myself that seemed more
dangerous than anything else. I put faith into my brothers and
the research and continued to follow them into the trees.
We got about an hour and a half into the hike and finally found
the cave entrance that we were looking for.
Outside of it was what looked like somebody's bloody socks.
I immediately pointed them out to my brothers.
Dude, is that blood? I said turning them over with a
stick? It's clear as day that someone
had been injured and we hadn't passed anyone while walking
along that trail. Somebody probably cut the cells
in here without shoes on or maybe even have blisters from
walking around in Boots. It happened my younger brother
said and then they just left their socks here.
I asked. Tyler hesitated before saying
yeah. I shook my head.
Do you think they're still in the cave?
Then? I asked no way Tyler said well,
we didn't pass anyone on the trail coming from the trailhead.
We didn't hear anything, but that scream.
Now there's bloody clothes at the mouth of a cave.
All of that isn't weird to you I asked.
There are like 10 trails that lead to this cave.
Colin reminded me always being the voice of reason I bet they
got injured used their socks to stop the bleeding then went back
down a different Trail to a different parking lot.
Man, I don't know about this. I felt off since we entered this
Forest I said hoping that at least one of them would agree
with me. But they both continued on as if
nothing was there. They almost seemed irritated bro
stopped being a wimp we've been in at least a million Caves at
this point and this one is no different than any of the others
calling snarked at me. Like I was ruining the trip for
him. I was very off put by this whole
situation, but my brothers didn't really seem to care.
So we turned on our headlamps and put on our hand warmers in
our thick jackets as we started off into this unknown cave.
I was the last to go in. When I was entering I felt the
voice in my head telling me to turn around.
I can genuinely say it was one of the strongest feelings I've
ever felt and just like every horror movie ignored it and went
in anyway. After about 10 or 15 minutes
inside, it was very tight. We had to crawl which I guess
was no problem seeing that we're all relatively small boys.
None of us even over 160 pounds. I was actually the tallest at
six feet but was a skinny kid. I wasn't afraid of tight spaces.
We laid down flat and began to shimmy through some of the more
narrow passages. Some of them were tighter than
the space beneath the kitchen chair, maybe 12 inches Square.
To navigate we had to inch our way through slowly emptying
every bit of our lungs to get us through.
The only part about this that made me really nervous was that
if something bad happened there was no quickest escape.
This had always occurred to me since day one.
And once we passed through one of these mouseholes we were
essentially trapped. After crawling what felt like a
mile long Rock Tunnel it finally opened up to a small cave room
with two different holes leading to two different parts of the
cave. Tyler pointed to the ground on
the right side of the cave entrance.
There are a couple of droplets of blood I froze up when I saw
it as it had to be related to the blood that we saw at the
mouth of the cave. Again, this was something I'd
never seen in my entire Outdoor Experience.
Of course, I'd seen and found weird stuff deep inside caves
evidence of homeless encampments piles of used syringes batteries
rigged together with wire literally all kinds of weird and
strange stuff blood isn't strange blood is a true real
life warning. At this point I'm thinking my
brothers are dumbasses and they will realize there's been enough
signs pointing us away from this cave and it's time to turn
around, but they can continue on as if nothing was there.
Call and used a piece of chalk to Mark The Rock Tunnel.
We just crawled out of to prevent us from getting lost on
the way back. It was an old school trick that
we picked up for more experienced cavers.
The chalk is bright enough to get your attention, but it's not
permanent. So it doesn't destroy the
geology for others. Guys, this is not a good idea.
I said but I could tell right away.
Neither of them cared they were committed to what they could
find down there and I think the blood only helped to create more
of a mystery inside their heads. Whatever weirdness that was
going on was well above my pay grade.
So all I could do was just try to explain that we needed to go
back. dude here take the car keys if you want to go, please
do but we're not going with you Colin said To avoid being left
out I continued on with them. It was also because I genuinely
was afraid of whatever they might encounter down there.
And I also felt we might have a better shot of making it out
alive. If we all stuck together, they
tested both the holes shown their flashlights as far down as
they could go before descending into the corridor to the left.
Seemed more open and seemed to have more moving are almost as
if there was a light source deeper inside that tunnel.
As we went deeper inside this cave my brother started to get
way ahead of me. While I was trying to catch up,
I looked back to see the very dim light of the sun shining
through the tunnel. We crawled through creating an
inch wide stream of light that hit the wall.
Then in the blink of an eye it disappeared.
I didn't stick around long enough to find out why.
The tunnel we crawled through was super narrow with lots of
turns. There was no way for the
sunlight to be seeping in. It had to come from something
else. I thought for a second maybe
some more cavers had come in behind us.
And for some reason that was a comforting thought to me.
So I just decided to stick with it.
I caught back up with my brothers and the further we got
into this cave the stinkier and stinkier it got it smelled like
dead animals had been rotting in that cave for months and months.
I didn't even bother mentioning that weird beam of light that I
saw. Literally nothing was going to
turn their Knuckleheads around not even the smell of certain
death. At this point I almost
encouraged us to just hurry along.
The quicker we reached the end of the tunnel the sooner we turn
around and spring for the surface.
Still we pressed on through that rotting smell as if we were
actually inside the corpse itself.
Around 30 minutes later. We got to the biggest opening
I've ever seen in a cave. We were all just admiring how
beautiful it was. It had this huge Crystal coming
from the roof and a little murky blue pool of water underneath
it. The smell of death let up
greatly here enough to make us think that we'd passed whatever
chamber it was coming from. This area seemed fresh Chris
like it had a vent to the surface directly.
Whatever the case we chilled out in there and enjoyed the cave
for what it was. While we were all sitting there
just admiring the beauty of the cave all three of us again heard
that same blood curdling scream echoed throughout the stonework.
It felt like my eardrums had burst.
Me and my brothers were all collectively holding our heads
like we just got shot in one Temple and the bullet had gone
out the other. There was no confusing it.
It was that same exact screen that we heard up in the woods
when we first got to the trailhead.
Whatever was making that sound was down here in the cave system
with us. I know what you're all thinking
because well I was thinking it too.
This all sounds like The Descent the scream we heard at least in
the cave wasn't as screechy as the one that was up top.
But the one underground definitely sounded human.
At this point me and my brothers knew it was time to get out and
it took zero convincing this time.
Our ears were still ringing from that sound from the light of my
headlamp. I could see both Colin and Tyler
getting pale Misty IDE as if they were probably realizing I
was right the whole time and they were wrong.
You could see the pieces falling into place just by watching them
hearing the first scream finding that Bloody sock the droplets of
blood now hearing that scream again this time only a few
hundred yards away. I had to say it and I didn't say
it allowed but inside my head all I could think was.
I told you so. As we headed towards the top of
the Cave opening we all heard a voice behind us.
Say why leave followed by an Indescribable Sinister laugh.
We were all bare crawling through the tunnel.
Now, we could hear something crawling behind us now.
I'll admit it wasn't closed, but it was close enough that we
could hear it. It's really hard to explain
unless you've experienced total darkness.
As there is just no way to gauge the size of a room or how far
away something is when you can't see it.
The darkness itself. Is that oppressive?
We could hear something scampering around the pool
trying to get back to the tunnel.
But when we all looked back down the corridor there was nothing
there. But you've come so far the voice
carried up to us sounding super hoarse and raspy almost like a
smoker. We scrambled all asses and
elbows to create as much distance as possible.
We ripped our shirts and shorts even damaged our backpacks from
how hard we were scraping around the rocks.
By the time we got out of the tunnel, we were all bleeding
from our heads and arms. The corridors spit us out in the
room where it forked where we had made that chalk mark on the
wall. Something or someone had very
clearly smudged that chalk line with what looked like spit or a
sweaty hand literally just rubbed it until it was barely
visible. We all froze again when we saw
this and kind of shared a look as if to ask which one of us did
that. Nobody made a sound nobody
fessed up. I remembered the light from
earlier the one that I saw behind us.
I thought for a second somebody definitely followed us down.
I quickly explained what I saw before and they got pissed that
I didn't say anything and I had to remind them both that they
weren't listening to my caution this entire time.
Why would they have listened to me then?
We all quickly put it aside and got over it and decided to
Barrel ahead as we knew the narrow Rocky tunnel that went
the way up and out. It was a long slog of a crawl
where we literally had to fully exhale to get around some of
those hairpin corners. It was dark and suffocating.
We kept thinking we could hear something behind us that entire
time. Finally after a grueling
blackout shuffle through the mouseholes.
We Spilled Out into the sunlight.
None of us had service so we couldn't call anybody for help.
We just decided to start hoofing it back towards the parking lot.
We felt these gigantic steps as if an earthquake was happening.
We could literally feel the ground beneath us where that
cave was rumbling. It's the craziest crap I've ever
heard let alone experience. Tyler kept saying it had to be a
collapse. It had to be a cave in but there
would be way more vibration if that were the case.
Either way, we booked it through the trees and left that cave and
bloody socks behind us. I think we got around half a
mile down the trail when we encountered some locals who were
headed towards the cave. Once they saw us hustling, they
started running back towards the parking lot as well that same
direction. We were headed.
We never exchanged a word my brothers and I were pretty much
out of breath the Panic on our faces just turned into this
unspoken agreement. Everyone needed to run the other
way. After 25 minutes of running we
made it to the car and got in and just took off.
We got back to the main road and we were going at least 55 things
fell good for the first time in a while peeling down a super
narrow dirt road AC blasting water in hand safe intact.
As we were ripping along though, we heard something in the woods
it was that same damn scream. It was Far Far Away probably
where the cave was. But we could hear it either way
even over the rumble of the engine.
It made us all sit forward immediately on edge.
We didn't stop the car for another six hours.
We called the local authorities and though you would think they
wouldn't believe us. They said they'd gotten several
reports about weird sightings in the forest, especially around
the mouth of that cave. They all told us that the
station wagon parked in the gravel belonged to a 45 year old
hike her who went missing two years prior in these Woods.
Getting a rescue or back there was impossible.
So it became a forest service problem and they were pretty
notorious for their clean up time.
So the car just sat out there adding to the strangeness of the
cave experience that we had. We got home and hugged our
parents. We have not gone caving since
that day. It was and still is the scariest
moment of my life. Me and my brothers say to this
day. What if we would have stayed in
that cave any longer than we did. and that's a question will
never really have an answer to What we talked about most is
what happened? Whose sock who smudged away our
chalk who was yelling down there?
They knew English so it couldn't be some kind of subterranean
creature. You know, it couldn't be a
monster maybe a ghost. I don't know like the hiker that
died in there or something. I don't know.
Ultimately. I think we all just chalked it
up to a prank by another group of cavers who saw that we were
kids like that old commercial says the world may never know.
This is a story that I've told to many friends and pastors by
I've met on the trail. I'll admit it's not the scariest
thing you'll ever hear but it's one that creeped me out and I
was never fully able to explain it.
Full disclosure. I'm a pretty accomplished hike
hiker and Backpacker. I know how to keep myself
upright and out of trouble. This past year.
I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail. There was about 600 miles of the
trail that I navigated completely alone.
Sometimes going days almost a week without seeing another
human being. This is extremely isolated.
So if anything wild happens, it's going to be a while until
Emergency Services reach you if they even do.
On one of these sections I was alone in Northern California
Slightly North of Mount Shasta as I'm sure many of you know,
Mount Shasta is a hotspot for all kinds of weird Legends and
rumors going all the way back to the late 1800s.
The original myth that I heard was that Shasta had this cave
system that accessed some ancient underground city.
Next I think it was the story of Sanger man who allegedly hike
down the mountain sometime in the 1930s this led to some
modern-day cult practices and following.
These are just a few of the crazy stories about the National
Park area. I got to this beautiful spot in
new it was the best spot to set up my Camp.
It was gorgeous views of woods in the valley below mountains
everywhere. I could see it raining on Mount
Shasta. Probably my favorite Campsite in
NorCal. I still remember the exact Mile
and I have some footage of the site during the daylight.
It's the exact kind of spot that goes viral on social media
pretty much every day. I set up my tent and after
admiring the sunset I went to bed.
I could see outside below the vestibule when I was laying down
inside my tent. As I was trying to go to sleep.
I saw this white light in the valley, maybe a quarter to a
half mile away not right near my tent or anything.
I was not close to any towns in the Sierra mountains which were
south of this area. I would see an occasional remote
cabin in the woods. So I figured it was something to
do with that. But there were 0 access points
or dirt roads. No Forest clearings just thick
Woods surrounded by mountains. I looked at the light for a bit
and tried to think of what it could be.
But this is a pretty remote area so I couldn't really think of
anything. I was tired from hiking all day.
So I didn't put much more thought into it.
I'll admit it was perplexing though because there wasn't
anywhere for a car or a four wheeler to bump around at it
couldn't be a handheld light. It was too bright and it wasn't
moving so it couldn't be a helicopter making a crazy rescue
Landing. I'd be able to hear that from
half a mile away, especially from this open terrain after a
while. I just gave up it had no
discernible features and was starting to drive me kind of
crazy. I gave up the thought in just
did my best to go to sleep. Fast forward a little later.
I'm still thinking about the damn thing.
I look out again and notice there's another light now it was
an orange light slowly circling that white light.
It was slowly morphing and shape as it circled.
I watched it for a long time trying to understand what I was
looking at. It had a very calm motion.
It was almost mesmerizing. It wasn't like what a lot of
people would claim to be an orb or any kind of UFO experience
where it darts around and then vanishes.
It was weird, but it was down on the ground.
It wasn't zipping all over or disappearing so I could watch it
as long as I wanted to this really disrupted that mystery
and Allure. I figured it had to be something
human something simple something easily explained.
I remembered all the silly stuff that I heard about Shasta over
the years realized it could literally be a group of
conspiracy hippies with glow sticks out in the trees at the
foot of the mountain crying out on mushrooms trying to welcome
the aliens. I actually laughed at that
thought. Eventually, I fell asleep and it
started raining around midnight. I looked out of my tent and
still saw both lights. One white stationary and one
orange morphing light. It wasn't circling around
anymore, but I could see it shape was fluid.
They actually seemed to be a little closer at that point but
being half asleep. I assumed my perception was
definitely off. I moved my bedding to the other
side of the tent not to be tempted to look again.
I woke up again around 4 a.m. To pee.
I walked outside my tent and still there.
They were Motionless. I tried to get a video but due
to the darkness and distance. It looked like another crappy
video that didn't show anything. Very annoying and very
disheartening. It's like whatever I was seeing
was only for me. Again, I went back inside my
tent trying to forget about it. The next time I woke up was
around sunrise. When I looked for them both
lights were gone. I didn't see the lights around
sunset or Sunrise only in darkness and only in the dead of
night. I know these might have been
visible during sunrise or sunset too, or at least should have
been if they'd been normal lights.
I'm sure there's some kind of explanation but I genuinely have
no clue what I was looking at. The really strange part of my
story happened while I was packing walking up camp and
preparing to move on. I heard an engine which I guess
isn't super uncommon there are still planes and other stuff out
their way out in the middle of nowhere.
This one was low and rapidly getting closer to me soon.
I spotted an unmarked helicopter roaming over the Treetops.
I say it was unmarked because that was the first thing that I
was looking for a symbol of some kind to tell me what their
purpose was law enforcement search and rescue medical
something else. But like I said, no giveaways on
that thing at all. It looked brand new top of the
line dark windows and moving very fast.
It went right over to the spot where those lights were hovered
for about 15 minutes just long enough to take a few photos.
I'm pretty sure that's what they were doing.
They did a few laps of the area looked around and then flew back
the way they came. I mean it when I say it made me
nervous to the point of being sick to see whoever was flying
out there. To this day.
I still have no idea what the correlation is.
Either way. I packed up quickly and moved
on. That's all I could do near that
area that I was camped out at and to the right of the trail
was some thick brush, maybe five to six feet tall.
This was near the Shasta Trinity Forest area, maybe one to two
days after I saw the lights in the woods.
I was hiking alone. I noticed about 100 feet away
from me. The brush was being flattened by
something and it was moving very quickly.
It was approaching the trail. I was going to and would end up
right next to me if I continued on that pace.
I couldn't see what was flattening the brush, but it had
to be strong. It honestly reminded me of
something you'd see in a Jurassic Park movie.
I know how crazy that sounds but it's the only way I can describe
it to you anything in the creatures way was simply knocked
to the ground small trees bushes grass everything.
I froze up. I assumed it had to be a bear
and I still think it was but I didn't want to surprise it and
have a really close encounter like I mentioned before I know
my way around the Wilderness avoiding contact of any kind was
the only way to be sure as far as I could tell this thing could
only smell me not actually see me.
I had to try to even out the playing field somehow.
I yelled stop as loud as I could and it stopped completely.
I remained still waiting to see what was going on.
But everything was just totally still around me really quiet
everywhere total silence. I got pretty unsettled.
I started talking to whatever it was as I walked by just kept
saying things like I'm going to be walking by you and then I'll
be on my way friend. Hope you're having a good day.
I kept walking kept looking back, but nothing moved on from
that point forward. Like I said, it probably was a
bear black bears are generally like big raccoons and don't want
to interact with humans. I've encountered a few Bears
they always ran away when I told them to get lost.
But the part that really gets me is this as I explained this was
two days after I saw those lights, but I was only a few
miles away from that same campsite.
I stopped to thoroughly explore the area and map them out for
myself on the same day that I had that bizarre bare experience
or whatever it was. When I got back to my camp that
evening, I was getting ready to attend to all my chores when I
heard walking again. This time it was lighter.
I looked up and saw a man. He was pretty far off.
I would say at least 50 yards just pushing through the bush.
He was well off Trail, but didn't look lost or anything.
He stopped when I looked at him we both just kind of sized each
other up in the moment. I said hey and waved, but he
didn't respond. He just turned and kept walking
that same way right on by me. He would cast a glance in my
direction every few steps. So I knew I wasn't crazy.
There was a person there. What stood out most to me was
his attire? He didn't have a backpack a bag
on his shoulders. Nothing not even a fanny pack.
We were like over 100 miles away from any kind of facility.
So being out here empty-handed was almost a certain death
sentence. The guy looked healthy confident
strong didn't have a care in the world.
The other thing that really caught my eye was his clothing.
It was all one solid color gray almost looked like he had a
jumpsuit on. He had a clean hair cut and
black boots. He passed my camp and I didn't
see anybody else, but I definitely had this weird
feeling I packed up and actually relocated just to have a better
Vantage on the area. And so he didn't know exactly
where I was. I make him work to find me
again. If that ended up being a desire
of his I put my Camp up on this little Hilltop that had really
good tree cover on all sides. I didn't pop my tent up but
created a little makeshift shelter and hid my belongings as
well. It was secure enough to my
liking. I didn't see the guy.
I didn't see anybody else, but that night I definitely saw
flashlights way off in the trees.
It had me on edge the whole time, especially whenever they
angled in my direction, but thankfully for me they never
came too close. Whatever they were looking for.
It was back where I camped before.
I barely got any sleep that night only passed out after the
lights went out and everything got real quiet.
I broke down camp at Sunrise the next morning what little of it
there was and set myself a sturdy rigid schedule for the
day. I wanted to put the miles behind
me and get out of this weird area.
Which had originally been my Serene little Vista?
Now it was plagued with all kinds of weird stuff and I
decided it definitely wasn't worth all this.
As I beat feet all morning into the afternoon.
I saw that same helicopter passed through the area several
times zigzagging into steeper areas.
Fortunately, they never came past me probably didn't even
know I was out there. Eventually, I intersected with
the main trail caught up with some other hikers after speaking
with a few of them. I noticed that some had said how
NorCal was a little unsettling. The SoCal desert is very windy
and the Sierra mountains have tons of flowering streams.
NorCal doesn't have as many streams or as much wind so
there's just this silence that pervades which can honestly feel
ominous especially out there in the dark.
That's my explanation for the feeling at least after going
through the SoCal desert the Sierra mountains, NorCal, Oregon
and Washington. NorCal was the only section that
was a little unnerving to me and I did portions of each of these
sections alone. There's just something about
that area something about the time that I was there.
Something was going on that warranted whatever activity was
going on. The other hikers commented on
the weird helicopter sightings though.
None of them saw any silent weirdos stalking the woods nor
any giant creatures pressing the foliage flat.
It's doing the same thing that I had seen it doing just flying
around real low investigating from the air then zipping out of
sight. We spent some time comparing
notes on all the weird stuff that we'd seen But ultimately
didn't come to any kind of logical conclusion.
We went our separate ways and I finished my hike a little ahead
of schedule. My creepy encounters were enough
to speed me up out there for a while.
After I returned home, I would say maybe a full month later.
I saw something online that caught my eye a headline.
It said a hiker had gone missing along the Pacific Crest Trail.
I always find these stories pretty engaging as this is a
lifestyle I live. And I feel like it could
potentially happen to me. So I always follow these cases
closely. You just never know what you
might learn from somebody else's mistakes.
The person had vanished from the exact area.
I was in when I saw those lights and the guy walking by my camp.
They were pretty certain that that was her last known
location. This person was never found and
after my experience, I really wonder what the hell happened to
her out there and how close it came to happening to me.
I live next to two national parks.
A few years ago from June to July.
There was a horrific fire that prompted evacuations in our area
including both parks. My family had a bout three hours
to pack everything of value. Luckily.
We didn't end up having to evacuate.
Still the entire ordeal was a total mess and caused a lot of
stress damage and danger. I had just gotten off work as
had my father. I told them we should really
consider evacuating at first they were not taking my advice
but when they saw the mountains burning the whole face Up in
Flames, it looked like walking into Mordor watching trees erupt
into flames and Fall Into The Inferno right there just a few
miles away from us. Fortunately for my family in our
home the fires moved incredibly slow downhill, but with the
amount already burnt, it was only a matter of time before it
crept into the valley. There were displaced animals
gunning through the streets some of the craziest sights I've ever
seen. The first thing I did was gather
all our legal documents which took about half an hour on top
of that. I secured the photos and all the
pictures of the family all the paper valuables sentimental or
otherwise You don't really think about what's valuable until
you're forced to leave and that's when you start picking
and choosing. Suddenly everything you have
holds some kind of value. Next I help my sister pack and
get through her panic attacks. She was around 8 at the time and
it was absolutely heart-wrenching having to tell
her that we couldn't take all her stuffed animals.
She could only take a few. I then had to talk her out of
only bringing her stuffed animals, maybe packing some
clothes or hygienic stuff, too. I ended up packing a lot for her
because she was just so sad. She finally settled on a few one
being an elephant that she got from an ambulance when she was
four. Next I checked on my other
sister who was oddly calm. She'd packed everything.
She wanted into a small bag looking back.
I think she was just in total shock like a fog of War type
thing. Her eyes were glossed over and
she didn't really care about anything didn't even react when
she looked at the fire. I think she was just overwhelmed
shelled up until it was finally over.
I went to help my parents, but they told me that I needed to go
pack. I ended up packing some of my
expensive stuff like my purse collection important items and
my artwork and almost had a mental breakdown.
That's summer I was on the top floor.
I ended up overheating having a full-blown panic attack
hyperventilating sweating Heart Beating Heart enough to scare
me. I realized just how many of us
were Under One Roof animals included and we could all die.
Then I thought about everybody else.
It was like my first existential crisis was a pretty good time
for one too. It helped kind of put everything
into perspective. Next was packing up all of our
animal stuff. At the time we had 12 hens two
guinea pigs and two dogs. I packed food for everybody and
started getting everything together harnesses water bottles
food betting. Hey everything we might need for
a couple of days. We'd have to restock on
everything on the road if we were evacuated for any longer
than that. By now, the fire was halfway
down the mountain still miles off but encroaching one stubborn
at a time. I grab the guinea pigs put them
into the transport cage and set them by the door.
My dad took a trailer from his boss.
I was not allowed to help load anything outside as I have life
threatening asthma and it would have been bad with all the smoke
in the air. I could only sit inside and
watch the window as the mountain burned more and more my parents
struggled to load up the rest of our animals.
We eventually got everything moved and taken out and by then
it was nighttime. The fire had gotten to the base
of the mountain on one side just a sliver getting ready to ignite
the national park just west of us.
