Found Deceased CA - Fang Jin, 47, flew to LA from China, train to Palm Springs, Morongo Basin, 21 Jul 2023, w/ JohnRoot Fitzpatrick, 55, missing, 30 Jul ‘23

[Herat]

It was almost a new moon on the 21st and dark dark dark. You can't see anything at night and rattlesnakes are out. No way they hiked the Amboy Crater in the middle of the night, in the middle of an historic heatwave, before he drove in the complete opposite direction to Thermal the next day. I think what happened in Wonder Valley is key to all of this. (Apologies for hijacking the thread. Just that once I saw her final video, I realized it made absolutely no sense where they were driving at that time. I've tried to guess where her other photos were taken, but aside from the airport one, they're vague. However that newly released video is very very telling and gives us an exact time and place to go off of. And it makes no logical sense.)

So what makes Wonder Valley a destination for them, in your opinion?

The photos are even more desolate than the Morongo Valley - Joshua Tree region.

The website describes an interesting community. Very desert-rat.

Wonder Valley, CA

Wonder Valley, in the Mojave desert, is a rural community of artists and others bounded by the Bullion, Sheep Hole & Pinto Mountains.

www.wondervalley.org

 

[thefragile7393]

his LinkedIn has some weird misspellings on it such a "commendation" spelled wrong in one place but not in another and "heavy" spelled wrong in heavy equipment school and no addresses... maybe that is unimportant for an action guy or maybe it is fake?

He’s likely just a poor speller

 

[patternsfinder]

So what makes Wonder Valley a destination for them, in your opinion?

The photos are even more desolate than the Morongo Valley - Joshua Tree region.

The website describes an interesting community. Very desert-rat.

Wonder Valley, CA

Wonder Valley, in the Mojave desert, is a rural community of artists and others bounded by the Bullion, Sheep Hole & Pinto Mountains.

www.wondervalley.org

The only reasons to go to Wonder Valley at 10pm on a Friday in a July heatwave (or any other time of year, really, unless driving through to Vegas or the Mojave Preserve, which they were not) = The Palms, if they are open (questionable/unclear - but owned/run by a local family, so I assume LE have reached out and checked if FJ was there - it is a small bar, everyone is noticed on quiet nights, like the 21st), keep driving straight on Adobe to go to the Marine Base (need credentials to get through the gate), visit some random friend's house, or drive out to dark nowhere where no one will see you, for whatever reason. (I finally figured out how to reply to posts! Apologies for not doing that earlier. I'm mostly a lurker here, but this video and my local knowledge made me want to share insight.) (To be clear, I am being literal. There is NOTHING in Wonder Valley aside from cabins on dirt roads and The Palms. A lil "hot springs" that requires reservations, but not at that hour. Nothing else is out there.)

 

[Herat]

Wonder Valley very much fits the description of a "small town in the desert"

 

[patternsfinder]

Wonder Valley very much fits the description of a "small town in the desert"

If they planned to "camp" in WV, they had to book a reservation at a cabin on some site. It's not a common place to tent camp ever (aside from outside The Palms after festivals in cooler months, around many other people), and definitely not in the midst of the hottest month on historic record. And if they planned to rent a cabin in WV, they headed east from Joshua Tree. Odd to go notably east only to turn around and the next day go west, across the entire Morongo Basin and down into the low desert and the across much of the low desert, to get to Thermal.

 

[Herat]

If they planned to "camp" in WV, they had to book a reservation at a cabin on some site. It's not a common place to tent camp ever (aside from outside The Palms after festivals in cooler months, around many other people), and definitely not in the midst of the hottest month on historic record. And if they planned to rent a cabin in WV, they headed east from Joshua Tree. Odd to go notably east only to turn around and the next day go west, across the entire Morongo Basin and down into the low desert and the across much of the low desert, to get to Thermal.

Your comments are very much appreciated. Nothing as valuable as local knowledge.

My impression from the photos was that this was just as you describe it. I'd think that free camping would be the way he would do it.

