WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:04.759 Two men, two familiar places, two routine outings that should 2 00:00:04.759 --> 00:00:08.439 have ended like any other, but didn't. One would be 3 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:11.160 found days later, his life, ending in a place he 4 00:00:11.240 --> 00:00:14.199 knew well, while the other would vanish without a trace, 5 00:00:14.480 --> 00:00:17.679 leaving behind only questions that still haven't been answered three 6 00:00:17.719 --> 00:00:21.960 decades later. Today we're heading into the forests of Pennsylvania, 7 00:00:22.399 --> 00:00:26.160 where rugged terrain, quiet trails, and a single misstep can 8 00:00:26.239 --> 00:00:30.760 change everything. I'm Megan, I'm Danielle, and this is off 9 00:00:30.760 --> 00:00:45.399 the trails. So we do have some new patreons that 10 00:00:45.439 --> 00:00:52.439 we would like to welcome. That is, they are Kathy, Liz, Timothy, Justine, Mallory, 11 00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:56.520 Meg and jac Welcome and thank you. 12 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:59.280 You've got the new one from yesterday. Good job I did. 13 00:00:59.399 --> 00:01:02.880 I'm on it it. You know, may slipped a little, 14 00:01:02.960 --> 00:01:04.120 but we're back in action. 15 00:01:04.439 --> 00:01:08.319 So that's right, A new month knew us. 16 00:01:08.560 --> 00:01:12.560 Yeah, that's I think I hopefully hopefully a better rest 17 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:14.439 that awars us. Yeah. 18 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:18.519 Yeah, like because because different or new could go either way. 19 00:01:19.120 --> 00:01:23.840 Yeah, better improved. I like that better. Yes, I don't know. 20 00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:26.840 I don't think we have anything in particular to go over. 21 00:01:27.000 --> 00:01:31.239 We do have a virtual meetup coming up at the 22 00:01:31.280 --> 00:01:33.840 end of this month on Patreon for the backpacker tier. 23 00:01:33.959 --> 00:01:36.079 So if you are not on there and you would 24 00:01:36.079 --> 00:01:40.799 like to join, you know, just subscribe before June twenty 25 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:43.079 fifth and you'll be able to join it. This week, 26 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:45.920 we're going to be posting what the topics will be 27 00:01:46.079 --> 00:01:50.200 for that meetup, and that's all accessible to anybody who 28 00:01:50.200 --> 00:01:51.799 goes to the page, so you can see all the 29 00:01:51.840 --> 00:01:56.359 information before you decide to commit to anything. But we'd 30 00:01:56.359 --> 00:01:57.519 love to see you there. 31 00:01:58.439 --> 00:02:00.959 Yeah, our last one was really fun, so and I'm 32 00:02:01.000 --> 00:02:04.480 antisocial and I still enjoyed it, so please join. 33 00:02:05.079 --> 00:02:07.040 That is true. It is fun. It's fun to break 34 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:12.680 the fourth wall and actually discuss cases and whatever. We 35 00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:17.159 had so many different like what are they called side quests, yes, 36 00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:20.879 for detours from the conversations, and it was a lot 37 00:02:20.919 --> 00:02:24.960 of fun talking to listeners and hearing their feedback in 38 00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:27.240 their opinions and stuff, and just getting to know them 39 00:02:27.599 --> 00:02:29.879 outside of just being a listener. So it was really cool. 40 00:02:29.919 --> 00:02:31.319 All right, well, outside of that. 41 00:02:31.759 --> 00:02:32.120 That's it. 42 00:02:32.240 --> 00:02:34.960 Let's go all right, have you been to Pennsylvania? 43 00:02:34.960 --> 00:02:37.560 Not for a really long time, And I was actually 44 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:40.879 thinking when you did your intro if we have done 45 00:02:40.879 --> 00:02:43.520 any cases in Pennsylvania? The only thing I could think 46 00:02:43.560 --> 00:02:48.520 of in that split second was the boulder fields that 47 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:51.240 I think we covered in the Singing Rocks. 48 00:02:51.719 --> 00:02:53.080 I was that in Pennsylvania. 49 00:02:53.199 --> 00:02:56.479 I don't know, I forget I think it was, But 50 00:02:56.840 --> 00:02:59.919 I don't know that we've covered anything else in Pennsylvania. 