CA CA - Jeff Joseph, 45, Hoopa, 21 June 2014

[Shiressleuth]

I used to have a P.O. box as my only option to receive mail. They slipped a reminder envelope in my box that I would just put a check in and drop into the outgoing mail. My only options were 6 months or 1 year. I could not pay farther in advance, and I never ever paid early. Now you also have an option to pay online.

If I didn't pay, they put a lock on my box. I think I had 3-6 months before they changed the lock and gave the box to someone new.

Most likely mail for him still goes to that box. A person could stalk it and approach the new box holder to see if they would pass the mail off. Maybe some company could be traced back that way, and find out some history.

That's an idea Gigtu, or write to that P.O.Box number providing a forwarding address for any mail still being received by the new box holder perhaps?

 

[Deleted member 50844]

Someone on the Help Find Jeff Joseph FB page: NBC news just called, they are doing a story about Jeff Joseph who disappeared after driving into the Emerald Triangle 3 years ago.

Peaceofmind, do you know anything about this?
I'm still wishing, hoping and praying for some relief for your family. Hugs.

 

[Lilibet]

Someone on the Help Find Jeff Joseph FB page: NBC news just called, they are doing a story about Jeff Joseph who disappeared after driving into the Emerald Triangle 3 years ago.

Peaceofmind, do you know anything about this?
I'm still wishing, hoping and praying for some relief for your family. Hugs.

Here's the link. I'm not sure from the comments whether Peace knows much about it. But it's great news. There is a link to a trailer from a documentary about marijuana dispensaries. I haven't watched it yet, but I believe the raid on Jeff's dispensary is in the trailer.

 

[somequestions]

What makes Jeff Joseph's case kind of unique is that not only he is missing but also his 1998 Toyota Rav4. Because of the brake problem with these cars, I would want to make sure every hard turn on a road in the area was checked thoroughly. I know most likely it foul play but you never know.

A person who drives a Toyota Rav4 might use it for offroading. Or maybe he decided to change his driving route to make the drive more enjoyable if he has driven the same route numerous times.

If the criminal did get rid of his vehicle by parting it or junk yard, he is taking an unnecessary risk unless the criminal is a junk yard person. The more people you involve the higher the risk of getting caught. I think in most cases like this the criminal would park the car somewhere and leave it. Or they might try to destroy it, but getting rid of the entire car? That makes me think the missing person is with his missing vehicle. Or you have a criminal who really went to some unnecessary lengths to make sure the vehicle is missing too.

 

[Lilibet]

What makes Jeff Joseph's case kind of unique is that not only he is missing but also his 1998 Toyota Rav4. Because of the brake problem with these cars, I would want to make sure every hard turn on a road in the area was checked thoroughly. I know most likely it foul play but you never know.

A person who drives a Toyota Rav4 might use it for offroading. Or maybe he decided to change his driving route to make the drive more enjoyable if he has driven the same route numerous times.

If the criminal did get rid of his vehicle by parting it or junk yard, he is taking an unnecessary risk unless the criminal is a junk yard person. The more people you involve the higher the risk of getting caught. I think in most cases like this the criminal would park the car somewhere and leave it. Or they might try to destroy it, but getting rid of the entire car? That makes me think the missing person is with his missing vehicle. Or you have a criminal who really went to some unnecessary lengths to make sure the vehicle is missing too.

BBM

It seemed likely to me at first that Jeff went off the road somewhere. I suppose it's still a possibility. There were helicopter searches along 299 and other roads after the leaves fell IIRC. Nothing was seen. We don't know if they covered every road though. The timeline of when Jeff was last seen in the area isn't written in stone but his phone pinging nearby indicates that he made it to the general area that day...or at least his phone did.

Earlier on the thread La Louve mentioned that when their car broke down on 299, LE warned them not to leave it overnight or it would be parted out by the time they returned. So I guess parking a car somewhere is a good way to get rid of it.

Some criminals do go to great lengths to make sure the vehicle is missing. The Reed brothers up in WA hid the vehicles of both victims Patrick Shunn and his wife Monique Patenaude in the middle of the night and buried the victims elsewhere. Fortunately, they made enough mistakes that they were identified fairly quickly and the cars were found. If that's what happened to Jeff's car, it must be well hidden. It doesn't take long for blackberry vines to cover a car.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...atenaude-46-Arlington-11-April-2016-*Arrests*

 

[somequestions]

One time when I went on a car trip I decided to leave later on in the day so I did not have to spend money on a hotel room. On Friday, June 20, 2014 when did Jeff Joseph leave his uncle's home in Chatsworth, CA?

