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

[mark1969]

@mark1969, has the PI connected with any of JRF’s family members yet? (I apologize in advance if you’ve already reported in and I missed it).

No direct contact with JRF family yet

 

[ClaireNC]

Wouldn't his truck being photographed on 7/22 be the same as being "seen"? They were reported to have been at the campground and seen there by the employee/park ranger from what I understand, which is what led to the cameras being checked and the photo being discovered.
From the cases I have worked on, the "date of last contact" is usually entered as the last verifiable, known location. Not always "contact" as in spoken with someone.

Where was it reported that they were at a campground and seen by an employee? I have not seen that anywhere. If that info is true, which campground?

I assumed that the truck picture was discovered because the license plate was picked up on a reader.

 

[megs1477]

Where was it reported that they were at a campground and seen by an employee? I have not seen that anywhere. If that info is true, which campground?

I assumed that the truck picture was discovered because the license plate was picked up on a reader.

I thought it would be much harder to find.

The police checked the monitoring of the Thermal campsite on the 22nd, and determined through their vehicles that the two had camped there, and through the investigation of the park police, they learned that the mobile phone signal of the male netizen John last appeared on the 24th, and the location was in a desert in California. The small town of Julian, but it is unknown if his mother was there.
**when it says "his" it should be her, it is talk about Jin Fang's daughter

https://inf.news/en/world/db8cd86ce51f128b7067a46272f56361.html

 

[hazel324]

I thought it would be much harder to find.

The police checked the monitoring of the Thermal campsite on the 22nd, and determined through their vehicles that the two had camped there, and through the investigation of the park police, they learned that the mobile phone signal of the male netizen John last appeared on the 24th, and the location was in a desert in California. The small town of Julian, but it is unknown if his mother was there.
**when it says "his" it should be her, it is talk about Jin Fang's daughter

https://inf.news/en/world/db8cd86ce51f128b7067a46272f56361.html

Thank you - this makes it clear that it's not confirmation Fang was sighted, just the vehicle (and assumptions made that the two of them were there)

They were not imo

 

[sfinkz]

I thought it would be much harder to find.

The police checked the monitoring of the Thermal campsite on the 22nd, and determined through their vehicles that the two had camped there, and through the investigation of the park police, they learned that the mobile phone signal of the male netizen John last appeared on the 24th, and the location was in a desert in California. The small town of Julian, but it is unknown if his mother was there.
**when it says "his" it should be her, it is talk about Jin Fang's daughter

https://inf.news/en/world/db8cd86ce51f128b7067a46272f56361.html

Whoa, now I’m really confused. Is inf.news an approved source? Seems to be a bot translating from English-Chinese back to English. Number of inaccuracies in that report, the nature/location of last contact notwithstanding.
I believe a lot of the confusion (particularly with the Chinese media) is the ~15 hour time difference and what constitutes a ‘last contact’. A 23:00 video sent from California on 7/21 to a friend in China on the afternoon of 7/22, for example, is not a ‘sighting’ on 7/22. Who last saw either FJ or JRF?
Sticking to the previously-cited missing persons bulletins issued, all three are in lockstep except for the events of 7/22, where they conflict.
missingpersonscenter, claims JRF was seen by a friend/family on this date. NamUs has mention of a park ranger spotting the two? The original SBCSO Aug 2 bulletin captures the vehicle only.
Big diff between all three scenarios. Like I say, I’m confused. But I’m not counting on ifn.news to straighten me out.

 

[tarabull]

DbM disregard...

 

[slowpoke]

Where was it reported that they were at a campground and seen by an employee? I have not seen that anywhere. If that info is true, which campground?

I assumed that the truck picture was discovered because the license plate was picked up on a reader.

I thought it would be much harder to find.

The police checked the monitoring of the Thermal campsite on the 22nd, and determined through their vehicles that the two had camped there, and through the investigation of the park police, they learned that the mobile phone signal of the male netizen John last appeared on the 24th, and the location was in a desert in California. The small town of Julian, but it is unknown if his mother was there.
**when it says "his" it should be her, it is talk about Jin Fang's daughter

https://inf.news/en/world/db8cd86ce51f128b7067a46272f56361.html

@mark1969
This is something you can hopefully clear up for us.
What are the facts as you know it regarding the sighting at Thermal, CA? Was it only the truck that was sighted? Is it known if it was sighted at a campground there? Was either JRF or Fang sighted along with or in the truck?

 

[mark1969]

@mark1969
This is something you can hopefully clear up for us.
What are the facts as you know it regarding the sighting at Thermal, CA? Was it only the truck that was sighted? Is it known if it was sighted at a campground there? Was either JRF or Fang sighted along with or in the truck?

Beside the backside picture of the truck , we are still waiting for official location and timestamp by legal department ... most likely beside carpicture there is no evidence that Fang or John were driving this car at that moment..... could be that car was stolen

 

[Kittybunny]

I reached out to one of the only people in the US with access to the Navy SEAL Database, retired Navy SEAL Senior Chief Don Shipley. I am a member of his great site where they do Navy SEAL verifications for fake and real SEALS, and out the fakes. I am a Navy veteran, but not a SEAL. I sent him some of the information and links, and he checked into JRF in the official database. He responded that he indeed was a Navy SEAL. JRF graduated SEAL Training Class 220 on 18 December 1998. He was initially assigned to SEAL Team Eight, and also served at SEAL Team Four. JRF retired from the Navy as a SEAL.
Mr. Shipley has access to all SEAL training classes and team assignment numbers from the very beginning of the SEALs. All of the information on JRF's Linkedin is correct. Just wanted to be sure he wasn't a regular Navy vet claiming to be a SEAL (there are more than you know), and was an actual SEAL. He was and it is confirmed 100%, verification attached.

