Identified! FL - Big Cypress Natl Preserve, Male Hiker, Denim & “Mostly Harmless” July 2018 - Vance Rodriguez #2

[Narkj]

Thanks K9Enzo, I hadn't seen it. I agree that it's absolutely him. Not sure where that gets us.

Also, I was told that authorities did find Mostly Harmless's pack with him. Not sure if it was here on another thread where that was in question.

 

[Narkj]

Any thoughts on his ethnicity?

 

[UnlicensedPI]

Hey all, two things. 1. I think I'm getting the COD. Will update when I can.

2. Had anyone seen this photo of him from Pennsylvania in 2017? I'm not sure if it was widely circulated or not. It's definitely him. Gives a unique perspective. He's third up from bottom on the left. What ethnicity do you suppose Mostly Harmless is? He seemed to have an olive complexion.

Yes, I posted this photo earlier in this thread! I also contacted the church. They said they believe it's him but his (known) name is not on the list of attendees. IMO if someone were to go through that list name by name, we might get something important. They will not share this list with me, I'm sure for privacy reasons which is as understandable as it is frustrating. The list has been shared with LE but I'm wondering if they just went, "No Ben Bilemy listed, guess it's not him!"

 

[neesaki]

Yes, I posted this photo earlier in this thread! I also contacted the church. They said they believe it's him but his (known) name is not on the list of attendees. IMO if someone were to go through that list name by name, we might get something important. They will not share this list with me, I'm sure for privacy reasons which is as understandable as it is frustrating. The list has been shared with LE but I'm wondering if they just went, "No Ben Bilemy listed, guess it's not him!"

Darn, I was just going to ask if we could get the list of names. Too bad, but I get it.

 

[neesaki]

That photo was discussed in length. I believe in this thread even.

I also believe the discussion centered around the church (believe this was the location of the supper) said it was not MH. Many of us, including myself, believe it's absolutely him.

I hadn't had a chance to read back that far, but I just checked and you're right. It was discussed at length. It sure looks like him to me.

 

[Narkj]

Well, the church has photos of some its later sign-ins, with full names and trail names so if they are claiming they're not sharing the names, they have been doing that before.

 

[Bit of hope]

Any thoughts on his ethnicity?

He is Caucasian....

 

[UnlicensedPI]

I just checked the comments on the original picture. Someone (I'm guessing one of us, hi!) asked about the man's identity. The Church replied, "I'm trying to get with someone who holds a key to the Church to let me in to get the log book this week, then go thru our records from 2017....A lady emailed me months ago and I've been working on it since. Now that there's new info, I need to go back thru the logs and recheck things"

That was me! I'm the lady!! Crossed fingers and bated breath over here.

 

[neesaki]

I just checked the comments on the original picture. Someone (I'm guessing one of us, hi!) asked about the man's identity. The Church replied, "I'm trying to get with someone who holds a key to the Church to let me in to get the log book this week, then go thru our records from 2017....A lady emailed me months ago and I've been working on it since. Now that there's new info, I need to go back thru the logs and recheck things"

That was me! I'm the lady!! Crossed fingers and bated breath over here.

She hasn’t gotten back to you? How long has it been? TIA

 

[Bit of hope]

I just checked the comments on the original picture. Someone (I'm guessing one of us, hi!) asked about the man's identity. The Church replied, "I'm trying to get with someone who holds a key to the Church to let me in to get the log book this week, then go thru our records from 2017....A lady emailed me months ago and I've been working on it since. Now that there's new info, I need to go back thru the logs and recheck things"

That was me! I'm the lady!! Crossed fingers and bated breath over here.

Thanks "lady" I'm absolutely sure, the spaghetti man is our guy,,,sadly nothing came off it...

 

[neesaki]

I just checked the comments on the original picture. Someone (I'm guessing one of us, hi!) asked about the man's identity. The Church replied, "I'm trying to get with someone who holds a key to the Church to let me in to get the log book this week, then go thru our records from 2017....A lady emailed me months ago and I've been working on it since. Now that there's new info, I need to go back thru the logs and recheck things"

That was me! I'm the lady!! Crossed fingers and bated breath over here.

Also, do you have a link to the original photo showing the comments? TIA

 

[neesaki]

She hasn’t gotten back to you? How long has it been? TIA

I guess I misunderstood, you're saying she did get back to you and they can't release the names. I was hoping this was a second opportunity.

 

[UnlicensedPI]

Here is a link to the original photo with comments
CLC Summer Hiker Meals

I contacted them in September. They said they shared the list with LE but didn't reply to me when I asked if they would be willing to share it with me. I figured they weren't able, I guess they've just been working on it on their own!

 

[Narkj]

Sorry, I know he's Caucasian. I'm mixing up ethnicity and nationality. Do you think he has Italian ancestry, something else? I ask because the word "bilemy" is commonly used in Turkey. It's not an English word spelled that way.

I think he has unique features and in some angles, particularly this photo at the hiker meal, I could see someone suggesting he's Middle Eastern or Indian.

 

[Narkj]

Forgive me if this has been brought up before, but there's also a former AT hiker who was diagnosed with brain cancer and was going to hike NOBO on the AT in 2015. His name was Ben Reynolds. He made about four blog posts then nothing. There's some pictures of him but none that show his face, both on the blog and his FB page. He looks a little heavier, and MH said he was once heavy. This guy appears to have sold everything for this hike.I couldn't find an obit for him that matched these dates and my attempts at reaching people who liked his FB posts have been unsuccessful. He mentioned one woman who drove him South to get to the trailhead but I have not been able to reach her. Just a stab in the dark. Here's the blog. Ben Reynolds, Author at The Trek

 

[carbuff]

Sorry, I know he's Caucasian. I'm mixing up ethnicity and nationality. Do you think he has Italian ancestry, something else? I ask because the word "bilemy" is commonly used in Turkey. It's not an English word spelled that way.

I think he has unique features and in some angles, particularly this photo at the hiker meal, I could see someone suggesting he's Middle Eastern or Indian.

I strongly suspect a Turkish connection, personally. Couldn't provide any evidence beyond the name to support that however.

 

[Laughing]

I strongly suspect a Turkish connection, personally. Couldn't provide any evidence beyond the name to support that however.

Connection -- may have lived there, may have known someone from Turkey.

We hosted an exchange student from Morocco and so know more about Morocco and North Africa than some people.

Turkish exchange student growing up? Exchange year in Turkey?

Incirlik Air Force Base:

Home page of Incirlik Air Base

Did Denim/MH do some of his IT work in the Air Force?

(I'll admit that I get a lot of exercise jumping to conclusions.)

JMHO YMMV LRR

 

[MadMcGoo]

A few more less circulated images...and one I analyzed awhile back, noting some distinguishing features. FWIW

 

[Narkj]

The picture of him putting peanut butter on pita is very striking. He has very recognizable eyes.

 

[Suglo]

Any thoughts on his ethnicity?

Italian/Greek/Yugoslav.