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EnsenadaDr
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Location: Baja California
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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...
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David K
Honored Nomad
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| 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]
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EnsenadaDr
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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] |
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David K
Honored Nomad
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Location: San Diego County
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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.
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
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Location: Baja California
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Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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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.
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BornFisher
Super Nomad
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Registered: 1-11-2005
Location: K-38 Santa Martha/Encinitas
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| 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.
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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!
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
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Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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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.
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SoCalPattonCrew
Junior Nomad
Posts: 84
Registered: 9-21-2013
Location: Costa Mesa, CA
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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! <
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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
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Glad to hear from the family!! When are you planning your trip and what is your itinerary?
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Ateo
Elite Nomad
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They would've stated their plans if they wanted you to know. Just chill.
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
Posts: 9247
Registered: 9-16-2003
Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ateo
They would've stated their plans if they wanted you to know. Just chill. |
+ 1 ^
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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
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OK Dad and Uncle. | Quote: | Originally posted by Ateo
They would've stated their plans if they wanted you to know. Just chill. |
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| 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! <
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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]
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SoCalPattonCrew
Junior Nomad
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Location: Costa Mesa, CA
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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 ....
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DENNIS
Platinum Nomad
Posts: 29510
Registered: 9-2-2006
Location: Punta Banda
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| 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?
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Sure. The area looks fairly flat, so line-of-sight communication would be at it's best.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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bajaguy
Elite Nomad
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Location: Carson City, NV/Ensenada - Baja Country Club
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Mood: must be 5 O'clock somewhere in Baja
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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
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BajaNomad
Super Administrator
Posts: 4999
Registered: 8-1-2002
Location: San Diego, CA
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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
https://www.regionalinternet.com
Affordable Domain Name Registration/Management & cPanel Web Hosting - since 1999 |
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liknbaja127
Nomad
Posts: 463
Registered: 1-17-2012
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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.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
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| 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.
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EnsenadaDr
Banned
Posts: 5027
Registered: 9-12-2011
Location: Baja California
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Mood: Move on. It is just a chapter in the past, but don't close the book- just turn the page
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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]
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