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EnsenadaDr
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We still don't know if it was Gary or the Rancher that tried to dig it out. If the car started the Rancher might have tried to drive it out but it
got stuck. So he enlisted the rake and shovel to try to get it out. In the end it was towed most likely because the truck couldn't get out of the
arroyo. | Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Right, Ken. The shovels suggest that he tried to dig it out.
I guess that I just can't see Gary going surfing to this remote spot for 4+ months and then driving out and getting stuck. Who spends 4 months
anywhere in baja unless it's a settlement with full amenities? I realize that he is a pensioner and had the time but even so given that it is so
isolated from markets it's really unlikely. An examination of the cooler may provide information if it contains something bought at the highway
recently (not long before car was stuck).
If the car was dropped off by the bad guys why would they bother to try to dig it out? |
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durrelllrobert
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| Quote: | Originally posted by ligui
I guess to guess. |
Bob Durrell
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Skipjack Joe
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Dr.
Why would the rancher tell us that he found a shovel and rake if it was his own.
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EnsenadaDr
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You are right, Skipjack. He said it was by the car and someone was attempting to dig it out.
Author: Subject: CAR FOUND near Catavinia : Gary Patton - what now?
lizard lips
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posted on 4-5-2014 at 01:29 PM Reply With Quote Report Post to Administrator
I was the person, on behalf of the family, that interviewed the rancher that found the vehicle last Thursday. This is exactly what he told me. He said
that on March 04 he was on horseback looking for his cattle and came upon Gary's vehicle in an arroyo very close to his ranch. He has 80 head and
because it's an open range he often goes looking to make sure all is well. He said Gary's 4 Runner's back tires were sunk in the sand and there was a
shovel and a rake close by and it appeared that someone was attempting to dig out the tires to free it up with no success.
The vehicle was locked and there was a surfboard sticking out the back window which was rolled up so the board had just enough room to stick out and
where the window hit the board, the board was wrapped in a towel. The front passenger seat was pushed forward so that the board could fit all the way
to the front windshield.
He was able to get into the vehicle, I didn't ask how, and he saw a small ice chest with two beers and some orange juice and water which appeared to
be from the melted ice. The water was not cold to the touch. He also saw two bags of clothes containing shirts and short pants. In between the two
front seats was a container with U.S. coins and when he picked up the container he noticed a set of keys that fit the ignition for the vehicle. There
was also two "expensive" cameras and some canned food. Everything in the SUV appeared to be well kept and neatly organized. There were no water
bottles in the car. The vehicle was dusty but not very dirty.
The rancher attempted to start the car but the battery was dead.
He said he also went on horseback in circles for about an hour and did a small search for anything else that may be there for about an hour.
These are the directions where he said he found it: At km 189, heading south on Hwy 1, is a turn off approximately 12 km prior to reaching Catavina.
There is a large sign that says "San Jose". You turn right heading towards the ocean. You stay on this dirt road for approximately 38 kilometers and
come to a Y in the road. You take the dirt road to the right and travel approximately 10 kilometers and turn left and follow this dirt road another 2
km and off to the right is an arroyo about 400 meters and the vehicle was behind a small hill off to the right side. He stated that you would not be
able to see the 4 Runner while traveling on the road. It was hidden from view. His ranch is about 2 km further. Very close indeed!
On March 05 the rancher reported that he drove his tractor to the vehicle and towed it to his ranch where it would be safe. Apparently other ranchers
also are looking for cattle and he didn't want anything to happen to the SUV and all of the contents. After towing he drove to the Catavina Police and
informed them of the vehicle. On March 09 the police came to his ranch and towed the SUV to their impound yard.
The rancher found a phone number for what he thought was the owners family and called and told them that the vehicle was found and where it was. He
had no knowledge of Garys disappearance prior to locating the SUV.
