Identified! FL - Big Cypress Natl Preserve, Male Hiker, Denim & “Mostly Harmless” July 2018 - Vance Rodriguez#4

[Bellaplutt]

I thought it was a bit odd that he bought good equipment such as the tent, boots and pack but wore clothes maybe not best suited for hiking? He’s wearing the same t-shirt in every single photo, maybe he had multiple, or it seems strange that it wouldn’t have fallen to pieces being worn for over a year!
And the shorts he wore seem more like the type of shorts road workers wear (neon with reflecting stripes), but that might be easier to explain since they’re probably very durable.

 

[GatorFL]

I thought it was a bit odd that he bought good equipment such as the tent, boots and pack but wore clothes maybe not best suited for hiking? He’s wearing the same t-shirt in every single photo, maybe he had multiple, or it seems strange that it wouldn’t have fallen to pieces being worn for over a year!
And the shorts he wore seem more like the type of shorts road workers wear (neon with reflecting stripes), but that might be easier to explain since they’re probably very durable.

I think his clothing was ok. Looked like typical hiker stuff, especially for warm weather hiking. It's all polyester or nylon blends. It is all pretty tough stuff. Mine never seems to wear out.

He said he got the name Denim because he started out wearing jeans. That obviously changed quickly.

Another hiker who met him said MH said he only showered once a month. That same hiker said that he smelled really bad.

 

[SweetClover]

Another hiker who met him said MH said he only showered once a month. That same hiker said that he smelled really bad.

If the other hikers think you smell, that's...a lot of smell. Most hikers come off the trail pretty frequently to restock, eat real food, and shower. Often this is done while staying the night in a hostel or other hiker housing.

I wonder if he didn't come off the trail nearly as frequently as others, but we have pictures that prove he did sometimes. Did he come off but just not shower? Seems odd, unless he was really, really avoiding hostels. (Do we know how many times he actually signed in somewhere as Ben?)

Though coming off the trail so infrequently would explain the massive pack. It wasn't inexperience, it was necessity.

 

[GatorFL]

If the other hikers think you smell, that's...a lot of smell. Most hikers come off the trail pretty frequently to restock, eat real food, and shower. Often this is done while staying the night in a hostel or other hiker housing.

I wonder if he didn't come off the trail nearly as frequently as others, but we have pictures that prove he did sometimes. Did he come off but just not shower? Seems odd, unless he was really, really avoiding hostels. (Do we know how many times he actually signed in somewhere as Ben?)

Though coming off the trail so infrequently would explain the massive pack. It wasn't inexperience, it was necessity.

I think the way the other hiker put it is that he smelled really bad compared to other hikers.

Hikers do take zeros to shower, resupply and do laundry. I don't think MH had a change of clothes to do his laundry. Even when it was cool out he was wearing that shirt. The underwear were extremely worn in the postmortem photos.

He was carrying winter gear in the pack. And he refused offers by trail angels to ship the unnecessary items home. So I am not sure about the massive pack.

 

[MichelleBlue]

I think the way the other hiker put it is that he smelled really bad compared to other hikers.

Hikers do take zeros to shower, resupply and do laundry. I don't think MH had a change of clothes to do his laundry. Even when it was cool out he was wearing that shirt. The underwear were extremely worn in the postmortem photos.

He was carrying winter gear in the pack. And he refused offers by trail angels to ship the unnecessary items home. So I am not sure about the massive pack.

I was puzzled by the one set of clothing early on. People here said that is not atypical for hikers as when they stop in hostels, they are given loaner clothes to do their laundry & shower. I don't know, but I agree that his clothing must've been extremely soiled and with a strong odor. How typical is this for hikers? I dont know? IMO

 

[lonewanderer]

I tried very hard to step away from this for a while, just glancing at replies every day or so.

I have to ask though, if his hygiene was SO bad and he stunk SO much, then why where his teeth in such perfect condition?

As far as the shirt, take a look at his picture from the spaghetti dinner. That shirt appears to be very white, and looks like a (white Hanes style) "White-T" taken straight out of the package. If this is the same shirt (and I think it is) look how dark it becomes, closer to a tan color like US Army soldiers wore as an undershirt for the Universal Combat Pattern (UCP) of Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and eventually you can see how it becomes closer to a gray/dirt smeared color.

I am also not saying anyone is incorrect about hygiene comments, I just have not read that anywhere personally.

I, in 100% honesty, have stepped back from this largely in part to this case "going off the rails" and a lot of that seemingly thanks to FaceBook efforts to identify him. Between the French speaking thing, and some other incidents, I feel like some facts are now being misconstrued, improperly relayed, and/or made up thanks to the overwhelming amount of FaceBook posts being made about this case now.