This article makes it a bit more lurid. One line stands out:

"This is a great place to run away from something,” said Pastor Max Rossi, who heads one of the two churches serving Wonder Valley. “From a bad relationship, from debt, from bad parents, fears. People can run away into the desert and hide quite well."

Off the grid and on the edge: Community and isolation in California's high desert

This winter a Joshua Tree couple was charged with child abuse for camping on their own land. Thirty miles away, some Wonder Valley residents saw themselves.

www.desertsun.com

 

[vls12345]

If he's retired Navy, he could still get on base, correct? (Not that I think they are there.)

 

[AnyNameIWish]

Thing is, she was reportedly in contact with family every other day until the 21st at night.. and then radio silence? IMO It doesn't sound like a situation where she wanted to run off with her new beau, I mean, where would they even go? (And Mexico is NOT a good idea for safety reasons and I would imagine she's smart enough to know this, having lived in Europe and being somewhat worldly.)

Conflicting reports of her being in contact on the 22nd with a friend, official statements saying he was a hired tour guide, his cell phone pings on the 24th (but no mention of hers,) is creating a very chaotic picture of the last few days she's been in contact. The family and friends need to get their stories straight and get it out there. (NOT on $ raising sites)

 

[ClaireNC]

The only reasons to go to Wonder Valley at 10pm on a Friday in a July heatwave (or any other time of year, really, unless driving through to Vegas or the Mojave Preserve, which they were not) = The Palms, if they are open (questionable/unclear - but owned/run by a local family, so I assume LE have reached out and checked if FJ was there - it is a small bar, everyone is noticed on quiet nights, like the 21st), keep driving straight on Adobe to go to the Marine Base (need credentials to get through the gate), visit some random friend's house, or drive out to dark nowhere where no one will see you, for whatever reason. (I finally figured out how to reply to posts! Apologies for not doing that earlier. I'm mostly a lurker here, but this video and my local knowledge made me want to share insight.) (To be clear, I am being literal. There is NOTHING in Wonder Valley aside from cabins on dirt roads and The Palms. A lil "hot springs" that requires reservations, but not at that hour. Nothing else is out there.)

Thanks for joining the conversation. Your local insights are very helpful! It looks like the road they were on in Twentynine Palms basically goes to the Military base. Case Map

While I think it’s a Marine base, there is a Navel Hospital on base. I wonder if he‘s been to that hospital for treatment and is, therefore, familiar with the base. Has the base been informed of this situation? There must be cameras at the gate to enter the base. Have those been checked?

 

[Ravenmoon]

So what makes Wonder Valley a destination for them, in your opinion?

The photos are even more desolate than the Morongo Valley - Joshua Tree region.

The website describes an interesting community. Very desert-rat.

Wonder Valley, CA

Wonder Valley, in the Mojave desert, is a rural community of artists and others bounded by the Bullion, Sheep Hole & Pinto Mountains.

www.wondervalley.org

Many people drive that road to make their way to Las Vegas. We did it many times.

 

[AnyNameIWish]

All MOO:

Honestly since her family are in China and not primary English speaking AND there are just a handful of friends in SoCal but NOT on site in San Bernardino/Riverside at all, there isn't much pressure to do anything on this... I don't think any of these places have been checked with much urgency - military bases, border crossings... (online demands don't count, unfortunately) - if they had, they could rule so much out. (If they check border crossings /license plates between 7/21- today, you'd have an idea if they did leave the country!) I don't even think San Diego is involved in the search and it hasn't hit any news beyond the local channel in the desert. (Not made it to LA Times yet which is surprising since there is a large Chinese population in the Inland Empire.)