According to information here he was headed to Arcata and then to Eureka, CA. His last cell phone call was supposedly from near Redding, CA at around 7:30 am. The quickest way to Redding would be I-5. If he took 299 which most everyone suspects. When I looked at the route that Whiskeytown Lake section seems like the perfect place to go off the road and into the water. Even if it was foul play that would be a great place to quickly get rid of a vehicle. Hopefully that area was searched thoroughly.

 

[Lilibet]

One time when I went on a car trip I decided to leave later on in the day so I did not have to spend money on a hotel room. On Friday, June 20, 2014 when did Jeff Joseph leave his uncle's home in Chatsworth, CA?

According to information here he was headed to Arcata and then to Eureka, CA. His last cell phone call was supposedly from near Redding, CA at around 7:30 am. The quickest way to Redding would be I-5. If he took 299 which most everyone suspects. When I looked at the route that Whiskeytown Lake section seems like the perfect place to go off the road and into the water. Even if it was foul play that would be a great place to quickly get rid of a vehicle. Hopefully that area was searched thoroughly.

Thanks for proposing possible scenarios. It's good to look at them again as the third anniversary of Jeff's disappearance approaches tomorrow June 21.

Yes, Whiskeytown Lake would be a good place to go off the road accidentally. I posted my reasoning that he drove 299 here...
http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...45-Hoopa-21-June-2014&p=10738919#post10738919

I'm hung up on the fact that his phone pinged within 20 miles of his destination. If he had driven off the road into Whiskytown Lake in broad daylight it probably would have been noticed by lake visitors and his phone would have gone into the water with him. His friends conducted a massive search along 299 in July, but I'm not sure if Whiskeytown Lake was part of it since it's likely he had passed it.

Also, IIRC according to his sister, the person he was planning to meet lived closer to Weitchpec than to Whiskeytown lake. So it makes more sense IMO, that his car disappeared somewhere near Weitchpec, rather than being driven back to Whiskeytown Lake for disposal.

On the other hand, anything is possible, and I don't like to take my assumptions too seriously.

 

[somequestions]

I have to agree that Jeff Joseph is probably not in Whiskeytown Lake area for a few reasons. I did not realize when I wrote that post that his case originates out of the Hoopa area because he made his last cell phone call at around 11:30 am close to his destination.

Also, recently divers found body parts of a woman in Whiskeytown Lake and if they had come across a Toyota Rav4 I am sure someone would have said something. Also, after 3 years I think either clothing or Joseph's body would have made it to the surface.

My question about when Jeff Joseph left his uncle's home in Chatsworth, CA had to do with sleep. But since he was only 20 miles away from his destination, I also have to agree my theory is probably unlikely. Basically my theory was that he drove all night to Redding, then stopped got something to eat, called someone, checked email and then instead of getting sleep decided to try and drive to his destination. Instead somewhere along the way he dozed off.

I thought it was a good theory. But without evidence it is just a theory.

 

[Lilibet]

I have to agree that Jeff Joseph is probably not in Whiskeytown Lake area for a few reasons. I did not realize when I wrote that post that his case originates out of the Hoopa area because he made his last cell phone call at around 11:30 am close to his destination.

Also, recently divers found body parts of a woman in Whiskeytown Lake and if they had come across a Toyota Rav4 I am sure someone would have said something. Also, after 3 years I think either clothing or Joseph's body would have made it to the surface.

My question about when Jeff Joseph left his uncle's home in Chatsworth, CA had to do with sleep. But since he was only 20 miles away from his destination, I also have to agree my theory is probably unlikely. Basically my theory was that he drove all night to Redding, then stopped got something to eat, called someone, checked email and then instead of getting sleep decided to try and drive to his destination. Instead somewhere along the way he dozed off.

I thought it was a good theory. But without evidence it is just a theory.

Dozing off and driving off the road closer to his destination isn't impossible, so your theory is still a good one. It's wild country with steep drop-offs and people who don't talk to LE.

The tough thing about Jeff's disappearance is that the evidence for most theories is lacking, even after three years. I hope there is some local coverage tomorrow, the anniversary of the day he disappeared three years ago.

