Hey guys I just saw a segment about two guys from Colorado who owned the same bookstore at two different times...and they both disappeared..

The first guy, tom Young, said he was going to europe but they found his body along with his dog in the woods along with a revolver.

Keith Reinhart said he was going to climb the mountain in Colorado although he had a fear of heights and Vertigo and going through a midlife crisis..anyways noone has found him.

I googled the heck out of it for updates and nada...

This is one of my all time favorite segments, have always wondered what happened to Keith.

I also loved this segment...

Never been an update but two strong theories emerged. Based on how many people Keith told he was "just going for a hike," it is obvious he wanted people to know he was gone. One theory is that he went off to the mountains to kill himself. But more likely, he went to climb a mountain to prove something to himself and either fell and died or got lost and died.

I would be anything that his body is lost in the mountains somewhere and will probably never be found due to how remote it is.

VERY strange case though.

Yep great segment. I'm a little aggravated at UM's portrayal of Keith Reinhard on this one. Someone from the board spoke with the police department where he went missing a few years ago and he still hadn't been found. This friend also sent me copies of several newspaper clippings of Tom and Keith's disappearance. UM made such a concerted effort to tie in the book Keith was writing on Tom but in the actual newspaper not one word was mentioned about it. There didn't seem to be a doubt that he just got lost up in the mountains but UM seemed to go out of their way to suggest something sinister or suicidal. Here is a a letter published in the newspaper that Keith had written to his wife just days before he went missing which show that he seemed to be in a very upbeat state of mind:

"Yesterday Ted and I tried to conquer the ridge looking down on Silver Plume from the south. Ted made it. I didn't, reaching within 50-100 feet of the summit and all of a sudden getting panicky over my heights phobia. I wedged myself behind a scraggly spruce tree looking perhaps 1500 feet straight down at town and resigned myself to sleeping there overnight and waiting for a helicopter to rescue me the next day.
Ted, who had taken a different route to the top, eventually found me trying to ease my way back down. I was truly scared. But when we reached town near dark about an hour-and-a-half later, I vowed all over again to make that climb and reach the top.
Somewhere in all of this adventure (including a rainstorm we had to deal with that made the rocks very slippery) is a story about setting goals, facing life-threatening challenges, getting close to the magnificence of nature and learning to appreciate some of the consistencies of our natural world that are not always as readily found in our fellow man. That mountain was overpowering, but I felt that as long as I had total respect for it, and its ability to cast me off like just another quartzite boulder, the mountain was at least going to give me a fair shake on my descent.
Life is full of challenges. We aren't always successful in meeting them either. But as long as we have the ambition to go back and try again, and as long as we can use the failures as well as the successes to improve and shape our lives, they are important to establish. I'm so sore and stiff and wounded this morning that I can barely negotiate a flight of stairs. But I'll bet you within two days I'll be back up there trying to reach the top again."
--Keith Reinhard

So what do you guys think after reading the letter? It really made me see the case in a new light (because before I was leaning towards possible suicide).

I'm leaning towards accidental death now. Very interesting.

I'm leaning towards accidental death now. Very interesting.

I totally agree!

Keith Reinhart said he was going to climb the mountain in Colorado although he had a fear of heights and Vertigo and going through a midlife crisis..anyways noone has found him.

I googled the heck out of it for updates and nada...

That's probably because you misspelled the last name. The actual spelling is Reinhard.

He is mentioned in an article dated November 30, 2007, nearly four months ago.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=85640

oh that would be why...thanks

That's good stuff, CD.

I have to admit, I was leaning strong to suicide when I first saw the story on UM. They pretty much paint that trail for the viewer in the story. When they read the quote from his book and then say how he went off, I think it would definitely make it sound like suicide.

But with the new evidence and looking at it from a different perspective, I think he went to climb a mountain and somehow had an accident.

That's probably because you misspelled the last name. The actual spelling is Reinhard.

He is mentioned in an article dated November 30, 2007, nearly four months ago.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=85640


Great find, Kane! Thanks for sharing the link.

If someone who knew him that well thinks it wasn't suicide, then it is even more evidence to me that it probably wasn't.

On one hand I think they would have found something, but thinking about how rugged the mountains can be and not knowing exactly where he was going, I suppose they could have just missed him.

I'd really like to see this one solved.

There is a new article that mentions Keith Reinhard. It is dated today (March 16, 2008). The article is about his grandson Kai Reinhard.

It also mentions that Sven Reinhard, Kai's uncle and Keith's oldest son, died of cardon monoxide poisoning in 2001. :( (I recall that one of Keith's sons was interviewed on Unsolved Mysteries, but I don't remember whether it was Sven or another son of his.)


http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=154694

i just literly watched that segment .I think most likely he became so involved in the book he was writing that he went into the mountains to see what Tom was thinking and feeling as a writer would and either got lost in the woods or did kill himself .the reason his body was never found I cant answer that .

It also mentions that Sven Reinhard, Kai's uncle and Keith's oldest son, died of cardon monoxide poisoning in 2001. :( (I recall that one of Keith's sons was interviewed on Unsolved Mysteries, but I don't remember whether it was Sven or another son of his.)




Its hard to believe that Keith is old enough to have a grandson in high school! Yes Sven Reinhard was the one interviewed in the segment. So sad to hear he's died. :(

Yep it was indeed Sven.

Quite sad.

As for this new evidence... I still wouldn't rule suicide out.

Sure he sounds all excited about attempting the climb again and sure even a little happy go lucky to an extent.

I had a co worker wonderful guy a few years ago who I related to quite well. He was a very depressed person and having battled depression off and on for the last 13 or so years... I could feel his pain and it made sense to me.

Sadly he took his own life a few years ago and in the days prior he was as happy as I had ever seen him. Happy to the point that everyone at work, myself included felt he was making some real strides in overcoming his demons.

Turns out he was happy because he had made up his mind that he was ending it and there was nothing anyone could do to talk him out of it any longer. Quite sad.

What am I getting at? Well it's normal for a person who's decided to commit suicide to be happy in the days leading up to to the act itself. While you would think Keith if anything would have left a suicide note for his friends and family.. assuming of course that he did in fact kill himself... someone that down in the dumps isn't always the most rational thinker.

Perhaps the note was a cover of sorts.

Perhaps Keith decided that he didn't want to leave a suicide note, due to fear of his loved ones thinking they were in part to blame.. a stretch yes... but a possibility? sure...

For the record I was in fact leaning suicide and I am instead now in fact leaning toward accidental death, I would just simply not use the letter as a means of ruling suicide out altogether that's all.

I watched the NBC version this morning (it is identical to the Lifetime version, btw). I am torn between suicide and accident in Keith's disappearance. However, I do not believe that Keith or Tom were murdered. The UM segment did try to raise this issue because the bullet recovered from Tom Young's body couldn't be matched to his gun. I don't know much about ballistics but I'm wondering if the bullet could have just been in bad shape and therefore not identifiable. So, they can't say conclusively that it did come from his gun, but they can't prove it didn't either. UM also brought up the issue that the two men rented the same property and therefore could have discovered something that put their lives in danger. I think this is highly speculative at best, and not an impressive theory.

Also, the late Sven Reinhard was interviewed in the segment.

This is one of those cases I've always been fascinated with as it's one of those that is mysterious.....yet not as sinister-sounding as many others.

I don't know what could've been going on with Keith Reinhart.....I generally tend to gravitate towards one of two general trains of thought: either he consciously wanted to leave everything behind and disappear (for whatever reason.....), or he ventured into the wilderness to have some time to himself, to relax or meditate or whatever......and he got lost and eventually died.

As for Tom Young? Well, if they wouldn't have found him with his revolver and an unknown bullet in his body......I'd tie him in with one of the two theories I attributed to Keith Reinhart. I'm going to go along with what justin said above though about the bullet in Tom being in bad shape or otherwise unidentifiable.

What, in that tiny, out of the way town would those two men have stumbled onto that would've put their lives in jeopardy?? Even if Tom left some enemies back where he came from, he would've had to just really push one or more of them over the edge--otherwise, why chase someone halfway across the country (and off the face of the map apparently), just to satisfy 'some grudge' ?? The only other possibility would be that Tom/Keith got into it with one or more persons living in that town......which seems unlikely, given how kind and mild-mannered most of the residents there seemed to be.

What, in that tiny, out of the way town would those two men have stumbled onto that would've put their lives in jeopardy?? Even if Tom left some enemies back where he came from, he would've had to just really push one or more of them over the edge--otherwise, why chase someone halfway across the country (and off the face of the map apparently), just to satisfy 'some grudge' ?? The only other possibility would be that Tom/Keith got into it with one or more persons living in that town......which seems unlikely, given how kind and mild-mannered most of the residents there seemed to be.

Stack mentioned that the town's population was around 130 people. This strikes me as the type of place where everyone probably knows everyone and in turn there are few secrets. This also works against the murder theory, in my opinion.

Stack mentioned that the town's population was around 130 people. This strikes me as the type of place where everyone probably knows everyone and in turn there are few secrets. This also works against the murder theory, in my opinion.

Definitely........unless all 130 of them were drug runners or the mafia was using Keith/Tom's building to store/hide something they found......there's no way I could see either one of them getting into a serious enough mess to make their murders seem plausible.

There is a new article that mentions Keith Reinhard. It is dated today (March 16, 2008). The article is about his grandson Kai Reinhard.

It also mentions that Sven Reinhard, Kai's uncle and Keith's oldest son, died of cardon monoxide poisoning in 2001. :( (I recall that one of Keith's sons was interviewed on Unsolved Mysteries, but I don't remember whether it was Sven or another son of his.)


http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=154694

article mentions that perhaps Keith stumbled upon illegal dumping in the mountains, which is a new theory. Maybe that's what did Tom Young in too.

The pertinent portion of the aforementioned newspaper article:

"He left a bar in Silver Plume -- his best friend talked to him last -- and said he was going into the mountains," said Kai, recounting the story he heard from his grandmother, Reinhard's ex-wife. "Supposedly, people were dumping nuclear waste in the mines, and that's illegal. He went out there with his camera and he never came back."

That's an interesting angle......one that's not quite out of the realm of possibility.

Going off of that......one possibility could be that Tom got turned onto that somehow......after hearing rumors floating around town or whatever.....he decides to go out into the mountains and check things out for himself. Then, a party or parties working for (or on behalf of) the illegal dumpers get rid of Tom & his dog.

Later, along comes Keith. In doing research and performing casual queries about Tom and his disappearance, he decides to go out into the mountains and satisfy his curiosity. The villians in this scenario could've heard about Keith's curiosity and thus had advanced knowledge he would probably be venturing into the wilderness, or perhaps they stumble across him while he's actually out there and get rid of him on the spot.

The only problem I see with this whole scenario is the discovery of Tom's remains. If professionals killed Tom out in the woods to prevent him from stumbling onto something like illegal dumping.....they should've at least acknowledged the possibility that not disposing of his body properly would invite more curiosity, more speculation and thus, more unwanted attention.

On the flipside, you could say that whoever killed Tom learned from their mistakes, which is why no trace of Keith has ever been found......

The pertinent portion of the aforementioned newspaper article:



That's an interesting angle......one that's not quite out of the realm of possibility.

Going off of that......one possibility could be that Tom got turned onto that somehow......after hearing rumors floating around town or whatever.....he decides to go out into the mountains and check things out for himself. Then, a party or parties working for (or on behalf of) the illegal dumpers get rid of Tom & his dog.

Later, along comes Keith. In doing research and performing casual queries about Tom and his disappearance, he decides to go out into the mountains and satisfy his curiosity. The villians in this scenario could've heard about Keith's curiosity and thus had advanced knowledge he would probably be venturing into the wilderness, or perhaps they stumble across him while he's actually out there and get rid of him on the spot.

The only problem I see with this whole scenario is the discovery of Tom's remains. If professionals killed Tom out in the woods to prevent him from stumbling onto something like illegal dumping.....they should've at least acknowledged the possibility that not disposing of his body properly would invite more curiosity, more speculation and thus, more unwanted attention.

On the flipside, you could say that whoever killed Tom learned from their mistakes, which is why no trace of Keith has ever been found......

Interesting post that got me thinking.

If the illegal dumping angle is true, I'm not totally surprised that Tom was found and Keith wasn't, because of this: if both Tom and Keith are found in the same place, and not too far spaced apart time-wise, and both have died under questionable circumstances, the would-be killers might assume that people will catch on that there's somebody in the mountains offing local residents, and that the odds of 2 people in a community of 130 going up in the mountains to commit suicide is a bit unlikely.

I do think it is a bit unlikely that both Tom and Keith would jeopardize their lives to investigate the illegal dumping. I think it would be more of a case of them accidentally stumbling upon it.

One thing I would like to know is if Tom ventured into the mountains regularly, or if this was just a one-time thing.

The pertinent portion of the aforementioned newspaper article:



That's an interesting angle......one that's not quite out of the realm of possibility.

Going off of that......one possibility could be that Tom got turned onto that somehow......after hearing rumors floating around town or whatever.....he decides to go out into the mountains and check things out for himself. Then, a party or parties working for (or on behalf of) the illegal dumpers get rid of Tom & his dog.

Later, along comes Keith. In doing research and performing casual queries about Tom and his disappearance, he decides to go out into the mountains and satisfy his curiosity. The villians in this scenario could've heard about Keith's curiosity and thus had advanced knowledge he would probably be venturing into the wilderness, or perhaps they stumble across him while he's actually out there and get rid of him on the spot.

The only problem I see with this whole scenario is the discovery of Tom's remains. If professionals killed Tom out in the woods to prevent him from stumbling onto something like illegal dumping.....they should've at least acknowledged the possibility that not disposing of his body properly would invite more curiosity, more speculation and thus, more unwanted attention.

On the flipside, you could say that whoever killed Tom learned from their mistakes, which is why no trace of Keith has ever been found......


Wait a minute...I thought the UM segment said that Keith did NOT take his cameras with him when he disappeared and that this was out of character, as he was an avid photographer and usually made a point to keep them handy. I could be wrong though.

In any event, Keith did like to keep a camera on his person, so if he did have it with him when he disappeared I think it is inconsequential. It doesn't mean that he was on some clandestine mission to photograph toxic waste.

Wait a minute...I thought the UM segment said that Keith did NOT take his cameras with him when he disappeared and that this was out of character, as he was an avid photographer and usually made a point to keep them handy. I could be wrong though.



Yes I believe his wife said in the interview that he didn't take his camera and that was out of character for him.

Yes I believe his wife said in the interview that he didn't take his camera and that was out of character for him.

That just plays towards the whole scenario of him stumbling onto something by random chance then.......Keith went out into the mountains for his own reasons, but while out there, he saw or found evidence of something he wasn't supposed to see or know about......

I just Googled Keith's and Sven's name and this came up.

I had not seen or spoken with Keith for about nine months before he disappeared. Prior to that, we had been close friends.

He would not have killed himself in that he cared about his kids too much. He was very devoted to them. His first wife, their mother, was still an active part of Keith's life. Plus I think that his parents were still alive when he disappeared. He doted on them too.

I think that he had an accident while hiking. Or perhaps he had a heart attack. I was with him one time when he had an episode where he started to hyperventilate, and I thought that I was going to have to call an ambulance because he collapsed on the floor. I think that it is possible that he was hypoglycemic.

He for sure was a heavy drinker (we had many nights out together) and he would periodically go on the wagon which made him very cranky.

I have had ongoing dreams for the almost twenty years where I run into him and he has just shown up and is vague about the reason that he disappeared.

I had contacted that Necro Search International outfit in Colorado to see if they could be of any assistance in figuring out what happened, but they never returned my call.

http://www.necrosearch.com/

Keith was a Beatle fanatic, and had annual or semi-annual parties devoted to them. It was a testament to Keith that everybody from judges to pro soccer players to pro soccer groupies to record company figures to musicians to other journalists to his kids' friends to just about anybody would show up because they were friends of Keith.

I for one would like to find out what happened to him, but I do not think that it has anything to do with anything sinister.

The toxic waste thing is a new one on me. That has been the plot of a lot of films. I think that Silver City, which was set in Colorado, dealt with it.

At the time that Keith disappeared somebody tossed around a kidnapped by aliens scenario.

I just Googled Keith's and Sven's name and this came up.

I had not seen or spoken with Keith for about nine months before he disappeared. Prior to that, we had been close friends.

He would not have killed himself in that he cared about his kids too much. He was very devoted to them. His first wife, their mother, was still an active part of Keith's life. Plus I think that his parents were still alive when he disappeared. He doted on them too.

I think that he had an accident while hiking. Or perhaps he had a heart attack. I was with him one time when he had an episode where he started to hyperventilate, and I thought that I was going to have to call an ambulance because he collapsed on the floor. I think that it is possible that he was hypoglycemic.

He for sure was a heavy drinker (we had many nights out together) and he would periodically go on the wagon which made him very cranky.

I have had ongoing dreams for the almost twenty years where I run into him and he has just shown up and is vague about the reason that he disappeared.

I had contacted that Necro Search International outfit in Colorado to see if they could be of any assistance in figuring out what happened, but they never returned my call.

http://www.necrosearch.com/

Keith was a Beatle fanatic, and had annual or semi-annual parties devoted to them. It was a testament to Keith that everybody from judges to pro soccer players to pro soccer groupies to record company figures to musicians to other journalists to his kids' friends to just about anybody would show up because they were friends of Keith.

I for one would like to find out what happened to him, but I do not think that it has anything to do with anything sinister.

Thanks for posting. It was so sad to hear that Keith's son Sven has since passed away. Interesting comment about him being a heavy drinker. If he had been drinking before his hike that would have made him more likely to say lose his balance while climbing or made him not think clearly and made choices he wouldn't have normally made. I do think he died an accidental death on the mountains whether it was perhaps a fall or dying of exposure and just hasn't been found. I do think there's still a chance they will find them one day.

I emailed Necrosearch International again, and the following is the response.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regarding your email and voicemail, Necrosearch International has no time limit on cases. Many of our cases go back several years and in some cases, decades. Our main criteria is that we only work with a law enforcement agency that requests our assistance. If there is an agency involved in your case that might have an interest in using our expertise, we would be happy to evaluate the case and determine if we can be a useful resource in the the investigation.

Necrosearch International is non-profit, so we only charge for actual expenses (travel, shipping of equipment, etc.). We are basically a collaborative group of scientists/experts that put our heads together on cases.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me (information listed below) or have the agency involved contact me.

Kindest Regards,
Dr. Thomas Bellinger
Vice President/Necrosearch International
trbellinger@aol.com
303 594 0435

I emailed Necrosearch International again, and the following is the response.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Regarding your email and voicemail, Necrosearch International has no time limit on cases. Many of our cases go back several years and in some cases, decades. Our main criteria is that we only work with a law enforcement agency that requests our assistance. If there is an agency involved in your case that might have an interest in using our expertise, we would be happy to evaluate the case and determine if we can be a useful resource in the the investigation.

Necrosearch International is non-profit, so we only charge for actual expenses (travel, shipping of equipment, etc.). We are basically a collaborative group of scientists/experts that put our heads together on cases.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me (information listed below) or have the agency involved contact me.

Kindest Regards,
Dr. Thomas Bellinger
Vice President/Necrosearch International
trbellinger@aol.com
303 594 0435

Necrosearch is a great idea. If we could get even an exploratory search with their equipment and expertise, then we might have a shot at possibly solving this mystery.

Tom was not murdered. He was depressed. His depression was caused by loneliness and Silver Plume's remote location in the bottom of a canyon. The lack of sunlight, Tom suspected, was the cause of several suicides thru the years. He was a short, but tough former paratrooper with the 10th Mt Div. who could handle himself. In the high school where he taught German and English, we would kid him by saying he served in the "10th Mountain Midgets". He talked me out of going into the military based on his experience. Tom was a great guy, but a little odd. I miss him. His dog, a black lab whose name escapes me, was cool, too. I used to pour beer in his water bowl.

I never met the second guy. I suspect he just got lost and died, probably eaten by wild animals.

It's been 21 years though. I don't care where it is, if a guy just so happened to die accidentally then why is his body not found? I mean a hiker found Tom's body within a year of his disappearance. Eventually if there is a body in the woods it will be found, if even by accident. Which leads me to think that it ISNT an accident. Or a suicide. If it's a suicide he certainly can't bury his own body properly, he would just be laying there. If he fell, surely you'd think someone would find him if not by a search party at least from a hiker.

My theory? It was something sinister. Maybe to both men. Maybe it was a copycat killer who knows? Keith let people know he was hiking. And why not? That isnt odd. He wants to conquer his fear and he's letting people know just in case he doesnt come back or something happens, which it did! If you were parachuting out of a plane wouldnt you tell someone? That isnt abnormal.

This reminds me of George Owens' case. People don't just vanish accidentally. Something happens to these people IMO. Tammy Lynne Peppert was never found. Ditto George Owens. If you wander off and fall backwards and crack your head open and die someone will find you. But if you are shot and buried in the ground you probably won't be found. Why is it so hard to imagine that foul play was involved? It happened with the ATV murders.

I don't know much about this case, but I thought the illegal dumping info was interesting.

What if the first guy discovered the illegal dumping and was murdered to shut him up.

Then the second guy comes along, writing a book about the first guy. In his research, he's bound to find out what the first guy knew: the illegal dumping.

So he's murdered for the exact same reason.

I don't think the "abducted by a UFO" theory can be completely ruled out, tho. ;) lol

Just watched this case.

The biggest thing that concerns me is that both cases may ultimately not have anything to do with one another.

Keep in mind that the connection to Tom Young was mostly due to Keith Reinhardt's interest in his life. Keith is the one that initiated the connection to Tom Young.

This is far different from the Mary Morris case were the two women had only two connection...their last name and similar appearance.

Keith Reinhardt was the person who initiated the connections.

I think Keith Reinhardt either disappeared, committed suicide or died by accident.

As for Tom Young, I think there is a possibility that Tom may have been killed or committed suicide. The illegal dumping angle is interesting.

As for Tom Young, I think there is a possibility that Tom may have been killed or committed suicide. The illegal dumping angle is interesting.

I remember a post somewhere in a Keith Reinhard thread (maybe even this one) by someone who used to know Tom Young. I think the poster said Young had been a German teacher, had been in the Army for some time, and was a paratrooper. IIRC there was some allusion to the notion that maybe he struggled with things he had seen and/or done throughout the course of his military career, and perhaps that's the reason he supposedly committed suicide.

I don't know if that's totally the case, but personally I definitely think Tom Young killed himself and his dog up there.

Keith is another story. I strongly lean towards his death being accidental. I think he either succombed to the elements, or perhaps fell prey to animals.

It's been 21 years though. I don't care where it is, if a guy just so happened to die accidentally then why is his body not found? I mean a hiker found Tom's body within a year of his disappearance. Eventually if there is a body in the woods it will be found, if even by accident. Which leads me to think that it ISNT an accident. Or a suicide. If it's a suicide he certainly can't bury his own body properly, he would just be laying there. If he fell, surely you'd think someone would find him if not by a search party at least from a hiker.

1. It is not unusual that his body hasn't been found. Look at how many people haven't been found in all these UM episodes. Animals, weather, natural growth, fungus, and worms can all lead a body to disappear. Look how long it took Mike Rosenbaum's body to be found. Took a while for Dan Wilson's body to be found, too.

2. Perhaos Mike's body has been found. It's not far-fetched that someone unearthed or found a body, got scared and buried it or burned it somewhere.
Maybe those illegal dumpers found his body by accident and got rid of it.

3. Mikes body could be in a cave, crevice, or in a body of water.

I don't know if that's totally the case, but personally I definitely think Tom Young killed himself and his dog up there

That does bother me, though. Killing his own Dog. I mean if Tom was going to do himself in, I have to imagine that he would be kinder to his dog. I would figure that he would not take the dog with him or he would have given the dog to someone to keep.

I'm curious. I know that Keith was writing a book about Tom but aside from that, did they know each other prior to the book and Keith coming to town?