That's awesome! Thank you so much for doing this! Very helpful.

 

[mark1969]

Whoa, now I’m really confused. Is inf.news an approved source? Seems to be a bot translating from English-Chinese back to English. Number of inaccuracies in that report, the nature/location of last contact notwithstanding.
I believe a lot of the confusion (particularly with the Chinese media) is the ~15 hour time difference and what constitutes a ‘last contact’. A 23:00 video sent from California on 7/21 to a friend in China on the afternoon of 7/22, for example, is not a ‘sighting’ on 7/22. Who last saw either FJ or JRF?
Sticking to the previously-cited missing persons bulletins issued, all three are in lockstep except for the events of 7/22, where they conflict.
missingpersonscenter, claims JRF was seen by a friend/family on this date. NamUs has mention of a park ranger spotting the two? The original SBCSO Aug 2 bulletin captures the vehicle only.
Big diff between all three scenarios. Like I say, I’m confused. But I’m not counting on ifn.news to straighten me out.

Indeed .... we now re verify all facts...
Fact of last video of Fang Jin on 21st of July 22pm California time in 29 Palms not far from entrance of Marine base is a FACT
Picture of backside car by surveillance camera is fact but we need to re verify timestamp and location ...probably 22nd of july Thermal
Ping trace of cellphone of John is a fact , but need to be re verified for location and timestamp.....probably 24th of july in Julian.
Reporting of missing John on 30th of july by friend of John is a fact that has been verified by our PI in interview with that friend

 

[megs1477]

Whoa, now I’m really confused. Is inf.news an approved source? Seems to be a bot translating from English-Chinese back to English.

I was surprised they were allowed, but quite a few were posted earlier in the thread. This may not be the exact link that was posted, but it is the same information. There were numerous foreign media sites that posted the same stories.

 

[megs1477]

Thank you - this makes it clear that it's not confirmation Fang was sighted, just the vehicle (and assumptions made that the two of them were there)

They were not imo

I guess it depends on how you read it. I interpreted it as they investigation determined the two had camped there the night before. They confirmed it with the photo and also with the cell ping. It will be hard to know for sure because of the translation issues unfortunately.

 

[mark1969]

New fact we have : until now no banccard transactions by Fangs cards since 21st of july ... can be interpreted as good fact as well as less good fact....

 

[Red Clover]

New fact we have : until now no banccard transactions by Fangs cards since 21st of july ... can be interpreted as good fact as well as less good fact....

So, at the very least it seems Fang was separated from her phone and bank card on July 21, 2023.

 

[10ofRods]

New fact we have : until now no banccard transactions by Fangs cards since 21st of july ... can be interpreted as good fact as well as less good fact....

I assume the record shows there was at least one transaction on the 21st. Which is also the last day she uploaded photos, IIRC.

It's now more than two months later and she hasn't used her card? And JRF has disappeared? I'm not sure how to interpret it so that it's good, as it leaves no trail to Fang.

You can use this fact to try and influence the SBCSO to reclassify this the case, though. That could be valuable. If she had a pattern of withdrawing or purchasing during her travels (paying for food, for example), and then it ceased on the 21st July, that's something that might influence the Sheriff's office.

Are you in regular touch with police in Morongo Valley?

 

[mark1969]

I assume the record shows there was at least one transaction on the 21st. Which is also the last day she uploaded photos, IIRC.

It's now more than two months later and she hasn't used her card? And JRF has disappeared? I'm not sure how to interpret it so that it's good, as it leaves no trail to Fang.

You can use this fact to try and influence the SBCSO to reclassify this the case, though. That could be valuable. If she had a pattern of withdrawing or purchasing during her travels (paying for food, for example), and then it ceased on the 21st July, that's something that might influence the Sheriff's office.

Are you in regular touch with police in Morongo Valley?

We are waiting for urgent feedback of our PI .... as he is not the fastest choice we made... waiting has now become our daily activity

 

[Moonstrawbs]

We are waiting for urgent feedback of our PI .... as he is not the fastest choice we made... waiting has now become our daily activity

Sorry to hear this, we are all in this with you. I hope you hear back soon!

 

[annpats]

Ping trace of cellphone of John is a fact , but need to be re verified for location and timestamp.....probably 24th of july in Julian.

Hmmm. And Fang's last bank card transaction and also last photo upload was the 21st July.

If his phone pinged a tower, why didn't hers?

I'm presuming they had cables to charge it in the vehicle. (Necessary out there, I would think) so she wouldn't have gone 3 days without charging her phone.

If they had an accident, would his phone battery actually last a whole 3 days longer?

 

[megs1477]

New fact we have : until now no banccard transactions by Fangs cards since 21st of july ... can be interpreted as good fact as well as less good fact....

I hope that once the San B Sheriff's Dept is provided this information, they will upgrade the cases from "voluntarily" missing so that more resources can be devoted to the search.

 

[10ofRods]

So, at the very least it seems Fang was separated from her phone and bank card on July 21, 2023.

That's how it looks to me, too. I think LE needs to know this immediately.