 

[somequestions]

The case of Jeff Joseph is a good case for discussion based on the crime circumstances.

First you have the area Humbolt County, which is known for missing persons and the drug growing operations. The drug world is dangerous and the county already has a list of missing persons.

Then you have the circumstances of this case. First he drove a long way and may not have even stayed at a hotel if he left late in the day. Second he had Louisiana plates indicating he was not from the area. Third if he talked to friends or associates and one of them is the murderer, they would also have known he drove a long way. So it is a little unusual that one of them did not come up with an idea to make it look like his Toyota Rav4 went off the road so it looked like an accident. Robbing someone from out of town would be ideal, but knowing they are behind a large marijuana growing operation would be very lucky. So ideally the killer knows the victim in this case.

Then you have the circumstances of an accident sequence. First the brakes are the big issue with his Toyota RAV4. Second, the vehicle was green in color. This is not ideal when helicopters are checking vegetation from the air. Third sleepy driving kills more people than people think.

So even after 3 years and searching I still think this is some type of vehicle accident that does not have skid marks. I also think this could be a kidnapping murder. This way I cover all my bases when it comes to theories and I look right no matter what. I will admit I lean towards accident.

It really does not matter what you think if you do not have any proof to support it.

 

[Lilibet]

The case of Jeff Joseph is a good case for discussion based on the crime circumstances.

First you have the area Humbolt County, which is known for missing persons and the drug growing operations. The drug world is dangerous and the county already has a list of missing persons.

Then you have the circumstances of this case. First he drove a long way and may not have even stayed at a hotel if he left late in the day. Second he had Louisiana plates indicating he was not from the area. Third if he talked to friends or associates and one of them is the murderer, they would also have known he drove a long way. So it is a little unusual that one of them did not come up with an idea to make it look like his Toyota Rav4 went off the road so it looked like an accident. Robbing someone from out of town would be ideal, but knowing they are behind a large marijuana growing operation would be very lucky. So ideally the killer knows the victim in this case.

Then you have the circumstances of an accident sequence. First the brakes are the big issue with his Toyota RAV4. Second, the vehicle was green in color. This is not ideal when helicopters are checking vegetation from the air. Third sleepy driving kills more people than people think.

So even after 3 years and searching I still think this is some type of vehicle accident that does not have skid marks. I also think this could be a kidnapping murder. This way I cover all my bases when it comes to theories and I look right no matter what. I will admit I lean towards accident.

It really does not matter what you think if you do not have any proof to support it.

Excellent analysis. I lean towards an accident too. The helicopter search was after the leaves fell, so the green should have been visible. But if the car was lying on its roof with no green showing it would blend in with fallen leaves and still be hard to spot.

Although it's suspicious that Jeff's friends and partners did not cooperate with LE, being involved in an illegal grow would be motivation enough to avoid LE even if they had nothing to do with Jeff's disappearance. The property was later searched and no evidence was found that the car had been there. So his partners were either confident that they were innocent or that the car and Jeff would never be found. Either way, it would be stupid to talk to LE and open up a can of worms about the grow.

It's another Humboldt county case that could easily remain unsolved, and that's so sad for Jeff's family and friends.

 

[somequestions]

I wanted to mention something about Jeff Joseph's case that is very important. A Websleuths member will never know more about Jeff Joseph than a family member. I recently read that Jeff Joseph may have stayed at a motel the night before he disappeared. The point is that family and police will probably always know more about a case. Maybe someone decided to murder Jeff Joseph in a different area so not as to draw attention to the marijuana growing operation area?

The saddest part about many cases, especially cases that have gone on for many years, is the time that passes. Even if Jeff Joseph were found, it has been almost 3 years. I think his body would not be in the best condition and any fingerprints or other evidence would probably be gone.

But if I were a detective on the case and I thought it was an accident I would want to devote more resources to the case because it would be case I think could be solved. You should always devote time whether it was an accident or murder but you have the cell phone last ping so his vehicle has to be somewhere in the general area.

Time is the saddest part of these cases. Missing persons cases are some of the saddest because often times there is not a conclusion.

 

[Lilibet]

You've made such good points, somequestions. These unsolved cases are real heartbreakers.

 

[somequestions]

You've made such good points, somequestions. These unsolved cases are real heartbreakers.

Thank you for the compliment. Unfortunately what I wrote does not get the case any closer to being determined to be either an accident or murder. In terms of the case's evidence online there is not much more to write. Hopefully this case has some sort of conclusion.