I'm curious. I know that Keith was writing a book about Tom but aside from that, did they know each other prior to the book and Keith coming to town?

I got the impression that Keith came into town after Tom disappeared since he rented Tom's old storefront. Speaking of this case, I have a friend from the board who went to Silver Plume last year. He realized after the fact that he was visiting the town (which he had known from the UM segment) 21 years to the day Tom Young and his dog were found! He said the town seemed even sleepier than it did in the UM segment back in 1990 (if thats possible, lol). He was unable to figure out the exact storefront which Keith and Tom used but he did go by the cafe which was shown in the UM segment. Keith's childhood friend still owned it but wasn't there. He said its been turned into an antique shop that also makes burritos (lol). The lady who was there said Keith's remains still hadn't been found but thought they might show up one day in the mountains.

Wow, it's been such a long time since I watched this fascinating case so I decided to re-watch it today :)

Before I read these posts one thing that immediately crossed my mind was that maybe he had run off with this mysterious Greta/Gretchen girl he met at a party the day before he disappeared. But if that was the case you'd think he would have surfaced at some point after all these years.

I also found it peculiar that he would go mountain-climbing that late in the afternoon and without any supplies! However, if he was a heavy drinker and had been drinking that day then that could explain his lack of judgement at the time, So he went up the mountain lost his balance, slipped or fell or something of that nature and died from the fall. Why his body wasn't found could probably be explained by weather, animals and so on. Keep in mind it took 10 months for Tom's body to be found. So I don't see any foul play being involved here. I don't think he was suicidal either, especially after reading the letter CD posted. Anyway, that's my two cents :)

Btw, I'd be interested to know if they ever found this "Greta/Gretchen" woman?

Wow, it's been such a long time since I watched this fascinating case so I decided to re-watch it today :)

Before I read these posts one thing that immediately crossed my mind was that maybe he had run off with this mysterious Greta/Gretchen girl he met at a party the day before he disappeared. But if that was the case you'd think he would have surfaced at some point after all these years.

I also found it peculiar that he would go mountain-climbing that late in the afternoon and without any supplies! However, if he was a heavy drinker and had been drinking that day then that could explain his lack of judgement at the time, So he went up the mountain lost his balance, slipped or fell or something of that nature and died from the fall. Why his body wasn't found could probably be explained by weather, animals and so on. Keep in mind it took 10 months for Tom's body to be found. So I don't see any foul play being involved here. I don't think he was suicidal either, especially after reading the letter CD posted. Anyway, that's my two cents :)

Btw, I'd be interested to know if they ever found this "Greta/Gretchen" woman?

Whoa, I didn't realize there was a drinking element involved. I vaguely remember reading an article or something alluding to Keith being hungover from the party he attended the night before he disappeared, but I've never heard anything about his being intoxicated the day OF, or of his being a heavy drinker. Where'd you come across that?

Hmm, I was not aware of a drinking element being involved either. Even if there was I would be more than a little suspicious of this. I say this, because I grew up in southwestern North Dakota which has mountains, canyons, before my family moved to Minnesota. However ( and I am not bragging just saying) I have been drunk many, many, many times and the one thing I did not have a desire to do no matter how drunk I was, was to try to climb a mountain. I mean it never even occurred to me. But then again, I never had a desire to go swimming while drunk either and many people drown while drunk so who knows?

Yes, I mean to attend a party and being hungover the next day VERY different from being full fledged drunk. It was around 3 in the afternoon he was last seen right? I mean, I don't know, I just have a hard time believing that he was so drunk that he suddenly gets this desire to climb a mountain? I mean, I don't know, something about that just does not seem right to me.

Whoa, I didn't realize there was a drinking element involved. I vaguely remember reading an article or something alluding to Keith being hungover from the party he attended the night before he disappeared, but I've never heard anything about his being intoxicated the day OF, or of his being a heavy drinker. Where'd you come across that?

There were some posts here indicating that. Of course, I don't whether that's true or not, but if it was that could explain his behavior at the time IMO.

It's been 21 years though. I don't care where it is, if a guy just so happened to die accidentally then why is his body not found? I mean a hiker found Tom's body within a year of his disappearance. Eventually if there is a body in the woods it will be found, if even by accident.

I don't know how familiar you are with the woods, but if one goes off, especially into a heavily wooded area, laden with dense underbrush, to commit suicide, they'll be lucky to ever find his body. If he died on a trail? Sure, his body should have been found. But if he's off in a thick section of the woods? No. Not just for the fact that people don't generally go off the trail into thick undergrowth, but, as Mastermind pointed out, the natural things that happen to a body outside. Animals getting parts, vegetation growing up through and around it, etc.

On a side note, I was looking around the internet and actually came across a recent photo of what I believe is the space that they had both rented....if this link works it is the image:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skiphotog/2429715133/

Quote:
Originally Posted by MegtheEgg86
Whoa, I didn't realize there was a drinking element involved. I vaguely remember reading an article or something alluding to Keith being hungover from the party he attended the night before he disappeared, but I've never heard anything about his being intoxicated the day OF, or of his being a heavy drinker. Where'd you come across that?

There were some posts here indicating that. Of course, I don't whether that's true or not, but if it was that could explain his behavior at the time IMO.

I have to imagine the air and activity would sober you up pretty fast. It's not like he's driving a car..he's doing a physical activity.

I think an even more interesting thing is WHY he was drinking heavily? I wonder if there was some pain he was working through that day.

I visited Silver Plume in the summer of 1990 or 1991. I was only 10 or eleven, so I can't remember which year exactly. At any rate, I begged my family to make a stop in Silver Plume specifically because I was so fascinated by the Keith Reinhard case. I remember speaking with some local that summer who said many in the town believed that Mr. Reinhard actually caught a ride out of town that night and intended to disappear. I do not remember that man's name, but I a pretty sure he worked at either an antiques shop or the local museum.

Don't have any theories of my own that differ substantially from anything presented here or elsewhere, just thought it might be of interest to someone to hear this additional information.

I visited Silver Plume in the summer of 1990 or 1991. I was only 10 or eleven, so I can't remember which year exactly. At any rate, I begged my family to make a stop in Silver Plume specifically because I was so fascinated by the Keith Reinhard case. I remember speaking with some local that summer who said many in the town believed that Mr. Reinhard actually caught a ride out of town that night and intended to disappear. I do not remember that man's name, but I a pretty sure he worked at either an antiques shop or the local museum.

Don't have any theories of my own that differ substantially from anything presented here or elsewhere, just thought it might be of interest to someone to hear this additional information.

Thanks for sharing. The possibility of Keith orchestrating his own disappearance is intriguing.

Another one of the great Unsolved Mysteries cases. The way they presented this case was fantastic, the great scenery and the actors did a great job.

Does anyone remember in the segment a part towards the end where Keith's wife says something to the effect of "If he had reason to disappear, that's something we could work out"? I always thought that at least she thought Keith might be one to just wander off somewhere. It could possibly support the "he-hitched-a-ride-out" theory.

Did anyone else find anything unusual about that statement?

If Keith Reinhard didn't hike up the mountain, but did disappear to parts unknown, he had a good cover-up by saying he was going to the mountain. If you think about it, he could be alive at age 71 living another life and some people in Colorado think his remains are on the mountain, 20 years later. Maybe "Gretchen" or "Greta" knows more.

And yet, how could anyone have disappeared for 22 years while leaving no trace or raising some suspicion after being on national television? I think back to Dennis Depue, seeing himself on TV and having to distract his girlfriend. That is, unless Keith Reinhard went off to live like a hermit, but he seemed to be so close to his family that the hermit theory might be less plausible.

I believe this was the best story UM ever did, or short of that, it's in the top 10. The fact that it's still unsolved after a little more than two decades just adds to the intrigue, and this story was in another universe than fertility statues or the Mann ghost story of Florida.

Honestly guys, we are thinking this one to death. I think Keith died from exposure in the mountains.

Also, that comment from Tom's "friend" is interesting and funny and it's always great to hear from someone who knew the people directly. Adds dimensions to their personality.

Our SO board member who prefers to remain anonymous was able to once again visit Silver Plume recently in his travels. He did stop off at Ted Parker's cafe (the friend interviewed in the segment). He wasn't there but the poster did talk to Ted's wife and they seem less optimistic about his remains being found. When the poster left the cafe he thought the area looked familiar...turns out Ted Parker has moved his cafe into Keith's old antique shop!

I just wanted to thank all of you for your interest in the story of my grandfathers disappearance.
I am twenty years old and never got to meet him, but his story interests me more than any other. I moved to Colorado 3 months ago (about 30 minutes from Silver Plume) and it's eerie to me sometimes that we still don't know everything about what's happened.
Kai (the high school senior) is my older brother and Sven is my uncle, whom I miss dearly.
To this day I believe that his death was an accident, and hopefully one day we will find his remains and be able to have a proper ceremony for him!

I just wanted to thank all of you for your interest in the story of my grandfathers disappearance.
I am twenty years old and never got to meet him, but his story interests me more than any other. I moved to Colorado 3 months ago (about 30 minutes from Silver Plume) and it's eerie to me sometimes that we still don't know everything about what's happened.
Kai (the high school senior) is my older brother and Sven is my uncle, whom I miss dearly.
To this day I believe that his death was an accident, and hopefully one day we will find his remains and be able to have a proper ceremony for him!

Hi Makayla! Thank you for posting. : ) Your grandfather's disappearance has intrigued many of us and we've been wondering about it for years. I very much hope someday it will be solved too. He seemed like someone who thoroughly enjoyed life, according to what I've read in news articles. A really cool person.

Our SO board member who prefers to remain anonymous was able to once again visit Silver Plume recently in his travels. He did stop off at Ted Parker's cafe (the friend interviewed in the segment). He wasn't there but the poster did talk to Ted's wife and they seem less optimistic about his remains being found. When the poster left the cafe he thought the area looked familiar...turns out Ted Parker has moved his cafe into Keith's old antique shop!

Actually, if you do a google streetview or find the images online, and from the UM segment, Ted Parker's cafe was actually right next door to keith's antique shop from the day keith moved there...maybe that is why he opened the shop there? Maybe ted parker had an in w/ the property owner

Just found out about another tragic element of this case: apparently, when they launched a search party to find Keith in the mountains, one of the searchers was killed when his plane crashed!
http://www.charleyproject.org/cases/r/reinhard_keith.html

They could almost do an UM segment on "the curse of Pendleton Mountain" since a lot of people seem to disappear or get killed there.

http://www.trails.com/topo.aspx?lat=39.682487&lon=-105.751395&s=200&size=s&style=drgsr&name=Pendleton%20Mountain

Pretty steep hike from the direction Keith was probably coming, and rather high altitude too. I'm almost certain now that he probably died of exposure, but it seems there are so many unanswered questions to this case.

Sounds to me like the guy masterminded his own dissapearance. He tells everyone he's going to hike up the mountain at 4pm with no supplies whatsoever and is never seen again. Does anyone think that maybe Keith could have run off with the lady he was seen talking to at the party?? Did she ever turn up??
Keep in mind if he did decide to go hide out it is very unlikely he'd be found and the reason is that he isn't wanted for any crime. He has no warrants out for his arrest and if he was pulled over by police somewhere else they wouldnt even know who he was.

The fact that Tom Young was found dead with a gun and his dog tells me it was nothing more than suicide. As to why he didn't give the dog to someone else, perhaps he didn't want anyone else to care for the dog and wanted to die with his companion? I think Keith Reinhard accidentally died up on the mountains and has yet to be found. He had a job back in Illinois (as well as his family), so becoming depressed over finances seems unlikely. And wasn't Keith already "away" from his family in the first place? He really didn't need to "run away" from anyone. Why stage the elaborate disappearance? Why not just pack up and go? Plus he was seen walking in the direction of the mountain before he disappeared so all of the signs point to him actually going to the mountain. He could have easily had a heart attack or fell (especially wearing jeans and tennis shoes while trying to hike up a steep mountain), and I think his remains fell to the elements.

BTW, I've only ever seen the Farina hosted segment, which makes no mention of this mysterious woman at a party. Even when they air the reruns, they leave out even more crucial details!

The fact that Tom Young was found dead with a gun and his dog tells me it was nothing more than suicide. As to why he didn't give the dog to someone else, perhaps he didn't want anyone else to care for the dog and wanted to die with his companion? I think Keith Reinhard accidentally died up on the mountains and has yet to be found. He had a job back in Illinois (as well as his family), so becoming depressed over finances seems unlikely. And wasn't Keith already "away" from his family in the first place? He really didn't need to "run away" from anyone. Why stage the elaborate disappearance? Why not just pack up and go? Plus he was seen walking in the direction of the mountain before he disappeared so all of the signs point to him actually going to the mountain. He could have easily had a heart attack or fell (especially wearing jeans and tennis shoes while trying to hike up a steep mountain), and I think his remains fell to the elements.

BTW, I've only ever seen the Farina hosted segment, which makes no mention of this mysterious woman at a party. Even when they air the reruns, they leave out even more crucial details!

Correct if I am wrong but didn't they find out that the gun found near Tom Young's body was not the gun that killed him? Or have I just imagined this?

This may seem far fetched, but has anyone considered the possibility of a possible murderous hermit living on Pendleton Mountain?

Correct if I am wrong but didn't they find out that the gun found near Tom Young's body was not the gun that killed him? Or have I just imagined this?

This may seem far fetched, but has anyone considered the possibility of a possible murderous hermit living on Pendleton Mountain?

It was said that they could not prove the bullet that killed him came from his gun. Keep in mind everyone thought Tom was in Europe so there was no massive search like there was for Keith

Correct if I am wrong but didn't they find out that the gun found near Tom Young's body was not the gun that killed him? Or have I just imagined this?

This may seem far fetched, but has anyone considered the possibility of a possible murderous hermit living on Pendleton Mountain?

I don't see how there is a serial killing hermit living on the mountain. I'm assuming there have been numerous hikers/adventurers over the years scaling the mountain, you would think if there was a psycho hermit up there someone would have encountered him by now. Based off of what witnesses said Reinhard was wearing when he went to scale the mountain (jeans and tennis shoes), is enough to tell me his death was accidental in some way.

I don't see how there is a serial killing hermit living on the mountain. I'm assuming there have been numerous hikers/adventurers over the years scaling the mountain, you would think if there was a psycho hermit up there someone would have encountered him by now. Based off of what witnesses said Reinhard was wearing when he went to scale the mountain (jeans and tennis shoes), is enough to tell me his death was accidental in some way.

You're probably right, the murderous hermit theory was something that just occured to me, I never really gave it much thought. If there had been other people to dissappear on that mountain besides those two, I'm sure the broadcast would have mentioned it. Although UM has been known to leave out information, sometimes critical information about cases.

Still, I would not completely rule out murder in Tom Young's case. From what I could gather from the case it doesn't seem like the remains were in good enough condition to say definitively it was suicide.

As for Keith Reinhard, we can only speculate. I think its entirely possible he engineered his own dissapearance. Several things surrounding this supposed endeavor up that mountain don't add up. It didn't sound like the guy was stupid, why start up that mountain at five o clock in the evening without proper equipment?

You're probably right, the murderous hermit theory was something that just occured to me, I never really gave it much thought. If there had been other people to dissappear on that mountain besides those two, I'm sure the broadcast would have mentioned it. Although UM has been known to leave out information, sometimes critical information about cases.

Still, I would not completely rule out murder in Tom Young's case. From what I could gather from the case it doesn't seem like the remains were in good enough condition to say definitively it was suicide.

As for Keith Reinhard, we can only speculate. I think its entirely possible he engineered his own dissapearance. Several things surrounding this supposed endeavor up that mountain don't add up. It didn't sound like the guy was stupid, why start up that mountain at five o clock in the evening without proper equipment?

Yes but if Reinhard was unhappy with his life for whatever reason, he wouldn't just be walking away from his wife but from his children as well. I don't see how a man could just up and start a new life without giving any indication to at least is children that he's ok, especially after all these years.

Yes but if Reinhard was unhappy with his life for whatever reason, he wouldn't just be walking away from his wife but from his children as well. I don't see how a man could just up and start a new life without giving any indication to at least is children that he's ok, especially after all these years.

I think its pretty obvious something bizarre was going on with Keith Reinhard before he dissapeared. Its obvious he was pretty obsessed with Tom Young's case for whatever reason, and it may have been causing him to be out of his right mind at least to some degree.

And when you have things going on with people under the surface that seems to be effecting their behaviour in bizarre ways, then just about anything is possible.

Even I from time to time have found myself very interested in cases, not just on Unsolved Mysteries but other shows as well, or even news stories which effect me so much I can't sleep. For instance there was a time when I got really hooked on the Charles Manson murders case and was often up late at night researching it for no good reason. Typically it subsides after awhile with me when I turn to prayer and other ways of coming to terms with things, but some people are not so fortunate.

There are instances where people get obsessed with traumatic events that happen, even when they have no connection to it. Its a curious thing, but it happens. I've felt it to a lesser degree, but for some it gets to be a serious thing.

I think just such a thing may have happened with Keith Reinhard and caused him to behave a little strangely.

However I will concede that its just as likely he went up that mountain and died as it is he started a new life, like I said until when and if new infromation surfaces we can only speculate.

Keith was for sure involved in some kind of accidental death.

As far as Tom goes, I would tend to believe he might have killed himself and the dog too.

Keith was for sure involved in some kind of accidental death.

As far as Tom goes, I would tend to believe he might have killed himself and the dog too.

Without a body, one theory is just as good as another, it could have just as easily been foul play or him leaving.

I think its entirely possible his interest in the Tom Young case may have made him a target for murder. I just wouldn't be to quick to rule out foul play in either case.

We have no body at all with the Keith Reinhard case, and the remains of Tom Young were in poor condition.

It didn't neccessarily have to be a hermit living on the mountain, Tom Young could have been murdered by someone else altogether, and the same person might have killed Keith Reinhard.

Keith was for sure involved in some kind of accidental death.

As far as Tom goes, I would tend to believe he might have killed himself and the dog too.


That's pretty much what I subscribe to as well.


There's no motive for anyone to have killed either Tom nor Keith that we are aware of. They did share the same storefront in Silver Plume, but that appeared, to me anyway, to be merely the luck of circumstances rather than anything meaningful--Ted Parker's cafe was next door, and Tom Young used to have a bookstore there. It was open and a natural choice for Keith.

Here's another point I just thought up: IIRC, Silver Plume only had 150 residents at the time of both disappearances. What exactly could Tom and Keith have stumbled upon in a town of that size that would lead to them to being murdered? Let alone the fact that if someone was indeed doing something illegal or had a gripe against both men, don't you think almost everyone would know about it?

Let alone the fact that if someone was indeed doing something illegal or had a gripe against both men, don't you think almost everyone would know about it?

That's an excellent point I'd never thought of before. And it makes sense.

That's pretty much what I subscribe to as well.


There's no motive for anyone to have killed either Tom nor Keith that we are aware of. They did share the same storefront in Silver Plume, but that appeared, to me anyway, to be merely the luck of circumstances rather than anything meaningful--Ted Parker's cafe was next door, and Tom Young used to have a bookstore there. It was open and a natural choice for Keith.

those are the key words, that we are aware of. Often times there are things going on with people that even those closest to them aren't even aware of, much less us.

We simply don't know enough to say whether there was a possible motive or not. The possibilities are to endless and anything you say is sheer speculation.

If Keith Reinhard was obsessed with and researching Tom's death, than in itself establishes a possible motive for his death, he could have made someone nervous.

So in that instance you would focus on Tom, since the original theoretical murder would be him.

Just because there is no known motive, doesn't really mean much. In all honesty it has been awhile since I've watched this segment, did they ever establish a motive for Tom's apparent suicide? I honestly can't remember.

Like I said, I'm not saying they were murdered, a suicide and an accident might well be what happened. But I just wouldn't be so quick to rule it out in either case.

those are the key words, that we are aware of. Often times there are things going on with people that even those closest to them aren't even aware of, much less us.

Law enforcement, however, knows quite a bit more than any of us ever will. They examined the site where Tom was found and had much more detailed and extensive knowledge on his backstory about "going to Europe", I'm certain. If they felt sure enough to call it a suicide, I see no reason to question it. It's certainly not a blatant bungled investigation by all appearances.

Cars brought up a great point yesterday: Silver Plume is tiny, and its population was around 150 in 1988. I really have a hard time believing a grand murder scheme, or even a beef could survive unearthed in that kind of environment. LE would've known something.

Based off of Keith's apparent obsession with Tom Young, I think Keith was attempting to "get in the mindset" of Tom by heading up to the mountain. I don't think he had any intention of taking his own life, and I think he either had a heart attack or fell because the mountain was so relentless and steep. There really is no mystery in Keith's disappearance, IMHO. We can speculate as to whether or not Tom took his own life, but this also seems to be nothing more than a case of suicide.

Law enforcement, however, knows quite a bit more than any of us ever will. They examined the site where Tom was found and had much more detailed and extensive knowledge on his backstory about "going to Europe", I'm certain. If they felt sure enough to call it a suicide, I see no reason to question it. It's certainly not a blatant bungled investigation by all appearances.Cars brought up a great point yesterday: Silver Plume is tiny, and its population was around 150 in 1988. I really have a hard time believing a grand murder scheme, or even a beef could survive unearthed in that kind of environment. LE would've known something.

I disagree. The country is full of incompetent and corrupt law enforcement. Particularly in small towns. You see it every day. I wish it were not so, but many times investigations are mishandled, either on purpose or not on purpose, it happens everywhere every day. Even when they aren't blatantly corrupt they are often either to lazy or under to much pressure to come to a resolution in the case and its a lot easier to write something off as suicide when they don't want to launch an investigation, those are just the cold hard facts.

That being said, I'm not saying thats whats happened here. I'd like to emphasize I'm not putting a label on anyone. But these days you simply cannot take anything anyone says at face value without a lot of information, and we simply don't have enough.

I stand by not ruling out foul play in either case.

How likely is the idea that Keith came across a vicious mountain lion?


Or is it possible that Keith concocted the whole idea that he was going to climb the mountain to stage his own disappearance? Did anyone actually SEE him start climbing the mountain?

How likely is the idea that Keith came across a vicious mountain lion?Or is it possible that Keith concocted the whole idea that he was going to climb the mountain to stage his own disappearance? Did anyone actually SEE him start climbing the mountain?

I'm pretty sure they were able to determine that he did die of a gunshot wound. Him and the dog both.

But like I said, the remains were so scattered that I don't see how they could have said conclusively if it was suicide or not. Animals had undoubtedly scattered the remains.

A couple of things I'd like to have known were if they believe he died in the spot where he was found or if he was transported there? Of course given that they think it was suicide I guess they think he died there.

And also, what was going on with Tom Young to make people think he'd want to kill himself? The broadcast may have touched on this but I honestly can't remember.

Yes but if Reinhard was unhappy with his life for whatever reason, he wouldn't just be walking away from his wife but from his children as well. I don't see how a man could just up and start a new life without giving any indication to at least is children that he's ok, especially after all these years.
Have you ever watched the episode about Alex Cooper?? Normal guy goes missing and isnt seen for years. His family swears foul play was involved. Turns out he dissapeared on his own and eventually came back. I think Keith may have been in some ways like Alex Cooper.

I think Keith may have been in some ways like Alex Cooper.

How so?

Have you ever watched the episode about Alex Cooper?? Normal guy goes missing and isnt seen for years. His family swears foul play was involved. Turns out he dissapeared on his own and eventually came back. I think Keith may have been in some ways like Alex Cooper.

I'm familiar with Alex Cooper. The Cooper case IMO is one in a million compared to the other missing persons cases profiled on UM. However, unlike Keith, the authorities were suspect that Cooper "disappeared" and there was actual evidence and eyewitness testimony to show he was still alive. There have been no reported sightings of Keith, who was a fairly distinguishable person.

How so?
He was a seemingly normal family man that up and disappeared one day. He also staged his disappearence to look like fowl play might have been involved.