We were all exhausted and didn't have the energy to actually get
inside the truck. I asked my parents if we could
leave but they said not yet. They wanted to see what was
going to happen if it would get contained or maybe even switched
directions. It was a hopeless thought but
they were adamant. They had weathered fires before
and they knew all the protocols. Everyone else was long gone,
though. We didn't have many neighbors
just all rural Farmers ranchers and homesteaders, but my
sister's and I we knew they were all gone.
We could see their trucks and trailers slowly Caravan away on
the main road one by one. Even in the evening.
We saw some headlights rolling through the dark towards town
the other direction. the mountain glowed like a giant
Ember I have no idea how but my sister's and I all slept next to
the front door that night. We just passed out one by one.
What I do remember is hearing the doorknob jiggle.
I was half asleep, but the sound was unmistakable.
Being a kid. I just passed it off as a dream
and kept on trying to sleep. I don't remember it jiggling
again that night and I don't remember what time it happened.
The fire was just mesmerizing. I have no idea why but I was
just in a trance it was midnight.
But the Flames from the burning Mountain lit up the sky.
It was very eerie and haunting almost beautiful the orange
Flames purple smoke and the Moonlight awful to say I know
but it was like a painting. Around 2 a.m.
I fell asleep again. I read myself to sleep and
watched the fire creep up towards us.
I woke up several times and thought I was dreaming but
gradually the Flames were being put out.
The door knob thing had happened well before all of this.
I woke up very early. I would say six a.m.
The mountain was still burning, but the thousand foot Flames
were completely gone. I woke everyone up and we were
all so grateful. A few of us were crying from
Joy. There was a constant downpour
from Choppers and planes. Fire teams had cut a tremendous
fire line to keep everything from the housing.
It ate up the flames and they were starting to get a handle on
it. Several local fire departments
worked together to set up the fire line that night.
That's what saved us and in the end.
Thankfully. Nobody died one local
firefighter was severely burned but he since recovered and is
attending physical therapy. He was released from the
hospital about a month or two ago.
The night before we were prepping for evacuation a bucket
helicopter had crashed. Again, thankfully nobody passed
away. One house and several government
buildings were burnt in total 35 Acres were burned.
That's the most horrific thing. I think I've ever seen.
Though the scariest part happened the next day and it had
nothing to do with the fire. We were taking our time on
packing the trucks in the animals making sure everything
was accounted for when my parents started fussing.
I went to see what was going on and they were saying that
someone had gotten into their truck overnight things were
missing from the glove box in the center console.
I figured it was just stuff that had been misplaced during the
night due to all the exhaustion in the work that we put in they
saw my logic and just kept unpacking but kept an eye out
for all the missing items. Just a little later.
My sister came inside and said that she saw the neighbor's were
back. I went outside to see but the
driveway looked empty. How do you know they're back I
asked her. Guys, I saw somebody walking
around over there. She explained.
I thought that was weird because I never saw any Vehicles return.
Now it was my turn to keep an eye out.
I wouldn't have to for very long.
It was sunset when we decided to call it a day and go in and make
dinner. We'd all been out of the house
helping with the animals and when we got inside, we noticed
that the back door was wide open.
My mom told my sister and me to go close it thinking it was us
who had left it a jar, but we never used it once that entire
day when we stepped into the back room, which was like our
laundry room. We saw a man half crouched in
the corner rifling through our stuff.
He was dirty very tall and scared the crap out of us.
He had the beginnings of a beard and dark beady little eyes.
He bit his lip and smiled when he saw us.
He might have even winked at us. We went screaming back into the
main house while this guy darted through the open back door and
then out into the woods. We quickly explained what we saw
and my dad immediately chased after him loaded gun and
everything to my knowledge. He never caught him and I was
the only one who got a really good look at him.
It turned out that he was a Hermit or a homeless person who
ended up in the area maybe just an opportunist and had been
robbing the neighboring houses through the evacuation what a
genius idea because he knew they would be empty for whatever
stupid reason this guy also decided to mess with our house
in the middle of the day while we were all there.
Thank God we all came inside when we did.
The police told us he was a violent violent man and had
killed animals at the other properties nearby cats fish pets
that people thought would be okay on their own for a few days
while they fought the fire. Had we stumbled in on him alone.
He might have killed us too. The creepiest part to me was
that he stole food and supplies and valuables from the other
houses. When we caught him, he was
rummaging around in our dirty clothes hamper looking for our
underwear. I assume super gross as this was
a middle-aged man, and we were all children.
I tell you this story not to scare you but to warn you.
Never leave your stuff unattended or unlocked during an
evacuation. There are professional thieves
who Target these areas and I didn't know any better until I
actually met one. My name is Alex and I have
always loved going on adventures by myself.
This time my heart was set on exploring the Olympic Peninsula
in Washington State. It's a place full of deep
forests mysterious trails and wild rivers exactly where my
adventurous Spirit feels at home.
I packed my car with everything. I might need a tent some food my
camera and of course a good book to keep me company.
The drive was long and peaceful. I rolled down the windows and
let the fresh air mix with my favorite music feeling the
city's noise Fade Away behind me.
As I entered the Olympic National Park The Towering trees
and cool are welcomed me like an old friend.
After driving around for a while.
I decided to make a stop in a small area called quinoa.
It wasn't a popular tourist spot, especially not in the
offseason. I guess that's what made it
perfect for me. I loved finding places where I
could be alone with nature where the only sounds were the
rustling of leaves in the distant calls of birds.
While driving through Keno, I spotted an ancient Footbridge
that arched over a river it looked like something out of an
old story book. I parked my car near the dead
end of the road and got out to take a closer look.
The bridge was made of old weather wood and was covered in
Moss. It creaked a little as the wind
blew through and I felt a shiver run down my spine.
Though I was curious about what was on the other side the bridge
looked like it might collapse if I tried to cross.
Better safe than sorry. I thought to myself and decided
to admire it from a safe distance.
It was unusually hot that day and the river under the bridge
looked inviting. I wasn't planning on swimming
but the cool water seemed too tempting to resist.
So I made a quick decision. I backed my car up to the edge
of the road making sure it was facing the way out just in case
I needed to leave quickly. Then I started to make my way
through the thick brush. There wasn't any path and the
area was pretty rugged. I had to be careful with each
step pushing branches away and watching out for hidden roots.
Finally, I reached the riverbank and looked around.
I was completely alone surrounded by Nature's Beauty.
Feeling the heat I decided it was time for a swim.
I didn't have a swimsuit. So I just took off my clothes
and got into the water in my underwear and bra.
The water was cool and refreshing a perfect Escape From
The Heat. As I swam, I tried to relax and
enjoy the moment, but I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was
being watched. I looked around half expecting
to see a deer or a raccoon, but there was no one.
I tried to ignore the feeling telling myself.
It was just my imagination. After all, I was in the middle
of nowhere. far from the usual paths that tourists or locals
might take but still the feeling lingard and soon it became too
much. I decided it was time to head
back little did. I know my adventure was about to
take a startling turn. After deciding it was time to
leave the water. I took a deep breath and
prepared to head back to my clothes.
The feeling of being watched hadn't left me the entire time.
I was swimming As I turned around to climb out of the river
my heart almost stopped. There standing on the other side
of the river was a man. He was tall and looked like he
hadn't been around people or a town for a very long time.
He wore a rain poncho made out of animal skins and his long
hair was Tangled with sticks and twigs.
It seemed like he belonged to the wild just like the deer and
bears that lived in these Woods. But the way he stared at me
didn't feel right. We both just stood there looking
at each other. I was frozen in fear not knowing
what his next move would be. Suddenly the man turned and
started running towards the old Footbridge I had decided was too
dangerous to cross. My mind raced as I realized he
was probably trying to get to my car.
Why else would he run towards the bridge unless he wanted to
reach the road. Maybe he planned to disable my
car smashed the windows or do something else to trap me here.
I knew I had to act fast. Panic took over and I rushed to
get out of the water my clothes and shoes were on the riverbank
a good distance away. I tried to grab them as I ran
but my shirt got caught on some blackberry vines the Thorns
scratched my arms and I couldn't waste time with my heart
pounding in my chest. I left my clothes behind and ran
towards my car wearing only my soaped underwear and bra the
brush was thick and the branches tore it my skin as I pushed my
way through I could hear the man whooping and cheering as he ran
across the bridge his sounds were wild and Eerie like he was
enjoying the chase. It made me run faster, even
though my feet were sore and bleeding from the blackberries
and rough ground. As I neared my car the fear of
him catching up to me grew stronger.
I imagined him reaching the car before me waiting to confront
me. I pushed myself harder my breath
heavy and my legs aching. Finally, I broke through the
last of the underbrush and saw my car just a few yards away
relief washed over me, but it was short-lived.
And saw him crossing the bridge moving with an unnerving speed.
It was like watching something from a horror movie and I
couldn't let him get any closer. I sprinted the last few feet to
my car yanking the door open and throwing myself inside my hands
were shaking so badly that it took me a few tries to get the
key in the ignition. Just as I started the car.
I saw him step off the bridge heading straight for me.
I slammed the door shut locked it and hit the gas pedal just as
he reached the hood of my car. He pounded on it with his fists
making me scream and fright. I drove away as fast as I could
not daring to look back until I was sure I was Far Away the
sound of his pounding in the wild looking his eyes stayed
with me as I drove trying to escape not just him, but the
terror that had gripped me by the river.
As I sped away. My heart was still racing like a
drum in my chest. Every part of me was shaking.
I couldn't believe what had just happened.
I had escaped. But it felt like the man was
still chasing me. Every time I looked in the
rearview mirror, I half expected to see his wild eyes and tangled
hair. the drive felt endless my hands gripped the steering wheel
so tightly that my Knuckles turned white.
The road was bumpy and winding and I was careful not to drive
too fast and lose control, but I also didn't want to slow down
too much. I kept thinking about how that
man had pounded on my car how he had whooped and cheered as he
chased me. It was like something out of a
scary movie except it was real and it had happened to me.
As I drove the adrenaline started to wear off and I began
to feel the pain from running through the brush and
blackberries. My legs and arms were scratched
up and some spots were bleeding. I was still in my wet underwear
and the cool air made me shiver. I tried to focus on the road and
keep my mind off the pain and fear.
I couldn't stop thinking about how close I had come to
something really bad happening. What if I hadn't made it to my
car in time? What if he had caught up to me
before I could drive away? These thoughts made me drive
even faster. After what seemed like forever,
I finally saw signs of civilization a gas station
appeared up ahead. I pulled over still trembling.
I needed to calm down and check my wounds.
When I got out of the car, I took a deep breath of the cool
air. It helped a little but I was
still scared. I walked into the gas station
and asked if I could use the restroom.
Inside I looked at myself in the mirror.
My face was pale and my clothes or what I had left of them were
torn and dirty. I washed my face and tried to
clean my scratches as best as I could the water stung, but it
was also refreshing. When I came out of the restroom,
I bought some bandages in a bottle of water.
The person at the counter gave me a strange look probably
because of how I looked wet injured and scared.
I didn't care. I just wanted to get home the
rest of the drive was quiet. I didn't turn on the music or
rolled down the windows. I just drove and kept an eye on
the road every now and then I would glance in the rearview
mirror, but there was no sign of the man.
He was gone, but the fear he had instilled in me wasn't.
When I finally got home I was relieved but still shaken.
I called my best friend and told them everything they listened
and told me I was safe now which helped a little.
But as I hung up, I knew that what had happened would stay
with me for a long time. I decided then that I would
never go back to that place and I would never go hiking Alone
Again. The memory of that day the fear
and the chase would haunt me but I know I had learned something
important about being careful and never underestimating the
wilderness. We were heading to the Great
Smoky Mountains National Park that morning and I was excited.
It was supposed to be a fun family day out.
My wife Heather was singing along to the radio and I was
driving watching the road wine through the thick forest.
But our daughter Kylie who was usually the loudest one of us
was silent. Everything okay back there.
I asked glancing at her in the rearview mirror.
Kylie didn't say a word just stared out the window.
I tried to make her laugh. You excited about visiting the
park honey. We might even see a bear.
But she didn't smile or laugh something was off.
Kylie honey Heather turned in her seat to look at her she
shook Kylie's knee gently trying to get her attention.
There's a man in the woods. Kylie said her voice flat and
serious. Of course, there is honey.
It's a national park. I laughed but Kylie didn't she
just frowned and looked back out the window?
I sawed feeling a bit worried now.
The trees cast Long Shadows over the car and the sun was just
peeking through the leaves making everything look golden
and a bit mysterious. After a few more minutes of
driving, I spotted a gravel turn off.
Maybe Kylie was just grumpy from sitting in the car for too long.
Heather and I felt stiff ourselves and the thought of
stretching our legs by a cool Mountain stream sounded perfect.
I turn the car into the small parking area next to a Dusty
pickup truck and grinded Heather.
Break time I said. We both got out quickly ready to
enjoy a bit of nature. But Kylie didn't move.
She sat there her arms crossed a stubborn look on her face.
This is a bad place. I don't want to she declared.
Trying to be patient. I nodded to Heather and we both
reached into the car to help Kylie out.
She kicked and screamed not wanting to leave her seat.
I was thankful. I had trimmed her nails the
night before because she was really putting up a fight.
I glanced around hoping nobody was watching us worried.
They might think we were doing something wrong.
There's a creek down there with big rocks and fish and
waterfalls. I coaxed trying to sound
exciting. You're going to love it Chi.
Finally Kylie stopped crying, but it wasn't because she was
happy. She looks scared her face pale
and her body suddenly limp. Okay, Daddy Let's Go.
It was the same tone. She'd used when our plane hit
turbulence last summer. So frightened, she couldn't even
cry. We walked down to the creek
Heather running ahead and whooping joyfully but I felt
uneasy the forest was too quiet and Kylie's fear seemed to hang
in the air. We found Heather by the water
laughing as she splashed her feet.
It's so peaceful here. She said Kylie sat quietly next
to her pulling at some Moss. You're pretty quiet champ
Heather said messing up her hair.
I'm listening to the man in the woods Kylie answered in that
flat voice again. My heart skipped a beat.
Kids say weird things sure, but this was different.
What man in the woods honey? Nobody's talking?
Yes, he is. I can hear him.
He's talking inside my head Kylie insisted.
Heather and I exchanged worried glances the air felt cooler all
of a sudden a bird fluttered overhead and we both jumped at
the sound but not Kylie she was staring at something across the
creek her eyes wide and scared. Before we could stop her.
She was off scrambling across the rocks.
It's amazing how fast a small child can move when they're
scared? Heather and I rushed after her
but I slipped and fell into the cold water.
By the time I got back on my feet Kylie was already on the
other side heading towards something.
We couldn't see Kylie Heather called out and just in time.
She grabbed Kylie's pink jacket pulling her back just as she
reached the ferns normally Kylie would have screamed.
But this time she just giggled. Daddy got wet.
Kylie it is not okay to run off like that.
What's gotten into you Heather demanded?
He said it would be funny Kylie replied looking at us with an
eerie calmness. I'd never seen before.
That's when I realized something very strange was happening and
it wasn't just Kylie's imagination.
The forest seemed to be watching us listening and I didn't like
it one bit. We tried to shake off the weird
feeling from earlier as we explored the creek.
The water was cool and clear. And usually I'd be the first one
to dip my toes in but today everything fell different tense.
Like the woods were holding their breath.
Kylie was still acting strange hardly like herself at all.
She kept whispering to herself and looking around as if she was
listening to someone we couldn't see.
I'm listening to the man in the woods.
She had said it made my skin crawl.
Just thinking about it. Let's try to have some fun.
Okay, I suggested but my voice sounded forced even to me.
We walked along the creek Heather trying to spot fish in
the water. But Kylie's mood had cast a
shadow over everything. Then without warning Kylie took
off running again. She moved so fast it was as if
something was pulling her along. Kylie stop I yelled, but she was
already halfway across the creek.
I chased after her slipping on the rocks.
The cold water splashed up around me, but I barely felt it.
My only thought was to catch Kylie before she disappeared
into the trees on the other side.
Heather was faster and managed to grab Kylie just in time.
She was giggling again looking at something.
We couldn't see he said it would be funny.
She told us pointing across the creek to an empty patch of
ferns. This wasn't like any game.
I knew and it wasn't funny at all.
We sat Kylie down on a rock trying to talk to her to get
through to her somehow, but she just kept saying she could hear
the man talking to her and her in her head.
What was supposed to be a peaceful family outing was
turning into something out of a nightmare?
Just then a woman appeared from the trees.
She wore a Rangers uniform but looked like she had stepped out
of a different time. Her badge said Maddie Corbin and
she talked like she thought it was still decades ago in 1975.
You folks. Alright Ranger Corbin asked
looking from Heather to me with a concerned frown.
We're fine just a bit rattled Heather explained our daughter
thinks she's hearing things someone talking to her.
Ranger Corbin nodded not seeming a surprise as I expected this
part of the park its old full of stories.
Some folks say it's haunted. She said glancing around like
she could see things we couldn't.
We decided to follow Ranger Corvette back to the parking
area to find my car keys, which I had lost during the chase.
As we walked the woods seemed to close in around us the sound of
the creek faded replaced by a two heavy silence.
Even the Birds had stopped singing.
It felt like the forest itself was watching us waiting.
Every rustle of the leaves made us jump, but Ranger Corvette,
let us on call and steady keep clothes.
She warned. It's easy to get turned around
here. Just as we reached a clearing a
large stag stepped out from between the trees.
It looked at us with Wild on natural eyes and for a moment.
I felt like it was the one Kylie had been talking to.
It stood there staring. Then turned and walked back into
the forest as silently as it had appeared.
Kylie whispered something I couldn't catch and when I asked
her what she said. She just shook her head.
We need to find those keys. I muttered more to myself than
anyone else desperate to leave this place and it's hidden
Whispers behind. After the Stag disappeared back
into the woods everything felt even more unreal.
We've got to get those keys and get out of here.
I said trying to keep my voice steady for Kylie and Heather.
Ranger Corvin led the way her eyes scanning the ground for my
lost keys. The forest seemed to grow darker
the trees taller and closer together as if they were leaning
into listen. I held Kylie's hand tightly not
wanting to let her out of my sight for even a second.
Suddenly tugged at my hand and pointed their the keys.
She exclaimed. Lying among some leaves near a
large Rock there. They were I breathed Desai of
relief and reached down to pick them up.
But as I did Kylie's gaze shifted past me her eyes wide
with fear. Here she whispered.
Who honey? Heather asked her voice
trembling a bit? The man in the woods Kylie
replied staring into the dense trees Ranger Corbin looked where
Kylie was pointing and then back at us.
We should move quickly. She said follow me and don't
stray. We hurried after her but I
couldn't shake the feeling that we were being watched the forest
felt alive aware and not friendly as we walked the trees
seemed to whisper Secrets. I couldn't quite hear and
shadows moved just at the edge of my vision.
Just as we thought we were nearing the parking area Kylie
stopped and screamed in front of us blocking.
Our path was the largest stag. I had ever seen its eyes were
wild and it pod the ground aggressively.
No, no, no, no Heather murmured pulling Kylie back Ranger Corbin
stepped in front of us her body tents.
The car isn't far run when I say she instructed her eyes never
leaving the Stag. But before she could say
anything else the Stag charge Ranger Corvin shoved us to the
side and we stumbled into the bushes.
I heard her yell then allowed crash.
When I looked back the Stag was gone, and so was Ranger Corbin?
Heather take Kylie to the car. I said my heart pounding I'll
find the Ranger. No, we stick together Heather
insisted her voice firm despite her pale face.
So we all moved together calling out for Ranger Corvin.
We found her a few minutes later leaning against a tree.
It's gone she panted. But we need to be careful this
Forest. It's not right.
We finally made it back to the car.
I threw the keys to Heather. Get her safe.
I'll help Ranger Corvin. Be quick Heather said her eyes
filled with tears Ranger Corvette and I made it to a
narrow path that led out of the thicker Woods.
What is this place? I asked her looking back at the
dark trees? Some say it's cursed that the
forest keeps the things and people she replied her voice
low, but you got your family out keep them safe.
We reach the road and I saw Heather and Kylie safe in the
car waiting. I thanked Ranger Corvin and ran
to them never looking back. As we drove away Kylie fell
asleep her head resting against the window.
Heather held my hand tightly. Let's never come back here.
She whispered. I nodded glancing in the
rearview mirror at the receding Forest.
The trees seemed to watch us go and I felt a chill.
Whatever lived in that Forest it was old and it was waiting.
But we were leaving and we weren't coming back. ever my
wife and I met when we were undergraduates in college, we
had totally different Majors, but I think the free thinking
lifestyle of being a student showed us that we both had a lot
in common, especially in regards to morals personal values and
where we both saw ourselves later in life.
By the time we graduated we had been dating for a year and
everything started moving much faster after that.
We moved in together after graduating and within another
year. Mary was pregnant with our first
child. Let's fast-forward another 10
years were both working corporate jobs in the city with
a 10 year old son named James and an 8 year old daughter named
Sylvia. This is pretty much worth things
kick off. The city had always felt
suffocating a constant den of noise and Chaos that just wore
us down Mary and I would often daydream about escaping at all
finding a secluded spot where we could raise our kids in peace.
It was a fantasy that we'd indulged in since our dating
days back in college and it only grew more appealing with time.
I hated all of it the commute the mortgage the endless taxes
and bills accrued purely from living in a high demand area.
My college experience turned me on to some radical thinking
mostly that of the grid living self-sustained practices not
bending over for any local or national government.
I work hard and I feel like I should have something to show
for it all. That's when fate intervened.
Mary's father passed away leaving her the family cabin in
his will. It was a remote place 75 miles
outside the city limits nestled in a small community on the
Mountainside. Some of the homes have lights
and water While others relied on generators and Wells our cabin
fell into the latter category It was a small price to pay though
the chance to live off the grid. It was a very humble cabin
something Mary's father and grandfather had built back in
the day. I'm talking the late 1950s.
It really only had two rooms. They were big though with a
small bathroom and then a larger house on the edge of the
property being four of us in the family.
This really wasn't ideal. But Mary and I had it in our
heads that we could do some light remodeling turn it into
exactly what we both needed. The square footage was good.
We just needed to convert it from less of a hunting
headquarters and more of a family home.
I was beyond excited to begin making changes to what I
envisioned to be a perfect life. We packed up our lives and made
the move trading pavement for dirt roads skyscrapers for
towering trees. The cabin did need a lot of
work, but we were both eager to put in the effort.
The kids James and Sylvia were excited to explore their new
surroundings and Mary and I were determined to make this new life
a complete success. The truly beautiful part was
that this wasn't any kind of huge investment for us.
The cabin literally was handed over deed and everything.
So all we had to do was just pay to haul everything a few hundred
at most between our jobs and what we'd saved in the last 10
or 12 years. We had a healthy cushion to take
our time and approach everything with this relaxed energy.
It was ideal truly everything. We've been hoping for and it all
came at once. The cabin itself was a Charming
but rustic affair with creaky floors and a chimney that puffed
up smoke like a grumpy old man. We spent those first few months
cleaning and remodeling trying to bring it back to the 21st
century. My wife and I have wildly
different skill sets. So while she took out the
cobwebs and scraped the dust off everything.
I knocked the paper thin wall down that divided the home
cleaned up the residue and then divided the master bedroom,
which was more like a bunk room large enough to sleep 10 Groen
men. Then I put up two shorter walls
allowing for my wife and I to share a bed room then James and
Sylvia to share one as well. This was all just temporary
until I decided exactly how I wanted the floorplan to look the
kids would spend their days wandering through the Wilderness
exploring the sparse neighborhood getting to know the
locals. But only when they were not
helping us when we ran out of work for them to do they check
out the trails walked a few meager houses in the area the
community that we lived in was nothing of the sort though.
No gas station. No store.
No hotel's nothing. No business.
No Commerce. One guy had a shed on his
property that he called the supply shop.
He kept extra stuff on hand and would sell it to folks in the
area for a premium price things like nails maple syrup mason
jars mouse traps that kind of thing.