 

[10ofRods]

The only reasons to go to Wonder Valley at 10pm on a Friday in a July heatwave (or any other time of year, really, unless driving through to Vegas or the Mojave Preserve, which they were not) = The Palms, if they are open (questionable/unclear - but owned/run by a local family, so I assume LE have reached out and checked if FJ was there - it is a small bar, everyone is noticed on quiet nights, like the 21st), keep driving straight on Adobe to go to the Marine Base (need credentials to get through the gate), visit some random friend's house, or drive out to dark nowhere where no one will see you, for whatever reason. (I finally figured out how to reply to posts! Apologies for not doing that earlier. I'm mostly a lurker here, but this video and my local knowledge made me want to share insight.) (To be clear, I am being literal. There is NOTHING in Wonder Valley aside from cabins on dirt roads and The Palms. A lil "hot springs" that requires reservations, but not at that hour. Nothing else is out there.)

I wish I could make the assumption that LE have contacted The Palms, but since they've classified the pair as "voluntarily missing" at this point in time, I seriously doubt anyone has contacted businesses located in towns where they may or may not have even gotten out of their car.

This one needs a large public awareness campaign, but I do not expect SBCSO to do that for voluntarily missing people at this point in time (or in any of the jurisdiction where this case is unfolding).

It's up to us, as individuals, to share this information as well as we can. If the family can use some of its fund raising to put ads in the High Desert News, for example, that might help. Would give people a reason to talk to each other, locally, and ask business owners if they've seen the pair.

We really don't even know that they were out there, do we?

IMO.

 

[Dhighsmith]

Thing is, she was reportedly in contact with family every other day until the 21st at night.. and then radio silence? IMO It doesn't sound like a situation where she wanted to run off with her new beau, I mean, where would they even go? (And Mexico is NOT a good idea for safety reasons and I would imagine she's smart enough to know this, having lived in Europe and being somewhat worldly.)

Conflicting reports of her being in contact on the 22nd with a friend, official statements saying he was a hired tour guide, his cell phone pings on the 24th (but no mention of hers,) is creating a very chaotic picture of the last few days she's been in contact. The family and friends need to get their stories straight and get it out there. (NOT on $ raising sites)

This case urgently needs attention, so wish for someone(s) here at WS with connections to liaison with the vast network of social media true crime community to broadcast this woman’s case. She definitely has loved ones desperate to locate her but she has no one on the ground in California to fight for her. I may not support or agree with her tactics but a Nancy Grace is needed to sound the alarm- regardless of an accident occurred or foul play,
Fang Jin is one of nearly 3k missing persons cases in California alone. It’s so frustrating knowing how desperate the family is for assistance, begging for people to help locate her but really no one is aware of her.
Strong leadership is impactful!
If deemed necessary, Hoover, Alabama would activate the National Guard and Polk County Florida Sheriff Grady Judd would be front and center of the podium to establish the community awareness.

JMO

My Own Personal Opinions
Influenced by frustration

 

[10ofRods]

Thing is, she was reportedly in contact with family every other day until the 21st at night.. and then radio silence? IMO It doesn't sound like a situation where she wanted to run off with her new beau, I mean, where would they even go? (And Mexico is NOT a good idea for safety reasons and I would imagine she's smart enough to know this, having lived in Europe and being somewhat worldly.)

Conflicting reports of her being in contact on the 22nd with a friend, official statements saying he was a hired tour guide, his cell phone pings on the 24th (but no mention of hers,) is creating a very chaotic picture of the last few days she's been in contact. The family and friends need to get their stories straight and get it out there. (NOT on $ raising sites)

It's weird to me that JRF, now regarded as voluntarily missing, seems to have no family or friends popping up to try a presser or some other information-generating thing (vigil, etc). The family needs to find locals to put up fliers, which is not costly. Many of us would pay for printing fliers, if one were made up. I don't live close enough to help, but there are churches, civic organizations, scouts, etc, and some of those people would certainly put up a few fliers. LE is not going to do that - they don't ever do that.

IME, I have not been able to get local PD to take my report about a missing person I believe I sighted, because that same missing person was reported 2 years earlier by someone else and when the police got to the spot of the sighting, no one was there. So the first thing they asked me was, "Is he in your line of sight right now?" And he wasn't, not any more. I learned from that. And I did go around with age-progressed photos of this person to local businesses (only one would okay putting up the flier) but none of the people at those businesses could remember seeing him. He looked homeless and probably just faded from their minds. Indeed, I believe he *is* homeless and not too far from where he went missing (sent all that information to the family who said that yes, he'd been sight up my way several times).

