Found Deceased CA - John Sturkie, 55, planned to go to the beach, Oceanside, San Diego County, 4 Jan 2019

[AzPistonsGirl]

eye witness reports are NOTORIOUSLY incorrect.

 

[jash]

There's a new official Facebook page: Please Help Find John Sturkie

Some key information:

- Three men reported helping him get his truck unstuck on the Black Mountain Truck Trail near Fuller Ridge and the Pacific Crest Trail, outside of the Pine Cove/Idyllwild area on Saturday, January 5th.

- On their descent from the trail, the men saw that John was stuck again. They tried to get the truck dislodged but were unsuccessful. They offered to take John down and return with him the next day to try again, but he did not want to leave the truck.

- The three men took photos with John while helping him. They show John wearing a charcoal gray fleece, and a black knit beanie cap. [This photo was previously posted but now they've blurred the other men out. I had no idea the photo was taken post Jan 4th and had assumed it was an older pic taken with friends of his.]

- The truck is still in the mountains, about 12 miles from the trail head, at 6,500 feet. Currently the only way to reach it is on foot/by helicopter. The family thinks John ran out of gas and set off on foot. [This is weird to me because he didn't want to leave the truck behind earlier so why later? It's not like there was a gas station nearby.]

- The family has put up flyers in Idyllwild and have asked Pacific Crest Trail hikers to keep their eyes open.

 

[meanmaryjean]

Well now I am even more confused - is it a selfie with the guy on the far right taking it? Or is there a fourth person who took it- because It does not really look like a selfie with guy #3 being so far away from John and the other two.

 

[jash]

Well now I am even more confused - is it a selfie with the guy on the far right taking it? Or is there a fourth person who took it- because It does not really look like a selfie with guy #3 being so far away from John and the other two.

Yes the guy on the right took it. It's more apparent in the unedited photo (as seen on the "John Mark Sturkie" Go Fund Me).

 

[jash]

On "The John Sturkie Family Fund" page, the most recent update says the wife and friends met with the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit and were told they are going out with a cadaver dog in the next week or so, depending on weather conditions. They've already searched on foot and didn't find anything.

 

[meanmaryjean]

I'm also confused about how he said he was going to the beach but was dressed (from the picture) for his trip to the mountains. Confusing.

 

[jash]

I'm also confused about how he said he was going to the beach but was dressed (from the picture) for his trip to the mountains. Confusing.

JMO but I think he was not truthful with his wife about his plans that Friday evening, for whatever reason. He ended up going to El Cajon to see a friend he used to work with (if you believe the Private Investigator, they may have been using substances). After that, it seems he ended up going off roading in the mountains alone. From what I gather, he has gone off on his own in the past but always returned after a couple days.

In the 'About' section of the fb page I linked earlier, it says he left the house wearing a yellow T-shirt with a button-down shirt over it (tan, palm leaf print) with tan pants and Red Wing boots. Because of the pics with the good samaritans, they know he had put on a fleece jacket and beanie. Unclear whether this is his own stuff (maybe normally kept in his truck) or if maybe he borrowed it from his El Cajon friend. Regardless, the family/friends say he did not have "gear" with him and would not have been prepared for the freezing temperatures. He may have had a dark High Sierra backpack with him.

 

[GraceG]

There's a new official Facebook page: Please Help Find John Sturkie

Some key information:

- Three men reported helping him get his truck unstuck on the Black Mountain Truck Trail near Fuller Ridge and the Pacific Crest Trail, outside of the Pine Cove/Idyllwild area on Saturday, January 5th.

- On their descent from the trail, the men saw that John was stuck again. They tried to get the truck dislodged but were unsuccessful. They offered to take John down and return with him the next day to try again, but he did not want to leave the truck.

- The three men took photos with John while helping him. They show John wearing a charcoal gray fleece, and a black knit beanie cap. [This photo was previously posted but now they've blurred the other men out. I had no idea the photo was taken post Jan 4th and had assumed it was an older pic taken with friends of his.]

- The truck is still in the mountains, about 12 miles from the trail head, at 6,500 feet. Currently the only way to reach it is on foot/by helicopter. The family thinks John ran out of gas and set off on foot. [This is weird to me because he didn't want to leave the truck behind earlier so why later? It's not like there was a gas station nearby.]

