Identified! FL - Big Cypress Natl Preserve, Male Hiker, Denim & “Mostly Harmless” July 2018 - Vance Rodriguez #2

[MichelleBlue]

Just a hunch, but I still think this is our guy! You heard nothing back yet? X

Nothing at all. Not even a generic response.

 

[Narkj]

FYI, I have learned that MH did have a wallet at one point during the trail and someone witnessed him using a card to pay for something along the way. They were sure of it.

 

[branmuffin]

FYI, I have learned that MH did have a wallet at one point during the trail and someone witnessed him using a card to pay for something along the way. They were sure of it.

Without a name to go with the card it would be looking for a needle in a hay stack. Perhaps if someone could come up with an actual location and date it may be helpful but today most credit cards and debit cards use pin numbers so there are no old fashioned slips recording a name at the retail location.

 

[K9Enzo]

It wouldn’t surprise me if our buddy MH was using a gift card, such as a Visa/MasterCard.

 

[neesaki]

FYI, I have learned that MH did have a wallet at one point during the trail and someone witnessed him using a card to pay for something along the way. They were sure of it.

Interesting.... Do they remember where it was he used the card?

 

[Narkj]

Yes. I’m contacting the place now.

 

[MadMcGoo]

After Denim was initially discovered and before the majority of photos we see now were released, presumably of Denim, all we really had was the depiction of him released by the CCSO. Using that image, I was searching missing persons databases and came across Nicholas J. Bordelon. He looked, to me, almost identical to the postmortem reconstruction of the UID. To say there is little information to readily be found about Nicholas’ disappearance is an understatement.

In trying to find additional details I ended up spending the last year researching a convicted child murderer from MS/LA with the same surname as Nicholas. There are several commonalities between Nicholas, Gerald J. Bordelon, and the unidentified hiker. Baton Rouge, LA., Denham Springs, LA., violence & abuse at the hands of a father figure that would make anyone want to up and leave their “life”, to name a few.

I’ve hesitated in posting or submitting Nicholas as a possible match to this UID because I can’t find anything substantial in Nicholas’ background that would help prove he’s Denim. Actually, I haven’t found much of anything about him. Nevertheless, the resemblance between him and the UID is there, only more so in the initial photo released by CCSO. The hairline, eyebrows, what looks like a scar on his chin that is reflected in the void in the UID’s beard.

I didn’t find one so I created a thread for Nicholas. Hopefully someone with better sleuthing skills than me can assist in finding more info about his disappearance. ETA: JMO

 

[Narkj]

Again, call me crazy, I think he looks nothing like MH. Your MP is 5 feet, 5 inches tall at 29. Done growing. MH was 5’8 dead.

MP had brown eyes.

 

[MadMcGoo]

Again, call me crazy, I think he looks nothing like MH. Your MP is 5 feet, 5 inches tall at 29. Done growing. MH was 5’8 dead.

MP had brown eyes.

I agree, he doesn’t look much like Denim/Mostly Harmless/Ben Bilemy. He does however bear some resemblance to the UID, IMO. This is based on the notion our UID is not actually who we have seen in all the living photographs. I can’t find anything to verify Nicholas’ height and eye color. There’s only one photo and a very vague description of him and the details surrounding his disappearance. It would be nice to have additional info. There’s more to my theory than just a first glance look at the two men’s photos, I was just throwing out a possibility that hasn’t been discussed. JMOs FWTW

 

[Narkj]

Wasn’t MH even wearing the same clothes as those in all the pictures- green shorts and beige shirt?

 

[MadMcGoo]

Wasn’t MH even wearing the same clothes as those in all the pictures- green shorts and beige shirt?

Yes, he was.
ETA: Although, to my knowledge there has never been photos released of the clothing found on or near the UID. (except for boots) Only a description - which does match that of the clothing seen in the living photos.

JMOO

 

[Phaelenopsis Amabilis]

I agree, he doesn’t look much like Denim/Mostly Harmless/Ben Bilemy. He does however bear some resemblance to the UID, IMO. This is based on the notion our UID is not actually who we have seen in all the living photographs. I can’t find anything to verify Nicholas’ height and eye color. There’s only one photo and a very vague description of him and the details surrounding his disappearance. It would be nice to have additional info. There’s more to my theory than just a first glance look at the two men’s photos, I was just throwing out a possibility that hasn’t been discussed. JMOs FWTW

That’s interesting! Forgive me if I’m re-treading older posts, but I still marvel at how the trail angel recognized MH from the police reconstruction photo.

 

[Phaelenopsis Amabilis]

Has anyone ever seen a photo of MH without his hat or toque?
Narkj, have any of your sources who have interacted with MH ever provided details about that?

I feel like I’ve seen them all and he’s *always* wearing something on his head!

 

[JudgeJoe]

Checking in. Can’t read every post so perhaps this has been suggested. LE should run Denim’s face thru facial recognition. Serious advancements are here- and controversy that comes with it.

Hoan Ton That’s “Clearview” system is making quite the stir with LE.
The Secretive Company That Might End Privacy as We Know It

Most extensive facial database out there, and unlike other systems, has effective algorithms to ID profile, top, bottom images- not just full front.

Edited to add: LE should run Denim in Clearview NOW before it becomes illegal- or suspended until some privacy lawsuit derails its use!

 

[Bit of hope]

RR’s photos never gave me pause. In fact, I just looked at all the ones attached to his NamUs. I just don’t see it. Call it naivety or just inexperience, but the most recent suggestion is the only one to make me stop searching for Denim’s true identity.

JMO FWIW

I totally agree with you. To me he doesn't look like MH at all.

 

[Bit of hope]

This is where the photo can be found:
http://www2.colliersheriff.org/caseprofiles/CCSOHomicide/CaseProfileList.aspx

Thanks for leading me to the picture. In the file they say his eyes were gray.

 

[carbuff]

Again, call me crazy, I think he looks nothing like MH. Your MP is 5 feet, 5 inches tall at 29. Done growing. MH was 5’8 dead.

MP had brown eyes.

Estimated heights for unidentified remains are often off by 2-3" either direction. Presumably if he was much shorter than 5'5" or taller than 5'10" one of the hikers who knew him would have commented that he was short or tall, but I think anybody of average height is a possibility.

I see a resemblance through the upper skull and eyes/cheekbones, but the nose seems way off.

 

[Pseudonymph]

Has anyone ever looked for a Bill Benemy (or similar) instead of a Ben Billemy?

 

[carbuff]

I've tried Bilemy, Billemy, Bilemey, Blimey, Bellamy (lots of those), Bellamine (Baton Rouge area name), and a few others, but I don't think I've tried Benemy.

 

[Bit of hope]

I'm reluctant to post this because MP is in Namus and LE said that there wasn't a match with anyone in Namus. According to the Doe Network, there is DNA. His story suggest he jumped, but he could have staged that. Just want to get your opinions.

Sean Patrick Friel, brown hair, blue eyes, 5'10 - 5'11, current age 44 (2020)

Sean was last seen or heard from after checking out of a Marriott Hotel in Solana Beach CA. His 1993 Grey Nissan truck was found abandoned on Pacific Coast Highway, near the entrance of Torrey Pines State Reserve, and impounded. It contained his US passport, luggage, computer, and cellphone. His shoes, socks, and glasses were found at the edge of a cliff overlooking the ocean.