From what I know about paradoxical undressing, it is not a methodical process. Typically, with hypothermia all of the blood is shunted to the core...so taking off both boots may be physically difficult as the person would have no ability to manage shoe laces or buckles by that time and would be seriously mentally impaired. One boot, maybe. A coat and shirt, yes. Drop the rifle, yes. It would be interesting to see how the items where found. If they were organized or in a small area, that would be odd for hypothermia. If they were strewn over a larger distance, kind of haphazardly, that would make sense for hypothermia. Often, cloths will be torn or ripped off towards the end, due to the nature of hypothermia. It is like trying to rip burning clothes off...Frantic, impulsive and highly disorganized and with no feeling in the persons hands or fingers.
Maybe, he had planned this and had items stashed for his travels. With a fairly well off family, he may have had taken money, etc. if no one was paying attention. He was very smart.
Anyway, when I saw Dermot's picture it reminded me of this UID right away.
http://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1010umtx.html
The height is off. But, I am not certain the conditions of the UID's remains. What struck me, besides the images, was the spinal bifida. Do we know what Dermot was hospitalized for? This also would be something that may be keep a secret as physical abnormalities can be "shameful". They did look similar to me, but I am new at this. :blushing:
Good observation of Dermot's clothes and where exactly where they found? Several distances away, or within close proximity to each other? We have Dermot's jacket boots, shoes, and socks removed, with boots found, and bare feet going toward the river with no return prints.
A planned runaway situation is possible. However, I still contend that Dermot would not want to expose himself to intensional physical pain. If he was going to run away, why remove his clothes? Why not take money and lodgings with him for the long journey? And to do so in such bitter cold with a rifle. I just could not see Dermot being allowed on a bus or hitchhiking with a gun. Who would pick him up with a gun? Maybe someone he knew? But there is no evidence that any people from that area vanished on that exact same day. And with the bitter cold weather, and worse if there were wind chills, Dermot tragically would not be likely to survive with bare feet, snow, and ice.
Sadly, most of the circumstantial evidence seems to point to a suicide by intentional or accidental drowning, or hypothermia playing a role either intensifying Dermot's already fragile mental state. Multiple conditions most likely made him purposefully or accidentally walk into that river, or fall into the river, and very likely the effects of the weather, cold, hypothermia, and/or a gunshot if Dermot may have killed himself, or if hypothermia caused him to become so disoriented that he could have killed himself.
If he PLANNED to kill himself, the effects of hypothermia may have only made matters worse. Or if this was a case of hypothermia exclusively with an accidental drowning, could Dermot had become so disoriented as to commit suicide either with the gun or falling in the river and just not know what he was doing, or where he was? Leading to a painfully fatal and tragic result? Several terrible things may have had a domino affect for poor Dermot.
Dermot just does not seem like the type of person who would fake things and be deceitful, so if he died that day, I don't think he planned to run away. If hypothermia played a role here, nobody, not just Dermot, would be coordinated enough to cover their steps and their return prints from not being seen. Dermot would just plan ahead for a long journey if he was going to run away with the proper clothes, food, and shelter with him. Just leave and say, "I'm going to a friends house for awhile." But in reality, just hitch a ride or a flight out of town? Or to another state? Out of the country?
The Dermot Kelly Case, conjures up three equally likely scenarios for me:
1.) A fragile state of mind with an intent to kill himself making sure that he was never found. Using the target shooting story to distance himself from the family. A shockingly painful shooting of himself and or falling into the river creating instant hypothermia and death. The depth of the water and rushing currents, tragically making his body impossible to find, especially after the barge went through.
OR.
2.) A fragile state of mind with an intent to go target shooting to distance himself from the pain and turmoil in his family and life. The need to be alone. Dermot is unaware of how cold it gets, may have shot at some targets on the river, starts taking off his clothes because of the effects of hypothermia, has no awareness of his surrounding, falls in the river and drowns. He certainly would not be coordinated enough to swim for help if hypothermia was as bad as it could have been. This scenario says "accidental drowning."
OR
3.) A fragile state of mind when leaving the house. Tells his parents he is going target shooting, but goes to the river to mediate. Hypothermia sets in and he thinks about doing something crazy because of the effects of the hypothermia. He does something "stupid" because the hypothermia renders this normally extremely intelligent kid's thoughts into dangerous risk-taking. Dermot thinks something totally out of character for him because of hypothermia, "I think I'll swim as far as I can." takes off his boots, shoes, and socks, jacket too, "Can't go swimming with a jacket on." Jumps into the water, and gets swept away in minutes by the strong currents.
Version #1 is intended suicide. Version #2 is accidental death. Version #3 is accidental death because of hypothermia.
And if all three versions are wrong and this man survived all he has been through, it would be one of the most incredible recovery stories of all time! I do think that if Dermot is alive, I don't think he wants to be found.
Satch