BajaNomad
Not logged in [Login - Register]

Go To Bottom
Printable Version  
 Pages:  1  ..  85    87    89  ..  116
Author: Subject: Gary Patton - Updated Jan. 5, 2015
EnsenadaDr
Banned





Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline

Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page

[*] posted on 4-24-2014 at 09:19 AM


Saturday, September 17, 2011

Police dig in Utah desert in hunt for missing mom

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Dog handler Mona Dean McGinnis loads her cadaver dogs near the base of Topaz Mountain. (ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS)
DELTA, Utah - More police officers joined a search for clues today in what authorities described as a shallow grave in the rugged Utah desert as part of a nearly two-year investigation into the disappearance of a missing mother.

Two previous days of digging have turned up nothing at the site, where the soil inspection process has taken so long that more searchers were enlisted along with a state anthropologist who is an expert in identifying human remains.

Investigators remained confident but acknowledged they still don't know whether the site is related to the disappearance of Susan Powell.

"We're all very hopeful," West Valley City Lt. Bill Merritt said. "I guess it's 50-50 at this point."

The search was halted abruptly Friday when a rainstorm swept through the area.

Cadaver dogs led police to the gravesite on Wednesday just off a dirt road near the base of Topaz Mountain, a popular rock-hounding spot in remote central Utah. The site is more than 130 miles from the location where Powell was last seen at her West Valley City home on Dec. 7, 2009.

Authorities have been searching the area since Monday. On Wednesday, they said they found human remains but later backtracked, clarifying that cadaver dogs had hit on the site but no remains had been found.

The area is about 30 miles south of a spot where Powell's husband, Josh Powell, told police he took his two young children camping on the night his wife vanished. He told police he and their young sons — then 4 and 2 — left his wife at home about 12:30 a.m. The 4-year-old confirmed the trip to police.

Josh Powell is the only person of interest in the case, although he has never been arrested or charged. He has denied having anything to do with her disappearance and said he believes his wife ran off with another man.

Susan Powell was 28 when she was reported missing after she failed to show up for her stockbroker job.

Investigators have dug down about two feet at the gravesite but don't intend to go further until the soil is sifted and closely inspected.

So far, no bones or tissue have been discovered. Instead, forensics specialists were finding dozens of small items that could be rocks or bone fragments, Merritt said.

Susan Powell's father, Chuck Cox, was escorted to the scene Friday for a look at the excavation effort.

He believes the area amid central Utah's sagebrush-dotted high desert and jagged mountains is a logical place to conduct the search because Josh Powell had camped at nearby Simpson Springs.

Cox, a former investigator for the Federal Aviation Administration, said he had long-believed the search for his daughter would be a lengthy process.

"There's no real false hope, it's just another step in the investigation," Cox said. "Every day is hard for the family. Life goes on, and so you go on the best you can. It's something you have to live with."


http://www.telegram.com/article/20110917/NEWS/110919627/1052...
View user's profile
David K
Honored Nomad
*********


Avatar


Posts: 64524
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Online

Mood: Have Baja Fever

[*] posted on 4-24-2014 at 10:35 AM


Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
I followed the road southeast a few miles on Google maps and the first place I came to was Rancho Descanso. Looks like it had a sign for food and gas. Here is the link to the area maybe someone knows it or can map it in relation to the turnoff and don't know if anyone checked for Gary there.

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.05151,-115.300655,3a,75y,90t...


Rancho Descanso is near Hector's monument, and before El Progreso.... about 38 miles north of the turnoff to Faro San Jose.

Here's an edited road log I made from my El Marmol/El Volcan web page... Gives the distances from El Rosario to the above mentioned sites... food and drinks along this remote highway are not that sparse. A lot of truck drivers get hungry along that road.

Road Log (Miles)

0.0 El Rosario Pemex Station
14.6 Punta San Carlos Jcn.
28.5 Los Martires (food), San Juan de Dios Jcn.
31.5 El Descanso (food)
31.6 Monument to Hector
37.8 Old Road to right, Mision San Fernando access
39.4 El Progreso (food), signed San Fernando road
46.2 Santa Catarina Jcn. (original shipping point for El Marmol's onyx)
46.4 Guyaquil Jcn.
54.2 San Agustin abandoned trailer park
54.3 Abandoned gas station San Agustin
54.4 San Agustin highway maintenance complex
56.1 Abandoned Tres Enriques cafe
56.5 EL MARMOL JCN. (signed 15 kms.), just beyond is the Cafe Sonora (food, onyx curios)

[Edited on 4-24-2014 by David K]




"So Much Baja, So Little Time..."

