Found Deceased CA - Fang Jin, 47, flew to LA from China, train to Palm Springs, Morongo Basin, 21 Jul 2023, w/ John Root Fitzpatrick, 55, (fnd dec.), 30 Jul ‘23 #3

[10ofRods]

I can see that happening, regardless of whether JRF was ex-military or not. It would, indeed, be a good use of local resources to have a joint program working to benefit both ends. Clever find.

It's super common. The book, "Off the Wall: Death in Yosemite" highlights the longterm and amazing relationship between our military forces in California and our National Parks - but it's the same with the large state parks as well. Highly recommend the book. Someone needs to write one about the desert parks, though.

It's very sad that this is post-mortem for the two victims. That's not what anyone wants.

 

[acutename]

Do we know enough about the terrain yet to completely rule out the idea that the Tacoma may have simply broken down from mechanical issues, leaving the two to have to try to walk out, and that the Tacoma was later washed into an inaccessible place by floodwaters from Hurricane Hillary?

truck was 7 yrs old...maybe low mileage (?) but heat is just not machine friendly IMO
I would like to know if JRF had gone to AB frequently, camped... was familiar with the place.

 

[LucyOso]

truck was 7 yrs old...maybe low mileage (?) but heat is just not machine friendly IMO
I would like to know if JRF had gone to AB frequently, camped... was familiar with the place.

I think in an earlier thread the VIN was search and it had 120,000 miles or so when he bought it. Granted, so cars go forever, but it had some miles on it.

 

[LucyOso]

Attorney David Schmidt talks about new developments in the Fang Jin missing person case

CBS 8 interview with attorney David Schmidt about the possible discovery of the remains of Fang Jin on Saturday, Oct 28, 2023 in the Anza-Borrego desert.

www.cbs8.com

The video explains many things. JF did her due diligence as we thought. The attorney mentioned a friend misinterpreted or downplayed the criminal record and she was under the impression he had money. I had a similar experience with a guy from UK, perception whether intentionally misleading or imagined was far different than reality. This is so heartbreaking.

 

[10ofRods]

I recall someone mentioning that there was not enough water to sweep away / wreck a (4,800lbs truck in Harper Canyon during Hilary I went back and read several pages of comments and cannot find that reference, nor, after quick girdle search) can I find what effect Hilary had on HC. Hopefully the original poster will see your question and repost the info.

That could have been me - I was questioning that (weight of truck vs floodwaters). But seeing the narrowness of Pinyon Wash and of Harper Canyon, it's possible that the truck was moved. Again, I believe the truck was found on the Pinyon Wash side of the fence, but of course do not know for sure (just going by where the park says the fences are and which areas are blocked off).

It would all depend on exactly where the truck was and the soil/sand situation beneath it. Sand and water are a slippery. powerful mixture. Capable of knocking everyone off their feet - and making vehicles unable to steer.

IMO.

 

[tvscum]

Update posted today in this article:

EDITOR'S UPDATE: On November 2, 2023 the San Diego County Sheriff's Department responded to a CBS 8 public records request by writing, "The truck was located on 9/4/23." Additionally, a lieutenant with the San Diego County Sheriff's media relations office emailed CBS 8 the following statement:

"I can confirm remains were located in the Anza Borrego park. The remains were located in the general vicinity of Mr. Fitzpatrick's. The remains have not been positively identified by the Medical Examiner's office at this time. I cannot confirm whether our office will be doing a press release at this time as we have not received information which may lead us to conducting one."

More human remains found in desert, family of missing woman Fang Jin notified

Sheriff search team discovered remains Saturday in Anza-Borrego.

www.cbs8.com

 

[LucyOso]

I don't know about his capabilities, but looking at his resume he was previously an instructor in Jungle Survival for Navy Special Warfare (NSW) command. And he spent significant time in Iraq where he conducted "multiple successful high risk missions", so presumably he has familiarity with harsh desert environments.

Obviously, we don't know what actually happened. Maybe there was nothing he could do to save himself or FJ, and I don't want to cast aspersions when so much is unknown. But his background and experience just adds to the overall mystery of this case.

Jungle Survival is very different than Desert Survival. Over confidence and carelessness can have bad outcomes even in professionals.

 

[Interested_But_Confused]

22nd of july surveillance camera photographed truck in Thermal ...so probably evening of 22nd to 23rd they intended to go to Anza Borrego ...<modsnip: By WS rules, JF is considered a victim>...but also with a possibility that they were both too naïve to neglect the danger of nature during a not well prepared outing there..

Do we know for certain that they were in Thermal on the evening of the 22nd? I see that you've always said it was "probably" the evening of the 22nd, and that you've been attempting for some time to get more details from LE about the exact time and location.

For my theory to work the surveillance image would have been taken on the morning of the 22nd, in daylight. I'm just trying to think of an explanation for why Fang didn't answer her phone on the 22nd if she was at a camping ground in Thermal. Something having already happened to her and JRF by midday on the 22nd could explain it.

 

[ch_13]

The remains were located in the general vicinity of Mr. Fitzpatrick's.

snipped.

This is really interesting. Somehow, ever since FJ's body was reportedly found, I've had the notion that they were apart when they died, but now it seems they may have been together.

 

[Interested_But_Confused]

Update posted today in this article:

EDITOR'S UPDATE: On November 2, 2023 the San Diego County Sheriff's Department responded to a CBS 8 public records request by writing, "The truck was located on 9/4/23." Additionally, a lieutenant with the San Diego County Sheriff's media relations office emailed CBS 8 the following statement:

"I can confirm remains were located in the Anza Borrego park. The remains were located in the general vicinity of Mr. Fitzpatrick's. The remains have not been positively identified by the Medical Examiner's office at this time. I cannot confirm whether our office will be doing a press release at this time as we have not received information which may lead us to conducting one."