51 00:03:00.280 --> 00:03:01.199 Yeah, I don't think so. 52 00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:06.000 I'm sure somebody's probably listening, They're like, yeah, episode eighty two. 53 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:08.879 How do you guys forget that we forget what happened 54 00:03:08.879 --> 00:03:09.639 two days ago? 55 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:15.240 Yes, we do. I think the only well we when 56 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:21.120 we covered Jeff Hood and Molly LaRue, they were through 57 00:03:21.199 --> 00:03:26.199 hiking the at and but the setting of what took 58 00:03:26.280 --> 00:03:28.599 place was in Pennsylvania, but outside. 59 00:03:28.240 --> 00:03:31.080 Of Okay, okay, all right, so that is still one. 60 00:03:31.319 --> 00:03:34.719 Yeah. Anyway, Pennsylvania is home to some of the most 61 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:38.639 beautiful and underrated wilderness in the Eastern United States. It 62 00:03:38.680 --> 00:03:44.080 has dense forests, winding creeks, and dramatic elevation changes, and 63 00:03:44.240 --> 00:03:50.159 as pretty as those extremely tall mountains that the west has. 64 00:03:50.560 --> 00:03:54.439 I do love seeing like the rolling mountains of the 65 00:03:54.479 --> 00:04:00.680 Northeast region. They're two entirely different landscapes and they're just 66 00:04:00.879 --> 00:04:03.840 so pretty in their own rights. Oh yeah, definitely. 67 00:04:04.039 --> 00:04:07.599 I do like being able to see like the Yeah, 68 00:04:07.639 --> 00:04:11.039 like you said, like the mountains, like behind the mountains. 69 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:13.719 But if you have like just say, super big mountain 70 00:04:13.719 --> 00:04:15.639 in front of you, that's all you're seeing, which is 71 00:04:15.719 --> 00:04:18.639 which is not to say it's not great, but you 72 00:04:18.680 --> 00:04:20.759 know that's standing in front of everybody else. 73 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:25.199 Yeah, and even see. I think it's very similar to 74 00:04:25.639 --> 00:04:28.639 the those types of mountains you see up in like 75 00:04:28.839 --> 00:04:32.639 upstate New York. It's just I wish while I lived 76 00:04:32.680 --> 00:04:35.839 up there, i ventured over there more. But you know, 77 00:04:36.680 --> 00:04:40.879 for people who are enjoying it, that's awesome. Keep enjoying it, 78 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:44.040 keep enjoying it. So as peaceful as these places can be, 79 00:04:44.399 --> 00:04:48.560 they just like all the other outdoor areas we discuss, 80 00:04:49.240 --> 00:04:55.600 carry unpredictability. This terrain can be unforgiving. The conditions can 81 00:04:55.639 --> 00:04:59.279 shift quickly, and sometimes even people who know those areas 82 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:03.120 well run into trouble that they never saw coming. And 83 00:05:03.199 --> 00:05:08.120 today's episode follows two separate cases. Both involve experienced individuals 84 00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:12.160 who ventured into Pennsylvania's outdoor landscapes alive and never made 85 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:14.879 it out. So there wasn't and I know we've talked 86 00:05:14.920 --> 00:05:18.160 about this before, there wasn't a ton of coverage of 87 00:05:18.199 --> 00:05:22.079 these two cases, just like a couple news articles here 88 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:27.079 and there. But regardless of their being sort of limited 89 00:05:27.120 --> 00:05:31.079 information on them, I know that we both still like 90 00:05:31.279 --> 00:05:35.319 to share them with people, so that because they don't 91 00:05:35.319 --> 00:05:37.439 get the same exposure as some of the other high 92 00:05:37.439 --> 00:05:42.639 profile cases that kind of gained traction beyond their local 93 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:46.079 news and these two were just kind of on the 94 00:05:46.160 --> 00:05:49.519 quieter end of case coverage, but of course still wanted 95 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:53.040 to share them. So our first story is about a 96 00:05:53.720 --> 00:05:58.199 man by the name of Michael Kenny who was fifty 97 00:05:58.240 --> 00:06:03.399 four years old living in in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. He 98 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:07.959 was active, experienced, and by all accounts comfortable in the outdoors, 99 00:06:08.600 --> 00:06:09.680 running and hiking. 