See the NEW www.VivaBaja.com for maps, travel articles, links, trip photos, and more!
Baja Missions and History On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bajamissions/
Camping, off-roading, Viva Baja discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vivabaja


View user's profile Visit user's homepage
EnsenadaDr
Banned





Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline

Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page

[*] posted on 4-24-2014 at 12:28 PM


David thank you your information for this area is invaluable. I believe Hook made a comment a while back that Gary may have had a potty stop at the Monument. But thanks to Doug's google street map I looked all around that area where Gary took the picture and it looked to me like there wasn't even a turn off for that monument on the same side of the road though there was an area to pull off on the other side of the road. I followed the road as I said after the monument and Rancho Descanso was the first real stop I saw. I wonder if the family asked anyone there or anyone put up posters there pertaining to Gary's disappearance.
Quote:
Originally posted by David K
Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
I followed the road southeast a few miles on Google maps and the first place I came to was Rancho Descanso. Looks like it had a sign for food and gas. Here is the link to the area maybe someone knows it or can map it in relation to the turnoff and don't know if anyone checked for Gary there.

https://www.google.com/maps/@30.05151,-115.300655,3a,75y,90t...


Rancho Descanso is near Hector's monument, and before El Progreso.... about 38 miles north of the turnoff to Faro San Jose.

Here's an edited road log I made from my El Marmol/El Volcan web page... Gives the distances from El Rosario to the above mentioned sites... food and drinks along this remote highway are not that sparse. A lot of truck drivers get hungry along that road.

Road Log (Miles)

0.0 El Rosario Pemex Station
14.6 Punta San Carlos Jcn.
28.5 Los Martires (food), San Juan de Dios Jcn.
31.5 El Descanso (food)
31.6 Monument to Hector
37.8 Old Road to right, Mision San Fernando access
39.4 El Progreso (food), signed San Fernando road
46.2 Santa Catarina Jcn. (original shipping point for El Marmol's onyx)
46.4 Guyaquil Jcn.
54.2 San Agustin abandoned trailer park
54.3 Abandoned gas station San Agustin
54.4 San Agustin highway maintenance complex
56.1 Abandoned Tres Enriques cafe
56.5 EL MARMOL JCN. (signed 15 kms.), just beyond is the Cafe Sonora (food, onyx curios)

[Edited on 4-24-2014 by David K]
View user's profile
David K
Honored Nomad
*********


Avatar


Posts: 64524
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Online

Mood: Have Baja Fever

[*] posted on 4-24-2014 at 06:45 PM


The Descanso cafe is on the left (southbound) and the Hector monument is on the right, at a dangerous curve (why his truck crashed there). There is NO pull off at Hector's. We drove past it to where the gurdrail ends and could get totally off the highway and walked back to the monument to take close photos and appreciate the site.



"So Much Baja, So Little Time..."

See the NEW www.VivaBaja.com for maps, travel articles, links, trip photos, and more!
Baja Missions and History On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bajamissions/
Camping, off-roading, Viva Baja discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vivabaja


View user's profile Visit user's homepage
EnsenadaDr
Banned





Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline

Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page

[*] posted on 4-24-2014 at 07:25 PM


I wonder if the posters were placed along that route, and if any people in any of those places before the turnoff had been talked to.
View user's profile
BornFisher
Super Nomad
****




Posts: 2103
Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-24-2014 at 08:44 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
I wonder if the posters were placed along that route, and if any people in any of those places before the turnoff had been talked to.


Sometimes we need to be reminded of those people who spent a lot of time and effort placing posters and talking to people. Thank you LL and Bryon and others for your efforts, hard work, and dedication!
View user's profile
EnsenadaDr
Banned





Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline

Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page

[*] posted on 4-24-2014 at 09:19 PM


It's sort of eerie following the road where Gary last traveled, after he took the photo and cyber driving along the same route, wondering if he stopped anywhere along the way and where he went and why, and what happened.
View user's profile
SoCalPattonCrew
Junior Nomad
*




Posts: 84
Registered: 9-21-2013
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-27-2014 at 06:49 PM