I'm familiar with Alex Cooper. The Cooper case IMO is one in a million compared to the other missing persons cases profiled on UM. However, unlike Keith, the authorities were suspect that Cooper "disappeared" and there was actual evidence and eyewitness testimony to show he was still alive. There have been no reported sightings of Keith, who was a fairly distinguishable person.
Keith could have cut his hair and shaved his beard. He wouldnt stand out so much without those two aspects. How do we know there have been no reported sightings??

Keith could have cut his hair and shaved his beard. He wouldnt stand out so much without those two aspects. How do we know there have been no reported sightings??

There would have been some sort of evidence of his planning on starting a new life (luggage missing, clothes, activity on his credit cards, etc.) but none of this has happened. Reinhard was only supposed to be in Silver Plume for 90 days, and was on a leave from his regular job. Why would he even embark on such a trip if all he planned on doing was abandoning his family? Why not just disappear in Illinois and then relocate in Silver Plume? IMO, the fact that he took a leave of abscence from his job tells me he planned on returning to his family.

He was a seemingly normal family man that up and disappeared one day. He also staged his disappearence to look like fowl play might have been involved.


:confused: It's indisputable that Keith suddenly disappeared. But I'm still not sure how his case is anything like Alex Cooper's. There is nothing to suggest Keith staged his own disappearance that I'm seeing, let alone any evidence that he attempted to make it look like foul play.

There would have been some sort of evidence of his planning on starting a new life (luggage missing, clothes, activity on his credit cards, etc.) but none of this has happened. Reinhard was only supposed to be in Silver Plume for 90 days, and was on a leave from his regular job. Why would he even embark on such a trip if all he planned on doing was abandoning his family? Why not just disappear in Illinois and then relocate in Silver Plume? IMO, the fact that he took a leave of abscence from his job tells me he planned on returning to his family.

I don't recall if it was mentioned in the segment, but I definitely remember reading an article about two years ago indicating that Keith had planned to move his family to Colorado if his antique business worked out. I'll try to track it down this evening and post a link if I can find it again, unless someone who's seen in the segment recently can verify that information was already available. In any event, doesn't sound too much like a man who was intent on "starting a new life" by abandoning his family.

:confused: It's indisputable that Keith suddenly disappeared. But I'm still not sure how his case is anything like Alex Cooper's. There is nothing to suggest Keith staged his own disappearance that I'm seeing, let alone any evidence that he attempted to make it look like foul play.
He went around telling everyone that he was climbing Pendelton Mountain at 4pm in the afternoon with no supplies whatsoever. The fact that he was so adamate about telling everyone this seems odd to me.

Unlike Tom Young there was a search party out looking for Keith not long after he went missing yet he was never found. Tom was eventually found even though no one knew he had went to the mountain.

The comparrison Im making with Cooper is just to show that a man can fool his entire family and just up and decide to start a new life.

There would have been some sort of evidence of his planning on starting a new life (luggage missing, clothes, activity on his credit cards, etc.) but none of this has happened. Reinhard was only supposed to be in Silver Plume for 90 days, and was on a leave from his regular job. Why would he even embark on such a trip if all he planned on doing was abandoning his family? Why not just disappear in Illinois and then relocate in Silver Plume? IMO, the fact that he took a leave of abscence from his job tells me he planned on returning to his family.
Ok do you really beileve that if he wanted to dissapear and leave the impression he was dead that he would have taken luggage or charged things on credit cards??? I would think that might give him away.

I dont get why you think that him taking a leave of abscence from work shows that he wouldn't abandon his family. Not sure how those dots connect. We don't know Keith and have no clue what his motivation may have been for either wandering into the mountains and dying of exposure or wanting to start a new life somewhere else. All we can do is look at the evidence we have in front of us and see what it tells us.

Here's what we have,

Keith seems to be a fairly intellegent man and anyone with a lick of common sense would have known the inherit danger of wandering up the mountain at 4pm with no supplies.

It was stated in the episode that Keith had a fear of heights. Again this fact seems to point away from him attempting to climb a mountain by himself with darkness not far off

Keith made it a point to tell several people he was gonna climb Pendelton Mountain. Why did he do this? Why tell all these people what you are doing? Unless ofcourse you want to dissapear and have people think you got lost in the wilderness.

Keith's body was never found.
If Keith went into Pendelton Mountain as he stated then how is it that no trace of him was ever found. There was a large search party looking not long after he supposedly wandered off. Keep in mind that Tom Young's remains where found and no one even knew that he had went to Pendelton Mountain as he told people he was going to Europe.

Keith was seen talking to a woman at a party and the UM episode mentions that they would like to hear from her. I beileve they said her name was Virginia. Anyone know if this woman was ever tracked down?? If not then could this be who Keith ran away to be with?? Why is it that the people at UM feel this women might be able to help with finding Keith's whereabouts?? Silver Plume was a very small town. How is it that no one seemed to know who this woman was that Keith was seen talking to?

In the episode members of Keith's family intimate that they do not beileve he would just up and vanish on them and nor do they think he was dumb enough to go up in the mountains by himself while taking nothing with him. So I wonder what they think happened to him?

The comparrison Im making with Cooper is just to show that a man can fool his entire family and just up and decide to start a new life.

There's an absence of definite evidence indicating Keith was "planning" to disappear, but there exists that which indicates he wouldn't have willingly abandoned his family, including his 90 day leave of absence from his (very successful) job as a sportswriter, and his plans on moving his family to Colorado should his business end up turning a profit. One can literally apply Alex Cooper to any missing person's case and make an attempt to show they "disappeared willingly" to "start life anew", but 9.9 times out of 10, I don't feel it has much a chance of success. Cooper was such a wild exception to the general rule.

I dont get why you think that him taking a leave of abscence from work shows that he wouldn't abandon his family. Not sure how those dots connect.

Just as I fail to understand how Keith's telling people that he was going to climb Pendleton Mountain indicates he disappeared voluntarily.

I beileve they said her name was Virginia. Anyone know if this woman was ever tracked down?? If not then could this be who Keith ran away to be with?? Why is it that the people at UM feel this women might be able to help with finding Keith's whereabouts?? Silver Plume was a very small town. How is it that no one seemed to know who this woman was that Keith was seen talking to?

Her name was Greta or Gretchen, and she was supposedly from Denver, not Silver Plume. She was just seen talking to Keith the night before he disappeared. I'm unsure how it appears "no one seemed" to know who the woman was. For all we know, a number of people in Silver Plume could've known her quite well--I mean, she did get invited to a party there, right? It just wasn't elaborated on in the segment.

Ok do you really beileve that if he wanted to dissapear and leave the impression he was dead that he would have taken luggage or charged things on credit cards??? I would think that might give him away.

Yes I do believe there would be signs that Keith disappeared. A man does not leave to start a new life with a pair of jeans, a t-shirt, and tennis shoes. There has been no "paper trial" of Keith Reinhard like there was with Alex Cooper.


I dont get why you think that him taking a leave of abscence from work shows that he wouldn't abandon his family. Not sure how those dots connect. We don't know Keith and have no clue what his motivation may have been for either wandering into the mountains and dying of exposure or wanting to start a new life somewhere else. All we can do is look at the evidence we have in front of us and see what it tells us.

The point is why even take a leave of abscence at all? If he was distraught with his family or something that happened in Illinois, why not just stage a disappearance and head out to Silver Plume? And if something happened in Silver Plume (his business wasn't taking off like he planned, he didn't like the area, etc.) why not just head back home to Illinois? He took a leave of abscence for 90 days, which means that after 90 days if his antique shop did not take off he was going to return to his family in Illinois.

Here's what we have,

Keith seems to be a fairly intellegent man and anyone with a lick of common sense would have known the inherit danger of wandering up the mountain at 4pm with no supplies.

It was stated in the episode that Keith had a fear of heights. Again this fact seems to point away from him attempting to climb a mountain by himself with darkness not far off

Keith made it a point to tell several people he was gonna climb Pendelton Mountain. Why did he do this? Why tell all these people what you are doing? Unless ofcourse you want to dissapear and have people think you got lost in the wilderness.

Keith's body was never found.
If Keith went into Pendelton Mountain as he stated then how is it that no trace of him was ever found. There was a large search party looking not long after he supposedly wandered off. Keep in mind that Tom Young's remains where found and no one even knew that he had went to Pendelton Mountain as he told people he was going to Europe.

Keith was seen talking to a woman at a party and the UM episode mentions that they would like to hear from her. I beileve they said her name was Virginia. Anyone know if this woman was ever tracked down?? If not then could this be who Keith ran away to be with?? Why is it that the people at UM feel this women might be able to help with finding Keith's whereabouts?? Silver Plume was a very small town. How is it that no one seemed to know who this woman was that Keith was seen talking to?

In the episode members of Keith's family intimate that they do not beileve he would just up and vanish on them and nor do they think he was dumb enough to go up in the mountains by himself while taking nothing with him. So I wonder what they think happened to him?

We have no idea what Keith's mindset was on the day he disappeared. But we do know that he had a somewhat strange obsession with Tom Young, and seemed determined to get inside Young's head for the book he was writing. The fact that Keith was telling everyone he was climbing Pendleton Mountain, IMO was to let them know he finally got up enough courage to brave the mountain. Or maybe there was a simpler explanation. When someone saw Keith and said, "Hey whatcha doing today?", he just simply told them. IMO this was the last part of his research (if you will) on Tom Young for his book. The "climb" was not only a real climb to Keith, but it was also a figurative obstacle to get over (finishing his book and getting over his fear of heights). That's what I honestly think was going through his mind that day. Everyone said he was in good spirits, don't you think the fact that he was confident enough to brave the mountain would put him in a good mood?

As to the remains, Tom Young was not found for years. We simply have no way of knowing where Young died and the exact spot where Keith disappeared. Especially if Keith slipped and fell in a location that's almost impossible for a hiker to reach. All in all, I really just think this was a case of nothing more than a relentless pursuit of a writer trying to "get in character" to complete the novel he was working on. I'm sure when he said he was going to climb the mountain he didn't literally mean go all the way to the top. I just don't see how there's any way this man is still alive.

It was stated in the episode that 125 searchers with 12 trained dogs where combing pendelton mountain the very next day after Keith went missing. It was aslo stated that in 30 years this mountain rescue team never failed to find a missing person.

Keith would not even have had enough time to die from exposure so the only option would be that foul play was involved or he had fallen into some crevice or some area where he would not be seen. Though I would think the dogs would be able to pick up his scent even still.

If you watch the interview with the local sherriff it is very obvious that he thinks Keith staged the whole thing. He notes that Keith made it a point to "tell so many darned people he was going up the mountain".

There's an absence of definite evidence indicating Keith was "planning" to disappear, but there exists that which indicates he wouldn't have willingly abandoned his family, including his 90 day leave of absence from his (very successful) job as a sportswriter, and his plans on moving his family to Colorado should his business end up turning a profit. One can literally apply Alex Cooper to any missing person's case and make an attempt to show they "disappeared willingly" to "start life anew", but 9.9 times out of 10, I don't feel it has much a chance of success. Cooper was such a wild exception to the general rule.



Just as I fail to understand how Keith's telling people that he was going to climb Pendleton Mountain indicates he disappeared voluntarily.



Her name was Greta or Gretchen, and she was supposedly from Denver, not Silver Plume. She was just seen talking to Keith the night before he disappeared. I'm unsure how it appears "no one seemed" to know who the woman was. For all we know, a number of people in Silver Plume could've known her quite well--I mean, she did get invited to a party there, right? It just wasn't elaborated on in the segment.

First off you cannot apply Alex Cooper to any missing persons case. Your talking about a middle aged man with a family who just vanishes one day. Most missing people are women or children to begin with. And yes, you are right with most foul play is involved. Keith told people he was climbing a mountain and was never seen again. Alex abandoned his vehilcle on the side of the road and simply walked away. There are similarities. They where not children at a playground who went missing or a woman taken from her vehicle. They are both cases of middle aged family men who dissapear without apparent reason.

You fail to understand how him telling people who he was heading to the mountain says anything? Well listen to the interview with the sherrif. He talks about how Keith made it a point to tell as many people as possible that he was climbing Mt Pendelton. Its even said that most people thought he was kidding. Its not like he just casually told someone he happned to bumb into. The episode gives the impression that he wanted everyone to think thats what he was doing.

As far as Gretchen goes, if people knew her so well then why is UM unsure of her name and why are they asking her to come forward on a TV show? Wouldnt Kieth's family be inquiring with the other people at the party as to just who she was and what Keith's connection with her was?? UM gives the impression that she is a mysterious woman that no one seems to know.

It was stated in the episode that 125 searchers with 12 trained dogs where combing pendelton mountain the very next day after Keith went missing. It was aslo stated that in 30 years this mountain rescue team never failed to find a missing person.

Keith would not even have had enough time to die from exposure so the only option would be that foul play was involved or he had fallen into some crevice or some area where he would not be seen. Though I would think the dogs would be able to pick up his scent even still.

Have you ever hiked in young mountains like the Rockies? There are plenty--PLENTY--of places dogs and people aren't going to go bounding into willingly. There are rocky, sharp, steep drop-offs and crevices. The terrain was, as the head of the rescue group admitted, the most difficult they cover. I believe he also pointed out that Keith really didn't have anything to have left behind, as he went up the mountain only with the clothes on his back. Human error happens. Accidents happen.

If you watch the interview with the local sherriff it is very obvious that he thinks Keith staged the whole thing. He notes that Keith made it a point to "tell so many darned people he was going up the mountain".

That very well may be his opinion and he's entitled to it, but what definitive evidence is there that Keith was in any way dissatisfied with his life and wanted to leave it behind? That's what I think is completely lacking here. He seemed like a happy guy with a supportive family, a good job, and a good attitude about life in general.

First off you cannot apply Alex Cooper to any missing persons case. Your talking about a middle aged man with a family who just vanishes one day. Most missing people are women or children to begin with. And yes, you are right with most foul play is involved. Keith told people he was climbing a mountain and was never seen again. Alex abandoned his vehilcle on the side of the road and simply walked away. There are similarities. They where not children at a playground who went missing or a woman taken from her vehicle. They are both cases of middle aged family men who dissapear without apparent reason.

You fail to understand how him telling people who he was heading to the mountain says anything? Well listen to the interview with the sherrif. He talks about how Keith made it a point to tell as many people as possible that he was climbing Mt Pendelton. Its even said that most people thought he was kidding. Its not like he just casually told someone he happned to bumb into. The episode gives the impression that he wanted everyone to think thats what he was doing.

As far as Gretchen goes, if people knew her so well then why is UM unsure of her name and why are they asking her to come forward on a TV show? Wouldnt Kieth's family be inquiring with the other people at the party as to just who she was and what Keith's connection with her was?? UM gives the impression that she is a mysterious woman that no one seems to know.

Where are you getting information that most missing people are women and/or children? That's something that I've never heard, nor read,anywhere. And most missing persons actually DON'T involve foul play; they are cases of adults leaving situations for myriad personal/emotional reasons and not informing people that they are doing as such.

.

First off you cannot apply Alex Cooper to any missing persons case. Your talking about a middle aged man with a family who just vanishes one day. Most missing people are women or children to begin with. And yes, you are right with most foul play is involved.

I believe you largely misunderstood me.

Alex Cooper and Keith Reinhard are absolutely incomparable other than the fact that they are both white males. Period.

I also never stated anything about foul play being involved with most missing persons cases. :confused: I have no idea where that comes, nor your assertion about most missing people being "women or children to begin with."

You fail to understand how him telling people who he was heading to the mountain says anything? Well listen to the interview with the sherrif. He talks about how Keith made it a point to tell as many people as possible that he was climbing Mt Pendelton. Its even said that most people thought he was kidding. Its not like he just casually told someone he happned to bumb into. The episode gives the impression that he wanted everyone to think thats what he was doing.

As far as Gretchen goes, if people knew her so well then why is UM unsure of her name and why are they asking her to come forward on a TV show? Wouldnt Kieth's family be inquiring with the other people at the party as to just who she was and what Keith's connection with her was?? UM gives the impression that she is a mysterious woman that no one seems to know.

I rest my case.

I believe you largely misunderstood me.

Alex Cooper and Keith Reinhard are absolutely incomparable other than the fact that they are both white males. Period.

I also never stated anything about foul play being involved with most missing persons cases. :confused: I have no idea where that comes, nor your assertion about most missing people being "women or children to begin with."



I rest my case.

I must have misunderstood you. I thought your comment about 9.9 out of 10 times people arent succesfull with disappearing willingly implied that foul play is involved most of the time.

Alex and Keith only comparrison is that they are white males?? Really? They both aren't middle aged? They both aren't married men with families and established carrers?? They both wern't missing persons? Ok

As far as my assumption that most missing persons are women and children well thats my own observation. Seems to me you hear alot more about children being kidnapped or women being abducted rather then middle aged family men but ok.

Where are you getting information that most missing people are women and/or children? That's something that I've never heard, nor read,anywhere. And most missing persons actually DON'T involve foul play; they are cases of adults leaving situations for myriad personal/emotional reasons and not informing people that they are doing as such.

.
Ok well that being said then do you think that is the situation with Keith? Because it sure sounds like it to me.

I must have misunderstood you. I thought your comment about 9.9 out of 10 times people arent succesfull with disappearing willingly implied that foul play is involved most of the time.

That isn't what I said at all. What I meant was that there is little success to be gained by holding up Alex Cooper's case as a comparative in order to establish someone disappeared of their accord, as his case is so unusual.

Alex and Keith only comparrison is that they are white males?? Really? They both aren't middle aged? They both aren't married men with families and established carrers?? They both wern't missing persons? Ok

None of those things provide any great revelation. Tammy Lynn Leppert, Debra Poe, Tracy Kirkpatrick, Angela Hammond, Kristi Krebs, Tara Calico, and Micki Jo West were all female, white, aged 16-21, and from "middle class" backgrounds. They are all missing persons. None of those aspects tell me a damn thing about probable reason for their disappearances.

As far as my assumption that most missing persons are women and children well thats my own observation. Seems to me you hear alot more about children being kidnapped or women being abducted rather then middle aged family men but ok.

You are assuming most missing people are abducted. There is nothing definitive academically or scholarly to support this claim, as you even admit yourself.

Have you ever hiked in young mountains like the Rockies? There are plenty--PLENTY--of places dogs and people aren't going to go bounding into willingly. There are rocky, sharp, steep drop-offs and crevices. The terrain was, as the head of the rescue group admitted, the most difficult they cover. I believe he also pointed out that Keith really didn't have anything to have left behind, as he went up the mountain only with the clothes on his back. Human error happens. Accidents happen.



That very well may be his opinion and he's entitled to it, but what definitive evidence is there that Keith was in any way dissatisfied with his life and wanted to leave it behind? That's what I think is completely lacking here. He seemed like a happy guy with a supportive family, a good job, and a good attitude about life in general.
Yes I have hiked into the rocky mountains a time or two.
Yes there are plenty of places that dogs and people would shy away from. But are you implying that Keith, with no supplies went into some dangerous area that the rescuers wouldnt?? lol Really?
The resuce team hadnt failed to find a missing person in 30 years so I dont think their fear of the mountain played into the search effort here. Yes human error happens and yes accidents happen but don't you find it interesting that Keith was the only missing person this resuce team was not able to locate? Especially when you through in that the search was on within 24 hours?? Then through in that his remains still to this day have not been stumbled upon.
You say he seemd like a happy guy with supportive family and a good attitude about life in general. So it sounds like from this 15 minute episode you really got inside his head and know him well? I guess lol

I must have misunderstood you. I thought your comment about 9.9 out of 10 times people arent succesfull with disappearing willingly implied that foul play is involved most of the time.

Alex and Keith only comparrison is that they are white males?? Really? They both aren't middle aged? They both aren't married men with families and established carrers?? They both wern't missing persons? Ok

As far as my assumption that most missing persons are women and children well thats my own observation. Seems to me you hear alot more about children being kidnapped or women being abducted rather then middle aged family men but ok.

I believe that there are more women and children involved in foul play type disappearances, and I still don't see how Reinhard had any reason to leave voluntarily. He was already away from his old life, why not just say screw it I'm staying here in Silver Plume? Why the elaborate staged disappearance?

I believe that there are more women and children involved in foul play type disappearances, and I still don't see how Reinhard had any reason to leave voluntarily. He was already away from his old life, why not just say screw it I'm staying here in Silver Plume? Why the elaborate staged disappearance?
No matter how much we discuss this case there will never be an answer to that question. His own family doesnt know and more then likely no one will ever know.

You say he seemd like a happy guy with supportive family and a good attitude about life in general. So it sounds like from this 15 minute episode you really got inside his head and know him well? I guess lol

But on the other side of the coin, your assuming that he staged his own disappearance to start a new life on the same information everyone else on this board has.

Yes I have hiked into the rocky mountains a time or two.
Yes there are plenty of places that dogs and people would shy away from. But are you implying that Keith, with no supplies went into some dangerous area that the rescuers wouldnt?? lol Really?

Sure. People go unprepared into mountains on a regular basis. They also misstep, or have loose ground give way beneath them and fall, or have medical emergencies. I don't see what's so unusual about that.

Yes human error happens and yes accidents happen but don't you find it interesting that Keith was the only missing person this resuce team was not able to locate?

No. It happens.

Especially when you through in that the search was on within 24 hours?? Then through in that his remains still to this day have not been stumbled upon.

I'm having a hard time understanding your sentences, but as far as your last statement goes, it doesn't surprise me in the least that his remains haven't been found. There are plenty of missing people who were last known to be in the Rocky Mountains. There are plenty of missing people last known to to be in the Appalachians, and those are very, very old, comparably small mountains.

You say he seemd like a happy guy with supportive family and a good attitude about life in general. So it sounds like from this 15 minute episode you really got inside his head and know him well? I guess lol

I've read numerous articles on the case that go further in depth than the segment did. I know what I know. I don't think it's any more "lol"-worthy than your assertion that he disappeared voluntarily, especially when the only apparent supporting evidence you provide is "He told a lot of people he was going to climb the mountain" and "Alex Cooper was a white, married, middle-aged man established in his career, and he faked his own disappearance, so maybe Keith did too."

Sure. People go unprepared into mountains on a regular basis. They also misstep, or have loose ground give way beneath them and fall, or have medical emergencies. I don't see what's so unusual about that.



No. It happens.



I'm having a hard time understanding your sentences, but as far as your last statement goes, it doesn't surprise me in the least that his remains haven't been found. There are plenty of missing people who were last known to be in the Rocky Mountains. There are plenty of missing people last known to to be in the Appalachians, and those are very, very old, comparably small mountains.



I've read numerous articles on the case that go further in depth than the segment did. I know what I know. I don't think it's any more "lol"-worthy than your assertion that he disappeared voluntarily, especially when the only apparent supporting evidence you provide is "He told a lot of people he was going to climb the mountain" and "Alex Cooper was a white, married, middle-aged man established in his career, and he faked his own disappearance, so maybe Keith did too."
No I have actually cited more then just him telling people he was going up the mountain but ok you seem to have more intrest in being a smart ass then discussing the case.
Again, as you are fully aware the only reason I brought up Cooper was to show an example of a man that was in a similar situation to Keith (married/children/carrer) who vanished. I was only pointing out that someone can have things about them that even the people close to them have no clue about.

Seems the only reason you post on here is to constantly prove yourself right no matter how meaningless your points are. Obviously you are lacking in the self worth dept and this message board is a way for you to build self confidence. So Im done responding to you.

But on the other side of the coin, your assuming that he staged his own disappearance to start a new life on the same information everyone else on this board has.
Im just saying it's a strong possibility.

No I have actually cited more then just him telling people he was going up the mountain but ok you seem to have more intrest in being a smart ass then discussing the case.
Again, as you are fully aware the only reason I brought up Cooper was to show an example of a man that was in a similar situation to Keith (married/children/carrer) who vanished. I was only pointing out that someone can have things about them that even the people close to them have no clue about.