One day as they were walking back from the mailboxes outside
of town. They spotted a man lurking in
the trees. He was near a cabin his face
hidden behind a bushy beard and a mop of unruly gray hair.
James and Sylvia exchanged a nervous glance, but the man
didn't seem to notice them. He was too busy staring at our
cabin his eyes fixed on our little family home like a hawk
on its prey. Who's that James asked his voice
barely above a whisper. I don't know but he's creepy.
Why is he watching our house? Sylvia said again?
That's when they Quicken their Pace eager to get back to the
safety of our cabin. Once they were in side, they
recounted everything to marry and I all while eerily looking
out the windows over our shoulder as they spoke.
I just imagined every single average Mountain Man or Off the
Grid type of person. I just chalked it up to a
curious neighbor. Kids, it's just got to be some
old hermit. I said dismissing their
concerns. He's probably just wandering
around looking at his new neighbors.
We've had power tools running over here for the better part of
six weeks. Mary nodded in agreement.
There are plenty of people like that up here.
They just want to be left alone. The kids accepted our
explanation, but I could tell that they were still uneasy.
They've always been City kids this whole new world was full of
unknowns. Seeing a big shadowy man off in
the trees probably would have scared me at their age too.
So I did my best to just be understanding.
At the same time. I was trying to Showcase what
Off the Grid living requires to be tough rugged logical
Fearless? our move was going to require a
different Outlook and I was more than happy to help them achieve
that I made a mental note to reach out to a few neighbors
clear the air and hopefully put everybody at ease.
As the days continue to pass we settled into our new routine.
The kid's explored the woods Mary tended to her budding
garden and I worked on fixing up the interior of the cabin.
We'd occasionally see Marty. That's what the kids started
calling him. Lurking around the edges of the
property. He never approached us.
He never spoke. But his presence was always felt
I learned that the kids had asked some others in the area
about him. Some of the neighbors that were
a little more friendly. The story went that Marty had
moved up here 20 years ago with his wife who died suddenly about
five years prior. After her death, Marty turned
into a complete recluse stopped talking completely and was only
seen sporadically on his property or in the trees
throughout the community. He apparently had enough
know-how to keep himself Alive and Well on his own without ever
having to venture back into town for any real supplies.
He purchased gas when he needed it from the shopkeeper in town
the guy with the shed, but besides that Marty didn't need
help from anybody. It was a slow burning tension
though one that simmered just below the surface.
We tried to ignore it focus on our new lifestyle, but it was
hard to shake that feeling that we were being watched because
well we were almost at any hour of the day one of us could look
outside and find that old man hiding in the trees standing
still to prevent us from potentially seeing him at first.
It was something that I could explain away.
But after three months of steady creeping I didn't really know
what else to make of it. One night.
We heard the generator sputter and then die.
Great, I muttered getting up from the couch.
Just what we need. Mary Then followed me outside
where we stared at the dark shape of the generator right
from our porch. Was this old thing very prone to
breakdowns. Fortunately for us we'd been
lucky so far, but now not so much.
I had some skills in regard to woodworking but electrical and
mechanical problems. That's where my knowledge would
start to dry up. I'd have to go back inside for a
few tools before I could actually even take a crack at
it. Hey, I'll go take a look.
I said grabbing a flash light from the kitchen counter.
Mary nodded her eyes flickering towards the trees.
Careful, I knew what she was thinking Marty might be out
there watching us waiting for his chance.
But I pushed the thought aside and headed out into the
darkness. Little did I know our lives were
about to take a drastic turn. I squatted before the generator
and started to work the exterior panel off so I could just look
at the wiring. I also made a mental note to
check the gas and the fuel cap maybe and hopefully it was just
something simple maybe the vibration of the machine had
rattled the cap loose made. It shut down.
I methodically went over everything until I found the
problem was exactly what I was hoping for a very very simple
fix. The issue from what I was
looking at was that somebody had definitely messed with the
generator. They loosened the cap then
yanked a handful of cables unplugged the main power line to
the house and lastly flick the power button off for good
measure. I checked the ground around the
area but didn't find anything didn't see any boot prints or
any kind of calling cards. Then I checked the perimeter of
the property nobody. So I just called it a night and
went back inside. I didn't mention any of my
concerns to marry or the kids, but I was certain that somebody
had paid us a visit and sabotaged our only source of
power. To say I was on edge was a
drastic under statement. It wasn't long until we had our
next run in with our neighbor. Mary and I were working on
hanging the door in the kids room, which was one of the last
tasks that we had planned for our update.
Next. We were going to refocus on the
exterior work getting some better furniture for each room
to better serve the Family itself.
With the door insulation almost complete Mary and I exchanged A
Satisfied glands our mind shifting to the next project on
our list. But before we could even take a
step back to admire our handiwork the kid's burst
through the front door their faces pale and frightened.
They were out of breath talking a mile a minute about what ever
just happened to them. My wife and I did our best to
calm them down get them coherent so we could figure out exactly
what was going on. Dad dad James exclaimed out of
breath Marty Marty had a gun. He was pointing it at us.
My heart skipped a beat as I started to put it all together.
Wait, what happened? Silvia's eyes were wide with
fear. We were walking in the woods and
he came out of nowhere. He chased us Mary's voice was
laced with concern. Are you kids?
Okay. I didn't hesitate stay in the
house. I'll go talk to Marty.
The kid's nodded still shaking as I headed out into the cool
Mountain Air. I knew exactly where Marty's
cabin was and I didn't need to follow a road to get there the
woods were dense. But I knew the route by heart
and I had this feeling I might run into Marty if I stuck to the
trees because that's where the kids said.
They saw him the most. I trudged headlong Into the
Wilderness empty-handed looking for the guy that kept messing
with my kids. This conversation was long
overdue but the mountain of work that the cabin had demanded
prevented me from ever going to even say hello.
Now we were at an impasse as Neighbors.
My suspicions were quickly confirmed just a couple of
hundred yards in. Marty lurched from the
underbrush his eyes fixed on the ground.
I called out to him no response. Anger quickly flared up inside
of me messing with the generator messing with my kids and now he
wouldn't even acknowledge me. Something Primal just snapped in
me and suddenly I was over the edge.
I found myself running hollering out through the trees Marty stop
right there. God dammit.
Finally he turned around his eyes narrowing it at me.
What do you want? He shouted back.
I could see the shotgun in his hands my heart began to race.
Of course. He was armed.
My kids had literally told me he had a gun, but for some reason I
wasn't expecting that to be the truth.
I guess I thought maybe it was just some kind of
misunderstanding know he had a gun and an illegal one at that.
He held the remnants of a homemade sawed off 12 gauge
between his wrinkled hands. You need to stay the hell away
from my family. You're scaring.
My kids was all I said Marty's face Twisted into a snarl.
Then you keep your damn kids on your property.
It's real simple. I took cover behind a tree not
wanting to get blasted. If you come near my property
again or speak to my children again, I'm calling the sheriff.
You're not welcome here. My kids have done nothing wrong
to you. You want to make this into
something fine? We'll make it into something.
Marty's eyes flashed with anger, but he didn't move.
Keep your family away from my property.
It's all I ask. With that he turned and
disappeared into the trees. I watched him go my heart still
racing. I knew I had to protect my
family, but I also knew that Marty was unhinged and very
dangerous. I couldn't believe how he did
that exchange was and neither of us had really even communicated
anything like a classic neighbor dispute.
This was the kind of stuff that I wanted to move away from when
I left the city, but here I was again dealing with that same
crap. I made my way back to the cabin
mind racing with worst case scenarios.
I flipped on all the external lights grab my rifle and loaded
it up. It was time to take matters into
my own hands, even though I didn't know exactly what that
meant. But I knew that I needed to be
ready for anything. This guy didn't hesitate to get
crazy when the time called for it.
So I figured I needed to do the same.
As I placed the rifle on the mantle Mary approached me her
eyes, very worried. What happened out there?
Mary's lost it he's dangerous and we need to be prepared.
I said trying to sound calmer than I felt.
The kids were watching their faces pale.
I knew I had to keep them safe No Matter What it Took I didn't
make a big boisterous show or anything, but I just made sure
the windows were covered. The doors were locked flashed
flashlights placed near every door.
I also made this little bug out bag for my family just in case
we had to take off for whatever reason.
Hey, we'll get through this. I said trying to reassure them
stick together will make it through.
He's just an old man. He's not going to actually do
anything. but as I looked out into the darkness that feeling
that we were in danger grew and grew Marty was out there
watching us waiting for his next move.
I remember it dawned on me then that I didn't even know why this
was happening. For my children really even that
close to his property. I mean have they been doing
something else? They were telling me about?
I questioned them a bit but they were adamant.
They hadn't done anything more than walk around in the woods.
We all hung out in the living room for the rest of that night
and slept in each other's company.
The next morning Mary and I went over our options and decided on
a course of action. Sitting around and waiting
wasn't really on the table anymore.
We decided to call the sheriff and make a report as well as to
get the scoop from any other locals.
After making our call and explaining the situation we were
told that the sheriff would be out to our location within the
hour. Our next move was my idea.
I wanted to get any information on Marty so I decided to
approach some of the others that live nearby.
I hopped in the truck and buzzed over to Walters house the guy
with the shed out front. He called the store.
I went there because I knew this guy the most out of the people
that lived in our area. We were actually on a first name
basis and on top of that. I knew for sure that he'd be
home. He was the retired type.
Made being home a full-time responsibility.
He came out to greet me even before I got out of my vehicle.
Hey there need something from the shop.
He called down nodding to the shed.
He was always looking to make a few bucks.
Not today Walter. I'm actually looking for
information. I replied.
Walter laughed and waved me up the steps.
I don't really have a whole lot of knowledge, but I'll see if I
can help he said. I didn't waste any time just got
right into the thick of it. I told him about all the early
run-ins with Marty and how they were slowly escalating over
time. Even about the generator mishap.
I mentioned the gun the property disputes everything that I could
remember Walter just went stoic as he took it all in.
Well, what do you think I asked when I was finished?
Well, Martin was never right after his wife died.
He started then Walter went on to tell me his own story filled
in a lot of the gaps. It turned out that just before
Marty Marty's wife died. The two of them were bickering a
lot. Marty is drinking was at an
all-time high was cruising into town every single day to hit a
bar or pick up a case of beer. His wife was really the only one
keeping him in check and suddenly she was just dead no
story. No funeral Marty was just
telling everyone that his wife died last night.
He didn't even seem that upset everyone living on the mountain
thought that that was a little strange but didn't know Marty
well enough to question him anymore.
The general consensus was that he murdered his wife.
When the other residents reached out to law enforcement, they
assured everyone that Marty reached out to them with the
news as well. Everything was copacetic on
their end. Still it was weird because no
coroner came by no body removal nothing.
Marty just said she was dead and that seemed to be it.
No one ever saw her corpse. This is when Marty Behavior got
really erratic. He started to patrol the woods
around his home. He'd gotten into a few pissing
matches with other locales that lived up there.
It was always the same thing. Stay away from Marty's property.
Don't come near Marty Marty's property.
Everyone else seemed to see a heart broken.
Perhaps mentally unwell old man. I saw a guy trying to hide
something. As Walter and I can continue to
talk we put some pieces together and he was inclined to believe
me. When I said I had to go back to
my house and meet the sheriff Walter asked to go with so he
could do his part and make a statement and hopefully get
everything figured out. Neither of us were prepared for
just how deep this grave went the sheriff took everything down
that we said even offered up some of his own hearsay that
he'd acquired over the last five years and told us he'd be in
touch. From our house.
He went straight to Marty's and from there everything exploded.
I don't know how it all occurred.
But Marty ended up arrested by the end of the week.
It turned out Marty's wife was found buried just under two feet
of loose soil and it definitely wasn't a beautiful or
ceremonious burial. No, not at all.
He dragged her body to the edge of his property line posted a
little dirt over and called it a day.
The really telling part was the multiple bullet holes found in
Her Bones. She'd clearly been shot to
death. the whole story was this five years prior to my family
moving out there Marty and his wife were having a rough patch
Just Like Walter described. What wasn't public was that
Marty's wife was telling him that she was leaving going back
to South Texas or New Mexico somewhere along the border was
getting back together with an old boyfriend of hers.
What she had with Marty had dried up.
He was now just a miserable drunk bitter old man.
Marty heard a threat one too many times decided to do away
with the woman for good. What she didn't know was that
Marty had actually killed the boyfriend.
She spoke of many many years ago like in 1981.
There had been something of a love triangle between Marty and
his wife and whoever this third man was.
The wife originally was with the third man, but Marty wooed her
away. Then they moved away.
But before they did Marty went back to that man's house
attacked him before shooting him as well.
They left town and miraculously no one ever Got Fingered for
that murder. After that, they lived a
relatively normal life before deciding to move up on the
mountain. Marty slowly but surely lost his
mind over time. We were living next to a guy who
had killed not one but two people in his life and seemingly
had gotten away with both. As the story rolled out over the
next couple of weeks. We were blown away to Bear
witness to such a sick mind blowing event.
What started out as our little Daydream lifestyle quickly
devolved into solving a multiple murder that stretched through
the decades? I guess Marty had given himself
up pretty much right away much to the surprise of our little
off-grid community. The courts couldn't be kind to
him as he was every bit of 70. If it were any amount of time
Behind Bars, it would be a life sentence.
So that's what he was given. We still live in the cabin and
I've come to enjoy every aspect of our rural lifestyle.
Mary homeschools the kids and we're all very grateful to have
that whole Marty Fiasco behind us.
We didn't realize just how close we came to tragedy the guy
literally pointed a shotgun at my children and had the nerve to
pull the trigger. It turns out it doesn't really
matter where you live the city or off-grid there are still
crazy people residing in both. I was a parole officer in the
state of Utah for nine years four months and 18 days.
It was nothing like working as a correctional officer, but after
a bad car accident in the spring of 97, it was one of the few
options open to me that didn't include medical retirement.
Many guys told me to take the medical buy a boat and start up
that charter service idea that had served as a pipe dream for
so many years but frankly that felt a little too much like
giving up. On top of that.
There was the fact that if I worked nine more years, I'd be
entitled to a full pension and I'd have all my treatment
covered by the state that last thing proved to be the deciding
factor instead of walking off into the sunset with a big check
and a bum leg. I joined the Utah Department of
Corrections as a parole officer. I worked hundreds possibly even
thousands of caseloads prior to my eventual retirement and
sadly, I think I only had a handful of stories that might
interest you being a parole officer wasn't exactly
action-packed and it's always laughable when the movies
present us as badass Bounty Hunter's when really were mostly
just slow horses with a Motley collection of dysfunctional
appendages with a few exceptions, obviously.
I think I only had three or four major incidents in my whole
parole officer career, but the incidents I did experience were
just as intense if not more so than anything I experienced as a
corrections officer including the time that I almost lost my
life to a man who in another life could have been a cousin or
a nephew of mine. Maybe even a son.
I first met Sean at the trailer park that he was calling his
temporary home following his release from federal prison.
The trailer park was part of the halfway home scheme that we were
sort of running due to budget constraints and all that extra
Freedom meant only the most promising of Parolees got to
stay there. Out of all these promising
Parolees that ended up calling the park home for a while.
I'd swear that Sean was the most promising of the mall.
He was a former Marine flight mechanic two tours of Duty
before the crap really hit the fan.
Even so the base he operated at got pummeled by Insurgent
rockets and mortars. I remember him saying meaning
that he came back stateside with a nasty case of what he called
the shakes. I guess officially speaking
whatever Sean suffered from would be categorized as PTSD.
But for whatever reason he never called it that he just said that
he got the shake sometimes when he got to thinking about things
too hard. He tried all kinds of medication
all kinds of therapy. But nothing ever worked then one
day out of pure self-destructive desperation.
Sean smoked a bowl of meth at a party on Memorial Day weekend
and found that it actually stopped his shakes.
I don't know how something like meth came to have that kind of
effect on him. If anything.
I'd have assumed that it made his shaykhs worse, but
surprisingly it had the opposite effect.
I guess he said it focused him like a laser, but brought the
Tremors down to almost nothing. Having discovered what he
thought was the miracle cure for his shaykhs Sean started using a
little meth here and there just whenever things got a little too
rough. He said then he discovered it
made him feel better shiny and new as he put it and much more
able to deal with all the bullcrap of being freshly
discharged from the Marine Corps with nothing to show for it but
a glorified severance check. He started doing more and more a
little before work a little after work then in his free time
and then all alone whenever he was craving.
But then this obviously left Sean with a problem one day he
found that he wanted to smoke more meth than he had money.
But he also really didn't want to be that depraved drug addict
who spends his last few dollars on drugs.
So in Stead, he goes to a meth cook asks what he needs to cook
him a batch and then goes around either stealing or buying
everything on his little shopping list.
He helps the cook with the batch makes a bunch of mental notes
and then starts cooking his own for purely personal use keeping
the batches as small as possible.
But just like when he first started smoking the amount that
he was cooking got bigger and bigger until eventually he
couldn't hide it anymore. Cops raided his Cookhouse Sean
got arrested and then he spent the next 12 years in a federal
prison. He'd have gotten way longer if
it wasn't for his military background and his behavior as
an inmate was impeccable. Had it not been for that.
There's no way that he'd been paroled nine years into the 18th
him. But I'm also guessing in front
of the judge. He showed a hell of a lot of
enthusiasm for putting his life in order because that sure is
hell what he showed me that first time that I met him at the
trailer park. I thought that he was going to
be the easiest case that I had ever dealt with.
He was itching to get his life back together and every time I
stopped by his place or we met for bacon and eggs at a nearby
Diner his enthusiasm seemed to have only grown a few months go
by Sean's well on his way to getting all the early release
recommendations. He needs including my own and I
stopped by his place for a pre-arranged meeting only to
find that he's not there. I figured something must have
been wrong for him to just pull a no-show like that and unlike
some other cases. I've worked I didn't assume that
he was trying to duck me or play games after building up a little
trust. I tried giving him a call on his
cell and the first time the call went through but when it
suddenly in abruptly went to voicemail I started to get this
sinking feeling. Best case scenario.
He was running late driving back to the trailer park and didn't
want to risk getting pulled over by talking on his cell but then
the next time that I tried to call him, it went straight to
voicemail. No dial tone.
Like he quickly just turned off his cell between calls.
Again, I get that sinking feeling.
I liked Sean I had high hopes for him.
So the idea of him messing up all of his progress and ruining
his chances of getting those recommendation letters.
It made me feel like a scared parent.
I didn't just leave right away. I walked back and forth in the
dirt in front of his trailer. Hoping to catch one of Sean's
Neighbors. He'd mentioned borrowing one of
their trucks to get to and from his job.
So I moseyed on around the trailer park hoping that I might
be able to talk to someone who knew him.
I knocked on the doors of a few trailers got no answer and then
finally the last one I visited had someone home.
I asked if they knew Sean and they said yes.
Then when I asked where he was they started giving it the usual
whose business isn't of yours kind of thing.
I explained that I was his PO and that he wasn't in any
trouble and I wanted to know where he was because I was
worried about him. It wasn't like him to miss a
face to face. I wasn't making up some story to
get him to talk and I'd appreciated it very much.
If he could do me a solid and just tell me what he knew.
I remember the guy gave me this look like you really don't know.
Do you and then told me Sean's mom had died.
He took it real bad. An owner of one of the other
trailers was out there drinking beer with him for a while.
But Sean was pacing back and forth making phone calls and the
next thing, you know a truck pulls up Sean jumps in the back
and then off he goes. I ain't seen him since.
I asked him how long ago this was and my heart sank when the
guy said Tuesday so four days now give or take Four days Sean
could have been halfway across the country by then and if he'd
gotten some kind of terrible news, there was no telling what
he retreated to in order to cope.
I couldn't blame him. But as I got back into my truck,
I was praying to God, please just stick to booze Sean stick
to booze if you got to The last thing I wanted to do was call it
into my superiors then in there if it were some scumbag who had
been caught with some Kitty pictures on his computer.
I'd have come down on him like a stampeding steer.
But as I've said already Sean was far from some pervert scum
bag. If I came down hard on him over
One Missed appointment, especially when it was due to a
death in the family. I'm not sure that I've been able
to look myself in the mirror for a while.
And the trouble was leaving him to his own devices for too long
not to mention in a state of grief.
He might not pass a urine test. Then if that happened he was
definitely going back to jail to serve out the remainder of the
sentence there instead of doing it on parole.
Obviously Sean wasn't my only parolee during that period so
it's not like I could devote all my time to searching for him.
But over the next few days. I kept calling his cell phone
kept stopping by his trailer and most importantly gave my cell
number to the neighbor that I spoke to and asked him to keep
his eyes peeled for me. A few days later.
I get a call on my cell and its the neighbor saying that he's
just seen Sean in a few others entering his trailer.
I thanked him for the info. But before I hung up, he warned
me that they didn't look like the kind of folks who woke up
bright and early for Sunday service.
And then I might want to be careful if I was looking to
arrest anyone. I definitely wasn't looking to
make any arrests. I didn't even have the power to
but I did want to make sure that he was okay and if these friends
of his wanted to put themselves in the way of that then that
might pose a very big problem for myself.
I drove over to the trailer park as quickly as possible.
Hoping to catch Sean before he did anything that he'd lived to
regret. When I arrived all the curtains
of his trailer were drawn and music was so loud that I could
hear it as I turned into the park and was thumping out of
some kind of sound system inside.
Now just to be safe. I put on the bulletproof vest
that I kept in my trunk and then headed up to the front door of
the trailer. I had to hammer on it just to be
heard over the Racket and when someone opened up the door Not
only was it not Sean, but they didn't look too pleased to see
me standing in front of me. When the door opened up it was a
guy that looked like his daddy was Bigfoot and his mom was a
skeleton and to him with all of the narcotics in his system.
I guess. I looked like the Devil Himself.
He slams the door closed and even over the loud music you
could hear him scream. It's the cops.
At first I found the guy's reaction to be kind of funny.
Sure. I was wearing a vest and I had a
gun on my hip but I wasn't a cop so I guess it was halfway to
bringing a smirk to my lips as I peered around to a window and
tried to peer through a crack in the curtain.
Having these guys throw all their drugs in the chemical
toilet would have most definitely been in their best
interest, but the fact was I wasn't there in that capacity.
I was only there to talk to Sean everything else was secondary.
And if they knew how understanding I was prepared to
be then I'm not sure that they'd have reacted so frantically at
all. I started to call out.
I'm not a cop relax. I'm just here to speak to Sean
for a minute. But it didn't seem to do any
good. I could hear the people inside
scrambling around cursing saying things about the cops being
outside. I repeated myself again, and
that's when the first bullet smashed through the trailer
siding. It all happened.
So quickly that at first I wasn't quite sure what it
happened, or maybe I did and I just didn't want to think that
it was happening. I backed up upon hearing the
sound but the shot came through way below I level so I didn't
see the Bullet Hole or realize what was happening until the
next few shots came through. I remember throwing myself back
off into the little wooden deck that led to the door then
feeling almost certain that I'd broken something when I landed
on my back and shoulders. I think I must have knocked the
wind out of myself too, because there was a second there where I
was scared that I had been shot, but after seeing no entry wounds
on the vest and seeing no blood on my shirt underneath.
I pulled my side arm and did the only thing I could empty the
entire clip into the front of the trailer.
There wasn't any time to consider the implications.
I just had to scare them into keeping their heads down long
enough for me to get back to my truck.
I got there but just in time to have someone shatter the
windshield with a well-aimed shot.
Someone in the trailer had a solid view of the driver's seat.
Meaning there would be no getting in it or getting out of
there without taking a bullet. I had to crawl underneath and
then out the other side taking cover behind one of my truck
tires. I then reloaded dialed 911 on my
cell phone and then just lay there peering out towards the
trailer hoping nobody came out the door and pursuit of me.
Luckily, someone else had heard the shot.
So uniformed officers arrived at least a minute or two faster
than they would have from my call alone.
But by the time they did get there they noticed what I had
around the same time. I made my own 911 call.