100 00:06:10.000 --> 00:06:13.680 Nope, continue, I thought. I was like, wait, did I 101 00:06:13.680 --> 00:06:17.720 already cover this case? But once she said running, I 102 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:20.000 was like, no, if he was not a runner, if 103 00:06:20.040 --> 00:06:22.879 you did, that would be just like the funniest thing. 104 00:06:23.160 --> 00:06:25.040 No, it looks like it's only okay. 105 00:06:26.439 --> 00:06:27.600 It was like a different Kenny. 106 00:06:28.399 --> 00:06:32.199 Yes, well, I mean your last week's episode was Kenny Veach, 107 00:06:32.319 --> 00:06:35.360 but I know you're talking about probably a different name 108 00:06:35.399 --> 00:06:36.319 that sounds familiar. 109 00:06:36.920 --> 00:06:41.680 Yeah, a hunter, but it might have been a Patreon one. 110 00:06:42.040 --> 00:06:45.079 But you know, either way, carry on. Once she said runner, 111 00:06:45.160 --> 00:06:46.480 I was like, nope, not the same story. 112 00:06:47.120 --> 00:06:51.240 Well, whenever I start writing about a case, I always 113 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:56.000 searched the name in our drive and our show drive, 114 00:06:56.480 --> 00:06:59.319 just to make sure it doesn't come up in the 115 00:06:59.360 --> 00:07:02.319 search results for an episode that's already been covered. Because 116 00:07:02.360 --> 00:07:06.800 we are between our regular episodes and our Patreon episodes, 117 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:12.160 we are like well over two hundred we're probably closer 118 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:14.519 to like two hundred and fifty episodes. So that's a 119 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:16.800 lot to try to remember what you've already covered and 120 00:07:16.800 --> 00:07:17.439 what you haven't. 121 00:07:18.000 --> 00:07:20.199 And that's my biggest one of my biggest fears that 122 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:22.800 I'm just gonna like go all out on a case 123 00:07:23.079 --> 00:07:25.160 and then start telling it and then you're like, wait 124 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:28.720 a minute, I covered this in length or even worse, 125 00:07:28.800 --> 00:07:30.959 you're gonna be like, you already covered this. 126 00:07:31.720 --> 00:07:34.959 But you know, if you unintentionally rerote it and like 127 00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:38.800 re researched it, maybe you come back with like with 128 00:07:38.920 --> 00:07:42.759 different perspectives or information that you hadn't found the first 129 00:07:42.759 --> 00:07:46.279 time around. So it could be a blessing, that's true, 130 00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:48.439 you know what You're right. So running and hiking we're 131 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:50.920 part of his routine, and one of the places he 132 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:54.759 returned to often was the Roaring Creek area of Wiser 133 00:07:54.879 --> 00:07:58.800 State Forest. So this state forest spans roughly twelve and 134 00:07:58.839 --> 00:08:02.720 a half square miles or thirty two square kilometers, spread 135 00:08:02.759 --> 00:08:10.759 across several counties, including Carbon Columbia, Dauphin Northumberland, and Scougle. 136 00:08:11.000 --> 00:08:15.079 The Roaring Creek Tract where Michael often ran sits just 137 00:08:15.160 --> 00:08:18.120 north of Mount Carmel and is shaped by two parallel 138 00:08:18.160 --> 00:08:21.120 mountain ridges. And you've mentioned this before, so I know 139 00:08:21.160 --> 00:08:24.199 you're going to appreciate the names Big Mountain to the 140 00:08:24.279 --> 00:08:26.079 south and Little Mountain to the north. 141 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:29.279 I do love it. Simplicity at its best. 142 00:08:29.519 --> 00:08:33.480 So between those ridges runs the south branch of Roaring Creek, 143 00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:36.879 which begins near the eastern boundary of the tract and 144 00:08:36.919 --> 00:08:40.559 flows west for about ten miles or roughly sixteen kilometers, 145 00:08:40.600 --> 00:08:43.879 before cutting through Little Mountain at a narrow passage known 146 00:08:43.879 --> 00:08:48.120 as Bear Gap. On Wednesday, June eighteenth, twenty fourteenth, twenty fourteen, 147 00:08:48.639 --> 00:08:50.759 Michael set out for what should have been a routine 148 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:54.840 run in the Roaring Creek area, but when he didn't 149 00:08:54.879 --> 00:08:58.159 return home, his family reported him missing, and a search 150 00:08:58.200 --> 00:09:02.360 effort quickly kicked off. Searchers soon located his Toyota Sedan 151 