Seems the only reason you post on here is to constantly prove yourself right no matter how meaningless your points are. Obviously you are lacking in the self worth dept and this message board is a way for you to build self confidence. So Im done responding to you.

Hey..how many times has been said to me???? LMAO
Can we all just get along?

Hey..how many times has been said to me???? LMAO
Can we all just get along?

Seriously, sheesh! :lol:

Seems the only reason you post on here is to constantly prove yourself right no matter how meaningless your points are. Obviously you are lacking in the self worth dept and this message board is a way for you to build self confidence. So Im done responding to you.

Oh not at all. I have quite a bit of self worth, actually. I hope you do, too. I have a wonderful family, a good education, a great job, a military career I've worked pretty hard for, and nice friends. I'm a good person; I'm sure you are as well. I'm sorry, but it seems you have mistaken my challenges to your arguments as threats or insults. We can disagree without it devolving into hateful speech, but if you have decided to discontinue the conversation, I certainly won't disrespect that.

Yep great segment. I'm a little aggravated at UM's portrayal of Keith Reinhard on this one. Someone from the board spoke with the police department where he went missing a few years ago and he still hadn't been found. This friend also sent me copies of several newspaper clippings of Tom and Keith's disappearance. UM made such a concerted effort to tie in the book Keith was writing on Tom but in the actual newspaper not one word was mentioned about it. There didn't seem to be a doubt that he just got lost up in the mountains but UM seemed to go out of their way to suggest something sinister or suicidal. Here is a a letter published in the newspaper that Keith had written to his wife just days before he went missing which show that he seemed to be in a very upbeat state of mind:

"Yesterday Ted and I tried to conquer the ridge looking down on Silver Plume from the south. Ted made it. I didn't, reaching within 50-100 feet of the summit and all of a sudden getting panicky over my heights phobia. I wedged myself behind a scraggly spruce tree looking perhaps 1500 feet straight down at town and resigned myself to sleeping there overnight and waiting for a helicopter to rescue me the next day.
Ted, who had taken a different route to the top, eventually found me trying to ease my way back down. I was truly scared. But when we reached town near dark about an hour-and-a-half later, I vowed all over again to make that climb and reach the top.
Somewhere in all of this adventure (including a rainstorm we had to deal with that made the rocks very slippery) is a story about setting goals, facing life-threatening challenges, getting close to the magnificence of nature and learning to appreciate some of the consistencies of our natural world that are not always as readily found in our fellow man. That mountain was overpowering, but I felt that as long as I had total respect for it, and its ability to cast me off like just another quartzite boulder, the mountain was at least going to give me a fair shake on my descent.
Life is full of challenges. We aren't always successful in meeting them either. But as long as we have the ambition to go back and try again, and as long as we can use the failures as well as the successes to improve and shape our lives, they are important to establish. I'm so sore and stiff and wounded this morning that I can barely negotiate a flight of stairs. But I'll bet you within two days I'll be back up there trying to reach the top again."
--Keith Reinhard

So what do you guys think after reading the letter? It really made me see the case in a new light (because before I was leaning towards possible suicide).
I know this is an old post to respond to but I find the letter from Keith very interesting. According to his own words he had tried to climb a certain part of the mountain a few days before with someone named Ted. He had vowed to go back and try to climb in this same area again.

What I take from this is that the rescuers possibly could have been able to narrow their search efforts by having an idea of exactly where Keith was climbing. Obviously whoever "Ted" was could have pointed them in the right direction.

It's also obvious that Keith was fearfull of the mountain and probably only made it down with the help of Ted, whom from the letter appears to be a much more experienced climber. Would Keith have went up by himself and tried to climb that same area again after that experience? Hard to say.

At any rate the letter does indicate to me that Keith was determined to climb one specific part of Mt Pendelton. Im not sure if the rescue team had this information but would assume Ted, or Keith's wife (whom recieved the letter) would have relayed it to them. If so I would think that the chances of his body being found would have greatly increased.

Don't know if this has been posted before but found something that may be of intrest.
Its a log from one of the search teams looking for Keith that gives some details into the search effort
http://www.clmrg.org/TP%201-99/077.pdf

That letter from crystaldawn's old post shows even more proof that when Reinhard went to scale Pendleton Mountain, he had every intention of coming back.

That letter from crystaldawn's old post shows even more proof that when Reinhard went to scale Pendleton Mountain, he had every intention of coming back.
Yes it does sound like it but will you not agree that the letter is pretty specific as to where Keith was climbing? Would this not have narrowed the search area for the rescue teams?
People keep saying that Keith was such a family man and he would never have up and left his family. I have to wonder why he'd up and leave his family for three months to begin with. I couldnt imagine doing that myself.

Yes it does sound like it but will you not agree that the letter is pretty specific as to where Keith was climbing? Would this not have narrowed the search area for the rescue teams?
People keep saying that Keith was such a family man and he would never have up and left his family. I have to wonder why he'd up and leave his family for three months to begin with. I couldnt imagine doing that myself.

The reason Keith left his family for three months was to try and establish a new life in a new area with his family. I'm sure the small town appeal and the general ambiance of Silver Plume attracted Keith. If his business flourished, he would have moved his family out to Silver Plume with him. He was described as a "free spirit", which means IMO someone who had some Kerouac-inspired thoughts about traveling and shaking things up, etc.

As to the letter Keith wrote, he simply could have went to another area that he deemed less rugged and less steep (the letter states how scared he got at one point), or what appeared to be an easier route to the top. Doesn't mean he went back exactly where he hiked before.

The reason Keith left his family for three months was to try and establish a new life in a new area with his family. I'm sure the small town appeal and the general ambiance of Silver Plume attracted Keith. If his business flourished, he would have moved his family out to Silver Plume with him. He was described as a "free spirit", which means IMO someone who had some Kerouac-inspired thoughts about traveling and shaking things up, etc.

As to the letter Keith wrote, he simply could have went to another area that he deemed less rugged and less steep (the letter states how scared he got at one point), or what appeared to be an easier route to the top. Doesn't mean he went back exactly where he hiked before.

Ok so if he went somewhere less rugged and steep then why didnt he come back? I mean if your suggesting that he hiked in a safer area then what happened to him? To me the only way he could have met his death on that mountain was to fall into a crevice or tight spot where his body couldn't be seen or to have been killed by someone and his body concealed.

I know people on here have suggested he died from exposure but I see no chance of that for the following reasons. First, it was August so it wouldnt have gotten cold enough for him to freeze to death (even at night) and secondly, there was a massive search party looking for him the next day. Therefore its just not possible for him to have been out wandering around Mt Pendelton without being seen. If he had taken a safer route and just dropped from a heart attack then wouldnt his body have been found after the massive four day search?? Wouldn't his remains have turned up just as Tom Young's did?

Ok so if he went somewhere less rugged and steep then why didnt he come back? I mean if your suggesting that he hiked in a safer area then what happened to him? To me the only way he could have met his death on that mountain was to fall into a crevice or tight spot where his body couldn't be seen or to have been killed by someone and his body concealed.

I know people on here have suggested he died from exposure but I see no chance of that for the following reasons. First, it was August so it wouldnt have gotten cold enough for him to freeze to death (even at night) and secondly, there was a massive search party looking for him the next day. Therefore its just not possible for him to have been out wandering around Mt Pendelton without being seen. If he had taken a safer route and just dropped from a heart attack then wouldnt his body have been found after the massive four day search?? Wouldn't his remains have turned up just as Tom Young's did?

I'm saying Reinhard went hiking in an area he thought was safer. Who knows what happened when he began his climb? Maybe he had a heart attack and fell in an obscure area. Who knows? There was a search organized the next day, but we really don't know how extensive that was, let alone what time it actually started. How long would it have been before someone knew Keith was actually missing, let alone know to search the mountain? And when the search party scaled the mountain, they very well may have been in an area where Keith was but perhaps he moved on (remember in his letter he obviously had no problem with spending the night on the mountain) and died elsewhere?

I'm saying Reinhard went hiking in an area he thought was safer. Who knows what happened when he began his climb? Maybe he had a heart attack and fell in an obscure area. Who knows? There was a search organized the next day, but we really don't know how extensive that was, let alone what time it actually started. How long would it have been before someone knew Keith was actually missing, let alone know to search the mountain? And when the search party scaled the mountain, they very well may have been in an area where Keith was but perhaps he moved on (remember in his letter he obviously had no problem with spending the night on the mountain) and died elsewhere?
Actually we do know how extensive the search was and we do know when it started and when it was called off. There was over 100 people with 12 trained dogs. There was also an air search that involved a small plane (which crashed) and a helicopter. I provided a link to one of the teams that came in from California to aid Alpine rescue which details how extensive the search was.
Keith's friend Ted, had stated in the episode that keith had told him if he wasn't back by 10pm to send help. It is also well documented that many people knew knew Keith was heading up there for a climb and became alarmed when he did not return by nightfall.

Keith had no climbing gear whatsoever. There is no way that he could have gotten somewhere that the rescuers (who had the benefit of climbing equipment as well as searching from the air)couldn't have gone. The only option I see is that he fell into a very remote, hard to navigate area. Just seems hard to beileve that he fell into a place that no other person has walked upon in this many years. Mt Pendelton is a popular climbing area with alot of trail area around it. I have not been able to find another person who has been reported missing there and not found.

Actually we do know how extensive the search was and we do know when it started and when it was called off. There was over 100 people with 12 trained dogs. There was also an air search that involved a small plane (which crashed) and a helicopter. I provided a link to one of the teams that came in from California to aid Alpine rescue which details how extensive the search was.
Keith's friend Ted, had stated in the episode that keith had told him if he wasn't back by 10pm to send help. It is also well documented that many people knew knew Keith was heading up there for a climb and became alarmed when he did not return by nightfall.

Keith had no climbing gear whatsoever. There is no way that he could have gotten somewhere that the rescuers (who had the benefit of climbing equipment as well as searching from the air)couldn't have gone. The only option I see is that he fell into a very remote, hard to navigate area. Just seems hard to beileve that he fell into a place that no other person has walked upon in this many years. Mt Pendelton is a popular climbing area with alot of trail area around it. I have not been able to find another person who has been reported missing there and not found.

There's simply no way of knowing how "extensive" w/o a detailed log of the search results,photos and/or video and interviewing the searchers. Since that wasn't provided in the segment and since no seems to have written a book on the subject, it's likely never to be known.

It's very odd that a man who claims to many people (unasked) that he was going to "climb' a mountain wouldn't take any type of gear, food and would attempt to do it late in the afternoon by himself. This why Ive always believed that this was a man who had grown tired of his old life and made up a tale to escape to a new one.

There's simply no way of knowing how "extensive" w/o a detailed log of the search results,photos and/or video and interviewing the searchers. Since that wasn't provided in the segment and since no seems to have written a book on the subject, it's likely never to be known.

It's very odd that a man who claims to many people (unasked) that he was going to "climb' a mountain wouldn't take any type of gear, food and would attempt to do it late in the afternoon by himself. This why Ive always believed that this was a man who had grown tired of his old life and made up a tale to escape to a new one.
http://www.clmrg.org/TP%201-99/077.pdf
Here is a detailed log from one of the search teams.
I also find it odd that he went around telling everyone what he was doing and didn't bother to take anything. I think his body never being found only adds to the idea that he willingly dissapaered and layed out a false trail. I think the fact that he took three months away from his family in the first place shows that he had grown tired of his old life.

http://www.clmrg.org/TP%201-99/077.pdf
Here is a detailed log from one of the search teams.
I also find it odd that he went around telling everyone what he was doing and didn't bother to take anything. I think his body never being found only adds to the idea that he willingly dissapaered and layed out a false trail. I think the fact that he took three months away from his family in the first place shows that he had grown tired of his old life.

The link that you have attached is showing a being a site for viruses.
You may consider taking off of here before it damages somebody's computer.

http://www.clmrg.org/TP%201-99/077.pdf
Here is a detailed log from one of the search teams.
I also find it odd that he went around telling everyone what he was doing and didn't bother to take anything. I think his body never being found only adds to the idea that he willingly dissapaered and layed out a false trail. I think the fact that he took three months away from his family in the first place shows that he had grown tired of his old life.

It's even more odd to belive that he left and started a new life without taking ANYTHING other than the clothes on his back.

The link that you have attached is showing a being a site for viruses.
You may consider taking off of here before it damages somebody's computer.
The link doesnt have any viruses. I just got on there myself to check and I dont get any warning at all. I will copy and paste some of the log on here

An excerpt from the search log.

Buses from the Colorado Army National Guard
drove us to base camp in the town of Silver Plume
by 1600. Hunter Holloway and Charley Shimanski
of the Alpine Rescue Team greeted us and outlined
the problem.
Keith Reinhard, a 49 year-old sportswriter for a
Chicago area paper, had been missing since 1700
on Sunday, 7 August. He had stopped at a store to
buy a soda and told the storekeeper he was going to
climb Pendleton Mountain, and return in time for
dinner. He wore jeans, a T-shirt, a flannel shirt
and tennis shoes. He did not return.
The Alpine Rescue Team initiated the search effort.
Colorado had over eighty people searching the
Pendleton Mountain area, covering a 2 mile by 6
mile grid. They were getting tired after four days,
so were glad to see help from California arrive.
On Friday morning tragedy occurred, as a Civil Air
Patrol pilot was killed and his passenger seriously

The link doesnt have any viruses. I just got on there myself to check and I dont get any warning at all. I will copy and paste some of the log on here

It set off my Norton as soon as I clicked on it.
You may want to run scans on your computer.

It's even more odd to belive that he left and started a new life without taking ANYTHING other than the clothes on his back.
You know, "if" he had decided to start a new life somewhere else by laying out a false trial and vanishing then how hard would it have been for him to stash supplies somewhere to pick up later? He could have went back to where he was staying and packed up a few things for all we know. The idea that he hiked off with nothing is only relayed by the people that he last talked to. He very well may wanted people to think he left with nothing. Just a possibility.

It set off my Norton as soon as I clicked on it.
You may want to run scans on your computer.
Man, its just a pdf file. There's nothing there at all. I just got on there again, ran a check and have no traces of anything unusual.

Here's some more from the search log


When we checked in with base, they informed us
that a truck would take all of us to a landing zone
for a Chinook helicopter ride to the next assignment.
From the LZ we were flown to peak 12491,
southwest of Pendleton Mountain. On top we split
up and began searching east. Peak 12491 is just a.
short distance from Pendleton Mountain, and there
was a chance that Reinhard may have continued in
our direction, and descended.
The eight from China Lake and three from San Diego
finished their assignments around 1500, and vehicles
arrived to drive us back to base. On the way
one vehicle, with five CLMRG members and one
from San Diego, was put on standby to stay in the
area because some other searchers were feeling
ill. Finally, everyone had returned to base camp.
Our last team was out of the field by 1930. No
clues as to the location of Reinhard had been found.

You know, "if" he had decided to start a new life somewhere else by laying out a false trial and vanishing then how hard would it have been for him to stash supplies somewhere to pick up later? He could have went back to where he was staying and packed up a few things for all we know. The idea that he hiked off with nothing is only relayed by the people that he last talked to. He very well may wanted people to think he left with nothing. Just a possibility.

Yeah but Silver Plume was such a small town, someone would have noticed an odd behavior in Reinhard. By all accounts he was deadset on finishing his novel, why just up and leave before it was finished? The novel seemed to be the driving force behind Reinhard staying in Silver Plume, not running away from it. As to packing a few things and leaving, something would have been noticed by LE and there would have been some suspicion about him still being alive (like in the Alex Cooper case).

Yeah but Silver Plume was such a small town, someone would have noticed an odd behavior in Reinhard. By all accounts he was deadset on finishing his novel, why just up and leave before it was finished? The novel seemed to be the driving force behind Reinhard staying in Silver Plume, not running away from it. As to packing a few things and leaving, something would have been noticed by LE and there would have been some suspicion about him still being alive (like in the Alex Cooper case).
But there is suspicion that he is still alive. Did you hear the interview with the sheriff on the UM episode? The guy blatantly states that things dont add and basically says that he thinks that Keith ran off. So it seems pretty obvious what LE thinks in this case.

It was talked about by his family how he was having this mid life crisis of sorts and he wanted to do things while he was young. I really wonder if Keith simply wanted to go down in history as some unexplained mystery that people would be talking about for years. I wonder if he became so engulfed in the whole Tom Young dissapearance that he decided to do the same. Could be that Keith wanted to go down as some piece of folklore much like a DB Cooper. If that was his plan then I would say it worked out perfect. Afterall we are all sitting here still talking about him years later.

But there is suspicion that he is still alive. Did you hear the interview with the sheriff on the UM episode? The guy blatantly states that things dont add and basically says that he thinks that Keith ran off. So it seems pretty obvious what LE thinks in this case.

It was talked about by his family how he was having this mid life crisis of sorts and he wanted to do things while he was young. I really wonder if Keith simply wanted to go down in history as some unexplained mystery that people would be talking about for years. I wonder if he became so engulfed in the whole Tom Young dissapearance that he decided to do the same. Could be that Keith wanted to go down as some piece of folklore much like a DB Cooper. If that was his plan then I would say it worked out perfect. Afterall we are all sitting here still talking about him years later.

If his memoir was finished and left behind I would say that's a possibility, but his book was never finished (which is something he intended to do, regardless of starting a new life or not) and that tells me that he died up on that mountain.

If his memoir was finished and left behind I would say that's a possibility, but his book was never finished (which is something he intended to do, regardless of starting a new life or not) and that tells me that he died up on that mountain.
Do you find the last line of his book a little eerie? It says he understood Tom now, dawned a heavy flannel shirt and walked off into the wilderness. Im wondering if he understood that Tom laid out the false trial so that he would be a mystery that everyone would talk about. Maybe Keith decided he wanted the same mystique

Do you find the last line of his book a little eerie? It says he understood Tom now, dawned a heavy flannel shirt and walked off into the wilderness. Im wondering if he understood that Tom laid out the false trial so that he would be a mystery that everyone would talk about. Maybe Keith decided he wanted the same mystique

I think the false trail Keith Reinhard may have wanted to put out was that he was going up on the mountain, and everyone would search for him there. Then he went off to live a new life. I just can't believe he didn't know the dangers of hiking off towards a mountain, with no supplies, near dark. That is an incredibly precarious thing to do.

But then that brings up, why would he leave his family behind when he showed no signs of wanting to leave them? Maybe he suffered such a mid-life crisis that he just wanted to leave it all behind. It's happened before.

Just as a side note, for whatever it's worth, last month marked the 21st anniversary of the Young/Reinhard segment originally airing on UM.

I think the false trail Keith Reinhard may have wanted to put out was that he was going up on the mountain, and everyone would search for him there. Then he went off to live a new life. I just can't believe he didn't know the dangers of hiking off towards a mountain, with no supplies, near dark. That is an incredibly precarious thing to do.

But then that brings up, why would he leave his family behind when he showed no signs of wanting to leave them? Maybe he suffered such a mid-life crisis that he just wanted to leave it all behind. It's happened before.

Just as a side note, for whatever it's worth, last month marked the 21st anniversary of the Young/Reinhard segment originally airing on UM.
Well I look at it this way, we know that he claimed he was climbing the mountain at 4pm with no supplies. He told several people this. We know he never came back and even though we know the general area he was suppose to be climbing in, his body never turned up. Like you said its been 21 years and still no remains.

The search for Keith started the day after he was last seen heading towards the mountain. It lasted 7 days and involved over 120 searchers. There was the Alpine rescue team from Colorado as well as the China lake team from California involved. The national gaurd also assisted in the search effort. I think we can safely say that the search was very extensive yet no trace of Keith was found.
This is what we know, when it comes to the question of why would Keith leave his life and family we get into an area where we simply don't know. We can only speculate as to why. None of us can know what may have been going on in his head based on a 15 minute segment on UM. I do know that his children where grown and he had only been married to his current wife for 2 years. Seems really odd to me that he would leave her for three months but there again I don't know him or his exact reasoning.

I would really like to hear the opinion of Keith's friend Ted. He was interviewed during the segment and stated that him and Keith had been best friends since childhood and he added that they where more like brothers. According to the letter Keith wrote his wife, him and Ted had been climbing Mt. Pendelton in the weeks before Keith vanished. I think Ted would know if Keith really indeed would try and climb by himself. Yet in the episode Ted never speaks as to what he thinks happned to Keith. I think Ted, more then anyone could give us a good idea of what Keith's state of mind was before he left. Id really be interested in hearing his opinion on what happened to his friend.

Yeah, that's true. In the letter to Keith's wife he mentions wanting to climb the mountain again, but Ted never mentions it at all in the UM segment. UM is sort of inconsistent and has a lot of missing information as we all know.

So I'm sticking with the theory that he did try to climb the mountain and could not make it down and died from the elements. You can not overlook however, that his remains were never found. I think in the UM segment they said that in 30yrs of rescuing they ALWAYS find the person they are looking for. So, this is unusual.

Still to this day, nothing. Their family seemed not to have a clue. As far as "Gretchen" is concerned, I'd love to hear more about this person from family/friends.

For those that think Reinhard went out and started a new life, don't you think he would have contacted at least one member of his family by now to let them know he was alive? The search and rescue unit obviously was very good, but that doesn't make them perfect. It's not all unreasonable that they just overlooked or couldn't find his remains.

For those that think Reinhard went out and started a new life, don't you think he would have contacted at least one member of his family by now to let them know he was alive? The search and rescue unit obviously was very good, but that doesn't make them perfect. It's not all unreasonable that they just overlooked or couldn't find his remains.
First off, if he wanted to start a whole new life then why contact the people he was wanting to get away from.
Secondly, how do we know he didnt? He very easily could have contacted them. He could have asked that they not saying anything and allow him to continue to be somewhat of a folklore legend.

Yeah, that's true. In the letter to Keith's wife he mentions wanting to climb the mountain again, but Ted never mentions it at all in the UM segment. UM is sort of inconsistent and has a lot of missing information as we all know.

So I'm sticking with the theory that he did try to climb the mountain and could not make it down and died from the elements. You can not overlook however, that his remains were never found. I think in the UM segment they said that in 30yrs of rescuing they ALWAYS find the person they are looking for. So, this is unusual.

Still to this day, nothing. Their family seemed not to have a clue. As far as "Gretchen" is concerned, I'd love to hear more about this person from family/friends.

Depends on what you mean by "died from the elements". If your saying he fell into a tight, remote spot and died then I would say that is totally possible. However there is no way he could have starved or froze to death. It was August so the temp would not be in issue. Also a massive search was underway within 24 hours so he could not have been just out there wandering around lost until he died.

First off, if he wanted to start a whole new life then why contact the people he was wanting to get away from.
Secondly, how do we know he didnt? He very easily could have contacted them. He could have asked that they not saying anything and allow him to continue to be somewhat of a folklore legend.

So Reinhard didn't want to tell any of his other family members or LE (who was looking into his disappearance, probably wasting taxpayers money) just because he wanted to be the next Paul Bunyan? How much of a "legend" was Reinhard outside of a town with 150 people?

So Reinhard didn't want to tell any of his other family members or LE (who was looking into his disappearance, probably wasting taxpayers money) just because he wanted to be the next Paul Bunyan? How much of a "legend" was Reinhard outside of a town with 150 people?
Well they did a segment about him on a national television show. As well we are still on here talking about him to this day.

Well they did a segment about him on a national television show. As well we are still on here talking about him to this day.

Come on, Reinhard is being discussed on here because we're UM fans. There is no discussion around water coolers going on about the whereabouts of Reinhard.

Come on, Reinhard is being discussed on here because we're UM fans. There is no discussion around water coolers going on about the whereabouts of Reinhard.
You dont think he could have gotten caught up in the mystery of Tom Young and decided to be a mystery himself? According to the episode Young was the talk of the town for nearly a year. Look at the last line in Keith's book. Just saying its a possibility and with his remains never bein found, anything is possible.

You dont think he could have gotten caught up in the mystery of Tom Young and decided to be a mystery himself? According to the episode Young was the talk of the town for nearly a year. Look at the last line in Keith's book. Just saying its a possibility and with his remains never bein found, anything is possible.

