Identified! FL - Big Cypress Natl Preserve, Male hiker, "Denim" & "Mostly Harmless", Jul 2018 - Vance Rodriguez

[GatorFL]

Never worked in healthcare, in anyway shape or form, from dietician to chiropractor.
Never worked in veterinary type of work.
Never worked with children
Never applied for a Real estate license or home inspection license
Never worked with hazardous materials
Never worked with investments or federal taxes
Never applied for a medical marijuana permit
Never applied for public housing or assistance
Never applied for a real ID or national ID

Just a few I am aware of

We are not fingerprinted for ID's in FL, or Driver's Licenses.

 

[GatorFL]

You are welcome. I actually found it to be very interesting info. Here is a quote from the fbi link:

"For many decades, federal and state agencies and other authorized entities have collected and submitted civil fingerprints to the FBI for criminal background checks for noncriminal justice purposes, such as employment and licensing purposes. Due to technological capacity limitations, IAFIS did not retain most of the civil fingerprints submitted; once processed, the fingerprints were destroyed. IAFIS did retain certain civil fingerprints, such as those associated with military service or immigration benefits, but did not retain the fingerprints of those applying for licensing or employment as permitted under Public Law 92-544.[1] Moreover, the civil fingerprints that were retained in IAFIS were not readily accessible or searchable."

In my reading, I did discover that some groups were opposed to this change in 2015 for privacy reasons. In relation to this case, IMO we can reasonably conclude that MH was not a veteran or a legal immigrant. However, even that is not completely conclusive as the database prior to 2015 was not easily searchable.

We know he wasn't military, those fingerprints are on file and were searched according to CCSO. Heard it on the podcast.

 

[GatorFL]

I think we ruled him out because he was 6 inches shorter than MH and had a scar over his eye. We've gone round in circles with a few suggestions. At this point in time I can't remember if LE excluded him. We don't know all exclusions.

I asked CCSO for an update on the case file. The one I got in July had a lot of exclusions, but not Faries.

 

[GatorFL]

European here,
I’ve had my prints and photos taken at SFO upon arrival as a tourist. My s/o has been to Cali on business several times and had to give prints every time (even with a business visa).

I’ve been reading about MH here and there because I’m fascinated with this case. He started as an amateur and somehow survived more than a year on the trail only to die in the end.

Can someone tell my why everyone thinks he could be foreign??

I read two articles about how he was found, one stated he was found lying on his back with a hand behind his head, relaxed. The other that he was found sitting with eyes open?! Wish I could find them again. Does anyone know the truth?

I hope this case gets solved. I’m really interested in his story. I somehow think he was estranged from his family, private at work, no romantic relationship. Maybe lost his job and just decided to hike, to experience nature, a challenge different from your stressful 9-5. Maybe he was overworked and fed up and decided to grab some cash and literally just walk onto the trail and figure things out as they happen. It worked for a year.

MOO thank you for listening.

He wasn't sitting, he was on his back but his legs were crossed, like criss-cross applesauce style. His eyes were open. His hands were not behind his head.

 

[j_in_c]

I believe the real id is state level, sorry, in in my state it is required. I believe California requires a fingerprint for drivers license also.

I am not sure that every fingerprint database that exists is open to LE for comparison? We know that is can be compared to the database for those who have criminal convictions & those who served in the military, but is the database of federal employee fingerprints open to LE to match with Jane/John Does?

 

[Canaille]

His fingerprints not being on file for LE’s search tells me the following:

-he’s never been arrested for a crime
-he’s never been in the military
-he’s never been a federal employee

Feel free to add...

IMO

He’s likely never had a concealed carry permit.

 

[branmuffin]

He wasn't sitting, he was on his back but his legs were crossed, like criss-cross applesauce style. His eyes were open. His hands were not behind his head.

I have read conflicting reports from the two individuals who found him. One said he was kind of sitting up crossed legged facing the tent flap. Another says he was kind of lying on his back cross legged. Both accounts say his eyes were open because they stated it was like he was looking at them.