Police do not respond to missing person sightings over and over, they can't. Get a picture if you see one of this couple, and be on the phone to local LE immediately!

(And remember, outside of San Bernardino County, local LE likely have no heads up or reason to be looking - someone needs to get pictures and the NAMUS report and a brief case summary into the hands of the other counties (I count four of them) and, if possible, find a local resource officer with a friendly face.

IMO.

 

[10ofRods]

This case urgently needs attention, so wish for someone(s) here at WS with connections to liaison with the vast network of social media true crime community to broadcast this woman’s case. She definitely has loved ones desperate to locate her but she has no one on the ground in California to fight for her. I may not support or agree with her tactics but a Nancy Grace is needed to sound the alarm- regardless of an accident occurred or foul play,
Fang Jin is one of nearly 3k missing persons cases in California alone. It’s so frustrating knowing how desperate the family is for assistance, begging for people to help locate her but really no one is aware of her.
Strong leadership is impactful!
If deemed necessary, Hoover, Alabama would activate the National Guard and Polk County Florida Sheriff Grady Judd would be front and center of the podium to establish the community awareness.

JMO

My Own Personal Opinions
Influenced by frustration

And that would be true in my own (California) county. But not San Berdoo, as we call it. In past missing persons cases in San Berdoo, I did use personal contacts (local lawyers I just happened to know) and a personal friend who is a SAR member in another county (who directly contacted SAR in San Berdoo - which accomplished absolutely nothing, as SAR volunteers are restrained from any sort of independent searching - they have to keep it on the down low, if they do it - only the Sheriff can convene a search in unincorporated areas).

There are many Florida counties where Sheriffs have not been that visible, just as in California. San Diego County is *much* better funded and more proactive (but...again, these two are voluntarily missing - I doubt that even Sheriff Judd would be doing a lot to put a spotlight on voluntarily missing adults).

My worry is that once categorized by San Berdoo in this manner, that'll be the end of the story. They did exactly one search for Barbara Thomas and ignored efforts to provide maps and theories about where she actually was (she was found exactly where several of us here thought she would be). They didn't even retrieve an article of her clothing to use with the sniffer dogs (and the dogs didn't hit on anything - they were led along a trail where she had once been, but they did not follow her scent to where she actually was - about a mile away).

IMO.

 

[TravelingBug]

With the current weather forecast looking for the inland deserts to get a nearly unprecedented amount of rain probably beginning late Sunday into Monday, I'm afraid it's going to complicate everything if anyone is looking for tracks off the road in case they were in an accident, etc.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1692227797287424374

https://twitter.com/x/status/1692227797287424374

 

[Herat]

I think getting a national voice like Nancy Grace involved is not a bad idea.

Or maybe floating it past Gray Hughes.

 

[ClaireNC]

I think getting a national voice like Nancy Grace involved is not a bad idea.

Or maybe floating it past Gray Hughes.

Also large newspapers like the LA Times.

 

[patternsfinder]

I wish I could make the assumption that LE have contacted The Palms, but since they've classified the pair as "voluntarily missing" at this point in time, I seriously doubt anyone has contacted businesses located in towns where they may or may not have even gotten out of their car.

This one needs a large public awareness campaign, but I do not expect SBCSO to do that for voluntarily missing people at this point in time (or in any of the jurisdiction where this case is unfolding).

It's up to us, as individuals, to share this information as well as we can. If the family can use some of its fund raising to put ads in the High Desert News, for example, that might help. Would give people a reason to talk to each other, locally, and ask business owners if they've seen the pair.

We really don't even know that they were out there, do we?

IMO.

I reached out to the folks who run The Palms and they don't remember seeing her that night.

 

[patternsfinder]

DBM