Young was the talk of the town. Key word being town. 150 people is not enough to become a "folklore legend".

Young was the talk of the town. Key word being town. 150 people is not enough to become a "folklore legend".
But Keith was a fairly well know sports writer in his hometown. Well known enough that UM picked up on this story. There is no shortage of info about Keith online.

I'm a friend of the Reinhard family and I have a few comments and references regarding his disappearance.

"Gretchen" was located, and interviewed. She turned out to be a dead lead.

Keith was very close with his family and friends. The theory that he "planned" his disappearance just doesn't add up. He was planning his 50th birthday party (September) to take place in Silver Plume. Friends and family were flying in from all parts of the United States. He had a band scheduled, etc. Keith was also a "people" person and kept in touch with many of his friends over the years.

What I never understood is why police never checked out his wife. They were having marital problems and she started dating a friend of Keith's shortly after he disappeared. Also, her father was murdered by her stepmother and her lover. Seems like quite a coincidence. Here is a link about the murder

http://vlex.com/vid/mitchell-link-karen-lane-illinois-37142891

More to come........

I'm a friend of the Reinhard family and I have a few comments and references regarding his disappearance.

"Gretchen" was located, and interviewed. She turned out to be a dead lead.

Keith was very close with his family and friends. The theory that he "planned" his disappearance just doesn't add up. He was planning his 50th birthday party (September) to take place in Silver Plume. Friends and family were flying in from all parts of the United States. He had a band scheduled, etc. Keith was also a "people" person and kept in touch with many of his friends over the years.

What I never understood is why police never checked out his wife. They were having marital problems and she started dating a friend of Keith's shortly after he disappeared. Also, her father was murdered by her stepmother and her lover. Seems like quite a coincidence. Here is a link about the murder

http://vlex.com/vid/mitchell-link-karen-lane-illinois-37142891

More to come........
Wow, Now this is really something. If he was murdered and his body concealed then this would obviously explain why the search effort turned up nothing. It just seems so unreal to me that no trace of him was found when you consider there was such a massive search effort underway less then 24 hours after he was last seen. It's even more perplexing that no trace of him has been found 20 years later in this area that is frequented by hikers.

If Keith was in fact murdered, possibly by his wife or her lover, why didn't anyone in the town notice this "stranger"? Silver Plume was a very small town, and I'm sure someone would have noticed an outsider immediately. Let alone they just so happened to pick the same day Keith decides to climb Mount Pendleton to murder him. Since his wife lived in Illinois, I'm sure she had an alibi for the day he disappeared. I'm not sold on the murder plot theory.

I lived in Silver Plume in the early nineties. I asked a friend that lived there for a long time what he thought happened. He said with great confidence that Rheinhard's body was in a mine shaft and would probably never be found. I asked about Tom Young and my friends wife said in a hateful way that "he was a fa**ot" and my friend just looked at me and shrugged. I've wondered for years if Rheinhard learned something about Young's death and paid for it. I think Young's mother made a big stink about his death and actually got reporters or private detectives involved. It's hard to find info on his case with such a common name. I had to get out of that town. It's got a very Stephen King vibe when you live there. The way the mountain blocks out the sun in the summer is sort of creepy and if I were ever going to film a version of The Lottery that's where I'd film it. The searchers didn't look in any abandoned mine shafts because he apparently told every one in the town the same thing. He was climbing the mountain a few hours before sunset? Any stranger in that town would be noticed so I doubt his second wife could have been involved.

I lived in Silver Plume in the early nineties. I asked a friend that lived there for a long time what he thought happened. He said with great confidence that Rheinhard's body was in a mine shaft and would probably never be found. I asked about Tom Young and my friends wife said in a hateful way that "he was a fa**ot" and my friend just looked at me and shrugged. I've wondered for years if Rheinhard learned something about Young's death and paid for it. I think Young's mother made a big stink about his death and actually got reporters or private detectives involved. It's hard to find info on his case with such a common name. I had to get out of that town. It's got a very Stephen King vibe when you live there. The way the mountain blocks out the sun in the summer is sort of creepy and if I were ever going to film a version of The Lottery that's where I'd film it. The searchers didn't look in any abandoned mine shafts because he apparently told every one in the town the same thing. He was climbing the mountain a few hours before sunset? Any stranger in that town would be noticed so I doubt his second wife could have been involved.

Thanks for your post, your insight into Silver Plume is interesting to say the least. As for Tom Young, I think it was a cut and dried suicide. His dog was found shot as well, seems to me like Young simply wanted to kill himself and take his dog with him. Why did your friend say Keith was in a mine shaft and that he would never be found? Is it possible he fell into the mine shaft and eventually died?

We never discussed it again. He made that cryptic remark and that was the end of discussion. He was either trying to seem knowledgeable or impress me. I moved a few months later and lost touch. Has anybody checked if Rheinhard had a lot of life insurance?

I'm a friend of the Reinhard family and I have a few comments and references regarding his disappearance.

"Gretchen" was located, and interviewed. She turned out to be a dead lead.

Keith was very close with his family and friends. The theory that he "planned" his disappearance just doesn't add up. He was planning his 50th birthday party (September) to take place in Silver Plume. Friends and family were flying in from all parts of the United States. He had a band scheduled, etc. Keith was also a "people" person and kept in touch with many of his friends over the years.

What I never understood is why police never checked out his wife. They were having marital problems and she started dating a friend of Keith's shortly after he disappeared. Also, her father was murdered by her stepmother and her lover. Seems like quite a coincidence. Here is a link about the murder

http://vlex.com/vid/mitchell-link-karen-lane-illinois-37142891

More to come........
Thanks for posting here and for the updates and insights!

I lived in Silver Plume in the early nineties. I asked a friend that lived there for a long time what he thought happened. He said with great confidence that Rheinhard's body was in a mine shaft and would probably never be found. I asked about Tom Young and my friends wife said in a hateful way that "he was a fa**ot" and my friend just looked at me and shrugged. I've wondered for years if Rheinhard learned something about Young's death and paid for it. I think Young's mother made a big stink about his death and actually got reporters or private detectives involved. It's hard to find info on his case with such a common name. I had to get out of that town. It's got a very Stephen King vibe when you live there. The way the mountain blocks out the sun in the summer is sort of creepy and if I were ever going to film a version of The Lottery that's where I'd film it. The searchers didn't look in any abandoned mine shafts because he apparently told every one in the town the same thing. He was climbing the mountain a few hours before sunset? Any stranger in that town would be noticed so I doubt his second wife could have been involved.
Sounds like a typical small town where everyone's got some rumors about everything and is always trying to one up everybody else. Thanks for posting here it sounds like an interesting and odd place, hopefully they will search some the accessible mines one day.

The fact that Tom Young was found dead with a gun and his dog tells me it was nothing more than suicide. As to why he didn't give the dog to someone else, perhaps he didn't want anyone else to care for the dog and wanted to die with his companion? I think Keith Reinhard accidentally died up on the mountains and has yet to be found. He had a job back in Illinois (as well as his family), so becoming depressed over finances seems unlikely. And wasn't Keith already "away" from his family in the first place? He really didn't need to "run away" from anyone. Why stage the elaborate disappearance? Why not just pack up and go? Plus he was seen walking in the direction of the mountain before he disappeared so all of the signs point to him actually going to the mountain. He could have easily had a heart attack or fell (especially wearing jeans and tennis shoes while trying to hike up a steep mountain), and I think his remains fell to the elements.

BTW, I've only ever seen the Farina hosted segment, which makes no mention of this mysterious woman at a party. Even when they air the reruns, they leave out even more crucial details!

To be honest that's a really naive thing to say. Tommy Burkett was found holding the same gun Tom Young was holding (a revolver) and his death was anything but a suicide.

My theory is that Tom Young was murdered. In all the suicide cases I'm aware of, no one ever goes out in the middle of nowhere to do it. When people commit suicide, they want solace--a place they're comfortable in and familiar with, and thus, 90% of the time suicides occur in a person's home or inside a building. In UM, they said that Tom Young's only friend was his dog. Wouldn't you think he would at least spare his best friend and put it up for adoption before taking his own life?

To be honest that's a really naive thing to say. Tommy Burkett was found holding the same gun Tom Young was holding (a revolver) and his death was anything but a suicide.

My theory is that Tom Young was murdered. In all the suicide cases I'm aware of, no one ever goes out in the middle of nowhere to do it. When people commit suicide, they want solace--a place they're comfortable in and familiar with, and thus, 90% of the time suicides occur in a person's home or inside a building. In UM, they said that Tom Young's only friend was his dog. Wouldn't you think he would at least spare his best friend and put it up for adoption before taking his own life?

No I don't think that would have happened. Maybe Young couldn't bear the thought of his dog being cared for by someone other than himself? Who knows what would be going through the mind of a man about to commit suicide? What we do know is that he told several people he was going away to Europe, and there was no evidence that he had planned any such trip. How do we not know that Young wasn't comfortable where he shot himself? He probably walked his dog there several times.

Tommy Burkett was found in his house with what appeared to have been a staged scene. And there's no 100% conclusive evidence in that case that states Burkett didn't kill himself. And there has never (even on the UM broadcast) been a reason as to why Young and possibly Reinhard would have been murdered. Did they discover something going on in the town, involving something illegal? Absolutely not. Silver Plume had 130 residents. If one person knew something, they all would know. And who would have motive to murder two people in the same building, let alone an antique shop (one of which was failing financially)? Was it to get the property? For what? In a town of 130? IMO, Keith became intruiged with the story of Young after moving into the building, and decided to write a book about a man trying to find himself, in the midst of a mid-life crisis. He probably saw similiarities between himself and Tom Young. I really think that's the only connection that can be made between Young and Reinhard.

Well the wife would not have been a stranger in the town. She had been there before. If people had seen her they probably wouldnt have thought much of it. Keep in mind this was a tourist area so we shouldn't be so quick to assume that a stranger would have been noticed. Keith was setting up his shop to make money off of tourists. I have to wonder what in the world Keith would be doing going into an abandoned mine shaft by himself. Now that would be a good place to hide a body ofcourse but why in the world would he go into a place like that on his own?

Now that would be a good place to hide a body ofcourse but why in the world would he go into a place like that on his own?

I guess it's possible he fell into a mine shaft inadverntently.

No I don't think that would have happened. Maybe Young couldn't bear the thought of his dog being cared for by someone other than himself? Who knows what would be going through the mind of a man about to commit suicide? What we do know is that he told several people he was going away to Europe, and there was no evidence that he had planned any such trip. How do we not know that Young wasn't comfortable where he shot himself? He probably walked his dog there several times.

Tommy Burkett was found in his house with what appeared to have been a staged scene. And there's no 100% conclusive evidence in that case that states Burkett didn't kill himself. And there has never (even on the UM broadcast) been a reason as to why Young and possibly Reinhard would have been murdered. Did they discover something going on in the town, involving something illegal? Absolutely not. Silver Plume had 130 residents. If one person knew something, they all would know. And who would have motive to murder two people in the same building, let alone an antique shop (one of which was failing financially)? Was it to get the property? For what? In a town of 130? IMO, Keith became intruiged with the story of Young after moving into the building, and decided to write a book about a man trying to find himself, in the midst of a mid-life crisis. He probably saw similiarities between himself and Tom Young. I really think that's the only connection that can be made between Young and Reinhard.

The population of a town has nothing to do with how well it can keep a secret from reaching the masses. Just look at the Norman Ladner case, which involved a much bigger and sinister secret. He lived in a town of less than 3,000 in Mississippi, and yet everyone was oblivious to the fact that drug dropping was going on there.

And on the subject of Tommy Burkett, I don't think there's a single soul here that believes he actually committed suicide, save for maybe 1 person.

Tom Young was gay, but I don't think that has anything to do with his death. I too have visited Silver Plume, and it is a very creepy place. I've also met numerous amounts of people that have visited there and they all pretty much say the same thing.

Another theory is that Tom and Keith were both murdered because they knew something about the illegal dumping of nuclear waste near Idaho Springs. There was an epilogue written about this in a book "Brother Tony's Boys" by Mike Echols. Here are some excerpts from the book:

"Hiking to the top of the hill over the main mine shaft, I found and photographed a travel trailer with electronic testing equipment in crates-all labeled as belonging to the US Dept of Energy".

"Except for my telling two acquaintances-fellow freelance writer Sarah Nelson and Silver Plume bookstore owner and political activist, Tom Young-I did keep my mouth shut because I was busy finishing my first book".

"Over the next few years Tom Young tried to find out what really was going on up at the abandoned mine".

"In 1991, I spoke with the segment's field producer, Todd Miller, and he told me that his experiences in Clear Creek County dealing with local law enforcement in researching and filing the story were the strangest he had ever experienced with "Unsolved Mysteries".

More to come........

The population of a town has nothing to do with how well it can keep a secret from reaching the masses. Just look at the Norman Ladner case, which involved a much bigger and sinister secret. He lived in a town of less than 3,000 in Mississippi, and yet everyone was oblivious to the fact that drug dropping was going on there.

And on the subject of Tommy Burkett, I don't think there's a single soul here that believes he actually committed suicide, save for maybe 1 person.

3,000 is a lot more than 130 people. If something illegal were going on in the area (like illegal dumping for example) and Reinhard or Young knew about it, they would have told someone. Someone else in the town would have known. Especially Reinhard's friend who owned the cafe in Silver Plume. He stated they were like "brothers" and grew up together. If Reinhard stumbled upon something illegal (how and why I'll never know), he most certainly would have told his wife or his friend. Yet there's none of this. This is another case of few details being bounced around formed into conspiracies.

Tom Young was gay, but I don't think that has anything to do with his death. I too have visited Silver Plume, and it is a very creepy place. I've also met numerous amounts of people that have visited there and they all pretty much say the same thing.

Another theory is that Tom and Keith were both murdered because they knew something about the illegal dumping of nuclear waste near Idaho Springs. There was an epilogue written about this in a book "Brother Tony's Boys" by Mike Echols. Here are some excerpts from the book:

"Hiking to the top of the hill over the main mine shaft, I found and photographed a travel trailer with electronic testing equipment in crates-all labeled as belonging to the US Dept of Energy".

"Except for my telling two acquaintances-fellow freelance writer Sarah Nelson and Silver Plume bookstore owner and political activist, Tom Young-I did keep my mouth shut because I was busy finishing my first book".

"Over the next few years Tom Young tried to find out what really was going on up at the abandoned mine".

"In 1991, I spoke with the segment's field producer, Todd Miller, and he told me that his experiences in Clear Creek County dealing with local law enforcement in researching and filing the story were the strangest he had ever experienced with "Unsolved Mysteries".

More to come........
Whoa...
This puts a whole new spin on this case. Tom Young was a political activist who was researching nuclear waste being dumped at a mine shaft??? Uhhhh if this is the case then his suicide becomes very questionable in my book. It does pose a very interesting new scenerio. Keith became obsessed with Young and was writing a book on him as we know from the episode. Keith may have began researching Tom's life and got into the subject of nuclear waste at the mine shaft and ended up meeting the same fate

Tom Young was gay, but I don't think that has anything to do with his death. I too have visited Silver Plume, and it is a very creepy place. I've also met numerous amounts of people that have visited there and they all pretty much say the same thing.

Another theory is that Tom and Keith were both murdered because they knew something about the illegal dumping of nuclear waste near Idaho Springs. There was an epilogue written about this in a book "Brother Tony's Boys" by Mike Echols. Here are some excerpts from the book:

"Hiking to the top of the hill over the main mine shaft, I found and photographed a travel trailer with electronic testing equipment in crates-all labeled as belonging to the US Dept of Energy".

"Except for my telling two acquaintances-fellow freelance writer Sarah Nelson and Silver Plume bookstore owner and political activist, Tom Young-I did keep my mouth shut because I was busy finishing my first book".

"Over the next few years Tom Young tried to find out what really was going on up at the abandoned mine".

"In 1991, I spoke with the segment's field producer, Todd Miller, and he told me that his experiences in Clear Creek County dealing with local law enforcement in researching and filing the story were the strangest he had ever experienced with "Unsolved Mysteries".

More to come........
This really makes everything even more mysterious. I believe that them finding out about illegal nuclear waste dumping is a great possibility. Was anything else happening around Silver Plume around that time?

The nuclear waste-dumping angle really changes the Tom Young/Keith Reinhard case, especially after UM didn't mention it back in the 1990 segment. That does make one wonder if Tom Young didn't get shot and it was made to look like a suicide (since ballistics couldn't determine if his gun was used to shoot himself). Maybe Keith Reinhard got too close to the Tom Young disappearance and someone wanted him to be quiet for good? But that doesn't explain why he went hiking towards the mountain and then disappeared. If you think back to the Jimmy Hoffa case of 1975, he went to meet someone at a restaurant and then disappeared. How would someone wanting to kill him know he was heading for the mountain (short of stalking him)?

But then again, the Jimmy Hoffa case brings up that Reinhard could have been connected to what Tom Young knew, and was silenced permanently. No one has seen Jimmy Hoffa for 36 years, so someone who knew what he or she was doing could cover up the Young death/Reinhard disappearance for 24 years.

I visited Silver Plume in September 2008 and August 2010, and from the people I met in town, I didn't exactly see them as a creepy bunch or get a "Stephen King vibe." With all due respect, it was possibly a bit artsy/hippie-like in the town, but I've seen much creepier folks in other small towns all around America. I wonder if the population of the town has changed over the 20 or so years since the UM segment aired. Some towns go upscale, and lose some of the quirkiness.

Everyone seems to keep forgetting that Reinhard told almost everyone in the town of Silver Plume that he was going to scale the mountain the day he disappeared. Remember one of his goals mentioned on the UM segment was to get over his fear of heights, so I think he was telling everyone in the town as a way to show everyone that he had finally overcome that obstacle. Tack on the fact that it was later in the day that he scaled the mountain, I just don't see how there was any foul play in Keith's disappearance. How would this person, who's out to silence Keith, even be able to locate him on Pendleton Mountain? Why let him even get there at all? And how convenient for this person that Keith decided to pick such an isolated location at such an odd time?

Has there ever been any truth to the claims of the illegal dumping going on in the area? If they are true, I find it odd that something like nuclear waste dumping has been going on for years and there's really been nothing reported other than on this website.

When it comes to UM and the cases presented I typically believe that the simplest explanation is usually correct. In this case, I lean toward Tom Young committing suicide and Keith Reinhard possibly having an accident or possibly a stroke or exigent medical problem and succumbing to the elements on the mountain.

The whole nuclear/toxic waste business just sounds like some movie plot.

I'm not sure what happened to Mr. Reinhard, but I would like to point a couple of things out that might help all of you in your theorizing. Because of the poverty, long winters and their isolation, and some other inexplicable reasons, Clear Creek County (where Silver Plume is located) has a particularly high suicide rate. It is very common for these suicides to take themselves into back country to perform their deed. I'm not sure if it is the privacy of it, the seclusion, or the romance of being in the wild.

Silver Plume is at 9100 feet altitude and is located in such a way in the mountains that the weather can change immediately and rapidly as it is only a few miles from the Continental Divide. Currently, 08/01, we still have snowy patches at about 10k feet. The terrain is incredibly rugged and dangerous and unprepared day hikers frequently fall to their deaths or are caught off guard by the weather and are rescued. In this day of technology, the rescue teams receive frequent calls from careless people who are "cold" because the temperatures drop into the 30s at night without warning. Of course, that's in town and up at higher elevation anything can happen. It's been known to snow in these towns on the fourth of July.

Likewise, the mountains around here are both riddled with old mining claims and shafts, plus an abundance of wildlife. Three years after this event, a mountain lion killed and partially consumed a teenage boy just outside of Idaho Springs, which is about 15 miles from Silver Plume which is known to have sightings of them from town. While this was an incredibly rare occurance, most people in these parts know not to go hiking at 4:00pm when the winds can pick up, along with a rapid and freezing thunder storm, before the wildlife begin their hunting time.

The small town where everyone knows everyone else's business would probably be the neighbor to Silver Plume, Georgetown, but Plume itself is a place where people try to stay out of everyone else's business. It's widely known around the area that Silver Plume has the highest education level, meaning quite a few PHDs, and lowest income level in the county. It is a live and let live community and there are a lot of people who are living "off the grid." While it is a definite community, people there tend not to delve into each other's past nor do they ask too many questions about the minutia of each other's personal affairs. If "Joe" decides to be misanthropic and hole up in his home for a month or so, that's just the way it is and no one bugs him about it nor gossips. That's what they do in nearby Georgetown, but not in Silver Plume. Indeed, the whole disdainful fa&**T statement isn't really like people from Plume, but it was 23 years ago. Normally, people pretty much just ignore that stuff there.

Something that is rarely mentioned is that a man died trying to rescue him. These rescue people are locals who frequently risk their lives to try and save others who don't follow basic common sense. Mr. Reinhard still had the city in him, so I think that the general feeling is that he was foolish and cost a man his life through it. The idea of some mysterious murder is really inconsistent with the place. If someone wanted to kill him, they'd likely just up and do it in a drunken brawl.

Mr. Reinhard still had the city in him, so I think that the general feeling is that he was foolish and cost a man his life through it. The idea of some mysterious murder is really inconsistent with the place. If someone wanted to kill him, they'd likely just up and do it in a drunken brawl.

Thank you for your insight into this case, this is generally what I think happened to Keith as well. He was in over his head when he attempted to scale the mountain, and it cost him his life.

Thank you for your insight into this case, this is generally what I think happened to Keith as well. He was in over his head when he attempted to scale the mountain, and it cost him his life.
The only way Keith could have died without foul play involved was for him to fall into a very remote, hidden area. He could not have died of exposure because there was a massive search for him shortly after he went missing. This was in the summer so no way he froze to death and it would have taken him days to die from dehydration or starvation. How could Keith have been wandering around out there alive with such a huge search team looking for him? Keep in mind they also knew where he was going and when he left so its not like he could have gotten too far away either.

The only way Keith could have died without foul play involved was for him to fall into a very remote, hidden area. He could not have died of exposure because there was a massive search for him shortly after he went missing. This was in the summer so no way he froze to death and it would have taken him days to die from dehydration or starvation. How could Keith have been wandering around out there alive with such a huge search team looking for him? Keep in mind they also knew where he was going and when he left so its not like he could have gotten too far away either.

I never said Keith was wandering around. He could have had a stroke, heart attack, etc. and died in a remote area that was simply overlooked. Or he could have fallen into a hidden area, there are several possibilities. Just because the search was deemed "massive" does not mean they went over every area with a fine tooth comb. Just look at how long it took to find Mike Riemer's remains.

I never said Keith was wandering around. He could have had a stroke, heart attack, etc. and died in a remote area that was simply overlooked. Or he could have fallen into a hidden area, there are several possibilities. Just because the search was deemed "massive" does not mean they went over every area with a fine tooth comb. Just look at how long it took to find Mike Riemer's remains.
And I am agreeing with your statement by saying the only way for him to have died without foul play and not be found was to have fallen into a remote area. I suppose its possible though I think there are more likely conclusions. If the seven day search effort turned up nothing then wouldn't you think that after all this time someone would have found his remains? It took only a year for someone to find Tom Young and no one even knew he was up there.
With Reimer the searches didnt really begin right off the bat and it was only Mike's father, his freind and some volunteers. They had a vast area to search with not much idea as to where he would be. This is nothing compared to the search that went on for Keith. Keep in mind that even after all this time Riemer was still found and now it turns out was the victim of foul play.

And I am agreeing with your statement by saying the only way for him to have died without foul play and not be found was to have fallen into a remote area. I suppose its possible though I think there are more likely conclusions. If the seven day search effort turned up nothing then wouldn't you think that after all this time someone would have found his remains? It took only a year for someone to find Tom Young and no one even knew he was up there.
With Reimer the searches didnt really begin right off the bat and it was only Mike's father, his freind and some volunteers. They had a vast area to search with not much idea as to where he would be. This is nothing compared to the search that went on for Keith. Keep in mind that even after all this time Riemer was still found and now it turns out was the victim of foul play.

