Overview
Researcher David Paulides discusses unexplained disappearances in national parks and similar areas worldwide, highlighting investigative challenges, patterns, and theories surrounding these cases.
Initial Interest and Investigative Barriers
- Paulides became involved after park rangers expressed concern about unsolved disappearances in national parks.
- Rangers noted intense investigation efforts initially, but follow-up and transparency often ceased after a week.
- Freedom of Information Act requests for missing persons lists were denied or claimed unavailable by park authorities.
- Journalists believe the National Park Service does track missing persons but withholds the information.
Case Patterns and Notable Incidents
- Around 1,600 cases have been documented across eight countries, with records dating back to the 1700s.
- Estimated 50–60% of missing persons in these areas are never found despite extensive searches.
- Cases occur not only in remote backcountry but also in populated park areas and along major trails.
- Many victims are found with clean, unworn clothing, and sometimes with unusual physical conditions (e.g., fever, minor injuries).
- Instances include individuals found far from disappearance sites, sometimes alive but disoriented and with memory gaps.
Specific Case Examples
- Toronto firefighter vanished in New York, found later in California still in ski gear, with memory loss and unexplained haircut.
- Carl Disch, a physicist, disappeared from a polar research station; neither he nor his equipment was ever located.
- Jared Atadero, a child, disappeared in Colorado; recovered clothing appeared unworn after four years outdoors.
- Multiple disappearances along the Appalachian Trail, including experienced hikers and older adults.
Search and Rescue Observations
- Brought-in canines often fail to find scents or become disinterested/scared.
- Searchers rarely find indications of animal attacks, struggles, or abduction scenarios.
- Victims often vanish while with companions, sometimes as the first or last in line.
Theories and Speculations
- Theories range from government experiments and serial killers to extraterrestrials, portals, and folklore entities.
- Some incidents coincide with sudden adverse weather, hampering searches.
- High numbers of intellectuals, especially physicists and physicians, have gone missing under mysterious circumstances.
Safety Recommendations
- Avoid venturing alone into national parks; always stay in sight of companions.
- Carry a personal transponder; if unaffordable, rent one from outdoor stores.
- Inform someone of travel plans and expected return times.
- Bow hunters are more frequently victims than firearm hunters.
Decisions
- Continue open-minded investigation: Paulides and team will expand research to include possible urban cases and global incidents.
Action Items
- TBD – Paulides/team: Present new data and expert opinions in an upcoming documentary.
- TBD – Paulides/team: Investigate urban disappearance patterns for potential connections to rural cases.
Questions / Follow-Ups
- What accounts for the clean, unworn condition of recovered clothing and personal effects?
- Why do some victims reappear with unexplained memory loss or physical changes?
- What prevents authorities from disclosing case details or collaborating with independent investigators?
- Are there similar disappearance patterns emerging in urban settings?