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:05.039 parked at the Route fifty four entrance to the forest, 152 00:09:05.679 --> 00:09:09.679 and the windows were down and the keys were still 153 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:16.240 in the ignition. So that definitely stands out because I'm 154 00:09:16.759 --> 00:09:20.080 that's not typically how someone leaves their car, regardless if 155 00:09:20.120 --> 00:09:22.759 you're going somewhere that's more on, like, you know, the 156 00:09:22.960 --> 00:09:25.440 quieter side. Maybe it's a trailhead that you don't typically 157 00:09:25.519 --> 00:09:28.399 run into people at, but it's still a weird way 158 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:32.360 to leave your car, especially in like a an area 159 00:09:32.440 --> 00:09:34.639 where there's place. Yeah. 160 00:09:34.879 --> 00:09:36.840 Yeah, especially the keys in the ignition. 161 00:09:37.120 --> 00:09:41.039 I think, depending on you know, whether entime of year, 162 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:45.519 it's not super although it must be a little unusual 163 00:09:45.519 --> 00:09:47.600 because actually yesterday I was walking through the parking lot 164 00:09:47.639 --> 00:09:50.759 at work and someone had left their windows down and 165 00:09:51.519 --> 00:09:55.200 I noticed it and thought it was odd. So, yeah, 166 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:57.600 I guess you're right, people don't typically leave their windows 167 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:00.360 down they're leaving their vehicle. But definitely the he's in 168 00:10:00.399 --> 00:10:04.159 the ignition I think is unusual. 169 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:07.919 Right, And is this something that he typically did you know, 170 00:10:07.960 --> 00:10:11.759 if if he regularly would go out to the woods 171 00:10:11.840 --> 00:10:15.080 to run or hike or you know, whatever he was doing, 172 00:10:15.879 --> 00:10:17.559 did he do this at the store, you know, does 173 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:20.759 he do this when he goes into town? Like is 174 00:10:20.799 --> 00:10:24.480 this normal for him or was this like a rushed 175 00:10:24.879 --> 00:10:30.000 exit from the vehicle. Right, But outside of the windows 176 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:32.879 being down and the keys in the ignition, there weren't 177 00:10:32.879 --> 00:10:36.519 any signs of like distress of that there were like 178 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:39.799 a struggle in the vehicle or around the vehicle. So 179 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:43.279 I also want to mention that a news article, like 180 00:10:43.279 --> 00:10:46.759 a local news article from the time that this case 181 00:10:46.840 --> 00:10:51.159 was developing, they had notated that the windows were down, 182 00:10:51.320 --> 00:10:54.919 but in the Strange Outdoors article they said the windows 183 00:10:54.919 --> 00:10:58.600 were up. So I went with what the local news 184 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:03.960 coverage said because I feel like that's a detail that 185 00:11:04.000 --> 00:11:07.399 stands out more for publishing and for noting. 186 00:11:07.600 --> 00:11:11.320 Yeah, I was gonna say, Reichs, as we just discussed, 187 00:11:11.399 --> 00:11:15.240 I think having the windows up would have been less noteworthy, right. 188 00:11:15.440 --> 00:11:19.320 I just picture like every time a vehicle is described 189 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:23.320 and they're like and the hood was closed, It's like, what, right, 190 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:24.720 think it would be? 191 00:11:26.120 --> 00:11:26.320 Right? 192 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:30.159 That's like the default position exactly. So search and rescue 193 00:11:30.159 --> 00:11:34.200 teams mobilized quickly, with more than sixty people involved. The 194 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:37.559 rw Oh my god, the Roaring Creek tract was closed 195 00:11:37.559 --> 00:11:41.360 off to prevent contamination of any potential evidence, and teams 196 00:11:41.399 --> 00:11:44.399 began combing the area on foot, focusing heavily on the 197 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:48.320 trails that Michael was known to use. Helicopters scanned from above, 198 00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:53.159 while search dogs were, of course, you know, trying to 199 00:11:53.200 --> 00:11:56.120 get any type of cent on the ground. At one point, 200 