But the only reason Riemer is a suspected victim of foul play was because the woman he was last seen with was murdered. Reinhard, by all accounts, told practically the whole town of Silver Plume that he was going to climb Mount Pendleton the day he disappeared. Now for foul play to be a factor in this case, there must be some sort of plausible motive established. If anyone believes foul play was involved, they must also believe that in the small amount of time Reinhard was in Silver Plume he angered someone to the point that they would want him dead. And this person that murdered Reinhard would also have to have been able to locate Reinhard on Mount Pendleton and murder him and be able to conceal his body so well that it still hasn't been found. IMHO, Reinhard leaving to start a new life is more likely than foul play.

But the only reason Riemer is a suspected victim of foul play was because the woman he was last seen with was murdered. Reinhard, by all accounts, told practically the whole town of Silver Plume that he was going to climb Mount Pendleton the day he disappeared. Now for foul play to be a factor in this case, there must be some sort of plausible motive established. If anyone believes foul play was involved, they must also believe that in the small amount of time Reinhard was in Silver Plume he angered someone to the point that they would want him dead. And this person that murdered Reinhard would also have to have been able to locate Reinhard on Mount Pendleton and murder him and be able to conceal his body so well that it still hasn't been found. IMHO, Reinhard leaving to start a new life is more likely than foul play.
True but you also have to take into account that he could have been the victim of a random killing. Much like it appears Riemer was.

I was just thinking about this case today, and thought of a good point that all but quells the theory that Tom Young (and possibly Keith) was murdered for uncovering something nefarious (some posts have suggested illegal toxic waste dumping) going on in the area. IIRC, Tom Young owned and operated a book store. For one, just how would a bookstore owner in a town of less than 150 people be able to "discover" something illegal going on in the area? And if Young was in fact murdered, his killers have got to be the luckiest people on the face of the Earth. Because they just so happened to murder Young around the same time he was telling everyone he was going to Europe. Which is funny considering there was no evidence to indicate that Young did in fact have travel plans intending to go to Europe, or anywhere else for that matter. What are the odds of the killers murdering Young the same week he goes around telling people about this "fake vacation" to Europe? Doesn't it seem more likely that Young made up the Europe trip because he knew he was going to kill himself and didn't want to worry his friends and neighbors?

I was just thinking about this case today, and thought of a good point that all but quells the theory that Tom Young (and possibly Keith) was murdered for uncovering something nefarious (some posts have suggested illegal toxic waste dumping) going on in the area. IIRC, Tom Young owned and operated a book store. For one, just how would a bookstore owner in a town of less than 150 people be able to "discover" something illegal going on in the area? And if Young was in fact murdered, his killers have got to be the luckiest people on the face of the Earth. Because they just so happened to murder Young around the same time he was telling everyone he was going to Europe. Which is funny considering there was no evidence to indicate that Young did in fact have travel plans intending to go to Europe, or anywhere else for that matter. What are the odds of the killers murdering Young the same week he goes around telling people about this "fake vacation" to Europe? Doesn't it seem more likely that Young made up the Europe trip because he knew he was going to kill himself and didn't want to worry his friends and neighbors?
Well first off I really dont think it matters where he worked or what size the population of the town he lived in was. If the man took an interest in nuclear waste dumping then that simply could have made him some powerful enemies. If the dumping was in the area where he lived then its even more believable to me. I remember from an early post that Young had been doing research into this sort of activity and this had been documented. So obvioulsy his profession as a book store owner and living in a very small town had not deminished his desire to stop toxic waste dumping. That being said it could absolutley be possible that he was killed around the same time that he told people he was going to Europe. Did anyone actually state that Tom had given an exact date he was leaving for this trip? Or did he just say he was planning a trip to Europe and then sometime after vanish? From what we have heard Tom Young was a fairly private man that kept to himself. So why even make up the Europe story? Why not just go off himself?? Didnt seem that he had any friends or family in the area that would worry about him anyhow.
I still think that Tom most likely did kill himself and Keith either faked his death or was the victim of foul play. Tom's body was found by people that where not even looking for him. No trace of Keith has been found in 20 plus years and there was a massive search underway less the 24 hours after he was last seen.

Something tells me that Keith might've killed the other guy and stole his identity as to why Keith has not been found, he may be in hiding.

The only way Keith could have died without foul play involved was for him to fall into a very remote, hidden area. He could not have died of exposure because there was a massive search for him shortly after he went missing. This was in the summer so no way he froze to death and it would have taken him days to die from dehydration or starvation. How could Keith have been wandering around out there alive with such a huge search team looking for him? Keep in mind they also knew where he was going and when he left so its not like he could have gotten too far away either.

All that I can say in answer is that it is painfully obvious that you are not familiar with the actual terrain around here, the effects of altitude, or the rapidly changing weather patterns (yes, Virginia, in Summer). It is a vast and dangerous place. In addition, when the USFS filled in thousands of mine shaft entrances, years ago, they only went 100 feet off of the main trails. There still remain thousands of lightly covered, deep, shafts that are not unlike booby traps. The bodies of previously lost suicides are found out here with a bit of regularity.

The man did several things that were odd: He went away after telling the whole town, which is a bit manic and unusual for SP; he had NO jacket, rope, water, or any other type of equipment regularly used by hikers (layer is the word used most around here); he was unskilled and still afraid of heights; and he had only been at altitude for a few months. Oh, let's not forget that he up and left his family, decided to grow his hair and beard, and live like he was a teenager and write his great american novel. When mid-life crisis maneuvers don't work, despondent people tend to off themselves.

By the way, in this highly watched area, with an enormous USFS project to delineate off road vehicle and hiker access that has large amounts of imaging showing trails, both official and false, how on earth would some illegal toxic waste dumping not have been discovered? That has a lot more impact than a tiny body of a man.

If he were only going for a hike, or if he committed suicide, he foolishly cost the life of an innocent and good man who volunteered to look for genuine victims. If it were foul play, there certainly hasn't been any news of what could have led to it, nor have there been other deaths associated with it.

The man did several things that were odd: He went away after telling the whole town, which is a bit manic and unusual for SP; he had NO jacket, rope, water, or any other type of equipment regularly used by hikers (layer is the word used most around here); he was unskilled and still afraid of heights; and he had only been at altitude for a few months. Oh, let's not forget that he up and left his family, decided to grow his hair and beard, and live like he was a teenager and write his great american novel. When mid-life crisis maneuvers don't work, despondent people tend to off themselves.

This is precisely why I believe Reinhard died an accidental death. It's obvious the man was over his head to begin with. I suppose those who believe Reinhard faked his death would be quick to counter that the fact that he took no jacket, rope, supplies, etc. is even more of a likekly reason that he faked everything. However, there was no evidence that Reinhard packed up any belongings or luggage, etc. I also find it odd that Reinhard would have up and disappeared without finishing his novel. IMHO, Reinhard's attempt to climb Mt. Pendleton was his final hurdle, so to speak. I think once he overcame that obstacle perhaps he thought he could finally finish his book. Unfortunately, his foolish attempt to scale the mountain most likely cost him his life.

And I do not believe for one second the entire "illegal dumping" thing. Tom Young was a bookstore owner, Reinhard an antique store. Just how did these men happen to stumble onto anything? And what are the odds that only 2 out of the less than 150 people in the town of Silver Plume are the only ones who knew about the "illegal activity"? And why didn't Young and/or Reinhard report anything they saw to anyone in the town? And what are the odds that both Reinhard and Young (several years apart) just so happen to both pick days to scale the mountain where this "illegal dumping" is going on when they are killed for what they "witnessed"? Astronomical. People like to delve into the "mysterious" angles more because it does make for better story telling. But I think the most likely scenarios are a suicide for Young and accidental death for Reinhard. There's nothing else to suggest otherwise.

This is precisely why I believe Reinhard died an accidental death. It's obvious the man was over his head to begin with. I suppose those who believe Reinhard faked his death would be quick to counter that the fact that he took no jacket, rope, supplies, etc. is even more of a likekly reason that he faked everything. However, there was no evidence that Reinhard packed up any belongings or luggage, etc. I also find it odd that Reinhard would have up and disappeared without finishing his novel. IMHO, Reinhard's attempt to climb Mt. Pendleton was his final hurdle, so to speak. I think once he overcame that obstacle perhaps he thought he could finally finish his book. Unfortunately, his foolish attempt to scale the mountain most likely cost him his life.

And I do not believe for one second the entire "illegal dumping" thing. Tom Young was a bookstore owner, Reinhard an antique store. Just how did these men happen to stumble onto anything? And what are the odds that only 2 out of the less than 150 people in the town of Silver Plume are the only ones who knew about the "illegal activity"? And why didn't Young and/or Reinhard report anything they saw to anyone in the town? And what are the odds that both Reinhard and Young (several years apart) just so happen to both pick days to scale the mountain where this "illegal dumping" is going on when they are killed for what they "witnessed"? Astronomical. People like to delve into the "mysterious" angles more because it does make for better story telling. But I think the most likely scenarios are a suicide for Young and accidental death for Reinhard. There's nothing else to suggest otherwise.
Tom Young absolutley was looking into illegal toxic waste dumping. Someone posted a link to that information in either this forum or one of the other Reinhard/Young threads. So there is no denying that. I believe he had written a few articles on the subject. I will see if I can find the post and provide a link.
Why didnt Young report the illegal dumping to anyone in town? How do you know he didnt? Have you talked to everyone in silver plume? How do you know who he did or did not talk to about anything? No one said that Young and Reinhard where both killed as the witnessed toxic waste dumping by chance. Where did you even come up with that?

You say there is no evidence that Reinhard packed anything up. Well how do you know? Did someone take an inventory of all Keith's belongings before he vanished? There is also no evidence that he died on the mountain. That is why this is an unsolved mystery. We dont really have evidence pointing one way or the other.

People are saying that Reinhard fell into a mine shaft never to be found. Well what evidence is there of that? Has this happened before? Have others gone missing on mt Pendelton? Are mine shafts swallowing up hikers like a black hole? Does anyone know if there actually is an abandoned shaft anywhere in the vicinity that Keith was climbing in? Are mine shafts just left like open pits for unsuspecting people to fall into?? Lets look into this before we speculate on it.

You do not have all the facts from the UM segment. They did not talk to very many people from Silver Plume at all so we really know very little about what was happening with Keith or Tom.

The following is an excerpt from an earlier post that talks about Tom Youngs involvement looking into toxic waste dumping



Tom Young was gay, but I don't think that has anything to do with his death. I too have visited Silver Plume, and it is a very creepy place. I've also met numerous amounts of people that have visited there and they all pretty much say the same thing.

Another theory is that Tom and Keith were both murdered because they knew something about the illegal dumping of nuclear waste near Idaho Springs. There was an epilogue written about this in a book "Brother Tony's Boys" by Mike Echols. Here are some excerpts from the book:

"Hiking to the top of the hill over the main mine shaft, I found and photographed a travel trailer with electronic testing equipment in crates-all labeled as belonging to the US Dept of Energy".

"Except for my telling two acquaintances-fellow freelance writer Sarah Nelson and Silver Plume bookstore owner and political activist, Tom Young-I did keep my mouth shut because I was busy finishing my first book".

"Over the next few years Tom Young tried to find out what really was going on up at the abandoned mine".

"In 1991, I spoke with the segment's field producer, Todd Miller, and he told me that his experiences in Clear Creek County dealing with local law enforcement in researching and filing the story were the strangest he had ever experienced with "Unsolved Mysteries".



Read more: http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=221529&page=11#ixzz1hoKpozSA

People are saying that Reinhard fell into a mine shaft never to be found. Well what evidence is there of that? Has this happened before? Have others gone missing on mt Pendelton? Are mine shafts swallowing up hikers like a black hole? Does anyone know if there actually is an abandoned shaft anywhere in the vicinity that Keith was climbing in? Are mine shafts just left like open pits for unsuspecting people to fall into?? Lets look into this before we speculate on it.
You keep overlooking the posts by citizens of this town. A friend of mine from Boulder has visited: the high altitude makes the weather strange and treacherous year round, and the area boasts literally hundreds of crags and abysses. And, yes, I could imagine that the harsh climate makes people strange and uncommunicative. Why do you keep denying the obvious, especially from people who know the terrain?

You keep overlooking the posts by citizens of this town. A friend of mine from Boulder has visited: the high altitude makes the weather strange and treacherous year round, and the area boasts literally hundreds of crags and abysses. And, yes, I could imagine that the harsh climate makes people strange and uncommunicative. Why do you keep denying the obvious, especially from people who know the terrain?

Im really not sure what your trying to say. Im not denying anything and have said we should remain open to all possibilities. What citizens from Silver Plume have posted here? Somone did post on here that seemed to have personal knowledge of the case and they had hinted that Keith's wife may have been involved in his dissapearance. But thats all Ive seen from anyone that might be close to the case. I have been to Colorado many times and know exactly what the terrain of the Rockies is like.

I also know what you mean about the rapid and sometimes drastic weather conditions. But what does that prove? I have read the logs from the search teams and no where does it mention that any storms had popped up while Keith was missing. Its never mentioned in the segment either. If a freak storm had rolled in and caught Keith while climbing then Id think maybe it would have been mentioned as a possibility.

How dangerous is Mt Pendelton? It seems like a fairly popular spot for hikers so surely we have some other instances of people going missing up there. Though I can't seem to find any other related vanishings on the mountain.

Why didnt Young report the illegal dumping to anyone in town? How do you know he didnt? Have you talked to everyone in silver plume? How do you know who he did or did not talk to about anything?

In a town of less than 150 people, especially if Tom Young was writing articles about this, someone in that town other than Tom Young and/or Reinhard would have known about it if it were truely going on. The "illegal dumping" scenario first came to fruition on this board, no other form of media has ever printed anything about it. No TV shows, newspapers, websites, etc. People that have lived or visited the town have posted on here, debunking and rebuffing the silly toxic waste angle. What more proof do you need that it never existed?

No one said that Young and Reinhard where both killed as the witnessed toxic waste dumping by chance. Where did you even come up with that?

Let's see...Tom Young is murdered out of the blue (on a day that he already told his friends that he was embarking on a trip to Europe) while he and his dog were walking near Mt. Pendleton. Keith Reinhard is murdered years later simply because he coincidentally "stumbled" onto the same toxic waste dumping that Young did years earlier. Yet no one in the town besides Reinhard or Young have ever reported ANYTHING of a similar nature since. For me to believe that, I need some questions answered. Why did the killers not kill Young and/or Reinhard sooner than they did? Why did the killers of Young get so lucky as to pick a day when he decided to arm himself with his pistol (IMO seems like a silly thing for a man to do who has no intentions of killing himself and is simply out for a walk with his dog), and then walk his dog in such an isolated area, get his pistol from him and kill him and his dog? Reinhard was a realtive newcomer to the town, why did he not reach out to his friend at the cafe, or other members of the community if he did in fact "discover" something that Young was investigating? Why did Reinhard's killers get so lucky to pick the same day he decides to foolishly scale the mountain without any supplies, also the same day he ran around town telling everyone where he was going? I suppose you can counter that by saying someone in the town was responsible for both deaths, and since Reinhard was telling everyone in town where he was going then the killer must have overheard it. But again I have to ask, in a town of less than 150 people, don't you think it would be highly unlikely for someone to have had a beef with Reinhard without someone else knowing? And all reports state that Reinhard decided to climb Mt. Pendleton around 4:00, how did his killers get so lucky as to A. locate him on the mountain, B. conceal his body to where it hasn't been found after all of these years, and C. make it back down undetected without any problems with limited visibility (possibly nighttime)?

You say there is no evidence that Reinhard packed anything up. Well how do you know? Did someone take an inventory of all Keith's belongings before he vanished?

Don't you think UM, the Charley Project, the DOE network, or something would have reported the fact that some of his clothing was missing? Wouldn't that be a reason for his family to hold onto hope that he was still alive? Had he taken things with him, he wouldn't be considered "endangered missing". I'd say that's evidence enough right there.

There is also no evidence that he died on the mountain. That is why this is an unsolved mystery. We dont really have evidence pointing one way or the other.

Yes we do. The facts are as follows: Reinhard goes around telling everyone in the town that he was going to brave Mount Pendleton on the day he disappeared. Witnesses placed him heading over to the mountain around 4:00 p.m. He had no gear or supplies and was not wearing the proper hiking gear. He has never been seen since. That seems pretty open and shut to me.

People are saying that Reinhard fell into a mine shaft never to be found. Well what evidence is there of that? Has this happened before? Have others gone missing on mt Pendelton? Are mine shafts swallowing up hikers like a black hole? Does anyone know if there actually is an abandoned shaft anywhere in the vicinity that Keith was climbing in? Are mine shafts just left like open pits for unsuspecting people to fall into?? Lets look into this before we speculate on it.

You don't think the silly "toxic wate dumping murder conspiracy" is speculating?! Look how long it took for someone to find Mike Riemer's remains. That search and rescue team may have been good, but that does not make them perfect. It's easy to conceive that Reinhard's remains are still up on that mountain somewhere, waiting to be found, most likely by happenstance.

How dangerous is Mt Pendelton? It seems like a fairly popular spot for hikers so surely we have some other instances of people going missing up there. Though I can't seem to find any other related vanishings on the mountain.
Very dangerous, as a couple of posters have taken pains to remind us.

In a town of less than 150 people, especially if Tom Young was writing articles about this, someone in that town other than Tom Young and/or Reinhard would have known about it if it were truely going on. The "illegal dumping" scenario first came to fruition on this board, no other form of media has ever printed anything about it. No TV shows, newspapers, websites, etc. People that have lived or visited the town have posted on here, debunking and rebuffing the silly toxic waste angle. What more proof do you need that it never existed?



Let's see...Tom Young is murdered out of the blue (on a day that he already told his friends that he was embarking on a trip to Europe) while he and his dog were walking near Mt. Pendleton. Keith Reinhard is murdered years later simply because he coincidentally "stumbled" onto the same toxic waste dumping that Young did years earlier. Yet no one in the town besides Reinhard or Young have ever reported ANYTHING of a similar nature since. For me to believe that, I need some questions answered. Why did the killers not kill Young and/or Reinhard sooner than they did? Why did the killers of Young get so lucky as to pick a day when he decided to arm himself with his pistol (IMO seems like a silly thing for a man to do who has no intentions of killing himself and is simply out for a walk with his dog), and then walk his dog in such an isolated area, get his pistol from him and kill him and his dog? Reinhard was a realtive newcomer to the town, why did he not reach out to his friend at the cafe, or other members of the community if he did in fact "discover" something that Young was investigating? Why did Reinhard's killers get so lucky to pick the same day he decides to foolishly scale the mountain without any supplies, also the same day he ran around town telling everyone where he was going? I suppose you can counter that by saying someone in the town was responsible for both deaths, and since Reinhard was telling everyone in town where he was going then the killer must have overheard it. But again I have to ask, in a town of less than 150 people, don't you think it would be highly unlikely for someone to have had a beef with Reinhard without someone else knowing? And all reports state that Reinhard decided to climb Mt. Pendleton around 4:00, how did his killers get so lucky as to A. locate him on the mountain, B. conceal his body to where it hasn't been found after all of these years, and C. make it back down undetected without any problems with limited visibility (possibly nighttime)?



Don't you think UM, the Charley Project, the DOE network, or something would have reported the fact that some of his clothing was missing? Wouldn't that be a reason for his family to hold onto hope that he was still alive? Had he taken things with him, he wouldn't be considered "endangered missing". I'd say that's evidence enough right there.



Yes we do. The facts are as follows: Reinhard goes around telling everyone in the town that he was going to brave Mount Pendleton on the day he disappeared. Witnesses placed him heading over to the mountain around 4:00 p.m. He had no gear or supplies and was not wearing the proper hiking gear. He has never been seen since. That seems pretty open and shut to me.



You don't think the silly "toxic wate dumping murder conspiracy" is speculating?! Look how long it took for someone to find Mike Riemer's remains. That search and rescue team may have been good, but that does not make them perfect. It's easy to conceive that Reinhard's remains are still up on that mountain somewhere, waiting to be found, most likely by happenstance.

First off the notion that Tom Young was looking into illegal nuclear waste dumping comes from a book called Brother Tony's boys by Mike Echols. Maybe you should check into it so you can stop saying that there is no way he was involved in this because he was from a small town. Obviously Tom did talk to people about the dumping as he mentioned in this book. You don't know Tom Young's entire life story by watching a ten minute segment on UM. It is only speculation that he was killed because of what he was looking into but there really is no doubts that he was involved in investigating toxic waste dumping. The book even gives the location of the dumping site as Idaho Springs. Its entirely possible that Young did kill himself but as far as Im concerned there are doubts. His dog was also shot which is odd and the gun he had could never positively be identified as the one that killed him.

There is no way anyone could know if Keith Reinhard had packed up extra clothes and supplies and took off. The Doe network or Charley project would not have this information to give. His family had not seen him in awhile so if he had purchased new items then how would anyone know? The police would not know, his family had no way of knowing and I highly doubt that any of his freinds took a daily inventory of everything the man had where he was staying and would know if anything was taken.

There is no evidence that Keith died or was even on the Mountain that day. All you have is hearsay. I know the UM episode states he told "everyone" he was going but when you read the search logs the only person cited that Keith talked to was the Store owner that sold him a soda.

You cannot even compare the search for Riemer with the search for Reinhard. First off Riemer went missing in the dead of winter and no one really had a clear idea of where he had been. I beileve it was stated that his trap lines ran over 15 miles. The search teams where organized by Riemer's father and involved mostly volunteers. With Reinhard the searchers knew about where he had gone because Keith had been up there with his freind before. Also the weather conditions where ideal as this happened in August. I have posted the search logs on this forum so Im sure you know the magnitude of the search for Keith which involved the Alpine Rescue team as well as the national gaurd. Sure they could have overlooked him or maybe he fell into some crevice of a mine shaft but it just seems to me the odds are against that.

From what I have read this area is very popular with Hikers and tourist so it seems strange that no trace of Keith has ever been stumbled upon in all this time. Id also like to know if there are any other instances of people going missing or dying on Mt Pendelton. There is no shortage of people getting killed in places like Everest or Mckinley etc but how common is this for the area Keith vanished in?

First off the notion that Tom Young was looking into illegal nuclear waste dumping comes from a book called Brother Tony's boys by Mike Echols. Maybe you should check into it so you can stop saying that there is no way he was involved in this because he was from a small town. Obviously Tom did talk to people about the dumping as he mentioned in this book. You don't know Tom Young's entire life story by watching a ten minute segment on UM. It is only speculation that he was killed because of what he was looking into but there really is no doubts that he was involved in investigating toxic waste dumping. The book even gives the location of the dumping site as Idaho Springs. Its entirely possible that Young did kill himself but as far as Im concerned there are doubts. His dog was also shot which is odd and the gun he had could never positively be identified as the one that killed him.

Again, the excerpt you posted is purely speculative. There is no evidence of any "illegal dumping". Someone found a crate near a mine shaft labeled, "US DEPT OF ENERGY" and they told Tom Young about it, who investigated into what was going on "for years". You really think if Young did discover something illegal, being a politcal activist, he wouldn't have exposed it the second he knew about it? And again I ask how did his killers get so lucky as to choose a day to kill him when he's out walking his dog, with a gun?

There is no way anyone could know if Keith Reinhard had packed up extra clothes and supplies and took off. The Doe network or Charley project would not have this information to give. His family had not seen him in awhile so if he had purchased new items then how would anyone know? The police would not know, his family had no way of knowing and I highly doubt that any of his freinds took a daily inventory of everything the man had where he was staying and would know if anything was taken.

