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

[SugarQueen]

The pack. To a degree, I feel like LE is purposely being vague about the pack. On NameUs they gave such detailed descriptions about everything else but excluded the pack.

When I asked about the backpack the detective had no issue with telling me it was found with him. She said it is shown inside the tent in the photos they took. I got the impression she thought it was simply an oversight that it wasn’t listed. Fwiw

 

[j_in_c]

When I asked about the backpack the detective had no issue with telling me it was found with him. She said it is shown inside the tent in the photos they took. I got the impression she thought it was simply an oversight that it wasn’t listed. Fwiw

I am also curious about the pack. When I went backpacking in another country, I would hide my passport, a CC and some cash in the frame of my backpack (for those not familiar, this is not part of the pack that is intended to be accessible), making it more difficult for someone to quickly snag those items if I happened to lose or have my wallet stolen. I imagine if they found all that cash, they must have completely taken the pack apart, although that much cash would be harder to hide than a simple drivers license or passport.

 

[SugarQueen]

I too had wondered if he had ID hidden in the pack. Someplace he could cut a slit and slide it in kinda thing.

 

[j_in_c]

I too had wondered if he had ID hidden in the pack. Someplace he could cut a slit and slide it in kinda thing.

If he really was living/working in NYC prior to embarking on the AT, I can see him not having a driver's license. But with all that cash, I was wondering if he had brought an ATM card with him.

 

[SugarQueen]

If he really was living/working in NYC prior to embarking on the AT, I can see him not having a driver's license. But with all that cash, I was wondering if he had brought an ATM card with him.

Most in NYC still get a license or at least a non drivers ID.

 

[K9Enzo]

I am also curious about the pack. When I went backpacking in another country, I would hide my passport, a CC and some cash in the frame of my backpack (for those not familiar, this is not part of the pack that is intended to be accessible), making it more difficult for someone to quickly snag those items if I happened to lose or have my wallet stolen. I imagine if they found all that cash, they must have completely taken the pack apart, although that much cash would be harder to hide than a simple drivers license or passport.

You make an excellent point.

When I hike my drivers license and keys go in a ziplock bag into a dedicated compartment in my pack that I don’t get into, other than to retrieve these items. But I’m only doing dayhikes or 3-4 day backpacking hikes.

I do wonder if they took the pack apart and checked for hidden compartments? I would kind of think so but who knows.

 

[EllieGato]

I still think about the backpack for many reasons... would love a list of the contents with pics. And a picture of the brandname/logo for verification.

I'm still working on my map. I've gotten snagged in Georgia a few times.

Gardener1850 describes the picture of MH in front of the truck as being on Salem Church Rd. SOUTH of the Alabama and Georgia line. Is the map point he included accurate, as this is East of the state line and still quite a ways away from being South of a state line. Its dated Dec 4. The next one is Crestview Florida on Dec 29.

Is this Salem Church Rd map point accurate? Anyone?

I'm working from a 'Spread the word' standpoint.

 

[EllieGato]

I'm not sure this has been posted here yet. There are multiple sources now on Google images.

Springer mountain I believe.

 

[EllieGato]

One thing I have not seen mentioned yet is that in addition to the programming language for a new computer game he was also writing recipes for protein bars he wanted to create-- complete with the macro nutrients that each flavor would have.

Supposedly he told people he was heavy when he started hiking and he claimed he lost the weight as he hiked. Many people do lose weight hiking the AT but he has knowledge of macro nutrients? The only people I know who talk about macro nutrients are really into working out and keeping themselves fit and somewhat obsessive with their diet. Or are professional athletes or bodybuilding type of people. That doesn't fit with someone who was overweight or heavy before starting on the AT. JMO.

Also, the notebooks he wrote in were sold at a Dollar Tree store in North Carolina, although they were unable to tell which location he purchased them. This is especially interesting to me because there is a gap when he is not seen between Oct 8th and Nov 22. No one claims to have seen him on the AT in North Carolina or Tennessee that I have found. Oct 7th or 8th he leaves a group of hikers he had been hanging out with at a Damascus, VA hostel for several days waiting for a hurricane to pass. Around Nov 22rd he shows up again at Top of Georgia Hostel in Georgia. There are nearly 200 miles straight walking according to google maps or about 390 miles of Appalachian Trail between Damascus, Virginia and the Georgia/NC line using an AT calculator, but no sightings of him in North Carolina and Tennessee in October and November:
Google Maps

Appalachian Trail Distance Calculator

The Dollar Tree Notebooks prove he stopped in NC somewhere at least to get to a store. Someone had to have met him or seen him. JMO.

These details are in part 3 of the podcast: CCSO Media Relations

Bringing forward this post by Gardener. I think he may have had connections in NC, Georgia, or Tennesee based on locations and times in the timeline. Or at least found something that he wanted to do around here. I'm in this area so I am trying to spread flyers.

Who's truck was that in the picture?