 

[Canaille]

I keep thinking back to the fact that there were no fingerprints on file for him. Almost everyone I know has been fingerprinted at one time or another. Apologies if this has already been discussed, but there are Amish communities in Wisconsin and New York, two of the states he claimed to be from at various times. I don't think the Amish specifically reject fingerprinting of their children, but given their general rejection of modern technology, perhaps few of them have been fingerprinted.

If MH is Amish, that might explain why his fingerprints are not on file. Also, it might explain why people who knew him growing up have not heard about his death, since they would not see the online posts about him. Perhaps he left the community at some point to live in the outside world and became a computer programmer. Would it be worthwhile to ask around the Amish communities in Wisconsin and New York?

I don't recall seeing Wisconsin as a state he claimed to have been from. If you don't mind, could you please tell me where this comes from? Thanks!

 

[Hoss569]

I am not sure that every fingerprint database that exists is open to LE for comparison? We know that is can be compared to the database for those who have criminal convictions & those who served in the military, but is the database of federal employee fingerprints open to LE to match with Jane/John Does?

Yes the federal database is open to LE, and even to the public if you wanted to search your own. It is under the Identity History Summary check that you can directly submit a request to the FBI for, it does show/have record of federal employment as well. State databases could be a little more tricky to search, as in what state to search? I do not believe they(states) are all combined.

Fun fact if you wanted to submit your fingerprint to see what they have :

Under federal law, you can use your Identity History Summary to review, correct, or update your own personal record. Identity History Summaries are not to be used for employment or licensing. Questions on employment or licensing background checks should be directed to the State Identification Bureau for the state requiring the background check.

 

[Hoss569]

I don't recall seeing Wisconsin as a state he claimed to have been from. If you don't mind, could you please tell me where this comes from? Thanks!

I don't believe MH is Amish, especially if he has a tech background.

 

[MaryFromFla]

I have an Idea but do not know how to research it. In his notebooks Ben made notes about "wafers" and nutrition. He told people he was working on something in the food field possibly some kind of nutrition bars. I just found this! New on the shelves
I don't know when this was posted?.But these food companies do beta testing sometimes..Maybe just maybe they would have info regarding taste testing or maybe someone would recognize if Ben was on a project type thing? Someone help me research this possible lead, as I have no clue on how to start. Thanks.

 

[GatorFL]

I have read conflicting reports from the two individuals who found him. One said he was kind of sitting up crossed legged facing the tent flap. Another says he was kind of lying on his back cross legged. Both accounts say his eyes were open because they stated it was like he was looking at them.

I think the scene photos show exactly how he was positioned since the hikers who found him did not touch him.

 

[ilovepierre]

On the fingerprint topic...I’ve been fingerprinted once-for a criminal background check. But according to the RCMP website, prints taken for these checks are used only to see if the person has prints ALREADY in the system and the prints are not entered into the database for future use. I’ve never had to provide fingerprints for anything else, and I’ve traveled to countries outside of Canada and the US.

IMO, MH not having prints in the system means he’s never been in the military, he’s not a convicted felon, he’s never worked for the government or another job where prints are required. Now, this doesn’t mean he’s NEVER supplied his prints before (such as in my example above)...just that his prints (if taken for any reason) have never been entered into the system for future use.

IMO

 

[branmuffin]

I think the scene photos show exactly how he was positioned since the hikers who found him did not touch him.

I know what the scene photos show but I also think it's within the realm of possibility that if MH was in such a weird position it's possible that the body fell over into the position he was photographed in. I'll try and find the two opposite narratives.

Here's Jason Nark's article "The Ghost in the Tent" states MH was sitting up.

The Ghost In The Tent

 

[Pseudonymph]

I know what the scene photos show but I also think it's within the realm of possibility that if MH was in such a weird position it's possible that the body fell over into the position he was photographed in. I'll try and find the two opposite narratives.

Here's Jason Nark's article "The Ghost in the Tent" states MH was sitting up.

The Ghost In The Tent

Such a great article!