That Sean's trailer was on fire. The officers and myself that
arrived everyone inside would have run before the Flames got
too bad. But from the perspective of
those inside they had no idea what they were facing.
In their minds if they ran outside they'd have been shot to
Pieces but staying inside and trying to put the Flames out.
They stood a Fighting Chance. So as myself in the officers
started moving on the trailer someone inside pulls one of the
curtains back, but the silhouette they made including
the gun in their hand made them look like one of those training
targets and for the officers who arrived as my backup, they were
just as easy to shoot what followed was another prolonged
gunfight and as more shots went into the trailer the less those
inside were able to put the Flames out.
The fire grew and the shooting died down.
In the end the fire department arrived far too late to save
those inside from burning to death.
I honestly don't know if any of them were still alive by the
time they got there. But by the time the Flames were
out everyone inside were either burned to a crisp or died of
smoke inhalation or a Grizzly combination of the two.
It took the County coroner a hell of a long time to figure
out who was who as well as the exact cause of each person's
death. Only one person died by gunshot
and that person was shown. The corners I did him through
his Marine Corps dental records, but determined that he'd been
dead before the Flames got to him.
There was no telling whose bullets were the ones to put him
down either mine or the cops that showed up after.
But deep down, I think I know. I think I killed the one person
that didn't really need my help. I think Sean would have gone
through the grief of his mom's death.
He might have gone off the rails, but I think her ghost
would have dragged his butt back on them again.
I think I should have called in that first no-show meeting as
and when it happened and that way he could have gotten picked
up long before I had the opportunity to empty my pistol
into his trailer. He might have gone back to
prison maybe for a hell of a long time too.
But at least he'd still be alive.
There was a phrase I'd heard long ago that never made much
sense until that day the road to hell they say is paved with good
intentions. I have an off the grid story but
not in the usual fashion. I never lived off-grid per se
but I existed off grid for many years.
As a young man, I dropped out of college and started hitchhiking
around my state when I was around 18, which was all when I
quit wearing shoes. I was a free spirited type with
long hair and covered in these makeshift DIY stick and poke
tattoos. As a musician at heart, I would
just hit the road with a guitar or banjo and land wherever the
wind took me. I did this until I was 21 or 22
and usually hitchhiked back and forth between my hometown in
South Dakota to Denver or Fort Collins, Colorado.
These were happening places for a small town kid like me ripe
with drugs cool people and all kinds of different Musical
shows. I could catch a concert and make
a few hundred dollars playing on the street in Denver while high
the whole time. This quickly became a
ritualistic way of life for me in my most impressionable years.
I'll never forget the night that I met Chaz.
It was a warm summer evening in downtown Denver.
I was playing my guitar at the corner of 16th and Champa.
I had just finished a set and was packing up my gear when I
heard a voice behind me. This caught me off guard because
it was a man. I figured I was about to be
robbed. Usually the only people who
lingered to talk after a show were single girls.
So it being a man was a little suspicious.
Also there had been a string of mugging in the area.
So I was extra cautious about whoever was behind me.
Hey pretty good. You play like a real musician
does he said I turned around to see this tall lanky guy with
messy hair and a big wide grin carrying a battered old guitar
case. It looked like he'd been on the
road for a while, too. I immediately let my guard down
in the moment. It felt like I was looking in
the mirror. I knew this guy.
Just wanted to talk shop. Maybe even buy me a beer.
So I took the bait and ran with it.
Hey, thanks man. I said shouldering my pack.
I try my best. It's not easy out here.
There's lots of stiff competition.
We introduced ourselves and Chaz told me that he was a musician
too. We started talking about music
life on the road and everything in between.
It felt like we had known each other for years and years.
He was from Kansas also from a small town and got out of town.
The only way he knew how playing music.
He tried to start a few bands and faild.
So hit the road as a solo gig never looking back.
Colorado cities were like a magnet at the time for wandering
Souls like ourselves. So it was purely happened stance
that we just happened to meet up that night.
Chaz opened up the conversation only because he liked the way I
picked the strings. From that night on Chaz and I
were inseparable. We spent the next three years
traveling around the central us playing music hitchhiking and
seeing all the sights we could see.
We lived a colorful life always on the Move never staying in one
place for too long. We did this largely without
phones or technology of any kind just our instruments some
clothes and whatever money we could scrounge up with our
talent. Those years were incredible
because we really got to learn how the other played and by
doing so truly learned how to compliment one another.
We got many high praises from people all over the country.
But as the holidays would approach we'd always make our
way back to our respective hometowns to spend our time with
friends and family. It was a ritual that we both
looked forward to a chance to recharge our batteries and get
ready for another year on the road.
We also like to hide out from those winter months as Colorado
and some of the other places we like to reside in were pretty
unforgiving during the cold season snow ice frigid
temperatures. We lived on the street and
didn't even wear shoes if we didn't have to We weren't built
or prepared for any kind of experience like that.
So home retreat was always in order for some time around
Thanksgiving. This year was no different than
any other. I had just got back to my
hometown a small town in South Dakota and was settling into my
parents old house looking forward to having a few weeks of
relaxation some good home cooking and maybe even playing a
few local gigs. I like to come home and really
fine-tune. Whatever.
It was. I'd been working on that way
when I hit the road again in the spring.
I'd be much sharper and ready for a whole set repertoire.
Then on a cold winter evening late in the season my phone
rang. It was Chaz.
We usually didn't start making plans until March or April so he
was a little early to be reaching out.
I figured something was up. He had some kind of question or
maybe just missed me. Whatever the case I answered and
said hello. Hey man, how's it going?
He asked his voice crackling with excitement.
It's going Chaz. I replied laughing.
Just enjoying my downtime. How about you?
I'm ready to hit the road soon my friend.
He said been studying these railroad maps all winter and I
think I found a way for us to get to a music festival down
south. My ears perked up at that a
music festival. That sounded like the stuff of
Dreams. What a perfect destination for
our reunion trip. The fact that it was in the
South was a little off-putting, but who knows there are Indie
festivals all over the South? I quickly bit my tongue and
waited to hear the rest of the details.
Tell me more I said curiosity piqued.
And Chaz did he explained that he had found a route that would
take us away from my hometown to the festival grounds all by
train. We'd have to hop a few freight
trains, but he was confident we could make it he went on that.
He actually caught a train back home when we split and that's
what gave him the whole idea. All right.
So what kind of Festival I asked?
Indy New Wave sludge Pope Beach Bum crap, he said as fast as he
could exactly what I wanted to hear.
I was hesitant at first, but I mean Chaz and enthusiasm was
just unrelenting. Before I knew it I was agreeing
to meet him at the local train yard next month.
He literally had everything planned out from when he needed
to depart and when he would arrive to which train he needed
to hop on in order to be on time.
Frankly, I was blown away super impressed with how much time he
thought about this and put into it.
As we continue talking, I'll admit something though Chaz
sounded different almost like something was off.
His voice was tighter more urgent.
There was almost a hint of desperation in his tone.
I didn't know what to make of it.
Other than maybe he was just excited.
I wanted to ask about how things were going at home.
Maybe something was wrong for him to be so focused on
hypothetical train schedules, but I didn't want to pry.
For being a road ass hobo. He was kind of a private guy.
Like to keep his personal stuff to himself.
He was my best friend. So I had nothing but respect for
boundaries like that. So I pushed those thoughts
aside. We were going on an adventure.
And I couldn't wait to see what lay ahead.
Chaz said he'd send me more information over the next couple
of days, but for the most part all the hard work was done.
I just needed to pack up my stuff get some extra strings and
make sure my hands were in working order for the next eight
months. I breathed a sigh of
restlessness as I hung up already ready for this trip.
Little did. I know this journey would take
us down a dark dangerous path. One that would test our
friendship and our resolve. But for now, all I could think
about was The Thrill The Ride The Rush of adrenaline as we
hopped from train to train and the music that would bring us
together in the end. I got myself in my belongings
ready over the next few weeks patched up my backpack and
patched up. My jeans tuned all my strings
even picked up a few extra sets just in case.
I had all kinds of weird routines that I did before
hitting the road meditating exercising weird stuff that
prepared my mind and body for month after month of pretty
rough living. I even fasted before I started
my travels just to shrink up my stomach and get ready for these
sparse meals. The day finally came and it was
time to meet Chaz at the rail station.
It's a relatively open place for obvious reasons.
I assumed Chaz would be riding in on a train.
I stashed my stuff so it wasn't obvious that I was a hobo just
wandered up and down the tracks looking for any sign of him.
After an hour or so, I see a little dumpy SUV pull up down
the way. Sure enough Chaz pops out with
all his stuff. He waves to the driver who waves
back then departs back toward town.
I go over and greet. My best friend asked him about
why he hitchhiked instead of rode a train.
He explained the train schedules are rigid and none were coming
this way the quickest and safest way to get here on time was to
hitchhike. And so here he was whatever the
case. I was just glad to see him now.
We were ready to get the show rocking.
Come on, man. Let's move Chaz whispered his
eyes scanning the train station a ride is waiting.
I followed him my heart racing with excitement.
Been planning this for weeks. And finally, we were about to
hop our first train together. We soldered all of our stuff
instruments as well and began that long.
John down the tracks. I was sick with sweat nervous as
hell fearing something bad would happen.
I don't know why I just heard about all kinds of crazy horror
stories about train hopping everything from run over
accidents to getting teeth knocked out by Railway workers
just kept close to Chaz and watched my back as we walked.
We made our way down the line of detection by hiding behind
crates and stacks of luggage. Finally, we found a quiet car
with an Open Door. In here Chaz said gesturing for
me to enter. Dinghy is hell just a rough
wooden floor with some hay here and there.
The car was mostly full of pallets, but they had a little
room for us to hide our belongings and sit down stretch
out. If we wanted to we made sure to
keep clear of the door just in case anyone came back to check
on the car before departure. We settled in our backpack
stashed in the corner. I couldn't believe it.
We were actually doing this. We were train hopping out of my
home town. It was dead silent in there and
there was no sign of any workers.
So we just shot the crap in there while we waited.
Chaz said it could be a couple of hours before it was time.
We caught up for a bit talked about our holidays and then he
filled me in on the festival and that train hopping schedule.
I was over the moon to be having such a discussion.
The hours slowly passed by but eventually the train rumbled to
life. We chugged out of town the
scenery blurring by us outside through the crack in the
compartment door. I scooted out from the wall so I
could get a better look at the terrain as it went by.
I knew once we were clear for the Long Haul I'd probably break
out my guitar and start jamming as the country went by.
It's almost like something out of a music video made me
emotional to even think about Dude, this is amazing.
I said grinning at Chas. He smiled back his eyes gleaming
with excitement. I told you it would be you want
to play some tunes. I asked he shook his head and
got this funny. Look on his face.
Let's get high instead he said this was another commonality
between us Chaz and I both loved to get messed up it was one of
the things that brought us together in Denver all those
years ago. I'll admit he was a little crazy
or than me, but I could hang with the best of them with
almost any poison. I figured he wanted to smoke
some weed or pop some pills at the most breakout a ball of
coke. Instead he pulled out a drug
that I had never used before black sticky heroin.
I remember getting a jittery nervous feeling all throughout
my body. And for some reason I instantly
had to take a dump. Scary and exciting just like
that train ride. I figured this would be a
perfect place to experiment Chaz did the honors as I had no idea
how to even prepare a shot of heroin.
I just watched in. Awe.
He explained he started using on his last trip home and it
quickly became integral to his creative process loved playing
music when he was high on it. He argued that all the greats
used it during their Prime and frankly.
I couldn't really argue. I wouldn't have any way as I
loved using too much to mess it up after he hit me with it.
I just remember blasting off feeling like my body was trippin
away underneath the train as it rocketed along the Earth.
Such a euphoric sensation truly Indescribable, but that's what
all us junkies say, isn't it? We start chasing that high and
it's never coming back all that tacky Hollywood crap.
It was honestly amazing and I fell in love with that draining
Rush instantly. We rode in silence for a while
watching the countryside Roll by.
We would talk occasionally, but mostly we were just zoned out
and enjoying the ride both literally and figuratively.
Anytime anything cropped up in my head that I thought I should
be concerned about. But nothing like that ever came
to me. No anxiety.
No Panic nothing, but bliss. The hours ticked by and we got
closer and closer to our next Rail station.
Then Chas stood up his eyes fixed on something outside.
I looked and saw the sun had gone down quite a bit.
Time to get out. He said his voice low.
We grabbed our packs and I followed him my heart pounding.
It was like all that stress from early had suddenly reappeared
now wanting to suffocate me. I gripped my guitar case with
steady resolve trying to quickly catch my breath and did my best
to be quiet and alert. We jumped off the train as it
moved to the next station our feet pounding the gravel if the
train had been moving any faster, we both would have eaten
dirt. There was a pile of rubble
nearby some kind of jackhammered concrete if we had fallen
headlong into that. We both would have cracked our
skulls and died right there on the first stop.
We made our way through the station avoiding detection by
hiding behind pillars and these little alcove finally we found
the next train that we needed to be on.
Chaz was seriously badass at reading trains.
I don't even know what he was looking for whether it be icons
or serial numbers of some kind but he found us the right train
every time without fail. We continue to repeat the
process hiding in a car then waiting for the train to depart.
This station seemed to have much more in the ways of employees
though as we could hear boots crunching on the gravel outside
occasional voices Shadows passing over the crack in the
door. My heart was slamming at this
point terrified that we'd be discovered.
Not only were we traveling illegally, but we also had
heroin which I suspected would land Us in even deeper crap.
We stashed our stuff deep in the cart and hid out in the back
corner. Eventually, somebody came over
and pulled the hatch open took a look into the car.
With the new light I could see a little better.
When I looked over to Chas to see what we should do, I found
him loading up another bullet full of heroin.
I couldn't believe it. But I was honestly relieved.
I wanted all this nonsense to dissolve the second that needle
hit my vein. He had us both dosed up by the
time the train was rolling down the railway and I could tell it
was a higher amount this time. I was swimming teetering on
total Detachment from myself and the world around me.
This time though we nodded off again the most stereotypical
junkie behavior on the chart. I know I don't know how much
time went by at least a few hours and then our lives were
messed up forever. Our peace was shattered when we
awoke we were being dragged off the train by rough hands our
bodies collecting a healthy array of splinters of various
sizes burying themselves deep all over our hips stomach chest
and neck. As I'm being dragged my head is
bouncing off every pallet Corner around me taking me out of that
heroin delusion right into a concussive state.
What the hell I protested my words met with a punch to the
gut. I tried to kick out but someone
caught my legs and another person's started drilling me in
the groin with a closed fist. I lost all steam after that
could hardly breathe from the pain shooting through my body
next a boot found my face and somebody did the favor of
kicking my head in. Chaz and I were beaten
mercilessly our cries for help ignored by any and all that
could hear them. They continued to drag us until
we fell five feet onto the hard ground below that further
knocked the wind out of me as I felt like I was drowning then
came more fists more boots. I looked up to recognize our
assailants were the railway workers.
They kicked our asses inside and out for another 10 minutes
before throwing all of our stuff into the dirt and telling us to
get lost. We Gather up as much as we could
and just limped our way out into the woods Neither of us spoke as
we stumbled into our next little town.
We found a dingy bar where we bought some beer and cigarettes
then wandered the streets searching for a place to hide.
It was pretty much our only option since getting removed
from the train. Just trying to recover as much
as possible. We didn't know anyone in the
town. We were in didn't even know the
name of it. No cell phones.
No tablet. No, nothing just clothes drugs
and instruments. Eventually, we found an ally
dark and narrow. We wandered down a bit to get
away from the businesses near the front of it found a pretty
dingy looking dump in the back. We collapsed onto the ground.
Our body's aching. It was pretty dark back there
even had a dumpster to help get us out of sight of everything
else. You want to jam a bit?
I said Chaz shook his head at me his eyes dark.
Rather get high. He said my heart skipped a beat
as I watched him load up the needle I didn't want to do this,
but Chas reassured me his voice low and persuasive.
Play music after we got that good and got that magic in US.
I can now see how much of a toll this was taking on him.
Chaz had been using maybe a little longer than he let on was
gone vaini super pale. We shared that needle the drug
coursing through our veins like fire.
I felt myself drifting away my vision blurring again.
We talked for a bit, but I really don't remember any of it.
Again, he must have up the ante because I was absolutely blasted
to hell in that shot. We never even pulled our guitars
out never played a single note on that trip just did heroin 3
times passed out in our own mess in the back of some crappy Ali
when I awoke 8 hours later Chaz was still beside me his eyes
glassy and unfocused. His chest was still and he was
unnaturally pale. Chaz I whispered shaking him how
long you been up? He didn't respond.
I thought maybe he was still high so I shook him again.
That's when I noticed how cold he was the paleness The Chill on
his skin. Something was wrong.
Then I noticed the dried vomit on the side of his face a touch
of blood underneath his nose. I was looking at my best friends
dead body. Literally the syringe still in
his lap that sent us to the Moon.
Panics set in I scrambled to clean up all the drug
paraphernalia. I couldn't be caught with this
stuff. I didn't know what could happen
to me. But I knew how much more heroin
Chaz had in his stuff and I would definitely test dirty if
this turned into some kind of Investigation.
There's no way I was getting caught up in anything crazy like
that. So I just did the only honest
thing I could think of. I stumbled out of the alley with
my heart racing reported chaz's body to the proper authorities.
I did it anonymously just saying I saw a young man laying in the
back of the alley between such and such bars.
I was in total shock teetering on losing my grip on reality.
I had the Jitters from all the heroin and I was absolutely
starving for some kind of real food.
I got a meal somewhere with my last few dollars and found a
place to spend the night. I got my stuff together slept in
a park hidden away in the dark and cried the entire night.
I knew I only had one option to go back home.
This was the worst case scenario.
The music festival wasn't even on my radar Chaz overdosing was
not part of the plan. And now I was thrown to the
wind. He and I had courted chaos for
the better part of three years. So that kind of thing catching
up to us was partially expected. Still it was a brutal thing to
endure in a town. I didn't even know with zero
access to any kind of resources or any kind of support.
I hitchhiked home morning Chaz every mile of the way.
I didn't even know who to call to tell we traveled together as
companions, but I didn't know anything about his home life or
his family. I wasn't even sure of his last
name or the town. He actually lived in.
I wish I could tell you that I got myself together after this
whole experience, but I didn't. I actually got much much worse
for the next few years. I stopped traveling around as
much stayed home getting plastered every night.
I gave up music just started partying and getting tanked with
my buddies. It was the only way to cope with
the reality that I met out there.
I did clean myself up, but only within the last couple of years
with the help of podcasts and YouTube channels like this one.
The most interesting man I ever met in my life used to work as a
tunneling contractor. I first met him when I was a
signed as his parole officer after he was released 23 years
into a 45 year prison sentence. I quickly recognized him as one
of the good ones to me. There are two types of Parolees.
Those who are going to give me problems and those who aren't
they come in all shapes sizes and characters, but you can
always categorize them into one of those two groups and you can
tell which one they will be from the moment you lay eyes on them.
I figured Mike would be the Troublesome kind not so much
because of what he had done but because of whom he had done it,
too. Back in the late 80s Mike worked
as a tunneling engineer for a major construction company in
the south-west. He worked on tourist attractions
mining sites Waste Management sites.
And even an R&D facility for a pharmaceutical company.
He made great money. But then one day Mike's boss
told him that all the work was drying up and his Services would
no longer be required. This left mic in a difficult
situation because he had a mortgage credit card and car
payments to keep up with. And a seven-month long crash in
the regional construction business meant that he couldn't
get a call back from any other company let alone a sit down
with a CFO or a workable contract.
As the prospects of defaulting and foreclosure started to loom
large. Mike got a call from a guy
asking if he was free to do some work.
Mike said it was like a bolt from the blue.
He was ready to dig a tunnel to China if it paid enough to keep
the Repo Men away. However, the more he talked to
the representative of his potential new employer the more
he realized it wasn't going to be like any other job.
Mike offered to send over his license number insurance and
bonding information. Something 95% of employers would
ask for before even discussing a project with a potential
contractors. But the guy on the phone didn't
seem interested in a way that would have been creepy if it
weren't for the friendly manner of offering work the caller told
Mike that they were familiar with his work had done their due
diligence and were ready to offer him the job once he'd
signed a confidentiality agreement.
In all the years Mike had been digging and Blasting tunnels.
No one had ever asked him to sign anything resembling a
confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement.
So right away he figured this particular job was going to be
different. But when he heard what the rate
of pay was going to be he almost choked on thin air.
The most he had ever been paid for a single day's work was
about 800 dollars, which as any contractor will tell you is a
solid amount especially during these first five to ten years of
trading. But the job Mike was being
offered by the guy who didn't seem to care if he was legit or
not was 2000 dollars cash in hand at the end of every single
day. Mike said it was like a kiss on
the cheek on one side and a slap in the face on the other. 2000
dollars a day was good money, but in cash every day, it was
way too good to be true. But at the same time Mike wasn't
in the position to turn his nose up at that kind of money.
So instead of flat-out refusing he thought he'd play along see
what the job entailed and then make a definite decision at a
later date. A few days later the guy called
him back and told him to drive out to the parking lot of some
diner near Columbus, New Mexico, but he was to get there at 10
p.m. Mike showed up when he was
supposed to thinking that the job was going to be at the
diner. But in Stead he found a whole
crew of guys standing around in the cold.
When he got out of his car and identified himself someone with
an authoritative are about them told him to wait with the
others. Sometime later a long Grey Hound
style bus showed up and Mike correctly assumed that they
would be traveling to the work site.
What he didn't expect was for everyone to be given their very
own blindfold. Obviously this made everyone
pretty nervous, but they were reminded of the pay and that
they could walk away at any time they wanted.
The only condition was that they wear the blindfolds when
traveling to and from the worksite.
Mike said a couple of guys actually walked back to their
cars and drove away. Which in all fairness is exactly
what he should have done, too. But as we've already covered he
had his plan laid out. So he got onto the bus put on
his blindfold and then waited to be told to unmask.
Mike said the bus must have traveled down a highway for a
while because the ride was pretty smooth.
But then that all changed when they turned down what was
obviously some kind of side or dirt road.
The journey continued for a little while.
Then the bus came to a stop but in being allowed to take off
their blindfolds Mike and the company were LED off the bus
still blindfolded. Then walked all the way into
some large building before being allowed to dmas.
Mike said that the inside looked like a warehouse that had been
gutted of shelving before all the floor paneling had been
ripped up. Someone had already gotten to
work digging a pretty deep hole. They just had to wait for the
engineers to get there before really opening up the tunnel.
Mike said that aside from the real secretive nature of it all
it was a very professional operation.
Whoever wanted the tunnel Doug had all the right materials in
machinery. They just didn't have the
expertise. Before they got to work someone
asked why all the secrecy and the group was told that it was a
decision from corporate. The operated in a viciously
competitive market and so certain security measures had to
be taken to ensure their employer maintained an
advantage. For the most part this answer
seemed to satisfy. But Mike said that there was
still a handful himself included that had a feeling what they
were doing wasn't strictly legal.
And he was right. Mike said that he made close to
30,000 dollars before one morning as the bus rolled back
into the diner parking lot just before Dawn a bunch of federal
agents ambushed the bus dragged everyone out and arrested them
on the spot. It turns out their task had been
to dig a tunnel under the border with Mexico and their employers
had been the Juarez drug cartel in light of that Mike in the
rest of the guys. He'd worked with were hit with a
ton of different charges big ones too.
Some of which implicated them as active members of an
international drug smuggling operation.
He got 45 years, but that's not really the story that I want to
tell you today. You see as crazy as that story
is it's not the most frightening One mic ever told me.
This one occurred during his first week in federal prison
when he found himself a very small and very new fish dropped
into some very dark and stormy waters.
Mike said that the first week or so in prison was the most
terrifying of his entire life. He'd spent a long time in jail
and that all counted toward time served but being busted to a
federal lockup was when he finally gave up.
Hope that he might somehow be able to appeal some of the
charges. The prosecution painted him as
some hardened cartel operative who had put the nation's
security at risk in exchange for personal gain.