 

[K9Enzo]

IMO, only having one set of clothes, even for a thru hiker, is weird to me. And I totally get packing light and those that literally weigh items in ounces. If he only had one pair of socks, then I’m super confused. The care of your feet is always a top priority, again IMO.

 

[lonewanderer]

IMO, only have one set of clothes, even for a thru hiker, is weird to me. And I totally get packing light and those that literally weigh items in ounces. If he only had one pair of socks, then I’m super confused. The care of your feet is always a top priority, again IMO.

To support your post, it is odd that he would have such a massive backpack full of stuff (to my knowledge we still do not know exactly what all it was) and not have at least one extra shirt and shorts. Socks and underwear changes are CRUCIAL. Neglecting to take a second pair of shoes (if he did) is a very big mistake as well.

 

[Bellaplutt]

I was puzzled by the one set of clothing early on. People here said that is not atypical for hikers as when they stop in hostels, they are given loaner clothes to do their laundry & shower. I don't know, but I agree that his clothing must've been extremely soiled and with a strong odor. How typical is this for hikers? I dont know? IMO

Is there a list of the things he had with him anywhere? I’ve only seen what he was wearing and his gear when found but not any other things?

What strikes me as well is that he looks a lot healthier and rounder in the face in what is the last (?) photo if I’ve gotten it right. The one where he has almost no beard and looks tanned and his shirt looks cleaner too?

Edit: forget the shirt looking cleaner, it does not but his hair looks trimmed as well as his beard

 

[GatorFL]

I was puzzled by the one set of clothing early on. People here said that is not atypical for hikers as when they stop in hostels, they are given loaner clothes to do their laundry & shower. I don't know, but I agree that his clothing must've been extremely soiled and with a strong odor. How typical is this for hikers? I dont know? IMO

I can't speak for others but I have a change of clothes and lots of socks. Couple pairs of underwear, a raincoat. Maybe a down jacket if it is cold.

 

[GatorFL]

I tried very hard to step away from this for a while, just glancing at replies every day or so.

I have to ask though, if his hygiene was SO bad and he stunk SO much, then why where his teeth in such perfect condition?

As far as the shirt, take a look at his picture from the spaghetti dinner. That shirt appears to be very white, and looks like a (white Hanes style) "White-T" taken straight out of the package. If this is the same shirt (and I think it is) look how dark it becomes, closer to a tan color like US Army soldiers wore as an undershirt for the Universal Combat Pattern (UCP) of Army Combat Uniform (ACU) and eventually you can see how it becomes closer to a gray/dirt smeared color.

I am also not saying anyone is incorrect about hygiene comments, I just have not read that anywhere personally.

I, in 100% honesty, have stepped back from this largely in part to this case "going off the rails" and a lot of that seemingly thanks to FaceBook efforts to identify him. Between the French speaking thing, and some other incidents, I feel like some facts are now being misconstrued, improperly relayed, and/or made up thanks to the overwhelming amount of FaceBook posts being made about this case now.

I don't know if he was brushing his teeth but I assume he was. And part of what CCSO was referring to was that he never had a cavity or other apparent dental work. Some people just don't need dental work and he was one of them.

He appeared to be wearing the outfit he was found dead in all the way back in August, 2017 and I think it is a light grey shirt.

Stay off FB. It is insane now between the French thing, he is someone's brother, he was impacted, he had weight loss surgery, etc. The only thing I think is worth looking at are the FB statements of the hikers who encountered MH, many of those are accompanied by the pictures we have of him so we know they must true. For instance, the smelly comment came from BW on FB who met him on 3/12/18.

 

[GatorFL]

Is there a list of the things he had with him anywhere? I’ve only seen what he was wearing and his gear when found but not any other things?

What strikes me as well is that he looks a lot healthier and rounder in the face in what is the last (?) photo if I’ve gotten it right. The one where he has almost no beard and looks tanned and his shirt looks cleaner too?

Edit: forget the shirt looking cleaner, it does not but his hair looks trimmed as well as his beard

A person on Reddit has the case file and posted it. The post was erroneously removed as a duplicate. I asked them to repost, IIRC it was a lot more info on what he had with him and the exclusions the CCSO have already investigated.

 

[lonewanderer]

I don't know if he was brushing his teeth but I assume he was. And part of what CCSO was referring to was that he never had a cavity or other apparent dental work. Some people just don't need dental work and he was one of them.

He appeared to be wearing the outfit he was found dead in all the way back in August, 2017 and I think it is a light grey shirt.