 

[somequestions]

I came across an article that talked about Jeff Joseph's missing person's case from 3 years ago. https://lostcoastoutpost.com/2014/jul/11/missing-mans-phone-last-pinged-bloody-camp-cell-to/

What I thought was interesting was how the article said he was killing time. It got me to thinking that maybe in order to kill time he took the scenic route to his destination north of Hoopa following the Trinity River. The place where maybe he made a mistake would be around Nixon Road. Maybe he did not turn there and ended up in the Bloody Camp road area? Is Bloody Camp road near where the cell tower for the area is located?

Or maybe he was kidnapped and the kidnappers took him 20 miles away where they murdered him and got rid of his body and green 1998 Toyota Rav4 with Louisiana plates?

Searching in that Hoopa area seems like it only matters if they are searching in the right area. Hopefully someone drove the roads in the area of Hoopa, CA. In some missing persons cases the hardest part is knowing where to start.

 

[somequestions]

What do police do in missing persons cases like Jeff Joseph's case when it has been over 3 years? When you do not have a body how do you proceed? With no place to start the investigation since no one knows where Jeff Joseph actually went missing at, where do you keep looking? With no obvious or even circumstantial signs of foul play what happens with the investigation file?

If someone in actual law enforcement knows it would be interesting to read those answers. Hopefully someday there are some answers in this case.

 

[Lilibet]

What do police do in missing persons cases like Jeff Joseph's case when it has been over 3 years? When you do not have a body how do you proceed? With no place to start the investigation since no one knows where Jeff Joseph actually went missing at, where do you keep looking? With no obvious or even circumstantial signs of foul play what happens with the investigation file?

If someone in actual law enforcement knows it would be interesting to read those answers. Hopefully someday there are some answers in this case.

I’m not LE, but without solid information their hands are tied and there isn’t much they can do even if they have a POI or suspect. There’s no sign of Jeff or his car and apparently not enough proof to prosecute a “no body” case. This is the situation with Stephanie Warner’s case in my signature. I expect the file stays open and is looked at periodically. Eventually it becomes a cold case, sadly. There’s always hope for and a chance for answers though.

 

[somequestions]

Cases like Jeff Joseph's where you do not have a body must be kind of difficult to make conclusions about if you are an investigator. Even I have thought that since they cannot find his green Toyota Rav4 that most likely he may have had some accident and just has not been found in the forest. Yet with all the searches how can you really come to that conclusion?

Then you have the fact he was involved with marijuana growing. So money and drugs are certainly reasons behind foul play. So then it must have been foul play. But without a body or even a solid suspect how can you come to that conclusion?

Then finally you have the person themselves. Since Jeff Joseph was reportedly alone when he traveled that day, how do we know he did not disappear of his own free will? Maybe he got rid of his cell phone and kept driving. Maybe he had money stashed away to disappear and live a new life? But since the family probably does not think so, and since his vehicle was not spotted in the area according to anything I read, how can you come to that conclusion?

Jeff Joseph's case is the type of case where you say to yourself, well, he probably ran off the road in his Toyota Rav4 and just has not been found(my opinion only)....probably....maybe.....ok......probably....

 

[burblestein]

We have several open cold disappearances like Jeff's down here in Mendocino County. Asha Kreimer http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...int-Arena-21-September-2015&highlight=Kreimer and Erik Lamberg http://www.websleuths.com/forums/sh...1-Redondo-Beach-25-May-2013&highlight=Lamberg spring readily to mind. I could dig a few more out of my files.

Unfortunately and tragically, out-of-staters or southern Californians flock to the Emerald Triangle to make quick big bucks growing weed. Some of them don't survive to enjoy their bonanza. This is some real rough country up here, in more ways than one.

 

[burblestein]

The above post sparked a followup thought. Was Jeff navigating via GPS when he vanished?

GPS can be inaccurate/incomplete up here. For instance, I have learned to go to the nearest intersection whenever someone comes over, because my place is not on a GPS map and I have to flag my visitor down. Which leads to the observation that every year or two some fool follows his/her GPS until they get stuck in back country that is so rough no one has ever settled there. The fatal results when the dolt tries to walk out make for a headline or two until the next time. And so it goes.

An unwary Jeff could have followed his car's GPS while it steered him into oblivion.