All the cash he earned was seized and he liquidated all of
his assets to buy the best defense attorney he could afford
but it was no good. And when his cell door closed
shut on that first night in prison, it took everything in
Mike's power not to break down and weep.
You've got to remember he was only 24 at the time of his
arrest 25 by the time he got to federal prison.
I'm almost 60 now and looking back on 25 your basically still
have a kid. How Mike managed to get himself
involved in such a harebrained scheme to begin with is beyond
me but even as someone with such a strong inclination toward Law
and Order, I can't say Mike's punishment entirely fit the
crime. Mike was scared, but he was an
adult he knew what he'd have to do to survive.
And that was to get into the good graces of a pre-established
group to gain safety in numbers. He did so as quickly as he could
and was told his timing was perfect because anyone who
showered alone became a target for Black Betty.
Betty wasn't the guy's first name his last name was Bettany
or something like that and he wasn't called black because he
was African-American. He got that part of his nickname
because he scared the living crap out of people.
He was just shy of seven feet tall.
I heard but a lean 200 pounds in change.
He was mean he could fight, but the worst thing was that every
so often Black Betty got a taste for his fellow convicts.
If you were in with a bunch of guys, you could shower together
and all though Black Betty sometimes followed and just
stood there watching. He didn't make a move on anyone.
But then if you weren't with anyone and you were one of the
stragglers who showered alone Black Betty would follow them in
and take them as he said. Mike said that he didn't shower
for days not until he and his new buddy buddies decided to
head down to the showers together.
When the time came Mike said that he was hugely looking
forward to it as he had a bad case of stink ass and underarms
that smelled like hot death. But when it came to heading to
the shower block, Mike was told that he was going alone at first
he thought it was some kind of joke, but it wasn't.
His new Buddies who all of a sudden weren't acting very much
like his buddies anymore were deadly serious.
He was going to go first and he was going to go alone.
And if he had anything else in mind, he could expect not to
survive the night. Mike said he was stunned.
It felt like a nightmare that he was going to wake up from at any
moment only he didn't wake up because it wasn't a nightmare.
It was actually happening and he was screwed.
He said he needed to take a shower not wanted to needed to
so he waited until a few other new fish had a down looking
scared and alone and hoped that he would get lost in the crowd.
And when I say crowd, I mean maybe two or three other
convicts aware of the threat Black Betty pose.
Everyone tried to wash up as quickly as they could but it
wasn't fast enough. Betty had seen them walking off
to the showers and followed soap and towel in hand.
As soon as he appeared everyone started rushing off, but Black
Betty didn't pay them any mind. Instead he had his eyes fixed on
Old Mikey boy and when he tried to slip past like the rest of
the new fish Black Betty blocked his way that he backed him all
the way up to the back wall of the shower block saying all this
stuff. That was making Mike's skin
crawl warning him that if he fought back it was only going to
make things worse. Mikey was thinking that there
was no way that he was about to just give up and give in but at
the same time there was no way that he was going to win a
one-on-one fight with Black Betty.
But even so the best option was to give it his best shot and if
Betty killed him in the process, well, there were worse Fates
than death. Mike's back was right up against
the wall and he was about to tell his would-be violator that
he would die before he turned around when he saw this flash of
movement over Betty's shoulder. Suddenly someone hooked a towel
around Betty's neck and then jerked it back sending him
slamming backwards into the tiled floor of the shower block.
The impact cracked Betty's head open and while his eyes were
still rolling in their sockets the guys that had ordered Mike
to shower alone appeared and stuck Black Betty so full of
holes that he looked like a blood spun by the time they were
done. Before they departed Betty's
Killer's told Mike that and I quote you didn't see anything
which is exactly what he told the warden when he was dragged
into his office later on that day.
He was so traumatized by what he'd seen that the warden and
his top guys had no trouble believing the story.
They knew it wasn't Mike who had stabbed Betty over 100 times.
They just didn't know who did. When Mike wandered back onto the
wing the first people who wanted to talk to him were his buddies.
They showered him in smokes Contraband and all kinds of
commissary. Mike said that they even had a
plastic cup full of prison wine waiting for him to glug down out
of sight of the guards long story short.
They used him as bait. Betty wouldn't go for just
anyone. Mike was his type and it was
either risk him or keep everyone at risk because Betty wasn't
just a habitual Predator. He was an opportunistic one,
too. While Betty was around no one
was safe. But with Betty gone Mike
amounted to a cell block hero. It was his arrival that had
given them a golden opportunity to take Betty down as they knew
that Mike was the kind of new fish that Betty would have his
eye on. The thing was Mike's buddy new
that if they let him in on the plan.
There was a chance that he'd be too scared to go through with
it. And so a little coercion seemed
in order. Mike stayed with the group of
guys for a long time before later being transferred to a
medium security prison called Three Rivers where he served out
the rest of his sentence. Luckily, there was no one like
Black Betty around to terrorize the inmates.
To me the idea of being used as bait to lure out a human animal
is one of the most frightening Concepts.
I can possibly think of but while I've heard that ignorance
is bliss I think not knowing you're the bait might be even
more terrifying. What's worse Betty's Killers
floated the idea of only beginning their Ambush once he
was shall we say occupied with mic?
That way they could ensure that he'd be suitably distracted.
But it also meant condemning mic to a truly nightmarish fate.
Thankfully for him they decided that they couldn't live with
that not by unanimous decision anyways, but they came to that
decision all the same. Last time I spoke with him Mike
he was driving for Uber up in Dallas.
He said he had a girlfriend in that she had a kid and that he
felt more and more like a father by the day.
He's come a long way since digging tunnels in Mexico, and
he's come along way since being used as bait for a monster.
There's so much strangeness and so much can go wrong for a
person out in the desert. It's no wonder places like this
are considered some of the most dangerous in the world.
There's no cover from the elements no water and everything
in the dirt seems intent on hurting or even killing you.
This is a countdown to my most messed up desert experience.
buckle up to start off lightly once on a remote Dirt Road in
Joshua Tree. I saw a decomposing rattlesnake.
I pulled over to inspect it. It was three to four feet long
and had been dead for perhaps a week still mostly intact.
The snake had been run over and I found it with its neck turned
sharply by biting its body. I tell you this story to put the
desert into perspective for those who haven't really
experienced it. This rattlesnake preferred to
break its own neck and commit suicide with a fatal bite rather
than suffer under the sun. It's absolutely brutal to see.
Next I was in butt Valley for a few months after the death of
Valley Germans disappeared and explored some of the places.
They had been to. For those who don't know the
Death Valley Germans were a family from Germany a husband
wife and two children. They were on a vacation trip
through California when they decided to tour Death Valley not
fully understanding the dangers. After the father got them lost.
He got their Vans stuck and the family was forced to walk.
This all took place in 1996. They weren't found until 2009 by
then reduced to nothing but bones bleached by the Sun.
These folks were simply unprepared for the harsh
realities of the desert. Stories like these need to be
talked about and understood to prevent them from happening
again. Too many day Trippers head out
into seriously dangerous territory only to find
themselves stuck lost or both. Rescue Services often don't even
know where to begin searching for them without proper
precautions and attempts at retrieval are almost always too
late. It was a shame because there
were two well equipped cabins. They passed less than an hour's
walk away, but they could have thrived for a month if necessary
in the opposite direction. The wash is soft and Sandy and
walking. It was like walking down an
escalator. On the few steep Parts it
intersects with the road eventually the lights of the
distant town of shoen are visible along that Canyon as
well. Instead they made this grueling
hike over an extremely difficult mountain range expecting to run
into guards. That would be patrolling the
remote military base. They saw on the map which in
fact is actually a seldom used bombing range protected by its
remoteness and inaccessibility. It's really remote out there and
occasionally spooky at night if you're all alone.
When I went camping in that area, I could see fires burning
off in the distance. Some looked like well placed
campsites but others were smack dab in the middle of nowhere.
almost where one would expect a wildfire to be Instead I would
see little figures dancing around the Flames jumping and
doing all manner of weird stuff. It looked almost ritualistic
barbaric. But I have to admit I was
squinting through the dark for possible miles.
Aside from those fire dancers the noises were really weird too
haulers and chants echoing between the canyons and The Rock
bases. Nothing animalistic, but almost
like they were singing. It's hard to explain.
It almost sounded like the wind when I heard it.
Just voices being carried on the Wind.
And since it's just rolling desert out there the sound has
this creepy way of carrying itself from one area to another.
All this just to set the tone for the creepiest thing to ever
happen to me out in the desert after Decades of scurrying
around those Dooms. One time I was taking my young
teen nephews out to a remote, but well known Desert Canyon for
a weekend of quading and exploring.
I went on seasonal trips in the later months.
Starting to Teeter into the winter.
My nephews at the time were just boys, maybe eight and 12 years
old respectively. This was one of those trips to
give my sister a break from her kids, but also to do my part as
an uncle to make these boys into men.
A little rugged dirt camping in the desert is a perfect recipe
for such an endeavor. We zipped out of civilization
quickly disappearing into the California backcountry.
As we were doing so a ragged woman was walking down the road,
which was almost a mile from the canyon mouth to the paved Road
not in distress, but apparently grown bored with whatever party
was happening in the hills and going to hitch a ride back to
Barstow. The party favors are never
running low and casts of this variety were not too uncommon
especially for this recreational area at the time.
We weren't really in the sticks yet.
Just barely off the main drag so campers and day drinkers would
still be plentiful. There was no room to drive
around her. So I slowed down and stopped a
good distance away. She kept walking toward a
motorhome at the same Pace until she got to the bumper and just
stopped then stared at me with this ragged tweaker face.
We looked at one another and still idling as my nephew's
waited in the back for something to happen.
Is she okay one of them asked? I don't know was the only thing
I could reply with should we help her?
Absolutely not. I said very clearly this wasn't
a situation where you stopped let alone open the door for
someone with a face like that. Still I understood where my
nephews were coming from. They were good kids.
This woman did kind of look distressed like someone you
might reach a handout to help. After a minute or two, I was
wondering if I was going to have to get out and move her so we
could continue down the road. She had this determined look
then started marching around to the passenger side.
As soon as she was clear of the front.
I gunned it and drove off before she could even start trying our
doors. It was the most unexpected place
to encounter this stereotypical opportunistic, Urban, Junkie.
It was clear as day the second she made that face that she was
going to try to get in the car and do her best to force us to
turn around and drive her back to the city.
This lady had this dried up desperation needing to get high
again. We bolted by and as I looked in
my rear view, I watched her throw her arms up and defeat
screaming all manner of crazy stuff back at us.
But then she did something that I did not expect she turned on
her heel and started following us not quickly, but at the slow
walk the same she had before when we rolled up on her.
She was in it for the long haul. I just remember swallowing and
thinking there's no way she's going to be able to keep up.
But damn we were in a camper not going very fast and created a
lot of dust if she was persistent.
She could probably find us. I just hit the gas and moseyed
on tour the campsite. I knew the area well much better
than some Barstow bound meth head.
We wound back into the desert. Well out of sight of that woman
until we hit the spot that we'd call home for the next couple of
days. It was well out of the way
totally out of view from the mini dirt road and other camping
spots inside that area. We hadn't seen anybody else on
our drive back there. So we knew we were set in
regards to getting some alone time.
Still in the moment. I couldn't shake the image of
that crazy junky lady turning and following us.
Eventually, I just lost myself in the chores of setting up camp
getting the fire pit ready Gathering wood and when we were
ready setting up a makeshift area for us to relax. all that
normal stuff My nephews helped, of course ignorant to the fact
that that lady might still be out there looking for us.
The day drifted by and of course, I forgot about that
entire encounter. In all honesty, we were
something like 15 miles away from where we saw her much
further than she'd be willing to walk.
I was sure of it. Probably lost the nerve after a
mile or two turned back around and headed the other direction.
Either way. We were saddled up for the
weekend with no plans of moving. You'd be hard-pressed to find us
out in the dark. We relaxed as the sun drifted
away leaving us with just the Flames for light the two dogs
told spooky stories. I showed the kids what
constellations we could see through the trees?
We ate relaxed a little more and just as I was starting to get
tired. I heard something the kind of
thing. You don't want to hear when
you're all alone in the middle of the desert. voices they
seemed far off at first but soon I could make out the Cadence the
words. It sounded like two or three
more people a girl and at least one guy.
I relaxed thinking it was just some other campers out for a
late night stroll or maybe even coming back from the spring
around the bend where a little swimming could be done if
wanted. I told you it was them the voice
screeched from just outside View.
Me and the boys jumped at the sound unsure of who or what was
around us. Before I could even get up she
strolled into the firelight pointing an accusatory finger
directly at me. It was her that tweaker that we
had encountered on the road. I couldn't believe she found us
with company. No less.
Hey, can we help you? With something?
I asked yeah, you piece of crap. You left me out on the road.
She screamed over the fire at me.
So you come back to my camp and attack me get a grip and get the
hell out of here. I explained in a Stern voice.
I had to make a show of this with the kids still wide awake.
I gestured to my nephews and went on.
I'm taking the kids out camping. I don't have time to play 20
Questions with some lady who standing in the middle of the
road. Better watch your mouth boy.
Some guy said as he stepped out of the Shadows skinny Inked Up
and missing a good nine or 10 teeth.
He had cheap shiny jewelry on his wrist and in his ears
looking like your average Street rapper a piece of crap out of
Fresno or whatever part of California you're familiar with
I made it very clear to these people that I wasn't watching
anything. This was my Camp my property and
my family. I wasn't obligated to help
anyone out or do any favors for strangers in the woods.
The fact that they had tracked me down was grounds enough for
defense or maybe just a call to the Sheriff's Office.
This didn't have the effect that I thought it would instead of
tucking tail and going back into the darkness.
They doubled down started screaming all kinds of threats
and insults. I ushered both boys into the RV
we were quickly getting very upset before turning back and
casually talking to the people. What I really was doing was
packing up our loose belongings all the stuff that mattered and
tucking it into the storage areas of the RV.
The whole time I was just pacifying trying to talk but
more as a distraction. That was until tweaker dude
picked up a rock then threatened to smash my head in.
At this point I fronted like I had a gun which I did it was
just inside the RV. I reached into my back waistline
and that made the guy freeze up for a second just long enough
for me to literally Drive full bore through the door and inside
the RV. I locked up behind me and ran
for the driver's seat. By the time I got there this
idiot was smashing the outside of the RV with The Rock.
I was pissed but I didn't have any other options other than
flight. I fired up the engine shifted
and then started that slow slog back to the main campgrounds
when the headlights lit up. I was in total shock.
There were at least six or seven more Tweakers all Milling around
outside the camp waiting to see what happened.
It dawned on me then that this was some kind of setup or
something. We were in the middle of a
campsite robbery out in the middle of nowhere.
I gunned it at this point. There was no chance of me in the
boys getting trapped out there with all of them.
God knows what they do to us after they got us outside.
The RV had a pistol with eight rounds in it unchamber as well
as a 20-gauge Single Barrel Bird gun all unloaded.
The time it would take me to get into gear and load them up.
They'd have all the windows smashed out and would be on top
of me already. Driving was the best and only
option for us at the moment. I looked in the rearview as I
swerved out of the campsite and finally saw some good news.
Not a single person tried to follow us.
We rambled onward as the meager pile of belongings.
I'd Left Behind was enough to distract them all.
There was a hammock a couple of folding chairs, maybe even a
small empty cooler stuff. I could easily replace.
Besides there wasn't a cost for protecting my nephews they were
obviously the top priority. We rambled out of the canyon as
quickly as that RV would allow us.
The boys finally calmed down once we left that chaos behind
everything seemed to wind down. Stars twinkled overhead.
I tried to enjoy our Escape as much as we could.
Up ahead though, as we close in on that paved roadway.
I saw some headlights cutting through the brush.
I figured I'd flash them with my brights and speak to them
through the window. If I could warn them about those
thieves out in the campground tonight to my utter surprise.
It was a pair of sheriffs with the game warden in tow.
They'd all received reports of a group of lunatics roaming the
area. I confirmed everything that they
had heard told them exactly where they could find them then
proceeded on our way back home. There was no way I was going to
make those kids sleep out there with the police combing the
forest. It was better to go back to the
lake or something. somewhere more populated in civilized
That's exactly what we did and that folks is my crazy desert
tweaker story. I hope you enjoyed it.
I'll be completely honest with you.
I had next to no idea what I wanted to do with my life when I
first applied to University. I'd always been interested in
crime in police drama's so I had an inkling that I would end up
doing something related to criminal justice.
I just wasn't exactly sure what it would be.
My mom had dreams of me being a barrister or an attorney here in
the UK, but I didn't think I had the smarts for that kind of
thing. I also didn't fancy anything too
morbid, which put me at odds with almost everyone else on my
course. Most of them wanted to get into
forensics or CID which is where you go to be a homicide
detective or join The Drug Squad.
On the other hand, I felt like I wanted to do something more
analytical something impactful but more behind the scenes.
I know that makes me seem like some fussy little bugger and I
wouldn't blame you for thinking that yet.
If I can make one little correction.
I think I was more like an indecisive little bugger.
But a few years of study helped me see to that the more I
studied the more I approached a kind of epiphany.
Statistically it's only a small portion of the population that
commits crime usually less than 10% of the country's overall
population. Then with certain crimes that
statistic is even smaller for example with shoplifting.
It's only something like 0.2% of the British population that
accounts for all incidents of shoplifting.
That's only about 100,000 people out of a population of almost 70
million. My point is it seemed like the
best way to reduce certain types of crime was to focus on
preventing reoffending as a posed to imposing harsher
sentences for said re-offending that would inevitably cause a
person to sink deeper into criminality.
Once I'd made my mind up about that my ever elusive career path
lit up in front of me and I took my first step on the road to
becoming a probation officer. I volunteered with the prison
advice and Care trust when I was in my third year an organization
that provides support services to newly released prisoners.
I honestly just did it to get a taste of what it would be like
working with former prisoners as I still had a few lingering
doubts over whether or not I'd be any good at it.
But when it came to applying for the trainee probation officer
program following my graduation from uni, the ministry of
Justice practically bit my arm off owing to that prior
experience. I spent six months attending a
nearby learning development unit where I was taught the tricks of
the trade. Then after a series of rigorous
computer-based tests, I was cleared as an officer of Her
Majesty's prison and probation service.
It was a bit surreal at first the only when I told all my
mates from back home about it. they couldn't picture me dealing
with hardened criminals on a daily basis and honestly
neither, could I Did a lot of conflict management and DS
galatian training at the ldu and it was all great training that I
learned a lot from but I also heard a couple of horror stories
that served as examples of how not to tackle a tense situation
with a client. And that's the word we were
taught to use client. Some think it's a much better
term than probationer or ex-prisoner and that it's a much
softer much more hopeful terminology, but it never really
sat right with me. Client makes it sound like we're
doing them a favor when really I think going straight is them
doing us the biggest favor possible.
Anyway, my first few cases were massively challenging, but after
that I started to get the hang of things.
I dealt with a lot of lads who had been caught in one little
street fight on a drunken Saturday night.
They weren't hardened criminals. And the last thing they ever
wanted was to go back to prison. So getting them into work and
sticking to routines we'd laid out was easy.
Then there were people who had been in prison for dealing
drugs. Those who had been in for
lengthy or stretches sometimes seemed like they genuinely
wanted to get out of the game. But the ones who had been in for
three or four months for selling cannabis, you knew that they
were going straight back to dealing no matter what you said
or did for them. I had this one last who said
that he'd signed up to do bicycle deliveries for Uber
Eats. I personally saw him whizzing
all over town on two different occasions.
I'd literally never seen anyone so keen on getting back into
work, but then when I checked with Uber Eats and gave them the
bogus Courier ID that he'd given me.
I discovered that he must have done a grand total of two or
three deliveries before he started using his big green
delivery bag as essentially a cover to go back to dealing for
the most part that was about as exciting as it got clients
trying to give you the runaround having to chase down where they
are and what they're doing. But I quickly came to prefer
that more mundane sort of work as the alternative was much much
worse. Every so often I was given one
of two cases. A sex offender or a murderer
there were exceptions here and there but when you're around
someone who's taking a life, it's like there's a heavy in the
room. I'm not talking about people
convicted of things like manslaughter or death by
dangerous driving who are more often than not haunted by the
people whose lives they've taken until the day they die.
I'm talking about murderers people convicted of Killing In
Cold Blood or for money or just for the sick bloody thrill of
it. One or two of them.
I'd have never guessed were Killers without having seen
their case File. And I think they were the
creepiest of the lot because you could see why someone might
trust them enough to put themselves in a vulnerable
position. But the single creepiest client
I've had so far was a sex offender.
Now don't get me wrong. They're all frightening people
in their own way, but they're especially frightening if the
offense has anything to do with children.
Obviously, I wasn't dealing with child Killers or dangerous
predators against children because they tend to get whole
life tariffs and therefore no probation.
But some of the clients that I did deal with who had been to
prison for these offenses were just as sick just as predatory
and just as creepy as the ones who'd killed.
They just never crossed that line and took a life.
I was about two and a half years into my career when my boss
dropped by my desk with a case load for me to work through.
A case load contains anywhere from a handful of cases to two
dozen of them sometimes even more.
You can generally count on a bigger case load to include a
lot of low priority clients IEEE those released after serving
sentences for relatively minor offenses.
You could get a drink driving case.
Maybe someone who purged themselves in court which
happens a lot more than you think and all you had to do was
stop in with them every so often have a chat and a cup of tea and
they'd always be sticking to their post-release goals.
It would be a time-consuming case load, but generally not a
stressful one. The stressful ones came when a
case load was only three or four files deep.
And if it was that small you knew what to expect murderer or
sex offender. And this case load was no
different. There were four cases a murderer
a second murderer a third murderer and a sex offender.
As usual my heart sank when I saw the words on that fourth
file. Like I said dealing with these
types of people was always an unpleasant experience, but when
the offense is related to the abuse or exploitation of
children, it's doubly skin crawling.
With some clients at pays to be emotional because when they see
that you really give a toss about them that they're not just
a number or a statistic to you. They start to give a toss too.
But every time I walked into a room with a convicted sex
offender, I had to leave my emotions at the door.
It's not exactly an unconscious act either in the past.
I've had to actively pretend that the person in front of me
was no different than any other client.
I made no reference to what they done focused entirely on their
future and kept whatever they'd been convicted of completely out
of my head because if even just for one small second you remind
yourself that they prayed on a child.
You just can't do your job anymore.
And it's the process of switching off my emotions that I
found myself repeating one morning on my first visit to the
offender that I'd been assigned to.
Now I'd get the sack if I used this bloke's real name.
So I'll just call him Jimmy because as repulsive as it is
this bloke had a very weirdly similar vibe to Jimmy Savile.
He didn't have the hair or the chains or the tracksuit nothing
like that. But he had this let's be friends
kind of vibe to him along with this air of arrogance like he'd
forgotten where he just come from and why?
He was in his 50s and looked relatively harmless at first
glance. But once you knew what he'd been
convicted of you realized just how dangerous he really was.
Back when he was in his 20s, Jimmy had been working for a
painting and decorating Fern and drove a small three-wheel van
from job to job. One day he sees an 11 year old
girl playing in the street with her mates after school.
He calls her over and starts offering to teach her to smoke
wild thing to do in this day and age, but it was the 70s back
then so a very different time. Anyway, the girl says yes to the
offer of being taught how to smoke because again different
time but is scared that her mom will see Jimmy then gets her in
his van and drives her off somewhere secluded.
But then he doesn't try to teach the girl to smoke instead.
He tried to teach her to do something else.
When the girl refused Jimmy tied her up beat the girl black and
blue and then kicked her out of his van and drove off.
The girl walked two miles back into town binding still around
her wrists and went straight to the nearest police station to
make a report. Jimmy was convicted on the
testimony of the girl her friends and a passerby who'd
said that they'd heard a girl crying in the parked van, but
didn't think anything of it until the police made an appeal
for information. That along with a trove of
indecent images found in his flat landed Jimmy with almost 50
years in prison for each separate offense, and he got out
after 35. My first meeting with him was
the same as any other a basic introduction to myself in the
probation scheme, then a rough outline of what would be
expected of him over the months to come.