 

[GatorFL]

I know what the scene photos show but I also think it's within the realm of possibility that if MH was in such a weird position it's possible that the body fell over into the position he was photographed in. I'll try and find the two opposite narratives.

Here's Jason Nark's article "The Ghost in the Tent" states MH was sitting up.

The Ghost In The Tent

Yeah I have that magazine right here. I know Nick said he was "twisted" on the podcast.

 

[Laura Avery]

Re Fairies, I've gone quiet here, as I've read it all and nothing new has been suggested. I think despite the height difference, scar and hair colour at least it might very well be him. I think there's a 4-6 inch difference, firstly he was carrying a heavy pack and sleeping rough. This is known to make you lose a couple of inches. Secondly he is very estranged from his family so they may very easily over estimated a few inches. Scars fade or can be gained after years being apart, fairies is totally off-grid and offline .His hair colour people said no..it's too red, his last picture was I believe around or before 2008. I'm guessing most people have had hair change colour over the years. His brother (not on social media, has aged with the exact same beard pattern as mh) He went missing very close to mh and also the same month his grandmother passed. He has connections to Sarasota. There's a lot of behind the scenes stuff I did but I can't post as it's doxing. Started building a tree as it might assist Othram, maybe it will, who knows.
In this case after all these years of reading and researching there doesn't seem to be any new info or ideas that haven't been discussed, I really think now all we can do is wait.

 

[GatorFL]

Re Fairies, I've gone quiet here, as I've read it all and nothing new has been suggested. I think despite the height difference, scar and hair colour at least it might very well be him. I think there's a 4-6 inch difference, firstly he was carrying a heavy pack and sleeping rough. This is known to make you lose a couple of inches. Secondly he is very estranged from his family so they may very easily over estimated a few inches. Scars fade or can be gained after years being apart, fairies is totally off-grid and offline .His hair colour people said no..it's too red, his last picture was I believe around or before 2008. I'm guessing most people have had hair change colour over the years. His brother (not on social media, has aged with the exact same beard pattern as mh) He went missing very close to mh and also the same month his grandmother passed. He has connections to Sarasota. There's a lot of behind the scenes stuff I did but I can't post as it's doxing. Started building a tree as it might assist Othram, maybe it will, who knows.
In this case after all these years of reading and researching there doesn't seem to be any new info or ideas that haven't been discussed, I really think now all we can do is wait.

They are similar looking but there are a lot of counterpoints: A heavy pack isn't making you lose 5". Also there is the pretty remarkable difference in the hairline and a few people have pointed out the beard line is different. He also went missing a year before MH started out on the AT so the timeline is off, but it is close.

One interesting thing, he's been submitted to CCSO and there is nothing in the case file with his name. I even asked for an updated file this week and they told me the one I got in July is the most current file.

IDK why his family has not been shown a pic of MH and asked, "is this him?" since that would put this to bed.

 

[Curious_in_NC]

They are similar looking but there are a lot of counterpoints: A heavy pack isn't making you lose 5". Also there is the pretty remarkable difference in the hairline and a few people have pointed out the beard line is different. He also went missing a year before MH started out on the AT so the timeline is off, but it is close.

One interesting thing, he's been submitted to CCSO and there is nothing in the case file with his name. I even asked for an updated file this week and they told me the one I got in July is the most current file.

IDK why his family has not been shown a pic of MH and asked, "is this him?" since that would put this to bed.

If the match is limited to people in NAMUS who haven't been ruled out, arguably Faries is the best fit. But MH's match may not necessarily be found in NAMUS.

To add to GatorFL's reasoning, there are no apparent connections of Faries to either Brooklyn or Baton Rouge. All that can readily be found out about him seems to be related to the Charlotte NC area, except for Cedarhurst NY, where he was reported as last seen. Conversely, MH never mentioned any connections to NC. Charlotte is within a 2-3 hour drive of much of the AT as it goes through the state. You'd think that a familiarity with NC would have come up at some point in discussions with other hikers.

 

[branmuffin]

Have the Faries family provided DNA to LE for a comparison? Or at the very least provided it to DNA Doe Project?