DavidK: We thank you so much for posting your Road Log in Miles: do you think you could add the road mileage and noteworthy markers for travel to the hotel Catavina? Our family could use this detail for their own safety. Though they've traveled thru here in the past, it is always useful to have food/gas and markers of any kind along the highway as businesses can change. THANK You for this invaluable contribution! <
View user's profile
EnsenadaDr
Banned





Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline

Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page

[*] posted on 4-27-2014 at 06:54 PM


Glad to hear from the family!! When are you planning your trip and what is your itinerary?
View user's profile
Ateo
Elite Nomad
******




Posts: 5851
Registered: 7-18-2011
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-27-2014 at 08:01 PM


They would've stated their plans if they wanted you to know. Just chill.



View user's profile
bajaguy
Elite Nomad
******




Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline

Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja

[*] posted on 4-27-2014 at 08:12 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by Ateo
They would've stated their plans if they wanted you to know. Just chill.





+ 1 ^




View user's profile
EnsenadaDr
Banned





Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline

Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page

[*] posted on 4-27-2014 at 08:26 PM


OK Dad and Uncle.
Quote:
Originally posted by Ateo
They would've stated their plans if they wanted you to know. Just chill.
View user's profile
David K
Honored Nomad
*********


Avatar


Posts: 64524
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Online

Mood: Have Baja Fever

[*] posted on 4-28-2014 at 03:09 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by SoCalPattonCrew
DavidK: We thank you so much for posting your Road Log in Miles: do you think you could add the road mileage and noteworthy markers for travel to the hotel Catavina? Our family could use this detail for their own safety. Though they've traveled thru here in the past, it is always useful to have food/gas and markers of any kind along the highway as businesses can change. THANK You for this invaluable contribution! <



OK, but they can't get lost as there is only one paved road south of El Rosario... It is 76 miles from the Pemex in El Rosario (a must stop gas station to top off the tank, as there is no more Pemex station going south for nearly 200 miles (Villa Jesus Maria or a little closer at Bahia de los Angeles). Gas is sold from cans at Cataviña for an addition price over Pemex prices, for the service of having it there.

Please allow for speedometer differences and use the following for general info. The kilometer markers are an excellent reference point to find side roads. Some of the figures provided by TW.

Road Log (Miles)

0.0 El Rosario Pemex Station (Km. 57)

14.6 Punta San Carlos Jcn. right (Km. 80/81)

28.5 Los Martires Cafe, San Juan de Dios Jcn. left (Km. 103)

31.5 El Descanso Cafe (Km. 115)

31.6 Monument to Hector (Km. 116)

37.8 Old Road to right, Mision San Fernando access

39.4 El Progreso Cafe, signed Mision San Fernando road right (Km. 121)

46.2 Santa Catarina Jcn. right (original shipping point for El Marmol's onyx) (Km. 132)

46.4 Guyaquil Jcn. left (Km. 133)

54.2 San Agustin abandoned trailer park (Km. 145)

54.3 Abandoned gas station San Agustin

54.4 San Agustin highway maintenance complex

56.1 abandoned Tres Enriques cafe

56.5 EL MARMOL JCN. left (signed 15 kms.) (Km. 148)

56.6 Sonora Cafe (Km. 149)

63.2 Agua Dulce spring access, left (Km. 160/161)

68.8 Faro San Jose/ Canoas access, right (Km. 168)

73.7 Cave Art hike parking left (Km. 176)

75.6 Cataviña (Km. 179)

76.3 Rancho Santa Ynez Jcn. left (Km. 181)
======================================================

[Edited on 4-30-2014 by David K]




"So Much Baja, So Little Time..."

See the NEW www.VivaBaja.com for maps, travel articles, links, trip photos, and more!
Baja Missions and History On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bajamissions/
Camping, off-roading, Viva Baja discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vivabaja


View user's profile Visit user's homepage
SoCalPattonCrew
Junior Nomad
*




Posts: 84
Registered: 9-21-2013
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2014 at 02:14 PM


Thank you, DavidK, for this extra detail as to the true nature of that drive down to the turnoff and Catavina, especially the detail about purchasing gas. Does anyone know what the cost is to stay at the Hotel Catavina, and whether there are other hotels heading to Catavina, that are reasonable and have a phone (?). I understand it is expensive to use the phone at Hotel Catavina.

While on this subject, would walkie-talkie type radios work very well while folks would be searching the desert near the car sighting?