Obviously clients are sometimes restricted from going near
certain places. And in Jimmy's case.
He was barred from anywhere where there'd be kids.
But then the probation service very much takes a busy hands are
Happy Hands approach to Rehabilitation.
And the way you keep a person from being tempted to go to set
places is to make sure that they've got Hobbies.
I know it sounds daft. Give this creep a jigsaw puzzle
and he'll stop wanting to touch kids.
But they've done studies on it. And if you keep these people
occupied if you can Tire them out entirely mentally or
physically the risk of long and short-term re-offending drops by
50% Which in our game is a significant number.
So on the first visit when it came to briefly covering the
whole Hobbies thing Jimmy mentioned that he'd taken up
sketching in prison and that he'd continued it post-release
as it kept his head straight as he put it.
I then asked if he had any drawings to show me and he said
that he did. A lot of lads will make out that
they've got a hobby or that they've taken up running or any
number of things. But when you call them on it,
they've yet to pick up the trainers or yet to sign up for x
y z because they've been so busy post-release, but then Jimmy got
up walked over to the little coffee table in his living room
and then brought back a Sketchbook of things that he'd
been working on. He opened up the book and right
away. I was struck by how Bloody good
he was there were all these horses amazingly drawn once too
in all kinds of different poses. I asked Jim if he liked horses
and he told me not really they're just the hardest thing
to draw. Draw a horse and you can draw a
human. No problem.
He mentioned a few other things about form and curvature, but I
wasn't really listening at that point.
I was completely dumbfounded by how good his drawings were.
But then considering that he'd been practicing for the better
part of two decades. He was exactly as good as he
should have been still though. I was awfully impressed and if
he already had a hobby boxed off then it made my job a lot
easier. If I could just use the drawing
as proof of his extracurricular activities, it also gave me huge
piece of mine too. Because offenders have a
recidivism rate that floats around 15% depending on which
studies you read and that's always in the back of your mind
when you're dealing with them. It could be your actions or your
observations that send them back to prison before they get a
chance to reoffend. But then obviously that's a hell
of a lot of pressure. Having a Serial shoplift or go
back on the rod and the Gordons Jim company loses a tenor have a
kid touch her reoffend and the victim deals with it for years
possibly even for the rest of their lives.
I kept a close eye on Jimmy and all though, I won't say where I
managed to get him back into work.
Everything appeared to be going okay, and for a while, I was
half convinced that he really did want to go back on the
straight and narrow. But at the same time there were
other things that made me suspect that he hadn't quite
turned over a new Leaf. He seemed to be trying a bit too
hard to convince me that he was ready to live a normal life.
And then whenever something in our discussions didn't go his
way. It was like you saw his fake
happy go lucky Persona dropped for a second.
And you saw the real Jimmy underneath It was that duplicity
that made me want to keep a closer eye on him and in
situations like that the devil can quite literally be in the
details. For example the halfway house.
We placed Jimmy in was in this big old Georgia looking building
and each of the rooms had these floor-to-ceiling windows.
This meant that on the way in to have a chat with him.
I could actually see into the living room of Jimmy's little
flat there before. I got to the front door.
And then one day as I am walking into see him.
I spy him through the window doing another one of his
drawings. But then instead of a book with
a great cover like the one he'd showed me during the first
visit. I could quite clearly see that
the book that he was drawing in then had a sort of Pinky purple
cover. I think if it had been any other
color, I might have missed it, but the distinctive Hue just so
happened to catch my eye. Once I was inside it was down to
emotionless business as usual. But then just as I was leaving I
asked him. Moved on to a new Sketchbook,
huh? But in stead of showing me his
latest work, he gave me this confused look and then told me
no, I'm still working on the same one.
I told him I was quite certain that he'd been drawing in a pink
Sketchbook as I caught a glimpse of him on the way in but with
the same bewildered expression Jimmy claimed to have no idea
what I was talking about. I knew that he'd been drawing in
a different colored Sketchbook. There was no way that I was
mistaken. So I reminded him that hiding
things are engaging in any kind of duplicity whatsoever was a
very bad look for someone in his position.
He put on that. Let's be friends attitude again,
and then invited me to search the flat for any sign of this
non-existent pink SketchBook. I didn't call his bluff not
right away. If he was confident enough to
invite me to search his flat then he probably had a very
effective hiding place and all though.
I had next to no idea what was in it.
I knew at that point. I had to find it.
As I said earlier, if a client displays any kind of duplicitous
Behavior, it can speak volumes in the case of that Uber Eats
cannabis dealer the consequences can be minimal but in the case
of someone like Jimmy incompetence on the part of a
probation officer can spell disaster for an innocent member
of the public. The only problem was I couldn't
exactly go throwing around allegations willy-nilly Say I
went to my bosses and told them my suspect a client is doing
something rather sneaky. So I need officers to turn his
flat upside down so I can find a notebook.
I'm not even certain is there anymore and then the police
don't find the book? I could lose my job.
I'm not saying I want to live in a world where past and present
prisoners don't have any rights and are denied a chance to turn
their lives around. I respect the fact that I needed
evidence of my suspicions. But sometimes Bridging the Gap
between suspicion and accusation can be very frustrating indeed.
Especially when it comes to someone is downright cunning as
Jimmy. That took about six or seven
weeks before I was able to catch him drawing in that little pink
book again. I was in my car but binoculars
in hand which by the way was about the only time I ever felt
like the trench coat wearing Noir detective that I had always
dreamed about and read about when I was a kid.
Then once I was satisfied that he was using his little pink
book. I gave him a quick call on my
mobile as I continued to watch him.
He actually jumped when he heard his phone going and when he
picked up I saw him do that reverse werewolf transform of
going from startled and Moody faced to greeting me like a
long-lost friend. I told him that I'd been a write
div and had messed up my diary and had double booked for our
meeting the next day. I followed up by asking him in
the nicest way possible if I could stop by for a chat, maybe
in the next five minutes or so because I was just around the
corner. Jimmy said sure no problem.
And then we ended the call. I then watched as Jimmy closed
the pink book picked it up and then walked off to a corner of
his flat before bending down. Next time I saw him there was no
pink book in his hand. Wherever he was hiding it.
It was in that particular Corner that he just scurried off to
before he appeared empty handed. It made sense that he couldn't
hide the book in his bathroom as the moisture would probably ruin
the pages or something. So it had to be in his living
room somewhere and it had to be down pretty low.
The next time Jimmy was at work. I Enlisted the help of two
Community Support officers in a search of his flat with me
instructing the pair of them to pay particular Focus to that one
corner of the room. About 10 minutes later after
pulling up a loose section of carpet.
One of the pcsos called me over to a gap in the floorboards and
asked me. Is this what you're looking for?
It was the little pink book in a weird way.
I was actually quite excited to see what was in it.
A lot of criminals tried to re-establish connections when
they leave prison, so there was a slim chance that there might
be details of other active predators in that book, which
would get me a massive pat on the back if I turned it into my
bosses. But if I'm being honest nothing
could have prepared me for what was in that book.
About 1/3 of it was filled with incredibly detail drawing of
school-age children. all bound and gagged by various means and
in various positions much like the horses Jimmy drew the
pictures of the children were shockingly details and lifelike.
Their little faces were either twisted up with pain or fear or
they stared back at their creator with wide frightened
eyes. But unlike the horse drawings
which were so unexpectedly impressive that they verged on
awe-inspiring. These drawings made me feel sick
to my stomach. It was like I was holding a
piece of radioactive material or something.
Now I know that might sound a bit melodramatic to some people
but that's what it felt like to me.
It was like I could feel all this hideousness just radiating
off the book. Like I wanted to seal it up and
burn it and bury its ashes under 20 feet of Earth.
Whoever Drew those pictures was a very very sick person and the
idea that I had been sharing Cups of Tea with him made me
want to take a shower and hot bleach.
I only got a good look at about two or three of the drawings
before I slammed the book shut. My heart was pounding as I asked
the support officers to hang around for a bit.
Then I gave my boss a call to let him know what we'd found.
Seeing those drawings was probably one of the darkest
moments of my entire life, but then knowing that I'd secured my
evidence was one of the highlights and it came with an
adrenaline rushed to match. Within the our regular uniformed
officers were dispatched to Jimmy's Place of work and he was
placed under arrest. Then he was promptly transported
back to prison to await the decision of the parole board.
Once it was determined that he'd breached his license the board
announced that he'd remain in prison for the remaining 15
years of his sentence and that thank Christ was the end of my
working relationship with Jimmy. Back at 45 Division, which is
what we called HQ. It was Pat's on the back all
around for yours truly. I was the office favorite for
about two weeks after because it felt like we'd achieved
something really significant. Everyone the parole board
included felt that Jimmy was almost certainly on the path to
reoffending and if he'd kept us all fooled and been allowed back
into society. He could have done Untold damage
to any number of children including those of the people we
worked with I think that's why the result was received so well.
I defused a ticking time bomb that could have blown up in just
about anyone's face in a way that goes right back to why I
joined the probation service in the first place.
I'd found what I was good at and what I was good at made a
difference. I've spent countless days
hunting in the southern, Texas desert.
It's where my family is from and I grew up dusting Critters from
100 yards under the careful supervision of my pop and
Granddad. Over time I became a solid
Hunter all on my own I bagged just about everything you can
along the border and I've done every kind of trip that you can
with family friends or even by myself.
It's a fun if not therapeutic investment of my time and one
that I've always really enjoyed. One trip haunts me though and it
was about 10 years ago. my buddies Tim carry and I decided
to solo hunt for wild pigs or bores as some folks call the
them we've been coming to this region for years and knew the
terrain like the back of our hand.
We were probably the best hunters out there among our
immediate group of friends, which was one of the reasons we
all wanted to go together to keep the dead weight off and
just bring back trophies. Every afternoon, we would
compare the height and weight of our kills.
The desert stretched out before us like an empty grave Sandy
Dunes rolling out in the distance.
We set up camp in a secluded spot Far From Any prying eyes.
This wasn't an area known for anything nefarious.
But being in the middle of nowhere, especially near the
border. You just never know what could
happen. So we learned early on that it's
better to be safe than sorry. Besides getting out away from
the rest of the world was where we'd find good hunting.
We all settled in for the night passing a tin foil wrap full of
tamales around the fire. We heard a strange sound like
nothing any of us had ever heard before.
It started as a low hum, then Rose to a piercing wine before
dropping back down to a gentle whisper.
We all exchanged uneasy glances but said nothing yet.
It was as if we were all thinking the same thing.
What the hell is that? It has to be just a coyote or
something. Tim said finally breaking the
silence. Yeah, or maybe it's a plane
flying overhead carry added. Though we all know it wasn't
either of those things. That sound continued for a while
then abruptly stopped. We sat there listening to the
silence our ears straining to pick up any further noises.
But there was nothing except the crackling of the fire and the
occasional hoot of an owl in the distance.
All right. Well, I'm turning in Tim said
standing up and dusting off his pants.
Got an early start tomorrow Boyz.
Yeah, I guess I will too. Carrie said following suit.
I nodded though. I wasn't tired at all.
I stayed up for a while. Just listening to the darkness
still wondering what that sound had been.
But it didn't come back and eventually I drifted off to
sleep with my dreams filled with strange unsettling images.
Like I said earlier I've spent decades out in this region
hunting camping and generally just roughing it.
I've never heard anything even close to that and those dreams I
had were even more unsettling. They were all more than likely
unrelated. But at the time I thought
something was trying to speak to me through my thoughts.
It kind of freaked me out. As I lay there I couldn't shake
the feeling that we were being watched that something was out
there waiting for us to venture into its domain.
I quickly pushed that thought aside telling myself.
I was just spooked. After all, we've been hunting in
these Woods for years and never seen anything out of the
ordinary. As I drifted off to sleep.
I wondered what if this time it's different.
It has to happen sometime, right?
We woke up in the morning and everything was fine.
We got up just before the sun when everything is suspended in
that weird hazy blue. Camp was intact there weren't
any weird sounds no signs of Critters or humans alike.
We brewed a pot of coffee and killed it immediately then got
our gear together for the hunt that day.
Now. I knew how Tim and Carrie hunted
they follow Ridgebacks at a slope and try to flush little
herds of pigs out into the open they'd walk with their backs to
the sun which was smart, but I wanted to be on my own not just
taking potshots at Pigs On The Run know if I was going to out
hunt either of these guys, I was going to have to take a
different approach entirely. We all wished each other.
Good luck then wandered off in our separate directions.
Tim went North and carry went West I started hoofing at South
East the exact opposite direction.
I wore full desert camo, but just the lights stuff nothing
heavy or paramilitary just enough to let me disappear from
Vision. If I stumbled upon a herd I was
going light for this first hunt as it was mostly just for
scouting. Anyway, all I had on me was a
seven shot three 57 Magnum on my hip but binoculars and a
Camelbak water system. Just the basics.
I moved along ahead of a plateau until it dipped away into this
long winding Gully. Even in the early morning light
I could see it sneaking off for at least a mile.
This was the kind of terrain feature.
You might find some pigs in especially with it being so long
there might be water or little pockets of cactus fruit to eat.
I dropped down below the Gully from the top lip.
So I could easily look down inside of it rather than up and
out. It allowed me a vantage point
into the pockets of the Ravine, but it all so, let me see the
flat land on the other side. I kept my binoculars handy as
iled along those Badlands under the bright sky. 30 minutes
later. I wasn't seeing much sign of
pigs then I heard some gunfire off in the distance.
In the moment, it was kind of hard to tell which direction it
had come from, but I thought maybe back West the way my buddy
had gone. It was possible.
He came upon something and decided to drop it.
Part of me thought it sounded dead South though, and the
Border was only a few miles away.
It was kind of an uneasy feeling for a moment as I walked out in
the open that Gully wandered on. I crossed it and started walking
to the other side before eventually finding a little game
Trail through the brush. I abandoned the Gully and
followed the trail. Soon there were some scat and
scratch marks all kinds of evidence of pig.
I unlatched my holster and scan the area following the heaviest
traffic Trail. About half a mile later.
I came up over a ridge and heard some rustling.
Sure enough a monster boar came around this huge Boulder and
gave me its broadside. I went still and let it wander
before drawing and dropping that sucker right there in the dirt.
It was almost a wide shot. But the thing was so big.
It was impossible to miss a kill shot on he that close.
It a little but went down in a second and died without much
suffering. I was stoked.
This thing must have waited at least 300 pounds.
I wasn't sure how I would get it back to camp, but I killed it
nonetheless. I was fairly certain I had those
boys beat too. So I holstered my gun and got to
gutting the thing the quicker I got it broken down the quicker I
could haul it back to camp. About halfway through that field
dressing. I heard something off in the
distance my eyes peeled wide when I recognized the sound from
the night before the thing me and the Fellas heard right
before we went to bed. Some weird droning whining and
Whispering yelling too far away to understand it.
Still so bizarre after only a few minutes.
I understood what it was. It got closer and closer until I
could hear the whine of an engine the Chug of cylinders.
Those Whispers turned into lyrics from some rock song.
It was a side by side a razor. It was coming up on me fast.
For some reason. I took a few steps back and
tucked myself behind a little brush.
I wasn't totally hidden, but I was positioned in a way that I
could disappear in a hurry if need be.
The place we were at didn't really have a lot of off-roaders
a desolate but ugly area of very far from anything else.
Now I had a feeling that whoever would be trouncing around here
was probably a peacekeeper or a criminal.
Just a minute later that razor came blasting into the little
clearing area where I shot the board.
Skidded to a stop and I could see two guys in goggles looking
around in every direction. They spotted the pig looked up
and quickly spotted me I waved. They undid their seatbelts and
hopped out at which point I noticed that they were both
carrying AR-15s of some kind scoped up and everything.
The yield something over to me, but over the sound of that side
by side. I couldn't hear anything, but my
own heartbeat. The driver leaned over and
killed the ignition so we could talk.
I figured they were Hunters too looking to get directions to the
heard that I just hit. something to that effect Hey there, you
got a driver's license. The passenger asked me the last
thing I ever expected to be asked in the moment.
What you got ID. I furrowed my brow where they
border patrol. I mean the short answer was
definitely know my wallet was back at Camp secured in my
truck. The only thing I had was my
hunting permit a faded scrap of paper in my pocket, even then it
didn't really count as I did as anyone's name could be on it.
No guys with the border patrol or something I asked.
They sort of laughed and that's when I sized them up.
Dirty greasy unkempt wearing vests, but only in decoration.
They didn't have plates behind them just Pockets full of cheap
plastic magazines. I looked at the guns and saw
they weren't anything special hell even the razor was a piece
of junk. Nope.
These were just too good old boys who lived in the middle of
nowhere and fancied themselves agents of the law or something
to that effect. Now we're a little different
from that one explained. You got anything to tell us who
you are. My first thought was of the
three 57 on my hip now. It was my turn to laugh.
But I thought better of it. I didn't want to make any moves
and try to get smart. I just kind of shrugged and
said, nope. I'm a Texas resident long-time
local just out on a pig hunt. Then I gestured to that big dead
bore. That was between us.
Yeah, we heard that he made a gimme motion with his hand as he
spoke gonna need you to hand that over until we can get your
paperwork scared away. Now I really froze up.
I was willing to stand and talk but this was the moment that I
drew a line in the sand literally I wasn't going
anywhere and I wasn't going to hand over any of my property to
them either. This was all legal.
My gun was legal everything I was doing was well within the
law. These Pricks just felled holier
than thou and wanted to jam people up likely looking for a
legal immigrant. Silly of them.
This area wasn't really known for that kind of traffic didn't
matter to them though. The situation wasn't going away.
I took a breath then a single step backward into the brush.
They did exactly what I figured they were going to do.
Start to bring their barrels up. They looked startled almost
excited. This was probably a wet dream
for guys like this every couple of Desert Rat clowns who saw
themselves as Freedom Fighters resisting some kind of invisible
enemy. Well now I was the only enemy
out there and I wasn't about to get juked up by a couple of
racist rednecks trying to be border patrol.
I took another step back and got a little brush between us.
I was talking I don't remember exactly what I was saying
though. Probably something to the effect
that they were out of line and didn't carry jurisdiction that
anyone recognized. I remember my hand coming up to
my handle on my pistol, but I didn't draw just a comfort.
Someone did draw though, three sharp reports level the area and
sent birds and rabbits scattering in every direction.
I turned to find carry standing up on a ridge that overlooked us
his own mini AR-15 pointed Barrel up and smoking.
He then waved a hand down to meet and let me know it was all
good. Then I saw Tim.
He was much closer only 50 or 60 feet away from our little
standoff. He was posted up behind a
boulder looking down the iron sight of that old military
surplus rifle that he used on these hunts.
It was a tried and true man-killer more than enough to
punch a few holes inside these dweebs.
Once Tim and I made eye contact He Slipped around from the
Boulder and started approaching me never taking his rifle off
the guys in their razor. What's going on?
He asked nothing. I downed a pig when these fellas
rolled up on me on their side by side that racket sound familiar
to you. Oh, yeah, Tim knotted same stuff
from last night, right? Yep.
I said now remind me what you boys need again.
I wish I could explain the look on their faces like a couple of
kids caught with their hands in the cookie jar.
I mean pale blank faces tears bubbling up and ready to cry
they bit off way more than they could chew and they immediately
knew it. Nothing.
We were just coming to check out that shooting as all one of the
stammered out. They explained that they lived
nearby and had been dealing with all manner of different kinds of
crime whether from Cartel members or just strangers
passing through. We explained that we were
hunters and the only problem we were having with criminals was
them right there in that moment. Ultimately, we just went our
separate ways. We didn't hear that razor or
their loud music for the rest of our trip.
Nobody else bothered us. It turned out that Carrie and
Tim weren't having any luck. So when they heard me take my
shot they decided to come and see if anything had gone down.
Just as they came over that Ridge the razor came skating up
near me. That's when they jumped into
action and decided to rescue me. Carry took up that position on
The High Ground while Tim snake down to me to put a gun in their
face. Thank God they did that because
those fellows rolled up on me ready to shoot ready to tie me
up and dragged me behind their little off-road machine.
The scary thing is it happened? It pays to have good friends.
I once picked up a hitchhiker during my college Years and it
turned out to be one of the weirdest days of my life.
I was born and raised in the same town for 19 years and only
moved away for college to the big city about an hour and 20
minutes away. After completing my freshman
year. I packed up my dorm and hit the
road for home where I plan to spend the next couple of months
relaxing and maybe working before the next semester began
in the fall. The highway stretched out before
me like a familiar friend its twists and turns etched into my
memory like a well-worn map. I had driven this route
countless times from my hometown to the city and back again the
miles blurring together like a well-rehearsed script, but on
this particular trip something different stood out alone figure
standing on the side of the road thumb outstretched in a futile
bid for attention. He was almost standing on his
tippy toes really waving that arm out into the road.
I had never seen anything like it.
So I figured it was just his method of waving down a car.
At first I thought nothing of it assuming he was another hapless
Soul trying his luck on the Busy Highway.
But as I drew closer something about the guys demeanor struck a
chord with me. He looked lost not just
stranded, but genuinely adrift like a ship without an anchor or
rudder. His clothes were clean.
If not a little rumpled and his eyes held a hint of desperation
that tugged at my sympathies. He couldn't have been much older
than me. And for a moment.
I envisioned myself out there desperate in the sun.
Hoping a kind soul might stop even just for a second.
Before I knew it I was pulling over tires crunching on the
gravel shoulder. The Hitchhiker's eyes lit up
with gratitude as he approached my window.
As he got closer I could start to see some finer details young
right around my age very clean as if he had showered that
morning, but also very fidgety. Something was a little off about
his demeanor. Hey, thanks for stopping man.
He said his voice laced with relief.
I'm just trying to get to the next town over had this stupid
fight with my girlfriend. I need to get home before she
well before she does something stupid.
I raised an eyebrow intrigued despite myself.
Sorry to hear that. I said trying to sound
non-committal, but I guess I am headed that way so I can give
you a lift. His face relaxed into a grateful
smile. Thank you, man.
I owe you one. as he climbed into the passenger seat I
couldn't help but notice the faint scent of sweat and anxiety
clinging to him like a shroud his eyes darted around my car
taking in the familiar surroundings with a mixture of
curiosity and unease He looked like an animal caught in a trap
or something. I didn't really know what to
make of it. So, what's your name?
I asked trying to break the tension John.
He replied his voice a little hesitant. and you are I gave him
my name and that seemed to put him at ease at least a little
bit as we pulled back onto the highway the silence between us
grew thick and heavy like a fog that refused to lift.
I glanced over at John his eyes fixed on the road ahead his jaw
clenched in a tight line. Something about this guy just
didn't add up but I quickly pushed that thought aside.
It's the worst thing that could happen right?
It's only an hour away. So what happened with your
girlfriend I asked. John just looked over at me with
pure disdain. It's not really any of your
business he said back. I nodded in bit my lip already
feeling like this was a huge mistake.
Why the hell did I bother to pick him up anyway?
I was a young man with relatively new age ideals and I
thought I was doing a service for my fellow man by just giving
him a ride looking back. It was stupid because I know I
only picked him up because he was young figuring young people
were safer. The reality was there was no one
more dangerous or unpredictable than some 19 or 20 year old kid.
We wrote in silence for a bit. I felt put off.
Like I had lost control of the interior of my own car.
I felt like I was being held hostage by this guy's weird
brooding presence. So I did the one thing I was
good at I kept talking. So your girlfriend.
What's she going to do if she beats you home?
John scoffed and shook his head What won't she do crazy lady?
He said looking out the window. She'll flip the whole place
upside down steal all my crap even the dog and then break
anything. She doesn't see as valuable
enough to take. Damn was all I could say.
Yeah, so if you could hurry the hell up, that'd be great.
John said a little louder than necessary.
I settled into my seat rolled my new problem around in my head
and wondered how the hell I was going to deal with all this
there was probably no way to get him out of the car now that he
was inside it and it's not like I could call the cops to my car
out here in the middle of nowhere over a person.