- The family has put up flyers in Idyllwild and have asked Pacific Crest Trail hikers to keep their eyes open.

On "The John Sturkie Family Fund" page, the most recent update says the wife and friends met with the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit and were told they are going out with a cadaver dog in the next week or so, depending on weather conditions. They've already searched on foot and didn't find anything.

The ONLY information that he was out on the mountain and got stuck in his truck was from the person that set up the Go Fund Me for money for the family There is no verification from LE or the private investigator, nor any information from MSM, that his truck was seen anywhere other than the driveway of his friend in El Cajun. Right now that information is nothing more than a rumor from a Go Fund Me. Hopefully, someone can verify it soon. Until then, I'll not proffer any further opinion on his location.

 

[meanmaryjean]

The ONLY information that he was out on the mountain and got stuck in his truck was from the person that set up the Go Fund Me for money for the family There is no verification from LE or the private investigator, nor any information from MSM, that his truck was seen anywhere other than the driveway of his friend in El Cajun. Right now that information is nothing more than a rumor from a Go Fund Me. Hopefully, someone can verify it soon. Until then, I'll not proffer any further opinion on his location.

THIS^^^^^

 

[ly502]

There's a new official Facebook page: Please Help Find John Sturkie

Some key information:

- Three men reported helping him get his truck unstuck on the Black Mountain Truck Trail near Fuller Ridge and the Pacific Crest Trail, outside of the Pine Cove/Idyllwild area on Saturday, January 5th.

- On their descent from the trail, the men saw that John was stuck again. They tried to get the truck dislodged but were unsuccessful. They offered to take John down and return with him the next day to try again, but he did not want to leave the truck.

- The three men took photos with John while helping him. They show John wearing a charcoal gray fleece, and a black knit beanie cap. [This photo was previously posted but now they've blurred the other men out. I had no idea the photo was taken post Jan 4th and had assumed it was an older pic taken with friends of his.]

- The truck is still in the mountains, about 12 miles from the trail head, at 6,500 feet. Currently the only way to reach it is on foot/by helicopter. The family thinks John ran out of gas and set off on foot. [This is weird to me because he didn't want to leave the truck behind earlier so why later? It's not like there was a gas station nearby.]

- The family has put up flyers in Idyllwild and have asked Pacific Crest Trail hikers to keep their eyes open.

Thank you jash...I have always found your posts to be thoughtful, logical, and measured - not jumping to conclusions, etc. I took a look at the FB page. Do we know who the woman is who made the latest post - don't want to say her name here...? I do find it a bit strange that people are unable to access his truck if it is near Idyllwild. It certainly would have been difficult back in January, but I have family who live very close and drive there often. Do we assume it cannot be accessed due to snow or for some other reason? My impression is that there is very little snow there right now. My parents went up just a few weeks ago...even if he was off-roading in January, off-roading now would certainly be much easier with the right vehicle. I also know other weather has been devastating to the area...but still seems odd. Just seeing what people think?

 

[GraceG]

Thank you jash...I have always found your posts to be thoughtful, logical, and measured - not jumping to conclusions, etc. I took a look at the FB page. Do we know who the woman is who made the latest post - don't want to say her name here...? I do find it a bit strange that people are unable to access his truck if it is near Idyllwild. It certainly would have been difficult back in January, but I have family who live very close and drive there often. Do we assume it cannot be accessed due to snow or for some other reason? My impression is that there is very little snow there right now. My parents went up just a few weeks ago...even if he was off-roading in January, off-roading now would certainly be much easier with the right vehicle. I also know other weather has been devastating to the area...but still seems odd. Just seeing what people think?

There would not be so much snow now that the truck couldn't be found and brought down especially in there is stated on social media a more specific location for the truck. Again though, only a Facebook Post and a Go Fund Me with details on him being there and the three men finding him (and if there were three men, who are in the photo with the faces covered, who the heck TOOK the photo and why even TAKE the photo, this wasn't a social event but 3 strangers finding a man in need of immediate assistance). Until L, the MSM and/or the PI (Premier Group Intl.) confirm the sighting, I'm treating it as a rumor and the photo as "unconfirmed".