Lastly, regarding the family coming down, it has been challenging for the guys to get time-off to travel down again. We were hoping for early May, but now it may be later. The planning for this next trip is getting complicated because our guys want desperately to get to the sighting area and look around themselves, try to find ranchers in the area that may have seen Gary, etc. But we also have the situation with the car to deal with as well. We have learned that the police commander at Catavina is on holiday for a few weeks, so this may affect our ability to claim the car, we are not sure. As soon as we have a timeframe confirmed, we will absolutely share with all our endearing nomads. Please stay tuned as we will update here when we know more. We cannot express how helpful it is to us to know there are folks like you nomads down there, or frequenters to the area, that are willing to support us in this difficult effort to continue a search...especially over all this long time. There are not enough ways to thank all of you ....
View user's profile
DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
********




Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2014 at 02:18 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by SoCalPattonCrew


While on this subject, would walkie-talkie type radios work very well while folks would be searching the desert near the car sighting?



Sure. The area looks fairly flat, so line-of-sight communication would be at it's best.




"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
View user's profile
bajaguy
Elite Nomad
******




Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
Member Is Offline

Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja

[*] posted on 4-29-2014 at 02:27 PM


Figure on spending about $100 a night at the Hotel Mision in Catavina. They do have a pool and others have posted here that the restaurant is pretty good.

Other motels in the area are pretty basic and may not have electricity or hot water.

Gasoline in Catavina is out of cans by roadside vendors

Hand held radios will (mostly) work line-of-sight only

For phone service and another motel option you may want to consider staying at the Baja Cactus in El Rosario, although the distance/time to the search area may not work out for you. Antonio (the owner of the motel, PEMEX and he also operates the ambulance service) may be able to help you out. His office is above the gas station.

I would strongly suggest getting a SPOT tracker if you will be off highway in that area




View user's profile
BajaNomad
Super Administrator
*********


Avatar


Posts: 4977
Registered: 8-1-2002
Location: San Diego, CA
Member Is Offline

Mood: INTP-A

[*] posted on 4-29-2014 at 04:10 PM


http://www.hotelmisionsantamaria.com.mx/en/Catavina%20en.htm...



When I was young, I admired clever people. Now that I am old, I admire kind people.
– Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

We know we must go back if we live, and we don`t know why.
– John Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez

Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting:
https://www.regionalinternet.com
View user's profile Visit user's homepage
liknbaja127
Nomad
**




Posts: 462
Registered: 1-17-2012
Member Is Offline


[*] posted on 4-29-2014 at 07:45 PM


The NORRA 1000 will be going that way on Sunday May 11th, there will be more traffic than normal on that day. just FYI. Be safe and good luck.
View user's profile
David K
Honored Nomad
*********


Avatar


Posts: 64524
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Online

Mood: Have Baja Fever

[*] posted on 4-29-2014 at 10:02 PM


Quote:
Originally posted by SoCalPattonCrew
Thank you, DavidK, for this extra detail as to the true nature of that drive down to the turnoff and Catavina, especially the detail about purchasing gas. Does anyone know what the cost is to stay at the Hotel Catavina, and whether there are other hotels heading to Catavina, that are reasonable and have a phone (?). I understand it is expensive to use the phone at Hotel Catavina.

While on this subject, would walkie-talkie type radios work very well while folks would be searching the desert near the car sighting?

Lastly, regarding the family coming down, it has been challenging for the guys to get time-off to travel down again. We were hoping for early May, but now it may be later. The planning for this next trip is getting complicated because our guys want desperately to get to the sighting area and look around themselves, try to find ranchers in the area that may have seen Gary, etc. But we also have the situation with the car to deal with as well. We have learned that the police commander at Catavina is on holiday for a few weeks, so this may affect our ability to claim the car, we are not sure. As soon as we have a timeframe confirmed, we will absolutely share with all our endearing nomads. Please stay tuned as we will update here when we know more. We cannot express how helpful it is to us to know there are folks like you nomads down there, or frequenters to the area, that are willing to support us in this difficult effort to continue a search...especially over all this long time. There are not enough ways to thank all of you ....


A great friend to all Baja travelers is Antonio Muñoz, the owner of the Baja Cactus Motel, the El Rosario Pemex gas station and he is a Baja Nomad with the handle 'BajaCactus'.