I voluntarily allowed to get in my vehicle.
I had very limited options to deal with this crap, but I
fancied myself a college student a pretty smart guy.
So I resolved just to figure it all out as I punched the gas
pedal cruising from 65 to 75. The answer hit me do exactly as
he said just hurry up. We were already 15 minutes into
the drive. Well outside city limits with
less than half an hour of driving left.
I dropped him off the second we hit town and called it a wash no
harm. No foul.
As I started hauling ass. He got a bit more normal.
It was almost like I was on his level now.
We started talking a little bit. He told me that he and his
girlfriend were from Washington or somewhere far away, but had
been scoping out my state to see if they'd enjoy living here.
They were staying with John's cousin in some small town out
near where my hometown was while checking out the neighborhoods
in the city. They had their disagreement
John's girlfriend left him on the side of the road.
He walked to the edge of the city where the Heat and
nothingness took over jammed his thumb out and that's where I
found him. I pressed a little further for
some juice or details as I could tell this guy was a chronic jerk
wondering if he had done something to Warrant being left
behind. Sure enough.
He totally copped to it. He said that while they were
looking around at houses, they ran out of drugs meth.
I would assume and she had a desire to re-up the supply.
John wanted to keep looking at houses still riding his high and
that's when it all started. Within an hour, they were having
a shouting match and apparently John slapped his girlfriend
around a bit because she knew what she was saying.
It was really unclear kind of very vague.
But the gist was that John claimed his girlfriend had some
secret way of talking crap to him because it was so hurtful.
He had a good reason to put hands on her.
It was some of the most craziest stuff I'd ever heard.
The guy sitting next to me was like Joe cool literally bragging
about smacking around a girl. I suddenly felt very guilty for
bringing him closer to her at all.
Still I need up at a cool 80 Mi per hour rocketing to my home
town and hopefully away from this crazy situation.
I didn't do much more talking those last 20 miles just
gripping and ripping the wheel as fast as my car could allow.
I was going so fast that John was literally sliding around in
the seat gripping the handle of his head.
We blew into town and I drove to the first place I could think of
the local police department. It was an old brick building on
the corner of Main Street, very inconspicuous.
So I just talked a bit to distract John as I pulled in.
I shifted into reverse and quickly gestured to the
building. Here you are.
I said the hell is this he asked me I thought you said you'd take
me to my house. This isn't even the right town.
Sorry, man. This is where I live.
So it's as far as I'm going to go.
I figure you might be able to get a ride or use a phone here.
The hell is this even a police station he questioned.
I nodded. I am not getting out of the car.
He said with a smile no way. Okay fair enough.
I wouldn't either if I was a woman beater piece of crap.
I said adrenaline in my voice chest pumping hard.
I'd never spoken to a stranger this way and honestly thought it
was going to come to blows. What is that what this is about
he questioned I told you to mind your business.
I am minding my business now get the hell out of my car I
demanded. John nodded and looked around
for an option of any kind. All he found was the door handle
your lucky you're smart too. If you pulled this crap anywhere
outside of town. I saw your head off and steal
your car. He said with a smile.
It's what I did to the last guy. At this point my legs were
shaking he was out of the car. So I wanted to quickly create
that distance. I looked behind him at the
police station doing something of a pump fake to make him think
that there were cops coming up behind us.
It totally worked. He Whirled around and I punched
the gas backed up and rolled onto the street not even
checking for traffic behind me. I drove off did circles through
town for a bit just to make sure there was no chance.
This guy saw the direction. I went home in.
He didn't really tell me or do anything crazy after that.
He was in a police parking lot after all.
He just stared me down. And that was the last time I
ever saw him. The weirdest part of it all to
me was that he didn't look or even really act like a drug
addict. He could have passed for a
totally normal guy. Totally sober it probably helped
him when he needed to lie about whacking his girlfriend around.
I honestly hope that jerk never made it home.
I spent 16 years in the Marine Corps and when I got out around
the 2017 holiday period I felt kind of lost.
I drove Uber for a while helped an old platoon made get his
landscaping business up and running and then dipped my toe
into celebrity bodyguarding. But if working those jobs taught
me anything, it's that I'm just not a people person.
Working with Marines is different.
There was structure to it discipline and no offense to the
general civilian population, but y'all are animals not that
Marines aren't. But driving people around
dealing with Paparazzi and having Suburban Housewives
demand more respect than most Marine Corps officers was a
whole other level of ass pain. It got to the point where I was
seriously considering moving into private security, which was
something I promised myself. I'd never get into.
But then finally enough the ex-marine I spoke to who had a
link to the industry ended up suggesting something completely
different. Once I heard it, I couldn't keep
my mind off it. He said he knew a guy that had
been in a similar situation needed to transition back to
civilian life, but more conventional jobs just weren't
clicking for him. The guy worked a ton of
different jobs hated every one of them then almost at random.
He decided to try being a Wilderness guide for a little
while. That was four years ago.
His buddy had been a guide ever since up near marble mountain
and said it was the best decision he ever made.
I asked the ex-marine guy a whole bunch of questions about
it and he told me what he knew. He said his buddy basically
worked for himself said his own hours and had the freedom to
pick his own clients. Then all he did for a living was
hiked with folks camp with them and impart all the survival
skills. He'd learned in the military in
the process. People paid him handsomely too.
It wasn't just some minimum wage thing.
I guess as veterans status helped him out in that respect.
But he was making great money all the same.
We talked about the whole private security thing too.
But after we went our separate ways, it was the Wilderness
guide thing that really stuck in my mind.
About three months later. I was driving up to Fresno for a
job interview at a small veteran owned Wilderness tours company.
The interview went great. I impressed the boss enough to
get me hired and I've been at that place ever since.
I guess the reason I'm telling you all of this is because I
thought working up in Fresno would be the beginning of my
quiet and peaceful Life as a civilian.
I've done two tours in Iraq one tour in Afghanistan saw my fair
share of casualties and lost count of the number of times.
I've been shot at. I'll always be a marine but I
was happy not to have that life anymore.
I didn't want the violence the craziness or the danger.
But in taking one particular job at this Wilderness guiding
company. I somehow ended up having a
brush with something far stranger and far more
frightening than anything I ever came across in the Marine Corps.
It all started when my boss got a call from a solo hiker that
will just call Chuck. Wasn't the guy's name, but for a
whole bunch of reasons internet crazy being just one.
I'm going to change the names of some people and places to
protect the affected. Chuck wanted to hire a
Wilderness guide to take him to a certain Hilltop out in one of
the forests east of Fresno. He wanted to hike out their camp
overnight and then head back the way he came.
The easiest route to the place was about 18 miles off-road and
since Chuck wasn't an experienced hiker.
I figured we could do around 9 miles the first day then make
Camp then walk the other nine miles the next day before
getting to the place. He actually wanted to camp.
He was in his mid-thirties wiry and not the most athletic of
people. So when we met for the first
time to walk him through the Journey we'd laid out for him.
I knew that I'd made the right decision to take it easy on him.
We'd be gone for three nights. We'd provide everything he
needed in terms of food water and Equipment.
All he needed to do was show up in suitable clothing and we'd
take care of everything else. That first meeting was a Tuesday
afternoon and it was an important one too.
Because if either of us decided that we wouldn't be comfortable
guiding someone Into the Wilderness then the hike was a
no-go. We never took anyone we figured
would be in danger to themselves while out in the wilderness.
Not just because we were afraid of lawsuits, but because it's
straight up irresponsible. But then when Chuck stop by the
little strip mall off office that we were operating out of he
seemed fine. He paid attention during the
briefing respected the fact that I had the final say when it came
to keeping him safe and was polite and well-spoken while he
agreed to our other terms, too. There wasn't a single warning
sign that gave us any indication of what might happen or what he
might do. And so that Friday morning I met
Chuck at the office and we drove down towards our line of
departure together in my truck. We set off just after 6:30 in
the morning. So neither of us were in the
mood for talking on the drive out to the park.
But after we got going on the hike we got into a little small
talk. Chuck asked about my time in the
Marine Corps and I told him a story or two PG-13, of course,
so as not to freak him out or anything.
After that, I asked what Chuck did and he told me that he was
some kind of Professor not the teaching kind though.
He was like the researching kind at a university.
He told me he specialized in physics, but I'll be damned if I
could tell you exactly what he said it was something like
something something Theory and I actually laughed out loud when
he asked if I had heard of it or not.
He didn't figure I had but he asked all the same then he gave
me a little breakdown of the kinds of things he researched.
Again, I can't say that I could ever recall any of it.
It all sounded like mumbo jumbo to me, but you could tell that
he was a seriously intelligent dude, and that the work that he
did was pretty important. Not long after we got onto why
he wanted to go out onto this particular Hilltop.
And for the sake of ease, I'll just call it Bear Tooth
Mountain. Generally speaking.
We didn't ask exactly why people wanted to visit this or that
mountain because the answer was usually A variation on we heard
it's got nice views. Bear Tooth was no different.
It had awesome views and was definitely much easier to get to
than most other Peaks. But I guess I just found myself
curious if it had some kind of deeper significance to him.
I feel like Chuck was open and honest with me right up until we
hit that point of the conversation because for the
first time I felt like his answer was a little dodgy.
He said an uncle used to take him camping out that way when he
was a kid, which on the surface sounded like a good enough
reason. But if that was me, and I wanted
to take my little nephew somewhere camping to introduce
him to The Great Outdoors Bear Tooth mountain is so isolated in
such a tough hike that it's just about one of the last places I
think to take him. Between Stanislaus Yosemite
Sierra and Sequoia the parks and forests around Fresno got to be
home to at least 1,000 different campgrounds.
Most of which are very family friendly.
So for the guys Uncle to March him all the way out to Bear
Tooth. I figured that he was either
ex-military or verging on abusive.
But no they got along great and he wasn't any sort of Veteran
Chuck just said that he and his family enjoyed the outdoors
enjoying the outdoors as one thing but making your kids March
out into the Deep Woods over difficult.
Terrain that's like survivalist level kind of stuff.
And like I said Chuck didn't strike me as any survivalist.
But you see while I might have been thinking all of that.
I'm not dumb or rude enough to just come out and say it if a
client doesn't want me to know why they want to go someplace
and they decide to make something up on the fly to
protect their privacy while remaining polite then what kind
of jerk would that make me to go and pry any further?
So the way it went was more like him saying the thing about his
uncle me just being like cool. All right.
And then the topic of conversation just kind of
naturally float onto other things.
Chuck was pretty good company actually at least for that first
day and night anyway. Like I said earlier, he
definitely wasn't used to the physical strain of hiking long
distances, but he showed a heck of a lot of character.
At times I was in no doubt that we'd hit our Nine Mile goal by
Days end and when we did he was about ready to sleep standing up
and was snoring by 9:30. And that was fine by me.
I would rather get an early night than stay up talking or
drinking like some clients want to and end up paying for it in
the morning. So after dousing the fire and
setting up a few bare alarms, I decided to get myself an early
night too. Thinking that the next day was
going to be some more relaxed hiking.
But I could not have been more wrong.
The next morning Chuck was awake and ready to roll before I was
which was great. And as the day went on he seemed
to get more and more keyed up the closer.
We got to our destination. He was like a kid in the
backseat of a car on the way to Disney World basically asking me
are we there yet? Every half hour or so.
Until finally we hit the crest of a hill broke through some
trees and there she was Bare tooth Mountain.
Like I said, I've switched up some of the names here to save
you any trouble but Bear Tooth really did look like a big old
Bears tooth just this badass looking mountain with a sharply
curved Rocky Peak. It's pretty common for clients
to get excited about arriving at their destination.
And if Chuck's story was true, then I understand why he was
psyched to be reunited with the place that had all kinds of
nostalgia about it for him. But to me, that's not how he
acted. It was more like a religious
thing like how I imagined a person would act if they saw
something sacred. I kind of feel like if that was
me I would have done a little vocal reminiscing or something.
You know, like I remember this one time Uncle Bob said X or
this reminds me when Uncle Bob did why?
But that whole time Chucky never once brought up any kind of
memory or story from his childhood.
I was so curious at that period that I even asked him if any
memorable trips came to mind or if he had any particular
Treasured Memories or anything like that.
Not in a confrontational way just you know, making
conversation. He gave me some wishy-washy
answers like oh, I guess it just feels good to be back.
But by then I could tell something was kind of off not so
off. I wanted to turn around or
anything. Like I said earlier a client is
entitled to their privacy, you know, I just hope that things
wouldn't get any weirder, but boy they did.
I figured Chuck might have a particular place that he wanted
to Camp. So on the approach.
I asked him if he had any place in mind.
It turns out he did have a place in mind a very specific place
and to find it. He pulled out a laminated
computer printout that had a bunch of notes written on it in
Sharpie. I could read maps well enough to
know that I was looking at Beth mountain and the surrounding
area but then I had no idea what all the notes and stuff said
some of it looked kind of like math other parts look like some
kind of shorthand and before I could ask what any of it meant
Chuck pointed to a spot on the map that had a colored dot on
it. There was a bunch of these
colored dots all over the map, maybe 10 or 12 of them all
spread out about a mile or two apart, but Chuck pointed to just
one and said that he wanted to Camp somewhere around there.
I told him I could take him to any spot.
He wanted give or take about 50 yards.
But I also wanted to know what all the colored dots meant.
Chuck replied that they were all places he and his uncle used to
Camp back when he was a kid. And that was the point that I
actually started buying into Chuck's story a little.
I got an ex whose kid was real quiet and shy but very organized
and Hyper focused on whatever he was doing.
I can't remember if there was a specific name for what he had
but I know that he was probably on the autism spectrum.
My point is I figured Chuck might have been the same way and
that's why he seemed a little off.
But once again, I was there in a professional capacity.
So to get paid I just had to get him to Bear Tooth and get him
out again. If it wasn't impacting our
safety, then it didn't really matter to me.
So I got chuck to the campsite. He wanted then after studying
his map a little to make sure that we were in exactly the
right place. We set up our tents made a
campfire and then made dinner. Once he knew we were in the
right place, whatever the hell that meant.
Chuck seemed to calm down a little bit.
But unlike the first night when he crashed almost straight after
dinner, he was still up around Sunset when I myself was
starting to get drowsy. We just talked till then and not
about anything in particular either just this and that and
like I said, he seemed chilled out again.
Nothing. He did or said gave me any cause
for concern. I felt like a new step dad or
something telling him not to stay up too late.
But he said he wanted to enjoy the night sky a little and
wouldn't be too tired. Come on up.
I said, all right climbed into my tent and then went to sleep.
A couple of hours later. I woke up to hear the sound of a
tent unzipping. I remember sitting up just to
make sure that it wasn't my own tent being unzipped and then
realized that the noise must have been coming from Chucks.
Now I cannot overemphasize how common it is for dudes to wake
up in the middle of the night and need to take a leak.
So 99 times out of 100 hearing someone's tent opening up after
dark is no reason to be concerned.
But even so I called out to Chuck to see if all was good and
he replied that he was fine before saying.
Thanks, man. I know this might sound kind of
cheesy or whatever but The way he said it sounded real
heartfelt, you know, like he really appreciated me looking
out for him like that. I was half asleep at the time so
I just told him. No problem, buddy.
And then went back to sleep thinking it was nothing more
than what it was. Nowadays, I think he was
thanking me for a whole lot more.
The next morning, I woke up put my boots on and then the first
thing I always do each morning when I'm on a trip like that is
check on the client. I never just stick my head into
their tent or anything and I don't unzip their tent if it's
zipped up neither. I'll just stand outside gently
trying to wake them up. I called Chuck's name once twice
then three times and nothing even moves inside the tent.
At that point I'm starting to worry that Chuck has had some
kind of medical emergency. So I kneeled down unzip his tent
and open up the flap to find that it's empty.
I'm still trying to rationalize things.
So I assumed Chuck has gone for a walk or something.
I don't see any boots. So I'm assuming that he's
wearing them and that he's off taking an early morning Wizard
or something so off I go searching for Chuck having to
kind of mentally talk myself out of a panic.
I circled the camp calling out his name but Chuck's nowhere to
be found. So I walk a larger Circle
calling out a little louder and that Panic feeling is coming
back as more and more time goes by.
I keep walking that Loop mentally preparing myself for
some kind of emergency when something catches my eye.
And at first I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing or
actually it was more like I didn't want to believe it
between these two trees about 50 yards down the slope was a pile
of clothes and it looked like they were sitting on a pair of
boots, too. as you can imagine my first thought that goes
through my mind is Chuck's gone nuts stripped naked and then
walked off into the woods, which was not something I wanted to
have to deal with. Someone going missing that's bad
really bad. Someone going missing after
taking off all of their clothes. I think we can agree that that's
a whole other level of crap hitting the fan.
So right after I see the clothes and I'm 100% sure they're
Chucks. I start off on emergency
procedures. So that's called the Rangers.
Call my boss. Call everyone.
I possibly can then get a head start on searching for our
client. Situations like that are always
time critical, but then my situation was even more so for
obvious reasons. So I went running back to where
Chuck's clothes were and started looking for any signs of a
trail. Now here's where I'll admit
that. I've never been much of a
Tracker. So all I really did was walk off
in the direction. I figured he might have gone.
But I didn't find anything but empty Woods.
I had to wait until the ranger showed up before we could cover
any real ground. Then by the time the cops and
the search and rescue folks arrived.
There was no reason for me to be there anymore.
Once I'd give it an officer a statement I felt awful.
Having a client go missing like that is the nightmare scenario
for any Wilderness guide. It's our one job to keep people
safe. And when we fail at that one
thing it's like a punch in the gut.
I talked to my boss at length about the whole thing and he
gave me a week off to get my head straight.
He was closing the office out of respect for Chuck's family.
And since he was a big part of the volunteer search parties,
there was only one other person to take on the workload.
So better we just closed and help out.
I wanted to be there myself but my boss being the wise man that
he is told me it would be better if I stayed away and put my
faith in the Rangers the state Saar and everyone else they had
out there looking for Chuck. I was just one and what was one
guy versus all kinds of helicopters sniffer dogs and
specially trained trackers who'd put even Force Recon guys to
shame. I was told over and over again
that it wasn't my fault that I done everything right and that I
had nothing to feel guilty over. But then came the day when even
with the cops being so cool and respectful.
I could tell people were starting to doubt my Innocents
the day the cops came to ask me a few questions.
I figured it was just all follow-ups stuff or questions.
They hadn't thought to ask me yet or whatever, but then there
came a point during the questioning where I realized
that I wasn't being looked upon as an innocent party anymore.
I guess the detectives were just eliminating potential suspects,
but it was pretty damn chilling knowing that they were
considering the possibility that it was me.
That was to blame for Chuck going missing.
I actually said to them at one point.
Look I'm an open book. I got nothing to hide and I'll
come help with the search effort if you want me to.
They acted innocent like they were only there to ask a few
questions and nothing more. But I could tell that they were
putting on the good cop routine in hopes that I slip up and
change my story. That way they could justify
focusing on me as their number one suspect.
I told my boss what was happening or what?
I thought was happening and he just told me to sit tight and
ride it out. After that, I got pretty much
all my info from him directly and over the weeks that
followed. This is what he told me.
I was only completely eliminated as a suspect when the cops
found. No DNA, but Chuck's on his
abandoned clothes which suggested that he just got up in
the early hours of the morning. Walked down the hilltop a little
and then walked off into the woods before taking off all of
his clothes. The search and rescue tracker
dogs followed his scent Trail to a shallow stream, then lost it
suggesting that he washed himself in the water for some
reason. Some suggested this was
deliberate as in he knew it would confuse the tracker dogs
when it came time to look for him.
But that made it seem like Chuck was in his right mind when he
was walking off through the woods without a stitch of
clothing on him. And to the likes of me and my
boss Chuck must have totally lost his mind if he thought that
he could do something like that and not be in real Danger.
I asked my boss if the cops must have known something that we
didn't about Chuck's State of Mind.
He said he had no idea that he'd been involved in a couple of
missing person cases before and that Chuck's made no sense to
him whatsoever. In the other two cases, the
person was found safe and fine within 24 hours and both
involved were hikers who got a little too confident after
wandering off the trails people figured that the same thing
would happen with Chuck as without any suitable shoes.
There's no way that he could not have gotten so far that the
search teams wouldn't pick him up, but that's the thing.
No one found a single trace of him anywhere in the surrounding
area. It was like he just dropped off
the face of the Earth. After a few weeks, the search
was called off and although California's Park Service
promised that they continue to keep an eye out for him people.
Eventually just accepted that Chuck was gone.
I tried to move on. I tried to just file it away
with all the other bullcrap. I filed away over the years.
But all the unanswered questions almost drove me crazy.
I got a lot of closure with the stuff that I went through in the
Marine Corps. And at least before I separated
the top brass were pouring a ton of money into counseling
psychologists and all kinds of things to fix the mental wounds
and not just the physical ones. But that whole process of
reconciling what's happened to you.
That's always easier when you have some actual answers.
X was in a certain place and then why happened and Z was the
result. But with the Chuck thing nothing
made sense. There were no answers.
His disappearance was never solved and thinking about it
caused me a hell of a lot of grief for a long long time.
And on top of that Chuck's not the only person to have gone
missing in that area of the forest.
There have been a bunch of unexplained disappearances in
that area and sometimes I can't help but wonder if they're
somehow connected to Chuck's. On January 21st, 1842 James and
Esther Packer welcomed the first of their three children into the
world. He was born in Pennsylvania's
Allegheny County. Not far from the city of
Pittsburgh and they named him Alfred.
When Alfred was around 10 years old his father moved the family
to Orange County Indiana where he found work as a cabinet maker
Alfred was slow to adjust to the sudden relocation struggled to
find friends among the local children and developed profound
Melancholy as a result. Familial relationships became
strained and during his 16th or 17th year offered left home in
the middle of the night leaving a note which read never coming
back. He wrote to Minnesota and worked
as a Shoemaker for a few years, but in April 1861 the eruption
of the fiery Civil War would forever alter Alfred's fate.
He enlisted in the Union Army during April of the following
year and was assigned to company F of the 16th Infantry Regiment,
but was eventually discharged after just two years of service
following a diagnosis of epilepsy.
Alfred then traveled West in the hopes of finding his fortune and
held a variety of jobs such as Hunter ranch hand and wagon
Teamster Yet wherever he went Alfred proved deeply unpopular
with his co-workers allegedly owing to his argumentative
personality his near pathological lying and his
reputation for theft by the time Alfred arrived in Utah
territory. He discovered a profitable
profession which suited his contempt for both Authority and
discipline that of a Wilderness guide.
For thousands of years certain individuals have specialized in
guiding unwary Travelers across vast and perilous stretches of
terrain and such people were mentioned frequently during the
early chapter of American history.
For instance Lewis and Clark's 1804 Expedition through the
American West relied heavily on the knowledge of a Shoshone
woman named Sacagawea and the likes of Jim Bridger and Kit
Carson made their names trading on their knowledge of the
Western frontier a generation later migrants seeking to flee
the aftermath of the Civil War found that skilled Wilderness
guide were essential to surviving the journey West and
as a result a capable guy could expect to make vast amounts of
money. Alfred rather fancied the idea
of becoming a self-employed Wilderness guide but in truth,
he was a dangerously inept Navigator.
He drew the eye of many a dissatisfied customer and was
responsible for at least two fully loaded wagon trains
becoming lost on their way to Oregon.
He was ignorant obnoxious and incompetent yet.
The demand for Wilderness guides was so high that despite his
reputation. He continued to find paying
work. One such group of potential
employers was headed by a man named Robert McGrew who intended
to prospect for gold near a place called Breen Ridge,
Colorado in the winter of 1873. The party consisted of 20 men
whose Journey would take them from Utah's Salt Lake City to
the San Juan mountains around 300 miles to the South East.
It would prove a hazardous journey and the men were in dire
need of a capable guide. So once they reached Provo a man
named George T R was sent out to find one.
He returned with a 23 year old gold prospector who just so
happened to know the route to Colorado like the back of his
hand yet. This prospector was none other
than Alfred packer. Packer was not 23 years old.
