I posted over in the UID thread but decided to bump this thread too-- Does anyone think this Unidentified hiker could be Max?
FL - FL - Male, 35-50, BlueGrey Eyes, S&P Beard, Hiking Poles, Boots, Tent, Big Cypress Preserve, Jul2018
Height is the same-- 5'8"
Weight -- the hiker had wasted away to 87 lbs when found, not sure if this is possible since Max was reported to be 185 but hiking would have helped him drop most of that weight.
Blue-grey eyes match
Nose seems the same general shape, but I wish I had more pics of Max to compare
Beard line looks about right too but I can't find any pics of Max with a beard
Age is a match
Hiker had good teeth and so did Max-- compare them in the pics
The sheriff on the UID case has said they have checked missing persons lists for matches so not to bother with telling them about anyone reported missing. However, Max is not in NAMUS or any other missing sites that I can find. He's not even on the California DOJ Missing site. And since he apparently disappeared in Yosemite in the winter he might not be on anyone's radar for showing up on the other side of the country 8 months later. But given what I read in this thread I have to wonder if he left his rental there on purpose to throw people off and hitchhiked to the other side of the country with his gear. It's a long shot, but if anyone else thinks this looks like him, please call it in. I'm not able to call myself.
Some Pics of the Unidentified hiker (there are more in the thread):
Max: