intrepidcat
New Member
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2018
- Messages
- 2
- Reaction score
- 9
I think about this case a lot - I really hope someone recognises him soon.
Interesting, BOH. I could not find anything else about him being missing. I went looking for more photos of Joe B and found one of him at a bar: Mehring's Bearings: The Last Night of Max Fish. | Adventure Sports Network
It appears he has a tattoo on his wrist. Also, it is difficult to tell eye color from photos, but I don't think his eye look blue in any of the photos I am finding.
If anyone can find something more official about Joe B being missing I will start a thread for him.
Might be a bit of a stretch but has anyone looked at this gentleman? Fits the time line, has blue, eyes, fits the height range, disappeared in the right timeframe, and is from NY.
MISSING PERSON • Jerry Furnia • Schuyler Falls, New York • 50 Years Old
Funny, first thing that came to mind about missing person Jerry, is Ben& Jerry's ice cream. imo.MH doesn't wear glasses that I've seen, otherwise very interesting. Especially if the MP lost 50+ lbs. Did you report a possible match?
MH doesn't wear glasses that I've seen, otherwise very interesting. Especially if the MP lost 50+ lbs. Did you report a possible match?
Circumstances of Disappearance
On July 18, 2017, Pery telephoned his mother and told her he was going to move to Hoboken, NJ to reside with friends at an unknown location and to pursue a non-descript job in New York City. Not long afterwards, Pery allowed his cellphone to be disconnected and his email accounts to elapse as well. Pery did not file a forwarding address with the U.S. Post Office. Since his disappearance, Pery has made no attempt to contact any family members or friends.
How about Elias Jean Pery Jr.?
It could be that this is how he broke ties with his family and friends. The move would have placed him in the area where MD started hiking. I'm not 100% sure of the timeline anymore so possibly people had already encountered MD on the hiking trail before Elias went missing. That being said, his namus file doesn't state when he was last "physically" seen.
But it's mainly the kindness in his eyes that grabs my attention the same way those of Mostly Harmless do. Judging from the attached photo on his namus file, Elias may have been younger than 31 when it was taken. When I try to picture him older, after having lost weight and with a beard, I can definitely see a resemblance. But maybe my eyes are tricking me because I just really want him to be identified. What do you think?
Big Cypress John Doe Timeline
NAMUS Link: Unidentified Person Case
April 2017 – He told people he started hiking in New York in April 2017. Possibly was wearing jeans when he started hiking which is where he said his trail name “Denim” came from.
June 2017 – He told people he met that he went for a 2 week hike on the Appalachian Trail (AT) in New York in June 2017.
June 2017 – Hiker (RS) met him on the AT in New York. He claimed he had been working for a big company and recently quit his job. He said he had been living in Bear Mountain Park, NY for 2 weeks before deciding to hike South on the AT. Google Maps
June or July 2017 – Hiker (CD) met him in New York at the visitor center in Unionville, NY (Date is my estimate based on map) Google Maps
June or July 2017 Hiker (WF8) posting on the Mountain Crossings Walasi-yi page claims to have met him in a church basement in Duncannon, PA. (Date is my estimate based on map). Google Maps
28 July 2017 – Hiker (IHTPT) claims to have met him on the AT at Raven Rock shelter in Maryland. AT shelters: RavenRock Raven Rock Shelter
Early Aug 2017 –Hiker (SMJ) claims to have seen him hiking somewhere near Shenandoah, VA with an older woman with grey dreads.
Oct 2017 – A hiker (HRH) posting on the Mountain Crossings at Walasi-yi page photo claims to have hiked with him for a week in Oct.
7th - 8th Oct 2017 – A hiker (KEV) met him in Virginia and knew him as Denim. KEV said his pack was 53 1/2 pounds in Damascus, VA -- she took a photo of it on the scales because it was so heavy she almost toppled over trying it on. KEV took a selfie and several other photos of him in Damascus. They had been stuck in Woodchuck’s Hostel in Damascus for 2 days due to a hurricane hitting the trail (Most likely was rain from Hurricane Nate: Hurricane Nate - Wikipedia ). Google Maps
7 Oct 2017 – He went out to eat at Damascus Pizza Co Bar and Grill with KEV and several other hikers.
Google Maps
Nov 2017 – Hiker (DB) met him at Trey Mountain shelter on the AT. He told DB he did IT work in NYC and was going to Florida. AT shelters: TrayMtn Tray Mountain Shelter
2 Dec 2017 – Photo of “Denim” holding up maps posted to the “Mountain Crossings at Walasi-yi” Facebook page—Mountain Crossings is a store located in Blood Mountain in Georgia. He purchased maps to hike the Pinhoti Trail in Alabama and told the owner he was heading for Key West, Florida. Mountain Crossings at Walasi-yi
Dec 2017 - GoPro Video of him was taken by another hiker at the top of Springer Mountain: Collier County Sheriff's Office
Dec 2017 – Hiker (DBIH) claims he camped with him at Springer Mountain Shelter on the AT. They talked about Dr. Who, liking Sci-fi, working in IT and their fathers. DBIH claims he mentioned an ex-girlfriend and a sister but no names. AT shelters: Springer Springer Mountain Shelter
4 Dec 2017 – Hiker (MM) met him on Springer Mountain and posted about it to the Mountain Crossings facebook post on Dec 5th. MM took a photo of him with his poles in front of the bronze plaque on the summit at the end of the Appalachian Trail.
Mountain Crossings at Walasi-yi
(info about the plaque: https://www.atlantatrails.com/hiking-trails/springer-mountain-2-mile-hike/ )
29 Dec 2017 – Hikers HW and JC took a photo of him standing in front of a Nisan Frontier Truck on Salem Church Road—the first road crossing of the Pinhoti trail just South of the AL/GA State Line.
Google Maps
Florida National Scenic Trail - Big Cypress National Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)
FL - FL - Male, 35-50, BlueGrey Eyes, S&P Beard, Hiking Poles, Boots, Tent, Big Cypress Preserve, Jul2018
Jan 2018 – A hiker (PE) met him on the Pinhoti in January; he told PE he was only doing 10 miles a day.
24-25 Feb 2018 – A camper (BV) met him at Sand Pond Campground is in Pine Log State Forest, in Ebro, FL. He left from there headed for the FL trail. He told BV he had been staying with his sister in Sarasota or Ft. Myers, FL and started in that area. He also talked to BV about some health problems and needed/wanted to do this trip while he still could.
Google Maps
March 2018- A hiker (AK) met him on the Florida Trail near the Aucilla River section; he was heading South bound and said he planned on reaching the southern terminus sometime in July. He told AK that he had started on the FT in Blackwater. Florida Trail, Aucilla River | Florida Trail Hikes
March 2018 - A hiker (AL) met him in the Ocala National Forest. Google Maps
March 2018- A hiker (BW) saw him just 1 hour south of the 88 store. He was heading south bound on the FT, healthy and in good spirits. Google Maps
23 July 2018 The Unidentified man was found deceased in his tent in Big Cypress National Preserve at a remote campsite called Noble's Camp, approximately 5 miles north of Interstate 75.
Google Maps
Physical Description and Other Info
35 to 50 years old
5-foot-8
a very lean 83 pounds
salt and pepper hair and beard
blue/gray eyes
his teeth were in excellent condition
He had no tattoos
Possible indistinct fine linear scar across abdomen. Very faint.
He died only a few days before he was found
There were no obvious injuries and the death does not appear suspicious from a criminal perspective
Clothing and Accessories:
Beige Shirt
Neon green (w/gray accents) Shorts
Gray Russell "Performance" Underwear size M
Columbia baseball hat, very dirty possibly gray and white
Yellow two man tent – Manufacturer: Brooks-Range Mountaineering, Model: Foray
Yellow sleeping bag
Two hiking poles, black and copper color. Brand "Outdoor Products"
One yellow and gray Isobutane 110 G fuel cartridge
Bluegreen Nalgene water bottle
black Salomon hiking boots
Aliases/Hiking Names Used: “Denim”,“Mostly Harmless” & “Ben Bilemy”
He used the alias "Ben Bilemy" to register at several hostels along his trek from New York to Florida on the AT and FT. He stayed at Hostels in VA, GA and FL.
May have ties to New York City, New York and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
May have worked in the tech industry.
Information from other Hikers who met him:
He claimed to have worked in the “tech world” for a decade prior to starting hiking.
Hiker (MJO) says he claimed he was only hiking about 10 miles a day.
Hiker (KEV) says he told her he was heavy body weight-wise when he first started hiking and had lost a lot of weight since then. Other hikers heard similar stories that he had lost weight. KEV also says she believes he paid for everything in cash. KEV says he told her he did not keep any social media accounts due to hackers and did not have a cell phone.
He was hiking the ECT, Eastern Continental Divide & and he decided to do it with no phone & no GPS
Known to be a very experienced hiker with very good quality equipment
He was working for food during the hike
He was said to be an extremely friendly but quiet guy
Source Post for above
Listed on the ECT Thru-Hike's website as part of the ECT class of 2018 as “Mostly Harmless”
Class of 2018 – Florida Trail Hikers Alliance
Source Links
Collier County Sheriff Facebook posts:
Collier County Sheriff's Office
Collier County Sheriff's Office
Collier County Sheriff's Office
GoPro Video taken on Top of Springer Mountain: Collier County Sheriff's Office
Groups Where his Photo was posted:
Pinhoti Trail Alliance:
Pinhoti Trail Alliance Post
Mountain Crossings:
Mountain Crossings at Walasi-yi
Media Links:
Investigators want help identifying man found dead at preserve campsite
http://naplesherald.com/2018/08/03/...-identify-body-found-in-big-cypress-preserve/
Collier Sheriff's Office asks for help to identify man found dead in Big Cypress Preserve
Unidentified, decomposed body found in Florida woods; Some think he's a Baton Rouge native
Dead hiker may have ties to New York state
Who is 'Ben Bilemy?' Florida police try to uncover identity of mystery hiker found dead near Everglades
CCSO shares alias of hiker who died in Big Cypress National Preserve
ID of man found dead in Big Cypress Preserve still unclear after hikers send photos, tips
DO YOU KNOW THIS MAN? Collier Co. deputies need your help ID'ing man's body found
Hiker found dead in Florida could be from New York
Hiker found dead went by 'Denim' and 'Mostly Harmless' on the trail, but investigators don't know his real name
https://www.winknews.com/2018/08/23/collier-deputies-release-video-of-hiker-prior-to-death/
The Collier County sheriff's office has said several times that they've checked every possibility in Namus, so we need to be looking for people who are missing but not in the system.
The Collier County sheriff's office has said several times that they've checked every possibility in Namus, so we need to be looking for people who are missing but not in the system.
Every possibility in Namus has not been checked. They can only auto compare if the DNA/Fingerprints/Dental are on file. Other than that they will have to do it manually for potentials that match height, weight, eye color etc...That will take a long time. As of now, they are only showing comparison/ruled out of two in Namus
Matt Greene-Avid Rock Climber/Hiker
Missing since July 17, 2013
What matches:
What doesn't match:
- Age: 39 (at time of missing)
- Height: Approximate 5'11
- Weight: 155
- Hair Color: Blonde/brown
- Eye Color: Blue
- Crease by eyebrow
- Teeth look good
- Ear seems to match
- Mole on bottom of neck (wrong side or image reversed?)
- Disappeared 4 years prior to being seen on AT
- Occupation-Math Teacher (if Harmless was truthful about past of being Tech)
- Wears glasses/contacts
- Mole on bottom of neck (wrong side or reversed photo?)
https://www.climbing.com/people/van...appearance-of-a-climber-in-the-sierra-nevada/
I was looking around a bit on NamUs and came across David Chapman. He went missing in Connecticut on December 11th 2015 at the age of 31. He’s 5’8” like our John Doe and the picture on his NamUs page looks a lot like him imo. There’s not a lot of information about the circumstances of his disappearance (I don’t have a lot of time to dig deep right now) and Chapman is supposed to have a tattoo of the letter D on his forearm while there’s no mention of tattoos in our Doe’s description. But I can’t get around the resemblance. And imo the Doe’s description isn’t very elaborate anyway so maybe they just didn’t mention it, which I must admit would be weird... But who knows.
Missing Person Case
I saw a resemblence too, but I'm not great with faces.You could be onto something here, BoH. Side by side with one of Mostly Harmless's early photos.