This is where the interview became interesting…. The rancher said in the beginning of December 2013 he was on horseback looking for his cattle and was
at this exact spot where he found the SUV on March 4 and it definitely was not there. He also mentioned that other ranchers patrol this area weekly
and no one reported the abandoned vehicle. The rancher said he thinks the vehicle was only there, at the most, for one week.
It was also learned that the local habitat consists of Coyotes, Mountain Lions, and a lot of Rattle snakes.
He also said that if Gary was attempting to find someone for help, there are ranch houses nearby and several people travel that road on a daily basis.
This area, of course, is not heavily populated but someone would have driven by and seen him if he was walking.
This is all he knows and he was thanked for his concern and honesty by me and the family who has also talked to him and his daughter and son whom I
also met. Very nice people.
I told the family to post the information in the last post and I also told them not to revel the dates and the entire story in that I wanted to make
some calls first. So it's my fault for not giving you the entire story but I am doing this now. I hope you can appreciate this in that I wanted to get
the full story from another source I have and all is correct.
A call was received from the Tijuana Embassy to the Patton family that the vehicle is ready to be picked up and has been released so they are making
plans to go to San Quintin, where the car is now, and drive it back. The family also told me that they want to do a search in the area where the
vehicle was found towards the first part of May. I explained to the family that it's a BIG desert and won't be easy but it must be done.
Now, I'm sure some of you are concerned about the camera and the last photos that were taken on the same day he went missing as the camera had the
date and time function operating. The camera was inspected Gary's son when they initially saw the SUV at the Catavina Police impound yard and his son
turned the camera on and saw the photo. The photo was a picture of a little memorial that was placed on the highway where apparently an accident
occurred and the family of the victim constructed it. You all have seen plenty of these. My thoughts are maybe Gary inserted this chip after he used
up another one. Who knows and we won't know until the camera is returned and all of the photos are viewed.
If the ranchers thoughts are true about how long he thinks the 4 Runner was actually there then this would have been about six weeks ago that either
Gary or someone else got the vehicle stuck in the sand.
After the interview I called and explained everything to the family and once again asked about Garys mental health and their thoughts about about this
new information. They told me, just like before, that Gary was in a good mental state and never had any problems. Their hopes are up about what was
learned and so it should be.
To date Gary's ATM card has not been used.
Thats all for now. If more information comes forward it will be posted.
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Skipjack Joe
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Why would he report that there were signs of digging out the vehicle if he had done it himself? <grin>
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EnsenadaDr
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I said I was mistaken and have already given you credit. Thanks Skipjack. | Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Why would he report that there were signs of digging out the vehicle if he had done it himself? <grin> |
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Skipjack Joe
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Here's a question about the cooler they found.
If you found a cooler with cold cuts and full of ice would you think it more likely that Gary was going from hwy 1 to Canoa or would you think it
likely that Gary had been at Canoa 4 months and was coming back?
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EnsenadaDr
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No joke I think they should have checked the clothes for underwear, he certainly wouldn't have changed them going to canoas. | Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Here's a question about the cooler they found.
If you found a cooler with cold cuts and full of ice would you think it more likely that Gary was going from hwy 1 to Canoa or would you think it
likely that Gary had been at Canoa 4 months and was coming back? |
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Skipjack Joe
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| Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
No joke I think they should have checked the clothes for underwear, he certainly wouldn't have changed them going to canoas. | Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Here's a question about the cooler they found.
If you found a cooler with cold cuts and full of ice would you think it more likely that Gary was going from hwy 1 to Canoa or would you think it
likely that Gary had been at Canoa 4 months and was coming back? |
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Thanks for reposting the original thread Dr. Looks like I was wrong about the cold cuts. It was orange juice that was being cooled. How likely is it
that Gary was driving back from Canoa with cooled OJ? That he hadn't finished the OJ which he had bought 4+ months ago at the hwy?
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tripledigitken
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Is drinking water and food stuffs available at Canoa?