 

[UnlicensedPI]

I remember one comment from the beginning of the case. Someone said he worked odd jobs along the trail. It could be why he stayed for certain periods of time and had the money he did.

 

[EllieGato]

I remember one comment from the beginning of the case. Someone said he worked odd jobs along the trail. It could be why he stayed for certain periods of time and had the money he did.

How does one find odd jobs?
Laborfinders
Craigslist
Asking Hostel hosts

 

[inmyhumbleopinion]

You make an excellent point.

When I hike my drivers license and keys go in a ziplock bag into a dedicated compartment in my pack that I don’t get into, other than to retrieve these items. But I’m only doing dayhikes or 3-4 day backpacking hikes.

I do wonder if they took the pack apart and checked for hidden compartments? I would kind of think so but who knows.

It does seem like he would have at least one key. Maybe to a storage unit?

Or perhaps he donated, gave away or sold literally all of his possessions. Even if someone wanted to start life all over, that would be pretty extreme, but not beyond the realm of possibility, IMO.

 

[EllieGato]

It does seem like he would have at least one key. Maybe to a storage unit?

Or perhaps he donated, gave away or sold literally all of his possessions. Even if someone wanted to start life all over, that would be pretty extreme, but not beyond the realm of possibility, IMO.

Thinking about a mention of a divorce and an ex who took everything.

Also making me think about dude on podcast, last to see him alive I believe, said he mentioned regret about leaving behind hard drives and I want more context....

Left with ex-wife?
Left in storage?
Left on curb?

 

[EllieGato]

D.

 

[K9Enzo]

It does seem like he would have at least one key. Maybe to a storage unit?

Or perhaps he donated, gave away or sold literally all of his possessions. Even if someone wanted to start life all over, that would be pretty extreme, but not beyond the realm of possibility, IMO.

One thing that stuck with me from the podcast. The host said even if they do identify him, she believes he will still remain a mystery. I think she might be right.

 

[EllieGato]

I was just thinking about that. He could be claimed and then we still might never know more than that.

He's already a legend in my book.

 

[Valiant]

The case of Lyle Stevick here on Websleuths shows that a John Doe may be identified but the name never released publicly. That may well be the case here, eventually.

 

[Gardener1850]

Bringing forward this post by Gardener. I think he may have had connections in NC, Georgia, or Tennesee based on locations and times in the timeline. Or at least found something that he wanted to do around here. I'm in this area so I am trying to spread flyers.

Who's truck was that in the picture?

I don't know this for sure but I think the truck likely belonged to the Trail Angels who met him at the trail head and took his photo. "Trail Angels" are people who drive to the trails and pass out little bags of snacks or bottles of water to the thru hikers or offer to give them rides into nearby towns.

I'm wondering if he might have skipped a portion of the AT in North Carolina and Tennessee. It's at a high elevation (6000 ft) on the trail and would have been very cold in November. Plus part of it requires a permit and shelter reservation to hike. I think he was depending on other hikers and trail angels to make reservations for him at hostels. He didn't have a phone. I'm not sure how easy it would be to make a reservation for the Smokies with a false name. But he could have veered off the AT for a while and camped in other areas along the Blue Ridge Parkway if he didn't want to go through the process of getting a permit.

I also wonder if perhaps he did something in NC or TN to make the large amounts of money he was seen with in Georgia. While he was said to have paid in cash in Virginia too, no one in Virginia saw him with large amounts of money that I recall. And at least one person who thinks they met him said he was working in exchange for food from other hikers on the trail at one point. That one account might be in error or perhaps he preferred people to think he didn't have much cash. The last few days I have been looking at unsolved robbery cases in NC and Tenn in October or November 2017. So far I have not found any unidentified robbers that look like him.

 

[EllieGato]

I also wonder if perhaps he did something in NC or TN to make the large amounts of money he was seen with in Georgia. While he was said to have paid in cash in Virginia too, no one in Virginia saw him with large amounts of money that I recall. And at least one person who thinks they met him said he was working in exchange for food from other hikers on the trail at one point. That one account might be in error or perhaps he preferred people to think he didn't have much cash. The last few days I have been looking at unsolved robbery cases in NC and Tenn in October or November 2017. So far I have not found any unidentified robbers that look like him.

So I have been wondering about being the Other gaming business as well. And NC casinos are there in Cherokee.

Asheville is a mecca for holistic practices.

Stone Mountain Georgia has Big Nerd Ranch where they host conventions for gamers and gaming companies.

I'm sending out paper flyers with those people I know who can post them. Definitely sending them to Franklin and other areas on your notebook map.

I did check crime reports here too but nothing unsolved that came even close as far as what is listed online.

And the permit requirement makes me believe he skipped those parts too.

 

[SugarQueen]

I’m thinking’s the post that said he worked for food may not really be him. I’ve only seen it mentioned by one person. With all the cash he had it just doesn’t make sense, unless he did rob someplace but I’m not really feeling that either.
@Gardener1850 skipping part of the AT is an interesting idea.