00:11:56.200 --> 00:12:00.000 officials even stop drivers along Route fifty four, handing out 201 00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:04.240 and asking if anyone had seen anything unusual. Nick Zoli 202 00:12:04.480 --> 00:12:07.679 of the Bureau of Forestry emphasized that because Michael was 203 00:12:07.720 --> 00:12:10.679 an avid runner and hiker, the search focused on the 204 00:12:10.679 --> 00:12:14.440 possibility that something had gone wrong along the trails. So 205 00:12:14.879 --> 00:12:16.559 I think they were just kind of working under the 206 00:12:16.559 --> 00:12:20.200 impression that he would not have strayed far from a trail, 207 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:23.360 So it's they wouldn't expect to find him off trail 208 00:12:23.440 --> 00:12:28.679 somewhere right, which makes sense, But of course you never 209 00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:32.639 know what could drive someone off trail who typically stays 210 00:12:32.679 --> 00:12:36.919 on it. Unfortunately, though, the terrain made that incredibly difficult, 211 00:12:37.200 --> 00:12:40.600 even just looking like within close proximity of the trail. 212 00:12:40.759 --> 00:12:47.480 As Incident Management Team member Cecil Stelter explained, the area 213 00:12:47.679 --> 00:12:52.559 is extremely rugged. It's rocky, uneven, and even filled with hazards. 214 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:56.919 Like old mine holes, ravines and sudden drop offs, like 215 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:03.000 there's some old pieces of wood just covering like unstable ground. 216 00:13:03.200 --> 00:13:08.320 So it was potentially dangerous for all the searchers involved 217 00:13:08.360 --> 00:13:08.919 as well. 218 00:13:08.919 --> 00:13:13.000 Especially those mystery mine chefts. 219 00:13:13.480 --> 00:13:16.440 That's a scary Those are so scary anytime they come 220 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:21.399 up in a story like I distinctly recall us talking 221 00:13:21.440 --> 00:13:27.960 about them in the Michael Bryson case where he went 222 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:33.639 missing up in Oregon from that campground during that party, 223 00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:39.600 and the area, like the forest surrounding that campground apparently 224 00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:42.759 just had a ton of old, overgrown mind shafts that 225 00:13:42.840 --> 00:13:45.159 you could just like fall into. 226 00:13:45.440 --> 00:13:45.919 Hate that. 227 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:49.759 Yeah, And of course what made this search difficult was 228 00:13:50.519 --> 00:13:54.120 lack a lack of clues. Despite how extensive it was, 229 00:13:54.200 --> 00:13:58.000 they just didn't find anything outside of his vehicle. But 230 00:13:58.480 --> 00:14:02.679 seven days after the search kicked off, on June twenty fourth, 231 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:08.000 searchers made a discovery. A member of the Department of 232 00:14:08.039 --> 00:14:12.399 Conservation and Natural Resources found Michael's body in the Bear 233 00:14:12.480 --> 00:14:17.440 Gap Reservoir within the Roaring Creek Tract, Northumberland County. Corner 234 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:23.120 James F. Kelly determined through preliminary autopsy results that Michael 235 00:14:23.120 --> 00:14:26.440 had likely drowned, and authorities stated that they did not 236 00:14:26.519 --> 00:14:27.559 suspect fowel play. 237 00:14:27.799 --> 00:14:31.720 So do you know, do you know the terrain around 238 00:14:31.720 --> 00:14:37.320 the reservoir is like does the trail run up above 239 00:14:37.679 --> 00:14:43.159 or is it pretty level that you wouldn't have fallen 240 00:14:43.399 --> 00:14:45.679 from so cliff essentially. 241 00:14:45.559 --> 00:14:48.879 Yeah, So the when I was looking it up on 242 00:14:48.960 --> 00:14:51.240 all trails and I'm pulling it up again just to 243 00:14:51.360 --> 00:14:56.799 kind of put it fresh in my mind, this section 244 00:14:57.120 --> 00:15:03.480 does look relatively flat. You'd be near water, I can't tell. 245 00:15:03.559 --> 00:15:07.639 And these are literally just based off of images that 246 00:15:07.879 --> 00:15:11.360 like photos that people have posted on all trails just 247 00:15:11.399 --> 00:15:14.480 to try to get a sense of the trail he 248 00:15:14.600 --> 00:15:18.879 was on. And there may be some areas where there 249 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:25.360 might be a steeper drop off, but the