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David K
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Looked like a small commercial fishing camp... not a town, no stores. However, that was a few years ago. If the surfing Nomads who have a sworn vow of
silence on the Seven Sisters will speak on this, then they will have better info.
Oh, and there is an s in CANOAS 
[Edited on 5-9-2014 by David K]
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Ateo
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There ain't no food or drink out there, unless you're buying the fisherman's supply. No stores for 40 miles. Let's remember, this is one of the most
remote areas in Baja. Sure there are more remote areas, but this is definitely a "bring what you need in" area. Think some stretch of Arizona
desert, without highway 8.
[Edited on 5-9-2014 by Ateo]
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tripledigitken
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Ateo
There ain't no food or drink out there.....but this is definitely a "bring what you need in" area....
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That's what I thought. So how could Gary survive out there from Sept to March without regular visits to Catavina or El Rosario for supplies? As I
recall, the odometer didn't indicate an allowance for the amount of extra mileage for supply trips over the course of six months. (without the issue
of no ATM withdrawals for living expenses over that long period of time being factored in)
It doesn't add up to me that it could have been Gary in March getting stuck and walking away from his Toyota at the arroyo site.
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CortezBlue
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| Quote: | Originally posted by DENNIS
| Quote: | Originally posted by CortezBlue
Yep
There are several folks that you can't mention in any kind of negative light without being censored.
In fact, even without using their name, but have an accurate enough description will get you bumped as well.
And if you have a copy of the post and try to post it as an image, that will be bumped as well.
Bottom line, this web site is not a democracy, and this post will probably be censored for stating so! |
Nobody ever claimed it to be a democracy, but I would like to know who is receiving protection here? One name, please. |
If I told you that you would have to censor me!!
“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
- Albert Einstein
Follow Cortez Blue
www.cortezblue.com
We put the FUNK in disFUNKtion |
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Skipjack Joe
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This is an interesting quote from the LLs original post:
| Quote: |
He also said that if Gary was attempting to find someone for help, there are ranch houses nearby and several people travel that road on a daily basis.
This area, of course, is not heavily populated but someone would have driven by and seen him if he was walking.
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The rancher says that there is enough traffic on that road that he would have encountered someone on the road within a day's wait. This is strange
because there was enough liquid in the car to have been able to wait that long. And the main road was easy to find, all he had to do was follow his
own car's tracks to it.
So if this is right why wasn't he picked up? Was he just unlucky?
Another thought:
When providing evidence is it common for people to put forth more strongly evidence that support a theory they already have made and refrain
mentioning information that doesn't support it? This is just normal human nature. I think we all do it when we try to convince one another. I'm
wondering if investigators and even witnesses do the same.
Because, frankly, there is too much conflicting information here.
To me it looks there is 2 kinds of information -
concrete information:
1. odometer miles
2. location of vehicle
3. shove and rakes with buried tires and digging signs
4. expensive cameras still present
5. content of icebox
6. clothes neatly packed.
7. money and keys on front seat
less solid information:
1. "I would have seen the vehicle if it was there 2 months ago"
2. "there is enough traffic that he should have been picked up"
Strangely the two types contradict one another.
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ligui
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It's a new day .... time to make a new guess .
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absinvestor
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Skipjack-good summary.
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micah202
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| Quote: | Originally posted by EnsenadaDr
I said I was mistaken and have already given you credit. Thanks Skipjack. | Quote: | Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
Why would he report that there were signs of digging out the vehicle if he had done it himself? <grin> |
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....ooooohh--'credit' now,,,,,what's -that- good for??  
[Edited on 5-9-2014 by micah202]
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absinvestor
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One other thought. Might be too late but orange juice that sat for 6 months would be totally rancid vs orange juice that might only have been warm for
a few days.
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DENNIS
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| Quote: | Originally posted by absinvestor
One other thought. Might be too late but orange juice that sat for 6 months would be totally rancid |
Probably more like solid........or, with a loose lid, evaporated.
"YOU CAN'T LITTER ALUMINUM"
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