NM NM - Stephen Edward Carey, 59, Las Cruces, 8 July 2019 *car found near Organ Mountain National Monument* * NamUs# MP61764*

[Pennysmom1]

Stephen is still listed as missing at NAMUS

The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs)

By bringing people, information, forensic science and technology together, NamUs helps resolve cases.

www.namus.gov

I hope he is found one day soon

 

[Cruceser]

From alltrails.com:

Baylor Canyon Pass Trail

"Baylor Canyon Pass Trail is a 4.1 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Las Cruces, New Mexico that features beautiful wild flowers and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail.

Distance:4.1 miles Elevation Gain:830 feet Route Type:Out & Back"

It doesn't mention biking as one of the activity options. The hike goes west, then northwest from the trailhead. I don't think I can bring the alltrails map over here, so I located the approximate trailhead location on google maps. The trailhead is off of Aguirre Springs Road:

View attachment 193727

Route from central Las Cruces, NM to the trailhead:

Google Maps

That is the wrong end of the trail. His car was found on the West side, not the East side. From the West side, the trail goes East through the Organ Mountains. The parking lot where his car was found was at the parking lot for the Westside trailhead on Baylor Pass road. Agree with another poster that the trail is not really "bikeable" - due to deep sand and rocks - it is strictly a walking trail. I'm an ex-semi-pro mountain bike racer, and it is NOT a biking trail. If I parked at the Baylor Pass parking lot, I would ride up or down Baylor Pass road, which was dirt at the time, and possibly head across hwy 70 towards near NASA, or up hwy 70 towards White Sands Missile Range.

 

[Cruceser]

I thought I read in the first article that his car was unlocked, belongings inside and the door was found left ajar with the keys in it? Not sure of where keys were but if in ignition wouldn’t the “door ajar” chime go off? Mine sure does. And if he just went for a bike ride, why not take keys and lock the vehicle?

Also I thought I read some of the land cannot be searched by civilians because there are buried mines/ordinances that could accidentally be triggered. Which is super scary if Stephen went off trail on his bike or left his bike to walk say if his bike was broken down, etc.

I would think there would be many posted signs regarding the restricted area but I can’t help thinking in such terrible heat a person might be disoriented or incapacitated to a degree they may not pay attention to or even notice signs.

There's not a lot of signs about the restricted area. I don't know about mines, but it is owned and run by US defense missile systems - White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss Army Base. Also, most car doors don't ping unless the door is fully ajar, not just slightly. The switch in the door isn't going to be that tiny. It has to be at least an inch or so.

 

[Cruceser]

There's not a lot of signs about the restricted area. I don't know about mines, but it is owned and run by US defense missile systems - White Sands Missile Range and Fort Bliss Army Base. Whether or not there it is a radio dead zone, my phone never worked in the area and I could never reach anyone that was there by cell phone.

 

[Cruceser]

Family believes best chance of finding missing father is on restricted land in Organ Mountains

Steve Carey, who lived in San Pedro, CA, has not been seen since July 8, 2019. On that day, he checked out of his Las Cruces, NM hotel room. His car was later found at the trailhead to the Baylor Pass trail in the Organ Mountain National Monument. His big backpack with this clothes, and his car keys, were found in the car, which police then impounded. The trail in question backs up to Department of Defense land, so no drones or overflights of the rugged area are allowed. He did not tell anyone where he was going and his cellphone goes straight to voicemail.

I recall reading at the time, that he had ties to some government entity. That he was there doing some work for the entity, and took a few more days here to take a mini-vacation. Now I can't find anything about his work... anyone know???