pictures that 250 00:15:25.399 --> 00:15:28.200 I'm seeing, the water's pretty close to the trail, like 251 00:15:28.960 --> 00:15:31.360 on flat ground. But if you're listening and you've been 252 00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:35.200 here and you can kind of visualize it better, then 253 00:15:35.440 --> 00:15:37.759 definitely let us know. So on paper, it was a 254 00:15:37.799 --> 00:15:41.879 tragic accident. It was just a routine run that seemingly 255 00:15:42.000 --> 00:15:46.279 ended with a fatal fall into the water. But even 256 00:15:46.320 --> 00:15:50.080 with an official and plausible conclusion, his death was still shocking, 257 00:15:51.000 --> 00:15:53.799 and I think you do have to sort of question 258 00:15:53.919 --> 00:15:58.679 like how did someone end up in the water that 259 00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:02.840 they were unable to rescue themselves from? So that also 260 00:16:03.080 --> 00:16:06.559 that begs the question, like that's how deep the water was, 261 00:16:06.799 --> 00:16:10.200 if there's a strong current there, if he was found 262 00:16:10.759 --> 00:16:14.440 by like the bank of the water, or is he 263 00:16:14.519 --> 00:16:18.799 trapped under like if there's a tree or rocks that 264 00:16:18.879 --> 00:16:22.759 he was potentially pinned under in the water. Did he 265 00:16:23.480 --> 00:16:27.080 suffer a medical event that incapacitated him in the water. 266 00:16:27.519 --> 00:16:29.600 Did he injure himself and end up in the water. 267 00:16:29.679 --> 00:16:32.039 There's so many like how did he end up there? 268 00:16:32.039 --> 00:16:35.240 And it reminds me of this story that you told 269 00:16:35.279 --> 00:16:39.120 about the woman who was on a walk or a run. 270 00:16:39.240 --> 00:16:40.799 I think she was on a walk in the UK, 271 00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:45.120 somewhere in Canada. It was Canada. I thought it was 272 00:16:45.159 --> 00:16:46.759 in the UK, And I think the. 273 00:16:46.679 --> 00:16:48.799 Woman that was on a walk, Oh no, wait, so 274 00:16:48.799 --> 00:16:51.279 that yes, there's a There are two stories that are 275 00:16:51.480 --> 00:16:52.120 kind of similar. 276 00:16:52.200 --> 00:16:53.000 One was the UK. 277 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:57.399 One was Canada where these women were out for a walk. 278 00:16:57.480 --> 00:16:59.440 One was with a friend in the winter, the other 279 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:02.240 was just out in the morning with her dog and 280 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:06.599 they both ended up in the river. 281 00:17:07.119 --> 00:17:10.839 Yep. Yeah, because they found the dog and he was fine, 282 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:14.839 and she had just gotten off like a zoom work 283 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:19.079 call or something, and then she just somehow, it just 284 00:17:19.200 --> 00:17:22.279 like this, it feels very similar, ended up in the 285 00:17:22.279 --> 00:17:27.759 water somehow. So yeah, very puzzling. So in Michael's case, 286 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:30.799 there was at least an answer, even if it didn't 287 00:17:30.839 --> 00:17:35.000 explain everything. You know, they were able to find him 288 00:17:35.279 --> 00:17:39.119 and recover him and at least get a little bit 289 00:17:39.160 --> 00:17:44.440 of closure for his family, even if they still don't 290 00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:49.559 know what those final moments included. But unfortunately, our second 291 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:55.000 case doesn't have that same closure. So Michael Malinowski was 292 00:17:55.160 --> 00:18:00.160 thirty seven years old living in Yardley, Bucks County, Pennsylvania. 293 00:18:01.079 --> 00:18:04.119 He worked as a mental health counselor at the Greater 294 00:18:04.240 --> 00:18:09.160 Trenton Community Mental Health Center and was described as thoughtful, meticulous, 295 00:18:09.240 --> 00:18:13.359 and reliable. He lived a relatively quiet life. So when 296 00:18:13.559 --> 00:18:15.200 I read this next part, I was like, oh, so 297 00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:17.920 we're just describing Danielle. So it just says he lived 298 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:21.119 a relatively quiet life. He was a vegetarian, he didn't 299 00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.680 use drugs, and he rarely drank. 300 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:24.640 I mean, man, after my own heart right there. 