Stay off FB. It is insane now between the French thing, he is someone's brother, he was impacted, he had weight loss surgery, etc. The only thing I think is worth looking at are the FB statements of the hikers who encountered MH, many of those are accompanied by the pictures we have of him so we know they must true. For instance, the smelly comment came from BW on FB who met him on 3/12/18.

Yes exactly!

Excellent advice, and you said what was on my mind. I could not seem to find the right words...but basically, yeah I do not consider ANYthing from FaceBook valid unless it was posted before his body was found (small things like one person specifically saying they gave MH their contact info and that MH put it into his (MH's) wallet in a comment that had a posted date sometime in January 2018)

I am afraid a lot of the FaceBook incorrect facts have spilled onto WS.

 

[GatorFL]

Another comment I can make, people have said his tent was too big. It's a typical ultralight 2 person tent. Lots of hikers opt for a 2 person tent. In reality you would have a hard time getting 2 people to sleep in a 2 person tent. What is nice about a 2p tent is that you can bring some of your gear into the tent with you to keep it dry. Your shoes, change of clothes, etc.

 

[GatorFL]

To support your post, it is odd that he would have such a massive backpack full of stuff (to my knowledge we still do not know exactly what all it was) and not have at least one extra shirt and shorts. Socks and underwear changes are CRUCIAL. Neglecting to take a second pair of shoes (if he did) is a very big mistake as well.

We know he had the Saloman shoes and a pair of flip flops. This is pretty normal. I have the hiking shoes I am wearing and either flip flops or Crocs depending on where I am hiking. I usually lean towards the Crocs since they are lightweight and can be hiked in if you get a blister.

 

[GatorFL]

Yes exactly!

Excellent advice, and you said what was on my mind. I could not seem to find the right words...but basically, yeah I do not consider ANYthing from FaceBook valid unless it was posted before his body was found (small things like one person specifically saying they gave MH their contact info and that MH put it into his (MH's) wallet in a comment that had a posted date sometime in January 2018)

I am afraid a lot of the FaceBook incorrect facts have spilled onto WS.

I have been trying to correct them when I see them.

 

[Bit of hope]

Sorry, if already posted. This is sweet. Dear Denim, – Who is Mostly Harmless?

Dear Denim,

It has been 2 years since they found you alone in the wilderness. Today a group of strangers celebrated reaching the funding goal to get your DNA analysis so that they can send you home.

I don’t know you. I never met you along the trail but I have talked to people who did meet you along the way and they paint a nice picture of you. By all accounts you were kind and gentle, intelligent and funny, quiet and unassuming. I think if we had met along the trail we would have gotten along.

I don’t know who you are or where you came from but I think there is something you should know about yourself. You have left a wonderful legacy behind. You have united thousands of strangers to come together to be your friends and family until we can find your friends and family. People who never met you have been drawn together to simply show love and compassion to a stranger. What an amazing legacy that is.

We may never have the chance to know who you are but I do know one thing, you were a beacon of light in the world when people needed one. You will not be forgotten. I hope and believe that the love and compassion for you will spread and more people will not be forgotten.

It’s time to come out of the wilderness, my friend, it’s time to go home.

 

[Bit of hope]

Quick update for everyone following along: we have reached our funding goal for this case! More details are at DNASolves.

Great! Job well done. Thanks.

 

[Vespertine]

He did seem to do his laundry towards the start of his hike. KEV has mentioned on MJOs FB page that she first met him at Woodchucks while he was doing his laundry and she was waiting for him to finish to do hers. He does look a little cleaner in the photos taken there. What he was wearing while doing laundry is anyones guess.

 

[EricaJ4u2]

I don't know if he was brushing his teeth but I assume he was. And part of what CCSO was referring to was that he never had a cavity or other apparent dental work. Some people just don't need dental work and he was one of them.

He appeared to be wearing the outfit he was found dead in all the way back in August, 2017 and I think it is a light grey shirt.

Stay off FB. It is insane now between the French thing, he is someone's brother, he was impacted, he had weight loss surgery, etc. The only thing I think is worth looking at are the FB statements of the hikers who encountered MH, many of those are accompanied by the pictures we have of him so we know they must true. For instance, the smelly comment came from BW on FB who met him on 3/12/18.

I actually have to encourage visiting his FB group. In his group, the hikers that met MH actively participate in discussions. Additionally, the lab currently processing his DNA is sharing updates as they’re permitted. Many of us have researched extensively and would appreciate more eyes on the case. Naturally rumors circulate on any site or group but most know to take them as speculation.

This is a solvable case and we’re well on our way to giving MH his name back.