Sutton
New Member
- Joined
- Oct 16, 2013
- Messages
- 1,353
- Reaction score
- 64
I've often thought about this case, but for some reason, never found this whole thread on here before today. A few thoughts -
- Poaching ginseng from national parks has been illegal as far back as the early 70's, possibly earlier. It's a federal offense, it's not like you get a $15 ticket you have to pay. In the late 70's, one single ginseng root sold for $64,000, not adjusted for inflation. I absolutely believe the poacher did find bones and did wait until 1985 to report it. He had *nothing* to personally gain by telling anyone earlier and everything to lose. Even if he wasn't prosecuted for poaching, "coming out" with the find would have gotten him on the radar of every ranger and a large number of park guests, making sure that he'd have no chance to hit the jackpot with ginseng roots. In his mind, the boy was already gone, his prompt reporting of the find wasn't going to bring him back. I'm guessing profit is more important than good feelings for most poachers.
- The family theory of abduction has always, to me, felt sort of half-hearted. Like they were going through the motions, but deep in their hearts, they knew it wasn't an abduction. Why? To take the responsibility the kids may have felt towards Dennis' disappearance away from them. If it was an abduction, there may have been nothing the other kids could have done to prevent it, but if it wasn't, it meant the older kids weren't looking out for Dennis like they may have been told to do.
- Animals, even herbivores like deer, will chew on bones. So not only is there the chance that the bones were moved, but it's likely that over the years, animals of all sorts would have completely consumed the bones to the point that only small fragments would remain, which would then be impossible to ever spot in leaf matter or even fairly short grass.
- I'd be surprised if Dennis survived beyond that first night, even if he didn't get killed in some sort of fall. He was a child in a short sleeve shirt (likely made of cotton) and I'm assuming shorts, but even if he was in pants, it gets chilly in the mountains at night. Combined with a very soaking rain that night, the chances of him not getting hypothermia would be slim to none.
- William Martin, the father of Dennis, died last year. http://www.gentrygriffey.com/obits/bill-martin/
The ginseng hunter's account makes SO much more sense now that you've stated the potential risk and reward.
There are many animals in that area that will gnaw on bones, but I did not know deer would. I wonder if they get nutrients from the bones or if they do it to sharpen their teeth or if there is some other reason...