301 00:18:24.920 --> 00:18:28.440 Yeah, seriously. At the time of his disappearance, he wasn't 302 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:31.680 in a romantic relationship. He had divorced again. 303 00:18:33.039 --> 00:18:33.279 It is. 304 00:18:35.039 --> 00:18:38.680 Yes, he had divorced about a year earlier after separating 305 00:18:38.720 --> 00:18:41.680 from his wife three years prior, and the couple shared 306 00:18:41.720 --> 00:18:43.799 a ten year old son named John, who lived with 307 00:18:43.839 --> 00:18:48.240 his ex wife. So you guys are very similar, we are. 308 00:18:49.400 --> 00:18:52.799 Despite the changes in his personal life, though, Michael appeared 309 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:55.240 to be looking ahead, and he even had plans to 310 00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:58.039 eventually move west to be closer to his son. On 311 00:18:58.039 --> 00:19:02.119 October twenty fourth, nineteen ninety six, after attending a psychology 312 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:06.359 seminar in Chester County, Michael drove roughly two hundred miles 313 00:19:06.440 --> 00:19:10.920 or about three hundred and twenty kilometers north to Tioga County, 314 00:19:11.000 --> 00:19:15.599 heading for Pine Creek Gorge. So this is actually often 315 00:19:15.640 --> 00:19:19.200 called the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. It stretches for about 316 00:19:19.200 --> 00:19:22.640 forty seven miles or seventy six kilometers, carved deep into 317 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:27.240 the Allegheny Plateau. It sits within roughly one hundred and 318 00:19:27.240 --> 00:19:30.200 sixty thousand acres or about six hundred and fifty square 319 00:19:30.240 --> 00:19:33.640 kilometers of Tioga State Forest. At its deepest point, the 320 00:19:33.680 --> 00:19:36.319 canyon reaches about one thousand, four hundred and fifty feet 321 00:19:36.359 --> 00:19:39.200 or four hundred and forty meters and in some areas 322 00:19:39.240 --> 00:19:41.240 it's more than eight hundred feet deep, with a rim 323 00:19:41.279 --> 00:19:43.720 to rim distance of around four thousand feet or about 324 00:19:43.720 --> 00:19:47.359 twelve hundred meters. Michael had checked into the Pine Tree 325 00:19:47.440 --> 00:19:51.079 Lodge in Gains at around four thirty pm for a 326 00:19:51.119 --> 00:19:54.799 planned two night stay. The lodge, which was built in 327 00:19:54.839 --> 00:19:59.559 the early nineteen thirties, sits overlooking Pine Creek and offers 328 00:19:59.599 --> 00:20:04.079 seclude cabin surrounded by wilderness the dream. That evening, he 329 00:20:04.160 --> 00:20:07.079 did call his roommate Greg Rossi to let him know 330 00:20:07.119 --> 00:20:09.880 that he had arrived safely, but it would be the 331 00:20:09.960 --> 00:20:14.039 last confirmed contact anyone would have with him. Three days later, 332 00:20:14.119 --> 00:20:18.319 on October twenty seventh, a Forestry Bureau worker found Michael's 333 00:20:18.359 --> 00:20:22.480 rented nineteen ninety five Nissan Sentra parked at the Barber 334 00:20:22.599 --> 00:20:26.039 Rock Access on the west rim of the Gorge. Inside 335 00:20:26.039 --> 00:20:30.039 the car were several personal items. An unzipped daypack with 336 00:20:30.119 --> 00:20:34.279 his cell phone inside. His jacket was on the passenger seat. 337 00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:39.720 He had a large water container with him that was 338 00:20:39.759 --> 00:20:44.960 about two thirds empty. There were apples, a box of 339 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:48.480 cheese its, an empty camera case on the dashboard, and 340 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:52.599 a pair of tan rubber soled boots. So I feel 341 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:55.599 like all this stuff in the car is stuff that 342 00:20:56.480 --> 00:20:57.720 should have been with him. 343 00:20:57.799 --> 00:21:00.000 Well, certainly the day pack and the wa. 344 00:21:00.640 --> 00:21:03.119 And the jacket. I mean we are talking. 345 00:21:03.240 --> 00:21:05.759 I mean for sure the snacks. The snacks. 