He was actually 31 in November of 1873 and as previously stated
he was relentless in his fabrication.
Although Packer had a small degree of mining experience.
He was no prospector nor had he ever been to the San Juan
mountains, but sensing the desperation of mcgrew's party.
He saw an opportunity to profit. Packer told them that for the
price of 25 dollars around $700 in today's money.
He could lead them to the Gold Country south of the Colorado
territory the group accepted and off they went.
Almost immediately Packers and competence became painfully
obvious to McGrew in his companions.
Those who made it to Colorado later said that Packer was not
once but twice caught stealing rashes from other Travelers, but
since it appeared that his Services were indispensable.
He was shown Mercy each time. The group slow progress also
meant that by the time they reached the more hazardous
sections of their route. They were beset by harsh winter
weather. Heavy snow hid the path ahead
forcing the party to rely almost entirely on their compass for
direction and due to Packers inexperience.
It wasn't long before they became lost completely.
When their rations ran out the men ate horse feed when the
horse feed ran out. They ate their horses.
But in the third week of January 1874 the party came across an
isolated island of Salvation in the form of a Native American
encampment. Chief uray also known as The
White Man's friend made his winter encampment in the
uncompahgre valley near modern-day Montrose.
He was famous for his generosity to needy Travelers.
And supplied mcgrew's party with food and lodgings by which they
could regain their strength for the journey to come.
However, Chief ore strongly recommended that the party
postponed their expedition until spring since they were likely to
encounter dangerous winter weather as they reached the San
Juan mountains. The native to undertake such a
journey would be to risk certain death and chief will Rey offered
to shelter their party until early spring where upon they
could continue their Venture in relative safety.
The party of 20 convened to discuss their options, but 11 of
them refused to accept the Chiefs offer.
In their view delaying their expedition until early spring
would roll out the red carpet to other less risk of verse
Prospectors. Delay their journey and they
miss out on the Lion Share of the gold.
A few days following his arrival at Chief Ora's Camp Robert
McGrew approached him with their final decision. 11 of them would
continue on towards the Los Pinos Indian agency, which was
the closest Outpost to the camp and proceed onward to Breen
Ridge from there. Chief ore stated that he
respected the parties courage and provided them with food for
their Journey as well as safe directions to bypass the
mountains. However, just hours into their
Journey Alfred Packer announced that he had a better idea.
Instead of bypassing the mountains by way of Indian
Territory Packer proposed the group take a much more direct
route through the mountains. Obviously most of the party
understood Packer was an incompetent Navigator.
But at this juncture, it seems their desire for enrichment
outweighed any kind of Common Sense.
Five of the party can continue to Long the safer route, but six
others Packer included decided to risk the snowy passes of the
San Juan mountains. Aside from Packer himself the
group consisted of Shannon Wilson Bell James Humphrey Frank
butcher Miller George, California, noon and Israel Swan
McGrew in a handful of his loyalists proceeded to Aid
Packers group in their initial departure.
But once the Snows grew too deep for heavily late in pack horses.
They unloaded Packers supplies, and then headed back to Chief
Urus in campement. Packer and his party then
continued along the Gunnison River and began climbing the
higher paths which led into the mountains but this as many have
reasoned was pure Insanity the men had less than two weeks
rations. No snowshoes.
No Flint to light a fire and wore clothing.
That was thoroughly unsuited to the intense, Colorado winter.
Finally on April 16th, 1874 a full 65 days following the
departure of Packers party alone figure stumbled Out of the Woods
near modern-day saguache, Colorado.
As they sat eating breakfast a group of ute tribesmen spotted
the man limping towards them. He carried with him a rifle a
knife a steel coffee pot and a satchel.
When they wrote out to meet him, they found a man on the verge of
total starvation. It was Alfred Packer who had
somehow survived the journey into the mountains.
The men sat him down at the table and gave him some food,
but upon attempting to chew and swallow it Packer promptly
vomited. The tribesmen feared that Packer
was Ill with some kind of infectious disease, but he
assured them that his condition was the result of prolonged
starvation and that he was of no danger.
The tribesmen then asked Packer what had happened to lead him to
starvation and this is what he told them.
Packer explained that he had been hired by five Prospectors
to guide them to Breckenridge. However, during the course of
their Journey. He began to suffer a terrible
bout of snow blindness and began to lag behind Packer then
claimed that when it was clear that he could not continue his
employers abandoned him leaving him with nothing but a rifle a
few rounds of ammunition and two cans of preserves.
From then on he had been forced to find his way back to
civilization alone and after exhausting his meager rations
had eaten Roots rosebuds and even the leather of his own
shoes to escape death by starvation.
It made for one hell of a story and most who heard it displayed
a great deal of Sympathy for the Haggard.
Looking Wanderer. Yet to other more senior members
of the tribe Packers story did not match his condition.
Packer had not been the first unwise traveler to have aired
under the might of the Colorado winter, but others who'd emerged
from the forests of the San Juan Foothills had been so
malnourished. They appeared skeletal.
Alfred Packer on the other hand looked relatively healthy and
the bloating around his cheeks and chins suggested that he'd
been binging on Cheap whiskey. Under the assumption that Packer
was dead broke the Indian agencies Justice of the Peace
purchased his Winchester rifle for the generous price of ten
dollars. The filthy pre-owned rifle could
have been purchased for considerably less, but the money
was partly intended to help poor Packer get back on his feet.
Having seen enough Horrors to last a lifetime Packer claimed
his days as a Wilderness guide were over and that he intended
to return home to Pennsylvania. But upon his arrival in the
nearby town of saguache Packer began a veritable spending
spree. He purchased a horse for 70
dollars spent $78 on Whiskey in tobacco in Auto measures as
general store then dropped 100 dollars to book the finest hotel
room at Dolan Saloon for the foreseeable future.
The amount of money Packer spent is the equivalent of thousands
upon thousands of dollars today, which raise the question.
Just where exactly did an apparently destitute man gets so
much money Packer remained in saguache spending like a sailor
in Dolan Saloon until one day three men walked through its
Swinging Doors. Packer recognized them in an
instant. It was Preston Nutter one of the
nine men who had chosen to winter at Chief Urus Camp rather
than face certain death on the trail to the San Juan mountains.
And behind him stood two other members of Robert mcgrew's
original party. Nutter approached packer at his
table and asked where the other members of his group were.
Packer recounted his story of Abandonment, but Nutter was
skeptical it would have been extremely unwise for men.
So unfamiliar with the region to have abandoned their only guide,
even if they did display signs of incompetence.
Sure, the men had been foolhardy to try and brave the Colorado
winter, but they were not insane.
Not all so founded odd that Packer was one of only two
rifles the group was in possession of even though he was
already armed with a revolver. Yet the final straw came when
Nutter noticed a skinning knife hanging from Packers belt.
It was a knife belonging to a man named Frank butcher Miller.
One of the five party members that accompanied Packer on their
final leg of the journey. When Nutter asked how Packer had
come to be in possession of it, he claimed that Mueller had
simply stuck it in a tree then walked off without it.
Packer then claimed that after asking Miller if he wanted the
knife he was told he could have it but Nutter didn't believe a
word he'd spent enough time with Frank the butcher to know that
he prided himself on his ability to cleanly and efficiently
Butcher and animal he'd carry that same skinning knife with
him on hundreds of hunts and to say it was a precious possession
would be a major understatement. Another knew something was wrong
terribly wrong. And in the face of Packers
obvious deceptions. He became irate.
He was said to have lunged at Packer demanding.
He speak the truth. And since he was quite visibly
the aggressor. He was tossed out of dolans then
barred from entry until the weaks end.
Meanwhile back in Colorado the five-man Splinter Group who
wrote on towards the mountains rather than winter with Chief
oure arrived at the Los Pinos Indian agency.
They were greeted by the agencies administrator General
Charles Adams who told them he'd already met with a man named
Packer who claimed to have been abandoned by his fellow
Travelers. All of her Len Heiser who headed
the five-man group that did not contain Packer claimed.
This was impossible. The Prospectors Packer had been
riding with were good decent men who would have never abandoned
one of their number no matter how much of a burden they were.
Suspecting some kind of Foul Play and knowing Packer to be a
compulsive liar, Len Heiser convinced General Adams to have
her arrested but the general himself chose a farce of action
Adam sent a trio of soldiers out looking for Alfred Packer, but
after finding him in Sequatchie, they didn't simply put him in
cuffs. The lead Soldier initially
consoled Packer regarding his recent tribulations and
complimented him on the survival skills.
It must have taken to make it down from the mountains alive.
Packer was accustomed to such treatment by that point and
welcomed it graciously. The soldier then informed Packer
that they wished to hire him at a very generous rate to help
recover the missing members of his party.
Packer seemed reluctant at first but following a reminder that
proving his innocence to the authorities was a far superior
option than vigilante towns Focus.
Assuming his guilt. He agreed to join the search
party. When he arrived back at the
agency Packer was immediately brought before General Adams who
had allowed lent heiser's party to witness his questioning.
Adams demanded an explanation for the conflicting stories, but
an indignant Packer repeated his claim that he'd been abandoned
while Snowblind and professed deep surprise upon learning his
fellow Travelers were missing. Atoms then questioned him
regarding his saguache spending habits.
But Packer defended himself by claiming the money was alone
from a sympathetic citizen. Upon hearing this General Adams
dispatched another group of writers to saguache who learned
that not only had Packer not received any loans, but he'd
been spotted with several different wallets during his
stay in town. Following the writers return and
confirmation that Packer was lying General Adams and Len
heiser's party began discussing what should be done yet as they
debated the arrival of two Ute tribesmen prompted an uproar in
the camp. The two tribesmen had been
hunting just a few miles from the Indian agency and after
reaching the crest of a hill had come across strips of dried
human flesh. They'd found lying on a rock and
nearby was the exact same Trail Alfred Packer had used during
his March for survival. When confronted with the strips
of Flesh Packer appeared to break down completely and began
begging General Adams for mercy. He then promised to make a full
and Frank confession. After reportedly stating it
would not be the first time that people have been obliged to eat
each other when they were hungry Packer claimed that after his
party ran out of food. They began and I quote eyeing
each other in a most unsettling manner.
A few days after this Dreadful learing commencement Packer
claimed. He left Camp to gather dry
firewood and returned to find four of his traveling companions
standing around the lifeless body of the 5th.
Israel Swan who was said to be the oldest of the five men was
killed instantly when he was struck from behind with a
hatchet. In the process of dismembering
Swan's body Packer claimed the group found several thousand in
cash on his person and after dividing the money between them.
They began roasting and eating chunks of the Dead Man's flesh.
The men ate well that night so well that just two days later.
They were once again completely out of food and racked by
ravenous hunger. They tried hunting and set
snares for rabbits and other small game, but after fresh meat
alluded them a conspiracy was struck.
Since Frank butcher Miller still had a great deal of fat on him
Packer claimed Shannon Bell James Humphrey and George noon
convinced him that it was the butcher's turn to be carved up.
He too was murdered with a single Hatchet blow to the skull
ambushed while stooping to pick up firewood.
It was then that Alfred Packer acquired The Butchers skinning
knife fastening it to his belt before he feasted on its owners
still warm cadaver. Packer then claimed that as the
four remaining Travelers pushed on towards Los Pinos.
They became lost in a blizzard. Once again, they became
ravenously hungry and this time it was James Humphrey's turn to
be ambushed butchered and consumed Packer added that
George noon was murdered before Humphrey's corpse had even been
stripped of all meet and the killing was wanted.
Now they had a taste for human flesh.
Once the blizzard had cleared Alfred Packer and Shannon Bell
continued their Journey towards Los Pinos.
They agreed never to speak of their ghastly hunger nor the
manner in which it was sated. They would say that their
companions died of exposure and that each was afforded a
Christian burial. Packer also claimed that being
the only two survivors of the five-man party.
He and Bell made a pact that neither man would murder or
consume the other? According to Packer it took just
days for this pack to unravel. After three more days of
trudging through the mountains frostbitten and exhausted Packer
claimed that he and Bell set up camp next to a lake near a large
Grove of hemlock trees. The two men managed to light a
fire but after a few hours of flying under their blankets and
trying not to freeze Shannon bell went berserk Packer claimed
Bell threw off his blankets screaming that he could take it
anymore. Then after snatching up his
rifle. He lunged at Packer and
attempted to bash in his skull. Packer described how he
deflected the blow before striking Bell in the head with
the hatchet then fearing that he might starve to death before
reaching civilization Packer cannibalized Bells corpse and
can continue on his journey with the dead men's accumulated
wealth. Following another day's walking
Packer claimed he mounted the crest of a hill.
Upon spotting the Los Pinos Indian agency in the distance.
He threw away the remaining strips of human flesh, but
admitted that he did so with quote a fair degree of
hesitation. After listening to Packers
version of events in full General Adams called for a
discussion of the matter between the surviving Prospectors and
agency officers. This prospector stated they
didn't believe a word of Packer story and asked the general to
Aid them in the formation of a search party so that the truth
might be uncovered. With agency clerk Herman louder
at the lead the five Utah Prospectors followed a handful
of agency officers for 50 miles across the hills, ironically
with Packer acting as their guide.
Then after two weeks of searching the snow drifts near
Lake Fork Packer announced that he was lost forcing a frustrated
louder to order the returned to the agency.
However at some point during the Journey Back Packer armed
himself with a knife and attempted to murder Herman
louder. Fortunately louder was able to
defend himself and after the other members of the search
party restrained him Packer was arrested the failed attempt
snuffed out any and all doubt that Packer was an innocent man
with General Adams ordering his immediate transportation to
saguache jailhouse. During this period of detention
Packer changed his story. He now claimed that after days
of hiking with virtually. Nothing to eat.
Israel. Swan could go no further.
They found a pine shaded Gulch next to a lake and set up camp.
A short time after this Packer asserted that Swan passed away
from a combination of hunger and exposure.
The following is an extract from his signed confession.
Old man Swan died first and was eaten by the other five persons
about 10 days out of camp. Four five days afterward hump
died and was also eaten. Sometime afterward while I was
carrying wood. The butcher was killed as the
other two told me accidentally and he was also eaten.
Bell shot California with swans gun and I killed Belle I covered
up the remains in took a large piece of his meat along and
traveled 14 days in to the agency Bell.
Wanted to kill me with his rifle struck a tree and broke his gun.
Yet while he was in jail observers challenged his
credibility and noted that Packer far from being a victim
of cold or starvation had set some kind of diabolical trap.
Finally in August of 1874 an illustrator from Harper's Weekly
was hiking near a place known as slumgullion pass just two miles
Southeast of Lake City, Colorado.
Upon spotting a pine shaded Gulch surrounded by hemlock
trees John a Randolph believed he'd happen to cross a prime
spot to rest. But as he got closer he made a
horrifying discovery. five rotting corpses lay strewn
Around The Gulch Randolph made a quick sketch of the scene then
rushed to alert the sheriff in nearby Lake City who now
naturally was only too happy to receive news of the discovery.
There was just one problem from its description The Gulch was
the site of the final confrontation between Packer and
Shannon Bell, but according to his story Packer and Belle were
alone in which case how had the body of the murdered and
cannibalized men all come to rest in the same spot.
The Lake City sheriff wrote out to what became known as Dead
Man's Gulch with around two dozen Volunteers in tow.
The scene that greeted them was the stuff of nightmares.
One Deputy noted that it appeared as if extreme violence
had befallen the men. Frank Miller and Israel Swan's
bodies were little more than skeletons with almost every
strip of Flesh having been carved from their bones.
The bodies of James Humphrey and George noon lay rotting and
flayed with their legs having been butchered entirely.
Both had received blows to the head with the shape of the
wounds indicating a hatchet had been used to dispatch them.
Shannon Bell lay with his arms to his sides his hands skinned
with skeletal legs splayed out beneath him.
Someone had smashed open the top of his skull and removed his
brain entirely. No attempt had been made to
consume bone marrow nor had any of the men's organs been
consumed Packer had simply gone from man to man stripping the
soft sweet nutrient-rich muscle from their bones before eating
it. The remains of the Fallen
Prospectors were buried where they lay and when word reached
the saguache county sheriff. He sent half a dozen deputies to
the jail to confront Packer with their Newfound evidence.
But when they arrived at the makeshift prison cell on the
outskirts of saguache Packer was nowhere to be found.
In order to prevent his summary execution by bloodthirsty
Vigilantes the town sheriff decided that Packer would be
held in a makeshift sell on a ranch owned by the county.
The cell was little more than a dilapidated Log Cabin.
At the time of Packers arrival, it was almost completely unfit
for human habitation. Prior to the discovery of the
missing Prospectors Packer had been held there for months with
no evidence. No bodies and no formal charges
levied against him yet while there were many who were only
two happy to see Packer under lock and key just as many Saw
His detention as unjust. Some bemoaned the extensive tax
bill Packers imprisonment racked up While others argued it was
unconstitutional to incarcerate a man merely suspected of a
crime. Such talk among the townsfolk
appeared to have generated a great deal of sympathy for
Alfred Packer because when the deputies arrived in late August
of 1874, they found the cabin on guarded and deserted.
Someone had helped Packer Escape.
As segua cheese Sheriff organized both professional and
volunteer tracking teams local citizens discussed theories on
what had motivated Packard a murderer and consume his
traveling companions many believed that he simply attached
himself to the party under the false pretense of being familiar
with the area and that ultimately the men had died
because of his incompetence. However, a much more popular
Theory involved Packer leading the party of five into the
mountains with a premeditated plan to kill and Rob them.
Preston Nutter and Oliver Len Heiser were highly vocal in
their condemnations of Packer and did their best to persuade
the sawachi townsfolk that the deaths were not some kind of
tragic accident. Nor was Packer a man of
fortitude who'd simply done what was necessary to survive.
Yet surprisingly the details of Packers cannibalism were not the
primary issue. By the late 19th century the
American public was familiar with the tragic tale of the
doomed Donner Party delayed by a multitude of mishaps.
The donors spent the winter of 1846 snowbound in the Sierra,
Nevada mountain range. Some of the migrants resorted to
cannibalism to survive mainly eating the bodies of those who
had succumbed to starvation sickness or extreme cold, but in
one case two Native American guides were deliberately
murdered for this purpose. news of such ghastliness spread fast
among the American populace But after a lengthy National
discussion many expressed a great deal of Sympathy for the
donners. While many argued that they
themselves would not have committed murder very few were
able to categorically state that they would not have resorted to
cannibalism if placed in the same dire circumstances.
So in the case of Alfred Packer, the most pertinent question was
did his companions die as a result of his incompetence or
was greed the motivating factor. By early spring of 1883 paccar
had been on the run for almost nine years despite being one of
the most infamous individuals in the entire United States.
There wasn't a single reported sighting of him for almost a
decade. That all changed when a man
named Frenchy Kazan on the Wyoming state capitol of
Cheyenne. Frenchie was a traveling
salesman who roamed from town to town plying his trade from the
back of a wagon, but Frenchy also happened to have been one
of the original members of Robert Morris prospecting party
who entered at Chief Urus Camp during the winter of 1874.
Frenchy's wagon pulled into Cheyenne in early March of 1883
and on Sunday the 11th. He in several other Traders set
up along the thoroughfare to do business with local townsfolk.
Frenchie serve dozens of customers that morning many of
whom were headed home from church, but when one man stepped
up to his wagon and sought to peruse his Goods Frenchy found
his face to be curiously familiar.
Don't I know you Frenchie asked the stranger returned his gaze
revealing piercing blue eyes that Frenchie was certain he'd
seen before. No, sir.
He replied. What's your name?
Frenchy asked studying the man's rough dark goatee.
And how is shoulder length hair was slicked with pomade.
John schwartzer the man replied clearly irritated by Frenchy's
incessant inquiries. Frenchie apologized claiming
he'd confused The Stranger with an old acquaintance.
Yet in truth. There had been no such
confusion. Frenchie Kazan was quite certain
of the strangers identity and following the conclusion of
their business Frenchie rushed to the local sheriff's office
and begged them to send a message to General Charles Adams
of the Los Pinos Indian agency. A dangerous fugitive was present
in Cheyenne one that had been wanted for murder for the past
nine years and his name was Alfred packer.
General Adams and a handful of agency officers rode day and
night until they reach Cheyenne then following the confirmation
of his identity Packer was taken to Denver by train.
On March 16th of 1883 paccar explained that he'd only escaped
from saguache due to his fear of imminent vigilante justice and
expressed a desire to give a second much more truthful
account of how he survived his ordeal in the San Juan
mountains. Instead of claiming that the men
were gradually eaten as they died off one by one Packer now
claimed that Belle had killed the others after ordering him to
collect firewood. Packard departed in the morning
then returned in the late evening.
According to the second of his signed confession.
This is what he found. I found Belle who acted crazy in
the morning sitting near the fire roasting a piece of meat,
which he had cut from the leg of Miller.
His skull was crushed in with the hatchet.
The other three were lying near the fire they were cut in the
forehead with a hatchet some had two or three cuts.
I got closer to the fire and when Belle saw me he got up with
his Hatchet and charged towards me when I shot him sideways
through the belly. He fell on his face.
I grabbed the hatchet and hit him on the top of the head.
Packer claimed he then dropped the revolver in a patch of deep
snow and lost sight of it after that.
He constructed a crude shelter out of stray logs and then
hunkered down to wait out a heavy storm.
He claimed days went by his hunger growing ever more intense
until finally he could bear it no longer.
I tried to get away every day, but could not Packer said so I
lived off the Flesh of these men for almost 60 days.
General Adams then asked Packer why he hadn't told the truth
during his first confession. I was excited Packer reportedly
replied. I wanted to say something and
the story as I told it came first to my mind.
Finally on April 6th of 1883 paccar pled not guilty at the
opening of his trial in Lake City, Colorado.
The prosecution claims that the only logical explanation for
Packers actions was that the killing was premeditated while
the defense argued against him being a murderer and claimed
cannibalism was essential to his survival after seven days of
testimonies and examinations. He was found guilty of
premeditated murder and sentenced to death by hanging.
Packer was eventually spared the death penalty due to a legal
technicality. He might have cheated death a
second time, but he was still legally culpable for the deaths
of his traveling companions. A second trial was held in
Gunnison, Colorado in June of 1886 only this time Packer was
found guilty on five counts of voluntary manslaughter and
sentenced to 40 years in prison. At the time packers 40 years in
prison constituted the longest custodial sentence ever handed
down in the United States and had stunned the American public.
He was encouraged to Lodge multiple appeals and sent
letters to National newspapers claiming that he had been and I
quote unjustly convicted by an unfair and unsympathetic
judicial system and by the ignorant conclusions and
judgments of small-minded people.
Eventually on februari 8th of 1901 paccar was paroled after
serving 18 years of his 40 year sentence.
Upon his release. He expressed a huge amount of
gratitude towards a woman named Polly price.
Polly Polly pry was the pen name of leonie O'Brien an ambitious
young reporter with the Denver Post.
Upon learning of Packers military service.
She used her platform to paint him as a courageous former
Soldier whose only crime was getting caught up with what she
referred to as a regrettable situation.
She called him a victim of circumstance who did what he had
to do to survive. But one who had been quote
crucified for violating civilized sensibilities by
having to resort to cannibalism the column inches.
She dedicated to Packer prompted the launch of a petition one,
which made it onto the desk of the Colorado governor Charles,
Thomas. Was initially reluctant to
involve himself in the situation, but after months upon
months of pressure one of his final acts as governor was to
have Alfred Packer paroled under the condition.
He would not attempt to profit from his story.
Six years following his release on April 23rd of 1907 Alfred
Packer passed away in Jefferson County.
Colorado aged. 65 years old some have cited his cause of death as
being dementia others blame a stroke and while rumors abounded
that he became a vegetarian before he died many reported
Packer as living modestly and charitably during his final few
years. Buried in Littleton, Colorado
Packers grave is marked with a veteran's Tombstone listing his
original regiment from 1862. But while he might well lie in a
soldier's grave his reputation will always be that of a
charlatan a murderer and a cannibal