A simple search of his bathroom would have sufficed. Missing toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, soap, bathroom supplies, etc. would have sent off red flares that he went off on his own. Missing luggage, rifled through closets would also be warning signs. It's easy to say Reinhard just up and left to start a new life, hell you can do that with any "Missing Persons" case ever profiled on UM. But when you look at the evidence that still doesn't answer the question as to why Reinhard would up and leave his family, friends, his business, and his book (that he was deadset on completing) behind. Tack on the fact that Reinhard has never once came forward or reached out to his family that he was alive and ok and I think it becomes glaringly obvious that he died shortly after he disappeared.

There is no evidence that Keith died or was even on the Mountain that day. All you have is hearsay. I know the UM episode states he told "everyone" he was going but when you read the search logs the only person cited that Keith talked to was the Store owner that sold him a soda.

And the evidence that Keith is alive and well? Or that Tom Young was murdered to be silenced? Outside of a scant mention of Young's name in a book, there's nothing.

You cannot even compare the search for Riemer with the search for Reinhard.

Sure you can. Both searches were considered "massive" and both searches were conducted from the ground and the air. Not to mention that it took 25 years to find Riemer's remains, which were coincidentally found in an area that was previously searched when he and Diana Robertson first went missing. The whole point is not to compare the "searches" involved. It just shows you how long a person can be considered "missing" simply because their body has yet to be found.

Sure they could have overlooked him or maybe he fell into some crevice of a mine shaft but it just seems to me the odds are against that.

How are the odds against that? You yourself posted an excerpt from a book stating that there are mine shafts on and around Mount Pendleton. Why is it that hard to believe that Reinhard went or fell into one, suffered a stroke or a heart attack, and has simply never been found?

Again, the excerpt you posted is purely speculative. There is no evidence of any "illegal dumping". Someone found a crate near a mine shaft labeled, "US DEPT OF ENERGY" and they told Tom Young about it, who investigated into what was going on "for years". You really think if Young did discover something illegal, being a politcal activist, he wouldn't have exposed it the second he knew about it? And again I ask how did his killers get so lucky as to choose a day to kill him when he's out walking his dog, with a gun?



A simple search of his bathroom would have sufficed. Missing toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, soap, bathroom supplies, etc. would have sent off red flares that he went off on his own. Missing luggage, rifled through closets would also be warning signs. It's easy to say Reinhard just up and left to start a new life, hell you can do that with any "Missing Persons" case ever profiled on UM. But when you look at the evidence that still doesn't answer the question as to why Reinhard would up and leave his family, friends, his business, and his book (that he was deadset on completing) behind. Tack on the fact that Reinhard has never once came forward or reached out to his family that he was alive and ok and I think it becomes glaringly obvious that he died shortly after he disappeared.



And the evidence that Keith is alive and well? Or that Tom Young was murdered to be silenced? Outside of a scant mention of Young's name in a book, there's nothing.



Sure you can. Both searches were considered "massive" and both searches were conducted from the ground and the air. Not to mention that it took 25 years to find Riemer's remains, which were coincidentally found in an area that was previously searched when he and Diana Robertson first went missing. The whole point is not to compare the "searches" involved. It just shows you how long a person can be considered "missing" simply because their body has yet to be found.



How are the odds against that? You yourself posted an excerpt from a book stating that there are mine shafts on and around Mount Pendleton. Why is it that hard to believe that Reinhard went or fell into one, suffered a stroke or a heart attack, and has simply never been found?
I have no idea if or how Tom Young exposed anything about waste dumping. Just don't know enough about him. I doubt its really easy to get the dept of energy to open up about toxic waste so I doubt he uncovered a whole lot. The book desrcibes the area he was investigating as Idaho Springs. This is where a mine shaft is mentioned. Is that on Mt Pendelton? I don't know. If Tom was killed because he was causing problems for people involved in nuclear waste dumping then there are many different possible scenerios that could have taken place that could have led to his death. It doesn't just have to be a coincidence that he wonders up on the mountain and his enemies just happened to be there at the same time. He could have actually went up there with people he thought where also activists who then killed him and staged a suicide. Like I said there are many different ways this "could" have happened.

If Keith Reinhard staged his own dissapearence then wouldn't he want to not make that obvious? If he takes clothes,toiletries,and all kinds of other possesions then he wouldn't be doing a very good job of staging his vanishing would he? If it was his intention to vanish then he had ample time to plan and prepare for this. Leaving behind blatant clues that he was moving a starting another life would not have been in his best intrest. If Keith was so unhappy with life that he decided to vanish and start a new life then why would he contact his family??

Where is the evidence that Young was murdered? Well aside from ballistics not being able to match his gun as the muder weapon there really isnt much. There really is not much in the way proof that he killed himself or was murdered and thats why its a mystery.

The evidence that Keith is alive and well? Just as much as Keith being dead on the mountain. No body, no trac,e no Keith alive or dead. Again no real evidence either way and thats why it's an unsolved mystery.

From what I have read about the searches for Riemer there was no comparisson. Again they did not have skilled search and rescue teams out looking for Mike and Diane. The air search was simply Mike's friend in his own plane flying over his traplines. The area is so tree covered that this was obviously not a success. This really doesnt compare with the use of national gaurd helicopters or highly skilled proven rescue teams. The search for Riemer was his father organizing volunteers. I understand the point you are making about how no matter how big a search effort is that a body can be missed and later found just by chance. If you really look into it though the search for Keith was much larger and better organized. Also keep in mind that Riemer's remains have been found and still there is no trace of Keith.

I say the odds are against him falling into a mine shaft because it doesn't seem that happens very often. Again I ask if we have others who have gone missing on Mount Pendelton? If we have dangerous mine shafts up there that people can unsuspectingly fall into then why is Keith the only person this ever happened to? This is why I say the odds are against this.

Kane, once again, I direct you other comments posted in this thread by citizens of Silver Plume. Here's one:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=4583331&postcount=160

There's another a few pages back. Apparently accidents are periodic in this part of Colorado. Again, Occam's Razor.

It doesn't just have to be a coincidence that he wonders up on the mountain and his enemies just happened to be there at the same time. He could have actually went up there with people he thought where also activists who then killed him and staged a suicide. Like I said there are many different ways this "could" have happened.

You can also say Young was abducted by aliens who took him to Mars, then came back to Earth and killed him and staged the suicides. There are several things you can say "could" have happened. Doesn't make them anymore logical than the theory that he killed himself. Do you remember what the investigator said in the UM segment? The coroner's office and LE both concluded that his death was a suicide. Young purchased a gun four days before he disappeared. LE is certainly privy to more evidence than what was shown in UM, but you can speculate that when checking the scene they found no evidence of any other person being in the area other than Young and his dog. They may have also done GSR tests on his hands. We simply have no way of knowing. But we do know that Young bought the gun, there was two bullets missing from the gun found next to Young's body, one in his dog and one in Young. That's what we know for certain. I don't see how you can look at the facts and even consider murder.

If Keith was so unhappy with life that he decided to vanish and start a new life then why would he contact his family??

To let them know he was ok! Reinhard may have been unhappy with his life, but that doesn't make him some destitute guy who holds a grudge against every single member of his family. He was a husband, father, and a grandfather, do you honestly think he wouldn't have reached out to at least one family member by now if he was alive and well?

Where is the evidence that Young was murdered? Well aside from ballistics not being able to match his gun as the muder weapon there really isnt much. There really is not much in the way proof that he killed himself or was murdered and thats why its a mystery.

There is circumstantial proof that Young killed himself. He bought a gun before he disappeared, a gun was found near him and his dead dog (two bullets missing) and both he and his dog were shot once each.

The evidence that Keith is alive and well? Just as much as Keith being dead on the mountain. No body, no trac,e no Keith alive or dead. Again no real evidence either way and thats why it's an unsolved mystery.

Take Alex Cooper for example. He "disappeared" and his family feared for the worse. However, there were still several reported sightings of a man fitting Cooper's description, who was acting very strangely. Curiously, there have been no sightings in Reinhard's case. It's fairly obvious that if there is no trace that Keith is alive, he must be dead.

I say the odds are against him falling into a mine shaft because it doesn't seem that happens very often. Again I ask if we have others who have gone missing on Mount Pendelton? If we have dangerous mine shafts up there that people can unsuspectingly fall into then why is Keith the only person this ever happened to? This is why I say the odds are against this.

Nobody knows how Keith died. A mine shaft was just speculation. He could have died at several different locations, and his body has yet to be found. What if Keith decided to hike in a different area than the search team searched? The possibilities of where and how he died on that mountain are limitless, IMO. As to the search effort, UM only stated that when the rescue team went out before the Reinhard search, they found every single person they were looking for. They do not state if they were alive or dead when they found them. So we don't know (outside of the people who post on here, familar with the area) how many people die up there annually. Here's a quote from the UM broadcast from one of the searchers:

"The Reinhard search was like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. This haystack is 3,000 vertical feet of 60 degree slope. This was about as difficult a search terrain as we cover. We were at a real disadvantage because Keith went into the mountains wearing no more than blue jeans and a flannel shirt and tennis shoes. He had no backpack. He had no equipment. A typical subject of a search will leave lots of clues for us to trace. Keith didn't leave many clues. He didn't have many with him to leave behind."

There you have it. No matter how detailed the search was, or how good the search team was at locating people, looking for Keith was like finding a needle in a haystack.

Kane, once again, I direct you other comments posted in this thread by citizens of Silver Plume. Here's one:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showpost.php?p=4583331&postcount=160

There's another a few pages back. Apparently accidents are periodic in this part of Colorado. Again, Occam's Razor.
Yes I have read the posts by PT and fully understand what he is saying. He stated that people kill themselves regularley in this general area. Well obviously if we know someone went into the woods to kill themselves then they have been found right? Else we would not know it was a suicide but would still be a missing person. He also talked about the rapid changing weather conditions.

Again I say that there where no reports of bad weather or freak storms at the time Keith went missing. What Im asking is are there any other people who have simply gone missing and never been located that where known to be hiking around Mt.Pendelton?

I get what he is saying about the mine shafts but if there where literally hundreds of open shafts sitting out there like boobie traps (as PT stated) then would you not think maybe a few more people then keith would have fallen victim to them??

You can also say Young was abducted by aliens who took him to Mars, then came back to Earth and killed him and staged the suicides. There are several things you can say "could" have happened. Doesn't make them anymore logical than the theory that he killed himself. Do you remember what the investigator said in the UM segment? The coroner's office and LE both concluded that his death was a suicide. Young purchased a gun four days before he disappeared. LE is certainly privy to more evidence than what was shown in UM, but you can speculate that when checking the scene they found no evidence of any other person being in the area other than Young and his dog. They may have also done GSR tests on his hands. We simply have no way of knowing. But we do know that Young bought the gun, there was two bullets missing from the gun found next to Young's body, one in his dog and one in Young. That's what we know for certain. I don't see how you can look at the facts and even consider murder.



To let them know he was ok! Reinhard may have been unhappy with his life, but that doesn't make him some destitute guy who holds a grudge against every single member of his family. He was a husband, father, and a grandfather, do you honestly think he wouldn't have reached out to at least one family member by now if he was alive and well?



There is circumstantial proof that Young killed himself. He bought a gun before he disappeared, a gun was found near him and his dead dog (two bullets missing) and both he and his dog were shot once each.



Take Alex Cooper for example. He "disappeared" and his family feared for the worse. However, there were still several reported sightings of a man fitting Cooper's description, who was acting very strangely. Curiously, there have been no sightings in Reinhard's case. It's fairly obvious that if there is no trace that Keith is alive, he must be dead.



Nobody knows how Keith died. A mine shaft was just speculation. He could have died at several different locations, and his body has yet to be found. What if Keith decided to hike in a different area than the search team searched? The possibilities of where and how he died on that mountain are limitless, IMO. As to the search effort, UM only stated that when the rescue team went out before the Reinhard search, they found every single person they were looking for. They do not state if they were alive or dead when they found them. So we don't know (outside of the people who post on here, familar with the area) how many people die up there annually. Here's a quote from the UM broadcast from one of the searchers:

"The Reinhard search was like looking for the proverbial needle in a haystack. This haystack is 3,000 vertical feet of 60 degree slope. This was about as difficult a search terrain as we cover. We were at a real disadvantage because Keith went into the mountains wearing no more than blue jeans and a flannel shirt and tennis shoes. He had no backpack. He had no equipment. A typical subject of a search will leave lots of clues for us to trace. Keith didn't leave many clues. He didn't have many with him to leave behind."

There you have it. No matter how detailed the search was, or how good the search team was at locating people, looking for Keith was like finding a needle in a haystack.
LE concluding Young killed himself is meaningless to me. Police also concluded that Keith Warren,Tommy Burkett, Charles Morgan and Doug Johnston all killed themselves too. Any fan of UM knows that LE loves to rule cases as suicides so they can write them off and not have to spend time on them.
We can speculate that police checked the area Young was found in and found no evidence of anyone else?? Really? Young was found a year later. What evidence of other people would have still been around?? Tom Young was also decomposed when they found him so there is no way they could have checked his hands.

Lets also keep in mind that the Local LE agent that was interviewed on the segment did nothing but speculate that Keith staged his dissapearance. So if your wanting to put your trust in the investigators then there you have it. Keith's daughter also said that she thinks he stumbled onto something that got him killed. Why would she say this? Does she know something we don't? The wife said he would have never hiked up the mountain at 4pm and also said that if he had vanished on purpose they "could work it out somehow". Again his family as well as local LE seems to be convinced there is more going on here then just him getting lost in the woods.

I read the search logs and know that there was some steep rocky terrain but with Keith having no hiking shoes, no rope, no supplies whatsoever then how difficult of a spot could he have gotten into? Keith had to know he had no chance of making to the top of Mt Pendelton and back by nightfall. Was he on a suicide mission? Maybe Keith decided to kill himself and did it in a place to where he knew his body would not be found so he could be a mystery like Tom Young. I sure hope that is not the case being that he told his friend to send rescuers after him if he didnt return.

We can speculate that police checked the area Young was found in and found no evidence of anyone else?? Really? Young was found a year later. What evidence of other people would have still been around?? Tom Young was also decomposed when they found him so there is no way they could have checked his hands.

I said the proof was circumstantial. I also said there are facts known to LE, that we aren't privy too. By what we do know however, we can make the logical conclusion that Young went up on that mountain and had no intention of ever returning. Or else he wouldn't feel the need to purchase a gun and take it with him if he was simply out for a stroll with his dog. What evidence could have been left behind? Several things. If there was a struggle, the "killers" could have left behind something (DNA, article of clothing, etc.) proving there was someone else up there with Young.

Lets also keep in mind that the Local LE agent that was interviewed on the segment did nothing but speculate that Keith staged his dissapearance. So if your wanting to put your trust in the investigators then there you have it.

This was right around the time Keith disappeared. I wonder what his opinion would be now, almost 25 years later with no sign of Keith.

Keith's daughter also said that she thinks he stumbled onto something that got him killed. Why would she say this? Does she know something we don't?

Again, this was shortly after Reinhard disappeared. At the time of the UM filming, there were two possibilities...that Reinhard was alive and well, shacked up with a mysterious woman somewhere, or that he was dead. His daughter obviously knew he wouldn't have ran off without telling someone which is why she expressed how she thought he died. Isn't it more "heroic" to think your loved one discovered something rather than foolishly climbing a mountain with zero supplies late in the afternoon?

The wife said he would have never hiked up the mountain at 4pm and also said that if he had vanished on purpose they "could work it out somehow". Again his family as well as local LE seems to be convinced there is more going on here then just him getting lost in the woods.

Again, you're wrong. You're looking at their interviews as if they happened yesterday. This was 23 years ago! No trace of Reinhard since. His family didn't want to accept his death (off the heels of his disappearance) which is why there was some speculation that he may have been alive. It's obvious the wife was holding on to hope.

I sure hope that is not the case being that he told his friend to send rescuers after him if he didnt return.

This right here shoots down any "Reinhard took off alive" scenario, IMO. The fact that he wanted his friend to send help if he didn't return, tells me that when he scaled Mt. Pendleton he had every intention to return back to town.

I said the proof was circumstantial. I also said there are facts known to LE, that we aren't privy too. By what we do know however, we can make the logical conclusion that Young went up on that mountain and had no intention of ever returning. Or else he wouldn't feel the need to purchase a gun and take it with him if he was simply out for a stroll with his dog. What evidence could have been left behind? Several things. If there was a struggle, the "killers" could have left behind something (DNA, article of clothing, etc.) proving there was someone else up there with Young.



This was right around the time Keith disappeared. I wonder what his opinion would be now, almost 25 years later with no sign of Keith.



Again, this was shortly after Reinhard disappeared. At the time of the UM filming, there were two possibilities...that Reinhard was alive and well, shacked up with a mysterious woman somewhere, or that he was dead. His daughter obviously knew he wouldn't have ran off without telling someone which is why she expressed how she thought he died. Isn't it more "heroic" to think your loved one discovered something rather than foolishly climbing a mountain with zero supplies late in the afternoon?



Again, you're wrong. You're looking at their interviews as if they happened yesterday. This was 23 years ago! No trace of Reinhard since. His family didn't want to accept his death (off the heels of his disappearance) which is why there was some speculation that he may have been alive. It's obvious the wife was holding on to hope.



This right here shoots down any "Reinhard took off alive" scenario, IMO. The fact that he wanted his friend to send help if he didn't return, tells me that when he scaled Mt. Pendleton he had every intention to return back to town.
Again Im wrong? No thats actually what they said on the UM segment so Im not wrong lol. Also Keith had been gone quite sometime before the segment aired. I don't know the exact time elapsed between when he went missing and when the show aired but Im sure it was long enough that they knew Keith was not still wondering around in the woods.

No way any evidence would have still been around a year later from anyone that could have been up there with Tom Young. You gotta be kidding me with that non sense. DNA? Right. Show me anything that says the police looked for DNA around Young's body. Didnt happen. Clothing left or signs of a struggle? Seriously? Is this a joke? You think anything would have still been there after a year? After all the storms, high winds,snow etc. Thats insane and you know it.

And nothing shoots down the theory that Reinhard took off alive. If he wanted people to think he was dead then he would have said and done things to leave a false trail. If that was his intention. If he didnt care about the family and friends he was leaving behind then I doubt he cared much for the strangers that would be looking for him. I just hope thats not what happened being that a rescuer died looking for him

Again Im wrong? No thats actually what they said on the UM segment so Im not wrong lol. Also Keith had been gone quite sometime before the segment aired. I don't know the exact time elapsed between when he went missing and when the show aired but Im sure it was long enough that they knew Keith was not still wondering around in the woods.

Yes you're wrong. You're applying what someone said 23 years ago (less than a year after Reinhard disappeared) and using it to substaniate the claim that his family and local law enforcement think he's still alive today.

No way any evidence would have still been around a year later from anyone that could have been up there with Tom Young. You gotta be kidding me with that non sense. DNA? Right. Show me anything that says the police looked for DNA around Young's body. Didnt happen. Clothing left or signs of a struggle? Seriously? Is this a joke? You think anything would have still been there after a year? After all the storms, high winds,snow etc. Thats insane and you know it.

Remember Tom Roche? The guy who disappeared and then four months later authorities found weathered bone fragments that they suspected may have been Roche's (DNA tests confirmed they were)? Among the bones they also found clothing, a duffel bag, a medicine bottle, and eyeglasses. And guess what? They determined (from weathered bone fragments mind you) that he was killed by a gunshot wound. And guess what police determined after discovering Young's body? That he killed himself. Why can't you accept the obvious and move on? Surely if there was more to go on the "Young was murdered" theory don't you think UM would have included that in their broadcast? That alone tells me that it's pretty much an open and shut suicide.

And nothing shoots down the theory that Reinhard took off alive. If he wanted people to think he was dead then he would have said and done things to leave a false trail. If that was his intention. If he didnt care about the family and friends he was leaving behind then I doubt he cared much for the strangers that would be looking for him. I just hope thats not what happened being that a rescuer died looking for him

The fact that there have been ZERO reported sightings of Reinhard in the past 23 years shoots down the theory that he's still alive. I seem to recall you were deadset on believing Mike Riemer was alive and well, too. See how that turned out? Not to mention Reinhard told his friend if he didn't come back, send someone to the mountain to rescue him. In other words, he had every intention of coming back.

Yes you're wrong. You're applying what someone said 23 years ago (less than a year after Reinhard disappeared) and using it to substaniate the claim that his family and local law enforcement think he's still alive today.



Remember Tom Roche? The guy who disappeared and then four months later authorities found weathered bone fragments that they suspected may have been Roche's (DNA tests confirmed they were)? Among the bones they also found clothing, a duffel bag, a medicine bottle, and eyeglasses. And guess what? They determined (from weathered bone fragments mind you) that he was killed by a gunshot wound. And guess what police determined after discovering Young's body? That he killed himself. Why can't you accept the obvious and move on? Surely if there was more to go on the "Young was murdered" theory don't you think UM would have included that in their broadcast? That alone tells me that it's pretty much an open and shut suicide.



The fact that there have been ZERO reported sightings of Reinhard in the past 23 years shoots down the theory that he's still alive. I seem to recall you were deadset on believing Mike Riemer was alive and well, too. See how that turned out? Not to mention Reinhard told his friend if he didn't come back, send someone to the mountain to rescue him. In other words, he had every intention of coming back.
How do you know there have been zero alleged sightings of Keith? You think if people reported seeing him that it would be all over the news? How would you know? I think the abscence of a body being found is just as telling as him never being seen alive.

The UM episode was filmed two years after Keith went missing. So apparently no credible sightings of Keith for two years and the LE agent on the show speculated that he beileves that Keith wanted to vanish. To my knowledge no one in LE or Keith's family has publicly stated their current opinions on the case so the interviews on the show are all we have to go on.

Good job backing away from your goofy comments about how the police would have tested Young's hands to see if he fired a weapon ( he ofcourse was a skelton when they found him). LOL You also intimated that LE would have collected DNA (LMAO) at the scene which you know never happened. Then ofcourse you said there would have been evidence of a struggle at the scene after a year in the wilderness and that if other people would have been around him evidence would have been found. This is all outlandish and bringing up Tom Roche is meaningless.

The police determined that Young killed himself just like they determine the same for many other people because it seems obvious. Not hard to determine that someone was killed by a gunshot wound even if all you have are bones. They could not even determine the caliber of the gun that killed Young. Police determined that Charles Morgan killed himself while wearing a bullet proof vest and that Doug Johnston did the same with the abscence of a weapon on the scene. So you can put as much into the police credibility as you choose to. Thats no dead ringer for me.

How do you know there have been zero alleged sightings of Keith? You think if people reported seeing him that it would be all over the news? How would you know? I think the abscence of a body being found is just as telling as him never being seen alive.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20100105/news/301059968/

Read that. Keith's been declared dead. I doubt they would do that if there were credible sightings of the man over the past 23 years.

To my knowledge no one in LE or Keith's family has publicly stated their current opinions on the case so the interviews on the show are all we have to go on.

Here's a quote from taken from Ted Parker, Keith's friend interviewed on UM from 2010:

"He was always devoted to his kids," Parker says, confident that Reinhard, who would now be 71, wouldn't duck out on them or his future grandchildren, including one named Keith. If he were alive, Reinhard would have come forward or even been forced out of hiding after his story ran on TV's "Unsolved Mysteries," says Parker, who has no doubt that Reinhard's body is still in those mountains."

Good job backing away from your goofy comments about how the police would have tested Young's hands to see if he fired a weapon ( he ofcourse was a skelton when they found him). LOL You also intimated that LE would have collected DNA (LMAO) at the scene which you know never happened. Then ofcourse you said there would have been evidence of a struggle at the scene after a year in the wilderness and that if other people would have been around him evidence would have been found. This is all outlandish and bringing up Tom Roche is meaningless.

I'm glad I at least made you giggle and that you find that so amusing. I had forgotten how long Young was missing before his body was found. They could have found ANYTHING relevant up there and you know it. Possibilities are endless. The "killers" could have had a cut from shaving that morning and bled on Young in some sort of struggle, they could have dropped things, who knows? Why is bringing up Tom Roche meaningless? Because he proves my point as a possibility?