More human remains found in desert, family of missing woman Fang Jin notified

Sheriff search team discovered remains Saturday in Anza-Borrego.

www.cbs8.com

Both remains being found in the same area increases the likelihood that whatever happened, it happened when both were together. And the possible finding of Fang's backpack suggests, to me, that they were hiking despite the heat.

A breakdown of the truck seems to be the only logical explanation for doing that.

ETA: @ch_13 beat me to it.

 

[LucyOso]

Both remains being found in the same area increases the likelihood that whatever happened, it happened when both were together. And the possible finding of Fang's backpack suggests, to me, that they were hiking despite the heat.

A breakdown of the truck seems to be the only logical explanation for doing that.

ETA: @ch_13 beat me to it.

Misadventure.

 

[Interested_But_Confused]

I can't shake the feeling from this photo of JRF that he may have had bad knees. Even standing on uneven ground, his posture is slightly odd and I've seen that before in relatives with arthritis. His right leg (left of the picture) almost looks like there could be some kind of brace under his jeans. Maybe just my imagination.

 

[Herat]

Misadventure.

Considering the weather conditions, I highly favor misadventure with a severely disabled vehicle and not enough water or shade to hike out to the road.

Had the trip been in February, I might have a different opinion, but with high temperatures of 117 in the area and very little shade, hyperthermia and heat stroke sound the most likely.

 

[Lusitana]

I think they were either both murdered or some accident.

 

[AliceInPain]

I think they were either both murdered or some accident.

I believe accident. BUT. There is still the open door, the smell of decomp, and the sealed results of the second search warrant. And someone's odd way of speaking with the media and Fang's family. jmo. Context of photos? I really hope for them both and their families this doesn't take an ugly turn.

 

[Red Clover]

Do we know for certain that they were in Thermal on the evening of the 22nd? I see that you've always said it was "probably" the evening of the 22nd, and that you've been attempting for some time to get more details from LE about the exact time and location.

For my theory to work the surveillance image would have been taken on the morning of the 22nd, in daylight. I'm just trying to think of an explanation for why Fang didn't answer her phone on the 22nd if she was at a camping ground in Thermal. Something having already happened to her and JRF by midday on the 22nd could explain it.

Somewhere it has been stated that JF-Jin was using wifi for her phone service and that's why she was sending sporadic updates when she was connected.

My daughter has used wifi for her phone service (google) and she's not been able to receive texts or answer the phone unless she was connected to wireless service, either at a friend's or in a public location.

 

[Interested_But_Confused]

Although it's possible that one (or even both) were already dead when they were taken to Anza-Borrego, I keep going back to the fact that the truck was found two months ago and still hasn't been moved.

I appreciate that LE have limited resources and moving a truck out of the mountains is a big job to undertake. But if they seriously believed the truck was the scene of a crime (which it would be if it had been used to transport a body) I would really hope they'd have moved it sooner to do a thorough examination under controlled conditions.

Two additional months out in the desert could destroy so much evidence. Whilst I hope they did send a forensic team out to the truck, the conditions would be far from ideal. It may even be impossible to access some parts of the truck until it's moved.

 

[Interested_But_Confused]

Somewhere it has been stated that JF-Jin was using wifi for her phone service and that's why she was sending sporadic updates when she was connected.

My daughter has used wifi for her phone service (google) and she's not been able to receive texts or answer the phone unless she was connected to wireless service, either at a friend's or in a public location.

Has it now been confirmed Fang was using wi-fi? I was one of the people who was speculating that could be the case, but I wasn't aware it had been confirmed.

 

[Red Clover]

Has it now been confirmed Fang was using wi-fi? I was one of the people who was speculating that could be the case, but I wasn't aware it had been confirmed.

I don't think anything has been confirmed about her phone (or his?) I'm not sure if either has been found.

I have assumed that they probably depended on JRF's phone for directions and anything they needed a phone for on the road.

It would've been difficult for them to anticipate the particular scenario that led to their deaths. The thing that surprises me the most is their clear lack of preparedness.

I'm a serious overthinker when it comes to camping away from main highways and access to the internet but you can never anticipate every scenario. Even where I'm from in Southern Oregon it gets extremely hot in late summer (100-114 for 2-4 weeks) and you definitely wouldn't want to be stranded or have to walk out in those conditions.

Whether one of them had a medical emergency or the vehicle became wrecked or disabled there would've been no way to call for help. They were stuck. It must've been an absolutely awful feeling.

Again, why no sign of gear or water in the picture from Thermal? You may not need much to camp in the desert but you definitely needed water and some basic survival gear and shelter.

Could JRF even with all his military expertise not have been an experienced camper?

 

[L'Eau_d'Hiver]

LE didn't release any info regarding evidences that both Fang and JRF were in the truck in Thermal on July 22nd, right ?

Update posted today in this article:

EDITOR'S UPDATE: On November 2, 2023 the San Diego County Sheriff's Department responded to a CBS 8 public records request by writing, "The truck was located on 9/4/23." Additionally, a lieutenant with the San Diego County Sheriff's media relations office emailed CBS 8 the following statement:

"I can confirm remains were located in the Anza Borrego park. The remains were located in the general vicinity of Mr. Fitzpatrick's. The remains have not been positively identified by the Medical Examiner's office at this time. I cannot confirm whether our office will be doing a press release at this time as we have not received information which may lead us to conducting one."

How do you read "general vicinity"? Just somewhere in the AB park?
I must say it doesn't mean much to me, sounds rather vague...
(non native speaker here)