346 00:21:07.200 --> 00:21:10.119 Right like, and this is October, this is late October 347 00:21:10.119 --> 00:21:14.680 in Pennsylvania. I think you and I can easily assume 348 00:21:14.720 --> 00:21:18.240 what the weather was. And granted there are some of 349 00:21:18.279 --> 00:21:21.960 those random late fall days that are really nice out, 350 00:21:22.119 --> 00:21:26.799 but more often than not, you have that fall chill 351 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:29.559 in the air. So hearing that his jacket was on 352 00:21:29.599 --> 00:21:33.839 the seat is concerning because though it may have been 353 00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:37.680 nice out when he got to the trailhead, there's a 354 00:21:37.759 --> 00:21:41.200 very good chance that that air started cooling down quick 355 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:45.240 if he stayed out there anytime like past the afternoon. 356 00:21:45.279 --> 00:21:46.519 Oh yeah, I mean that time of year. 357 00:21:46.559 --> 00:21:49.880 Once once like two or three o'clock hits, so the 358 00:21:49.880 --> 00:21:54.240 sun starts to make its way out, the temperature drops quick. 359 00:21:54.319 --> 00:21:57.400 So I would think if you had a jacket in 360 00:21:57.480 --> 00:22:01.279 your vehicle, you probably would have taken it with you 361 00:22:01.599 --> 00:22:03.319 in that situation. 362 00:22:03.160 --> 00:22:05.680 Right, So, yeah, it appeared that all he had taken 363 00:22:05.759 --> 00:22:08.880 with him was that camera and left everything else behind 364 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:12.680 in his car. The manager of the Pine Tree Lodge, 365 00:22:12.720 --> 00:22:16.400 reported him missing on October twenty eighth. Inside his cabin, 366 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:19.400 everything was neat and orderly. The bed had been slept in, 367 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:23.000 his belongings were carefully arranged, and it did appear that 368 00:22:23.000 --> 00:22:25.759 there was enough clothing there for the duration of his 369 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:29.839 planned stay. Nothing seemed disturbed, so everything in the cabin 370 00:22:30.000 --> 00:22:32.880 seemed normal. Search efforts began quickly and grew into one 371 00:22:32.880 --> 00:22:36.359 of the most extensive operations the area had seen. Up 372 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:39.920 to one hundred and twenty five firefighters and volunteers participated, 373 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:45.039 along with trained search dogs, nine repelling teams, and three helicopters. 374 00:22:45.720 --> 00:22:48.960 For five days, crew searched from dawn until dusk, combing 375 00:22:49.039 --> 00:22:54.039 the canyon walls, trails, and surrounding forests. However, yet again, 376 00:22:54.799 --> 00:22:59.359 the extensive search offered no new leads, which just must 377 00:22:59.359 --> 00:23:02.839 be so fresh. Steve Ferrell, who is the superintendent of 378 00:23:02.920 --> 00:23:06.599 Colton Point State Park, described the emotional toll of the search, 379 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:09.759 saying that each night he would go home unable to sleep, 380 00:23:09.839 --> 00:23:12.359 wondering what had been missed and whether Michael was still 381 00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:16.640 out there somewhere. Gaines Township Police Chief Mark Rescue expressed 382 00:23:16.640 --> 00:23:19.680 similar frustration, calling the case a puzzle where none of 383 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:20.759 the pieces seem to fit. 384 00:23:20.960 --> 00:23:22.920 His last name is rescue. 385 00:23:22.759 --> 00:23:25.480 I put an I accidentally just put a C in there. 386 00:23:25.519 --> 00:23:30.359 It's not but it is it is rescue, or it's 387 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:33.039 rescue without the sea. Okay. 388 00:23:33.240 --> 00:23:35.880 I was like, yeah, Like, I think we've covered like 389 00:23:35.920 --> 00:23:41.000 a couple of cases where the detective or the police 390 00:23:41.000 --> 00:23:44.799 officer's name is like something that you're like, if you 391 00:23:45.119 --> 00:23:47.920 weren't in this line of work, like what were you 392 00:23:47.960 --> 00:23:49.799 doing and if your last name was rescue, I would 393 00:23:49.799 --> 00:23:51.920 say like, yeah, you have to be in be a 394 00:23:51.960 --> 00:23:53.200 first responder of some kind. 395 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:56.920 But and it's funny because after I said it out loud, 396 00:23:57.400 --> 00:23:59.519 it's one of those things where like you're still talking, 397 00:23:59.599 --> 00:24:01.799 you're still carrying on with the sentence. But I was like, 398 00:24:01.799 --> 00:24:03.519 I'm pretty sure I just said that wrong. And then 399 00:24:03.599 --> 00:24:06.319 when you're like, wait, is his name rescue, And I'm like, no, 400 00:24:06.559 --> 00:24:06.920 it's not. 401 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:08.599