 

[byo]

Here's where Black Mountain Truck Trail, Fuller Ridge & Pacific Crest Trail intersect:
Google Maps

 

[jash]

Thank you jash...I have always found your posts to be thoughtful, logical, and measured - not jumping to conclusions, etc. I took a look at the FB page. Do we know who the woman is who made the latest post - don't want to say her name here...? I do find it a bit strange that people are unable to access his truck if it is near Idyllwild. It certainly would have been difficult back in January, but I have family who live very close and drive there often. Do we assume it cannot be accessed due to snow or for some other reason? My impression is that there is very little snow there right now. My parents went up just a few weeks ago...even if he was off-roading in January, off-roading now would certainly be much easier with the right vehicle. I also know other weather has been devastating to the area...but still seems odd. Just seeing what people think?

Aww, thanks ly502! Are you referring to "Spring bird"? Seems she's the one that also started the big G F M page.

My interpretation of what they are saying is that his truck is in the below area. I have no idea how much snow is up there right now, but apparently the issue is that the 243 is still closed between Banning and Idyllwild from the sinkhole that opened up in February so the only way to get into the area where JS was allegedly last seen is on foot, or to be flown in by helicopter. (Edit: Apparently the Black Mountain Truck Trail has also been washed out in two places due to storms.)



Google Maps

SR-243 to Be Closed for Months Due to Storm Damage; Other I.E. Mountain Road Closures to Last Weeks

I've checked the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit facebook page and I couldn't find any mention of JS or searches they've supposedly done connected to this case. I sure wish we had a verified insider posting here.

 

[ly502]

I guess it all depends on where he entered the mountains...I am vaguely familiar with the area. My parents came from Palm Springs and were able to get to Idyllwild just a few weeks ago, but it could very well be washed out if coming from the other direction. I do know the weather wreaked havoc in the area. Also wish there was a verified Insider...so many locations involved based on the wife's account, the friend's account, the men in the mountains, the cell phone data...

 

[meanmaryjean]

I guess it all depends on where he entered the mountains...I am vaguely familiar with the area. My parents came from Palm Springs and were able to get to Idyllwild just a few weeks ago, but it could very well be washed out if coming from the other direction. I do know the weather wreaked havoc in the area. Also wish there was a verified Insider...so many locations involved based on the wife's account, the friend's account, the men in the mountains, the cell phone data...

I'd like all of the above PLUS some LE confirmation of the 'facts'. My hinky-meter is humming on this one.

 

[GraceG]

I'd like all of the above PLUS some LE confirmation of the *** 'facts'. My hinky-meter is humming on this one.

Yes, the "men in the mountains" don't seem to exist. No names, and certainly if they interacted with him and then he wasn't reported found in MSM, wouldn't they be going to the police? Just a photo of the three of them taken by an unknown fourth party. At first, I believed the wife's story -but after 20 years as a fed, after reading the PI's report, and the changing narrative by friends and family, not verified by ANYONE, my hinky meter is seriously pinging on this case. (my opinion only).

 

[jash]

On the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit's website, they verify that JS's truck was found and that they did a search on March 20th.

Mission 2019-012

• Truck was located by US forestry personnel (~7000 ft elev.)
• Two members of RMRU searched at least 1.5 miles on foot and found no sign of JS.
• Truck had been snow covered for weeks.
• Truck was locked.

 

[GraceG]

On the Riverside Mountain Rescue Unit's website, they verify that JS's truck was found and that they did a search on March 20th.

Mission 2019-012

• Truck was located by US forestry personnel (~7000 ft elev.)
• Two members of RMRU searched at least 1.5 miles on foot and found no sign of JS.
• Truck had been snow covered for weeks.
• Truck was locked.

Finally, some validation for all the Go Fund Me updates. Thanks so much!!! Though I still don't know why, if he was stuck, the men that found him didn't give him a ride to safety. I certainly would not have left someone up there on foot with no overnight gear.

 

[kiwijayne]

Finally, some validation for all the Go Fund Me updates. Thanks so much!!! Though I still don't know why, if he was stuck, the men that found him didn't give him a ride to safety. I certainly would not have left someone up there on foot with no overnight gear.

They offered to according to previous posts but he wouldn’t go with them.

 

[meanmaryjean]

They offered to according to previous posts but he wouldn’t go with them.

Are any of them the three men in the picture?