I believe ED's disappearance was a suicide. I think she identified a majestic final resting spot in the Pyrenees while on her way down from the Pic de Sauvegarde on the afternoon of the 21st and on the morning of the 22nd. I do not think she wants her body to ever be found or recovered. Jmo.
I have listed several reasons below for why I think this may have happened (some of the reasons are in the form of a question). Again, all JMO. No item is intended to be an either/or proposition.
I also realize that any single reason alone might also apply in other "disappearance scenarios" - such as an accident/fall or foul play. I did not mention voluntary disappearance (off grid, or ran off to start a new life), and accidental shooting by hunters, as I think theses scenario are much less likely (jmo). It is rather the aggregate sum of the reasons listed (the preponderance of the evidence - a kind of a Bayesian probability approach) that has me convinced:
- Why did ED go back up the Pic again? There was no reason she didn't just continue on to the Refuge on the 21st (she certainly had more time then, than she had the 22nd)?
- What was she doing between summiting the Pic at around 1::30 pm on the 21st and when she returned at 3:30 pm on the 22nd? The hike distances were short. Was she scouting and preparing a spot?
- Why did she go up so late in the day on the 22nd, arriving a 3:30 pm and leaving at 4:10 pm - when she had so little daylight left to make it to Port Venasque and on to Refuge de Venasque? Was she ever really planning to go through Port de Venasque?
- Why (at the top) was it so important to her to let DC know happy she was? Even when someone seems happy, they rarely say over an over - especially on a text (I know, there are surely exceptions). And why so many
's? And thanks. And..
-Why the FaceTime call after there already had been so much other communication over the preceding half hour?
- Why did she speak to her parents/family as well? Was that normal? Pre-arranged? Did she contact them from every Pic, Refuge, Col, Hospice, hike, etc.? Just wondering. Or was she, this time - in some way - saying "I love you" for the last time? Saying "goodbye", saying "I'm happy" and "it's not your fault"?
- Why did she text/exclaim (at least twice) to Dan when referencing the mountains and towns seen in the background of the vids/photos taken as she stood atop the Pic that: "I think I can can you" or "I can see you"? Could this possibly be because she woukdve also been aware, sub-consciously, of the feeling that - if she could see him, he could see her - and that she was worried that he might see - or sense - or feel - or in some way know - what she was maybe about to do? (all speculation)
- Why did she linger on top even when she should have been concerned about getting to the Refuge before dark. Even when she'd just been up top the day before? Yet she stayed at the Pic - to take it all in.
- Why did she seem to forewarn DC so many times that she was about to be out of cell signal range? Instead of this being a pre-excuse as to why she might not be able to contact DC, perhaps it was her way of making sure that DC didn't try to contact her for the next 8-10 hrs (and after that, she'd really out of range). She put the phone in airplane mode.
- Was ED wearing make up and her best gear the afternoon of the 22nd (only DC would know). Some will think that's a ridiculous or meaningless question, but I think it's a worthwhile one to ask)
- Why did she bring so little food? Was this perhaps because she was not expecting to ever need it?
- Why did she seem uncertain (almost casual) about whether there was even a winter room at Rescue Venasque? Wouldn't this information have been of extreme importantance to her?
Why was she so unbothered and nonchalant about not knowing how to spell Port de la Glere? This does not seem like her. Was she thinking that she would likely never be going to that place?
- There's no evidence that she was at Refuge de Venasque. Did she ever plan to go there?
- Why did she have such a blasé attitude about whether she might dip into France or not? Not that there's anything wrong with having uncertain/spontaneous plans - but this comment to me sounded somewhat apathetic.
- ED had been by herself now for quite some time. Alone and lonely, I imagine. She admitted she was going through a tough time just before leaving to go on the solo trip, and acknowledged that she needed to do some soul searching. She was crying while running and listening to the same song over and over. It was a song about life.
ED had been seriously depressed before. Covid was here, and the excursion lifestyle might be ending. The witness in the store (albeit in a short encounter) described her as sad. It's weird what people pick up on.. Isolation can lead to loneliness and depression. Being alone can sometimes give you too much time to think. It does me.
- She disappeared at the very end of this soul searching journey/trek. She was due to return in just two days. IF (if) she had been contemplating suicide on the trip, she realistically would've only had one day left on which to do so. She was atop Pic de Sauvegarde.
- If there had been an accident, I think they would have found evidence of it by now. I don't think ED's been found because I don't think she wanted to be found. I think she is in a beautiful, serene, majestic spot in the Pyrenees - one that is perhaps way off trail, and very hidden.
All just my opinion.
I pray for DC and for ED's family. No matter what has happened, it is a great loss, and it is incredibly sad.