His motel is cheap yet luxurious by highway motel standards. Each room has a telephone and can connect to the U.S. The distance from El Rosario to Cataviña is 76 miles (1.5 hrs.). There are other motels in El Rosario and a Bed & Breakfast.

In Cataviña there is the Hotel Mision Cataviña, The Motel Linda, and the bunk rooms at Rancho Santa Ynez, 1 mile south.




"So Much Baja, So Little Time..."

See the NEW www.VivaBaja.com for maps, travel articles, links, trip photos, and more!
Baja Missions and History On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bajamissions/
Camping, off-roading, Viva Baja discussion: https://www.facebook.com/groups/vivabaja


View user's profile Visit user's homepage
EnsenadaDr
Banned





Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
Member Is Offline

Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page

[*] posted on 4-30-2014 at 06:09 AM


Here is a missing person's case near Catavina, it appeared the sister hired cowboys at 300 pesos a day to look for her brother. Might be an idea.

Found intact belongings Italian tourist died
Andres Perales, Cesar Cordova / THE VALLEY


The backpack that brought Antonio Giardella along with their skeletal remains.
El Vigia
2008-12-09 00:00:00
San Quentin B.C. - Watered by several points of the stream "Horses in the delegation of Cataviña, they found the skeletal remains of the Italian tourist Antonio Giardella, after five months remain missing, their belongings were untouched next to a rock.

Details of the Attorney General of the State (PGJE) in San Quintin, concerns that the foreign possibly died from dehydration due to high temperatures happened the seventh day of July, when they were allegedly lost, ranging to 45 degrees centigrade.

The remains were found last Monday at about 22 kilometers from Cataviña, in a rocky area at the East of the cave paintings, 550 kilometers south of the city of Ensenada.

To locate the corpse Simona Giardella, sister of the deceased, hired eight cowboys in the area, who are paid 300 pesos a day.

After three days of search crawlers found skeletal remains, though in doing so noted that missing limbs and skull, which were located at various points downstream

They also found a backpack green white stripe, and inside it were a case for glasses, a change of clothes, sunscreen and a camera with his sleeve, used to capture landscapes during the expedition.

Sources from the PGJE and elements of Expert Services who came to the place of discovery, possibly indicated that the limbs were torn by scavengers of the place, like coyotes and birds.

The skull of the Italian was in the bed of the stream and no signs of violence, even still had scalp, which will serve to practice DNA tests to confirm their identification.

Later the remains moved to the facilities of the Forensic Medical Service (Semefo), where they were turned over to the authorities.

The PGJE 1821/308/306 began the preliminary investigation for manslaughter, to rule out the possibility that she has been murdered.

Simona Giardella kept the memory of the camera, which he submitted to the authorities to know what his brother took pictures, and if they match the place where he was found.


Research lines

Lidia Aguilar Gallegos, deputy justice Ensenada area, reported that the remains were found 15 kilometers of road Transpeninsular, heading to the Gulf of California.

He said that there are two lines of investigation: the first is that not resist high temperatures and the second that could have been a victim of a venomous animal bite, which caused him to death.

"These are the two scenarios we have, and it may be that in both cases (now deceased) was disoriented and was attacked and dragged by the fauna of the place ... has no clothes torn, only themselves to the passage of time, and has no limbs, which suggests that an animal devoured it, "he concluded.

http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=35759


[Edited on 4-30-2014 by EnsenadaDr]
View user's profile
 Pages:  1  ..  85    87    89  ..  116

  Go To Top

 






All Content Copyright 1997- Q87 International; All Rights Reserved.
Powered by XMB; XMB Forum Software © 2001-2014 The XMB Group






"If it were lush and rich, one could understand the pull, but it is fierce and hostile and sullen. The stone mountains pile up to the sky and there is little fresh water. But we know we must go back if we live, and we don't know why." - Steinbeck, Log from the Sea of Cortez

 

"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care." - Theodore Roosevelt

 

"You can easily judge the character of others by how they treat those who they think can do nothing for them or to them." - Malcolm Forbes

 

"Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else's hands, but not you." - Jim Rohn

 

"The best way to get the right answer on the internet is not to ask a question; it's to post the wrong answer." - Cunningham's Law







Thank you to Baja Bound Mexico Insurance Services for your long-term support of the BajaNomad.com Forums site.







Emergency Baja Contacts Include:

Desert Hawks; El Rosario-based ambulance transport; Emergency #: (616) 103-0262