The police determined that Young killed himself just like they determine the same for many other people because it seems obvious. Not hard to determine that someone was killed by a gunshot wound even if all you have are bones. They could not even determine the caliber of the gun that killed Young. Police determined that Charles Morgan killed himself while wearing a bullet proof vest and that Doug Johnston did the same with the abscence of a weapon on the scene. So you can put as much into the police credibility as you choose to. Thats no dead ringer for me.

After this post, I'm done discussing this case with you. We'll have to agree to disagree. Go here http://s10.invisionfree.com/usedtobedoe/ar/t40885.htm and read these articles (from 2008) to give you a more recent take on what the local LE and Keith's family think happened to him. HINT: It's not that he's alive and well....

EDIT: Here's an excerpt from the serach log that detailed Keith's search:

"Keith Reinhard, a 49 year-old sportswriter for a Chicago area paper, had been missing since 1700 on Sunday, 7 August. He had stopped at a store to buy a soda and told the storekeeper he was going to climb Pendleton Mountain, and return in time for dinner."

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20100105/news/301059968/

Read that. Keith's been declared dead. I doubt they would do that if there were credible sightings of the man over the past 23 years.



Here's a quote from taken from Ted Parker, Keith's friend interviewed on UM from 2010:

"He was always devoted to his kids," Parker says, confident that Reinhard, who would now be 71, wouldn't duck out on them or his future grandchildren, including one named Keith. If he were alive, Reinhard would have come forward or even been forced out of hiding after his story ran on TV's "Unsolved Mysteries," says Parker, who has no doubt that Reinhard's body is still in those mountains."



I'm glad I at least made you giggle and that you find that so amusing. I had forgotten how long Young was missing before his body was found. They could have found ANYTHING relevant up there and you know it. Possibilities are endless. The "killers" could have had a cut from shaving that morning and bled on Young in some sort of struggle, they could have dropped things, who knows? Why is bringing up Tom Roche meaningless? Because he proves my point as a possibility?



After this post, I'm done discussing this case with you. We'll have to agree to disagree. Go here http://s10.invisionfree.com/usedtobedoe/ar/t40885.htm and read these articles (from 2008) to give you a more recent take on what the local LE and Keith's family think happened to him. HINT: It's not that he's alive and well....

EDIT: Here's an excerpt from the serach log that detailed Keith's search:

"Keith Reinhard, a 49 year-old sportswriter for a Chicago area paper, had been missing since 1700 on Sunday, 7 August. He had stopped at a store to buy a soda and told the storekeeper he was going to climb Pendleton Mountain, and return in time for dinner."Try reading the story that you linked. Seems all of his family leans toward there being foul play even to this day. Many of the towns people seems to think he staged his vanishing. I only noticed Ted Parker being attimate that he is still up there
You should be done posting on this. You have it all figured out so its not a mystery to you. Im not sure why you have been posting this long. I say keep the possibilities open till you have the remains

Did anyone see this? :eek: Is this freaky or what? Just googling I find loads of more info!

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-3899296.html

Search plane crashes in Colorado; pilot dies;

Chicago Sun-Times
August 13, 1988

SILVER PLUME, Colo. (AP) A would-be rescuer died Friday when a Colorado Civil Air Patrol aircraft crashed in the mountains while searching for a missing Illinois man.

Terry Leadens, 40, pilot of the Cessna 182, was killed. Co-pilot Don Drobny, 41, was injured, said CAP spokesman Dieter Hanschel. He said both men lived in a subdivision near Franktown, Colo.

The single-engine plane crashed at about 9:45 a.m. south of Silver Plume near Leavenworth Creek while helping coordinate the search for Keith Reinhard, 49, an Arlington Heights sportswriter missing since Sunday.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=19006699

---------

In 1998, someone came forward with a tip to Keith's dissapearance. It lead nowhere.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-68981503.html

Tip about missing sports columnist doesn't solve 10-year-old mystery;

Daily Herald (Arlington Heights, IL)
April 14, 1998 | Tate, Alysia

For a brief moment, I thought the most incredible mystery in my newspaper life had been solved.

I should have known better.

I snapped to attention when somebody told me a new tip had surfaced surrounding the 1988 disappearance of Daily Herald sports writer Keith Reinhard.

An "Unsolved Mysteries" show on television had prompted a viewer to call Arlington Heights police.

The April 10 show profiled an amnesia victim who was found near Cheyenne, Wyo. Apparently there were some similarities, physical and otherwise, with Reinhard.

Amnesia obviously was one of the many scenarios considered when Keith left on a solo mountain hike in Colorado on Aug. 7, 1988 and never returned.

http://209.85.12.232/7506/162/upload/p9644874.jpg

I found another page that talks about the pilot that was killed in the search, and it says Keith brought no supplies with him........except for a can of soda.

a can of soda? how does this influence all the theories now?

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=cache:bNF5h_pjRwMJ:www.escalade.com.au/rescue/media/ShimanskiJan02.pdf+&hl=en&gl=us&pid=bl&srcid=ADGEESipOKn0qvkifoBtKLowXmBskN8r8P191Ef3LDLyp0Gl2Z4iuhJa2pEpCTNI-cK18L2tnAFWy96CFVAmt8zzTfxaC7axjGVm80NB2e2UUYhY7UaTQn2vXaeuwmMkOQUxOPzEYC-S&sig=AHIEtbSWZhprocoJaEWAmIVUQTQ9lqtZpQ&pli=1

Scroll down to "crash site looks catastrophic".

www.clmrg.org/TP%201-99/077.pdf

Buses from the Colorado Army National Guard
drove us to base camp in the town of Silver Plume
by 1600. Hunter Holloway and Charley Shimanski
of the Alpine Rescue Team greeted us and outlined
the problem.
Keith Reinhard, a 49 year-old sportswriter for a
Chicago area paper, had been missing since 1700
on Sunday, 7 August. He had stopped at a store to
buy a soda and told the storekeeper he was going to
climb Pendleton Mountain, and return in time for
dinner. He wore jeans, a T-shirt, a flannel shirt
and tennis shoes. He did not return.
The Alpine Rescue Team initiated the search effort.
Colorado had over eighty people searching the
Pendleton Mountain area, covering a 2 mile by 6
mile grid. They were getting tired after four days,
so were glad to see help from California arrive.
On Friday morning tragedy occurred, as a Civil Air
Patrol pilot was killed and his passenger seriously


Keith bringing nothing but a can of soda and telling the storekeeper he was "coming back in time for dinner" tells me he went to the mountain to check things out and relax. Not to kill himself. Which adds plausability to the getting lost and falling/dying theory.

In post #140 of this thread the poster says he is a friend of Keith's family and Keith was happy, about to celebrate his 50th birthday at the time. Also the woman from the party was questioned and dismissed for no new lead.

So for me, the suicide theory is ruled out.

I rewatched the segment yesterday. In the re-enactment, it shows Keith talking to one of the locals in a cafe about Tom Young. The guy tells Keith that he was probably "buried in a mine-shaft".

In post #143 of this thread, the poster says a friend he knew from Silver Plume told him that Keith's body was probably buried in a....mine-shaft! What if both men were murdered? Which adds plausability to the murder theory! Murdered for knowing so much about Tom Young's death, that is.

In post #153 of this thread, another person says there's a possibility that both men were murdered because they knew about illegal waste dumping. An author (Mike Echols) made a reference in a book titled "Brother Tony's Boys" about it.

TheCars1986, you say the waste dumping is speculation. But this author HIMSELF claims to have seen it himself.

"Hiking to the top of the hill over the main mine shaft, I found and photographed a travel trailer with electronic testing equipment in crates-all labeled as belonging to the US Dept of Energy".

"Except for my telling two acquaintances-fellow freelance writer Sarah Nelson and Silver Plume bookstore owner and political activist, Tom Young, I did keep my mouth shut because I was busy finishing my first book".

He told Tom Young, and Tom Young persued it.

"Over the next few years Tom Young tried to find out what really was going on up at the abandoned mine".

"In 1991, I spoke with the segment's field producer, Todd Miller, and he told me that his experiences in Clear Creek County dealing with local law enforcement in researching and filing the story were the strangest he had ever experienced with "Unsolved Mysteries".

The police DID mention that they had no way of knowing if the bullet came from Tom's gun. You ask why Tom would bring his gun if he wasn't planning suicide....maybe for self defense? against wild animals? The killer could have staged the supposed suicide!

Again, the excerpt you posted is purely speculative. There is no evidence of any "illegal dumping". Someone found a crate near a mine shaft labeled, "US DEPT OF ENERGY" and they told Tom Young about it, who investigated into what was going on "for years". You really think if Young did discover something illegal, being a politcal activist, he wouldn't have exposed it the second he knew about it? And again I ask how did his killers get so lucky as to choose a day to kill him when he's out walking his dog, with a gun?

Someone close to Tom in the beginning of this thread said he was depressed. What if Tom was scared of telling people? Do you rule that out too?

I am leaned on the murder theory and the getting lost accident/dying theory period.

Someone close to Tom in the beginning of this thread said he was depressed. What if Tom was scared of telling people? Do you rule that out too?

I am leaned on the murder theory and the getting lost accident/dying theory period.

I don't think Tom Young was scared of telling anyone anything. If he was a political activist, at the very least he would have been somewhat outspoken. I just find it odd that if Young did discover something illegal going on in the area, he kept it a secret and told no one else. Something an activist would want to "blow the roof off" by exposing this illegal dumping. And Silver Plume was a town of less than 150 people, if something nefarious was going on in the area, I'm sure others would have came forward by now. Young also purchased a gun four days before he was found shot dead in the woods. That's almost too much of a coincidence, IMO, to believe he was murdered. And what are the odds that, if Young was in fact murdered, his killer/s just so happened to pick a date to kill him four days after he purchased his own weapon and shortly after he told his friends he would be going away to a trip to Europe? That's pretty good timing if you ask me. I also don't think Young took a gun with him for self defense. If Young did in fact discover "illegal dumping" he had to have known about it for quite some time. Think about it, it's not like on the day he died is when he first discovered this dumping, because it would have taken longer than a day to figure out something illegal going on (asking questions around town, going out to this mine shaft and taking pictures, etc.). So if he did know anything, he kept is mouth shut for reasons unknown. And why would his life be in danger anyway? Because he discovered some illegal dumping in the area? that automatically makes him public enemy number 1 and the government wants him dead? Why not offer to pay him off first? The government is not going to kill a US citizen over something that (in the broad scheme of scandals, etc.) trivial. So why would Young even be in fear for his life? And if he had his gun on him for self defense purposes, how did his killer/s get the drop on him and his dog? There's just too many questions and not enough answers to believe the murder theory, IMO. Here's what we do know: Young, allegedly depressed, bought a gun, told friends he would be going away for awhile, and then shortly after doing both of these things hiked up into the woods with his dog and both were found months later dead from single gunshot wounds.

The murder theory is "attractive" and was presented by UM to play up on the mysterious angle of these cases. I don't think Young would have been mentioned at all in the Reinhard segment if it weren't for the fact that the two shared the same building. That's really the only proof positive thing that links both of these men. They occupied the same building. There was no evidence that Reinhard was in the middle of investigating something illegal that Tom Young was looking into.

i hate posting in year old threads.

however, to me its pretty obvious. keith killed himself.

Just like tom did.

It sounded like he was very depressed just by his actions before. Also by the way he ended his book. 'that he put on a fannel shirt, and he has know understood toms motivation'

also, why did he go around town specifically telling everyone? that he was going for walk. to me it was to bait and switch people. to look in the one direction.
just like tom did, by telling people, everyone, he was going on vacation.

I don't get how anyone can believe tom did not commit suicide. Keith there is a small, chance.

what is your guys thoughts?

I think it was probably an accident, actually. From all the news articles and account I've read, Keith wasn't optimally physically conditioned at that point in his life. Colorado mountains are no joke. Furthermore, I'm not at all convinced that Keith was suicidal.

As for Tom Young, I'm 98% certain he committed suicide, although that can probably never be definitely concluded. I can understand why some don't accept he committed suicide, as it was never proven the round that killed him came from his own weapon.

And as far as the segment goes, I've always thought the Keith-writing-a-novel stuff was an attempt at added drama. I thought it really detracted from far more likely possibilities. Every piece of information available on Keith and his background really seem to contradict the "suicide theory" presented in the UM segment. JMO.

i hate posting in year old threads.

however, to me its pretty obvious. keith killed himself.

Just like tom did.

It sounded like he was very depressed just by his actions before. Also by the way he ended his book. 'that he put on a fannel shirt, and he has know understood toms motivation'

also, why did he go around town specifically telling everyone? that he was going for walk. to me it was to bait and switch people. to look in the one direction.
just like tom did, by telling people, everyone, he was going on vacation.

I don't get how anyone can believe tom did not commit suicide. Keith there is a small, chance.

what is your guys thoughts?

I don't think Keith killed himself. He may have been somewhat depressed that his shop wasn't taking off like he'd hoped, but he still had his writing job to go back to if his shop failed. Plus his wife and kids were back in the Chicago area at the time, IIRC. Keith told people in the town before he disappeared that he'd be back in time for dinner, so I think he had every intention of returning when he went to scale the mountain.

This person claims they saw Keith in Jamaica, ALIVE and well.

http://somethingslurking-hook.blogspot.com/2010/05/mysterious-disappearence-of-keith.html

Anonymous

September 26, 2011 at 11:48 AM

I was in Jamaica in Aug/Sep 1988. I was eating dinner at our resort, heard a scream, saw a table of 4 (2 men, 2 women), one of the men had stood up and was punching the other man in the side of the head. The man getting punched was clearly stronger/more muscular, he blocked a couple of punches then then one doing the punching and his female companion left. Strange occurrence as you can imagine, watched it all unfold at the table right near me. Got back to town (Denver), in Westword was reading article about Keith, it had his picture and that of his high school friend Ted Parker. Instantly recognized Reinhard as the one punching, Parker as the muscular man sitting and taking the punches. Showed the article that night to one of the people on the trip with me. Only showed them the pictures, not in context with the article. I said 'recognize these people?' They immediately said they were the ones fighting in the restaurant in Jamaica (at Sans Souci resort in Ocho Rios). Called the Denver FBI office, they said they were not investigating it, so wanted me to call the Clear Creek County Sheriff's Department, which I did (can't find the name of the guy I talked to, but if you told me his name I would be able to say yes or no - wife was going through cancer treatments at the time). He was not surprised and had heard of other rumors similar to mine. There was never any follow-up after that - took down my info on where/when I saw him, etc., but got the feeling I was not the only one who had given him that info. So take it for what it is worth, but two of us saw this fight happen, then saw pictures in Westword they were the two men fighting, no question.

I don't think Keith killed himself. He may have been somewhat depressed that his shop wasn't taking off like he'd hoped, but he still had his writing job to go back to if his shop failed. Plus his wife and kids were back in the Chicago area at the time, IIRC. Keith told people in the town before he disappeared that he'd be back in time for dinner, so I think he had every intention of returning when he went to scale the mountain.

he left at 4pm. it takes at least 6 hours to scale a mountain, for a person in good shape.

to me it was a diversion. just like tom did, by telling everyone he knew he was going on vacation. so people wouldn't start to look for him, intill he was long gone.

also, he disappeared, just days after the police found tom's body. maybe even the day after.
he wrote in his books, that he understood toms motives for doing what he did.

to me all the evidence points to suicide, from what i heard. what makes you believe that he just got up one day, and decided to disappear. from his friends and family. never to talk to them again.

he left at 4pm. it takes at least 6 hours to scale a mountain, for a person in good shape.

to me it was a diversion. just like tom did, by telling everyone he knew he was going on vacation. so people wouldn't start to look for him, intill he was long gone.

also, he disappeared, just days after the police found tom's body. maybe even the day after.
he wrote in his books, that he understood toms motives for doing what he did.

to me all the evidence points to suicide, from what i heard. what makes you believe that he just got up one day, and decided to disappear. from his friends and family. never to talk to them again.

What evidence indicates Keith was suicidal? He was an extremely popular sportswriter back home in Illinois and had had a well-established, successful career. He had an intact family that by all accounts loved and cared about him. He had no financial problems. He had no terminal illness. He had not recently endured an immense loss. I'm not seeing it.

I think Tenzing and Hillary would've debated an assertion that it takes six hours to scale a mountain.

he left at 4pm. it takes at least 6 hours to scale a mountain, for a person in good shape.

By all accounts Keith was ill prepared when he made he left to go scale the mountain. He had tennis shoes on, and had no survival equipment on his person. Friends also testified that he was afraid of heights. And there is no evidence to indicate he was suicidal.

he wrote in his books, that he understood toms motives for doing what he did.

Even if one does entertain the notion that Keith Reinhard was a little too deep into his own novel, it was never revealed when he wrote the "He understood Tom, and his motivation" passage. It could have been written before Tom Young's body was discovered--when his disappearance was still a mystery, and when anyone could make a conjecture about the reason why he vanished--which is exactly what I think Keith did. I think he was just being a fiction writer.

Many people don't look suicidal, whatever that means. I had an amiable, extroverted friend kill himself about twenty years ago. How many times do friends and neighbors profess honest shock that the person whom they greeted every morning was a serial killer?

Many people don't look suicidal, whatever that means. I had an amiable, extroverted friend kill himself about twenty years ago.

There are indicators and risk factors for suicide. Whether or not an individual is at risk for suicide has very little to do with personality in and of itself, and far more with general mental health, background, culture, and life events.

True. The episode omitted enough information to suggest that he either slipped and fell or killed himself. A criminal conspiracy is the least likely, although, of course, it generates most suspense among fortunate spectators like us.

True. The episode omitted enough information to suggest that he either slipped and fell or killed himself. A criminal conspiracy is the least likely, although, of course, it generates most suspense among fortunate spectators like us.

Yeah. I've always been very interested in what happened to Keith and for that reason it's one of my favorite segments, but I think it's rather blatantly obvious what probably happened once one gets past the UM veneer.

I would love to visit the city of Silver Plume. I believe someone referred to it as a "Stephen King-esque" type of town.

Even if one does entertain the notion that Keith Reinhard was a little too deep into his own novel, it was never revealed when he wrote the "He understood Tom, and his motivation" passage. It could have been written before Tom Young's body was discovered--when his disappearance was still a mystery, and when anyone could make a conjecture about the reason why he vanished--which is exactly what I think Keith did. I think he was just being a fiction writer.
he was writing it on a computer. i assume they would be able to tell when was the last time he saved it to the file.

he was writing it on a computer. i assume they would be able to tell when was the last time he saved it to the file.

I assume they would too. Except there's one important thing missing there. We still don't know when he saved it--which is exactly what I brought up earlier.

I tend to think the majority of Keith's friends and family and the town of Silver Plume believed that Keith had died either on the day or shortly after somewhere on the mountain. UM played up the mysterious angle by suggesting that they were looking for a woman who Keith was talking to at a party to play up the possibility that he was still alive. I had never even seen the original part of that on the rerun on lifetime, it was edited out. I assume that was due to the passage of time.

I would love to visit the city of Silver Plume. I believe someone referred to it as a "Stephen King-esque" type of town.

I did visit Silver Plume in 2008, 2010 and 2011. The first time was on September 7, 2008, which if I recall correctly, was 21 years to the day after Tom Young was found dead (which I never planned on-just my itinerary got me there that day-spooky). These days, it's mostly a weekender town, and The KP Cafe is still in business (or was as of 2008/2010). It is more of an antique shop first/coffee shop second, compared to more of the coffee shop/diner feel of the 1990 UM episode. However, it wasn't open on a weekday when I went through in 2011, and the town seemed more dead during the week. The town sort of has a Stephen King-esque feel, but it's not that desolate (not far from Denver and right off Interstate 70), and I'd argue that there are a lot of other towns throughout America closer to a Stephen King-esque town.

Word was on my 2010 visit, Reinhard's whereabouts were still unknown, but one lady I spoke to in town said they might turn up one day, for all anyone knows. I tend to side with the suicide theory at this point. He might not have given off any symptoms that were noticeable, and perhaps he left town, then killed himself, while the sheriff's dept/search and rescue were looking around the mountain in vain.

And I believe it's this coming August that Reinhard has been gone for 25 years. If he was alive, I can't believe he just hid out for two and a half decades with no trace.

I did visit Silver Plume in 2008, 2010 and 2011. The first time was on September 7, 2008, which if I recall correctly, was 21 years to the day after Tom Young was found dead (which I never planned on-just my itinerary got me there that day-spooky). These days, it's mostly a weekender town, and The KP Cafe is still in business (or was as of 2008/2010). It is more of an antique shop first/coffee shop second, compared to more of the coffee shop/diner feel of the 1990 UM episode. However, it wasn't open on a weekday when I went through in 2011, and the town seemed more dead during the week. The town sort of has a Stephen King-esque feel, but it's not that desolate (not far from Denver and right off Interstate 70), and I'd argue that there are a lot of other towns throughout America closer to a Stephen King-esque town.

Word was on my 2010 visit, Reinhard's whereabouts were still unknown, but one lady I spoke to in town said they might turn up one day, for all anyone knows. I tend to side with the suicide theory at this point. He might not have given off any symptoms that were noticeable, and perhaps he left town, then killed himself, while the sheriff's dept/search and rescue were looking around the mountain in vain.

And I believe it's this coming August that Reinhard has been gone for 25 years. If he was alive, I can't believe he just hid out for two and a half decades with no trace.

Neat story, thanks for it!

he was writing it on a computer. i assume they would be able to tell when was the last time he saved it to the file.

Speaking of Keith's book, was it ever published? Has anyone read it?
I'm pretty sure I've read this thread in it's entirety in the 3 or so years I've been reading this site, but can't really recall much talk about his book.

Speaking of Keith's book, was it ever published? Has anyone read it?
I'm pretty sure I've read this thread in it's entirety in the 3 or so years I've been reading this site, but can't really recall much talk about his book.
I'd like to know this, too. I haven't heard about it being published, but I bet most of the users on here would love to read it. Robert Stack's narration simply said it was "unfinished" but not how long it was or anything.

I don't think his book was ever published.

Hello, everyone. This is my first post to the board, but I've been lurking around for many years and I'm a lifelong fan of the show. Your case listings and updates here are a tremendous resource.

I'm a producer on the upcoming documentary film, Dark Side of the Mountain, that focuses on the disappearance of Keith Reinhard in Silver Plume, Colorado.

The film explores this lingering mystery through a chilling composite of narrative psychology and haunting imagery. Using personal insight from Reinhard’s own letters, short stories, and poems, the film will paint a vivid reconstruction of Keith’s unfinished novel in his own words - writings that have been lost for over two decades.

I recall first seeing the Reinhard case on Unsolved as a child. For one reason or another, the story has haunted me to the point that I felt compelled to travel to Silver Plume and see the town for myself. For years, I've collected case files on the disappearance and discussed the events with town residents. There is still so much debate about what exactly happened. Just the opinions and wild theories themselves are fascinating. And there are many details about the case that the Unsolved segment never pointed out.

My team and I are honored to be working with the Reinhard family to produce this film. I will be blogging throughout the process, sharing photographs, videos and archival information for those interested.

To keep up to date on the project, please visit the blog on our official website listed below on my signature. (Apologies, this forum doesn't allow for new users to post links until after they've made five posts or more).

As mutual fans of the original Unsolved, I wanted to share this information with everyone here first!

Hello, everyone. This is my first post to the board, but I've been lurking around for many years and I'm a lifelong fan of the show. Your case listings and updates here are a tremendous resource.

I'm a producer on the upcoming documentary film, Dark Side of the Mountain, that focuses on the disappearance of Keith Reinhard in Silver Plume, Colorado.

The film explores this lingering mystery through a chilling composite of narrative psychology and haunting imagery. Using personal insight from Reinhard’s own letters, short stories, and poems, the film will paint a vivid reconstruction of Keith’s unfinished novel in his own words - writings that have been lost for over two decades.

I recall first seeing the Reinhard case on Unsolved as a child. For one reason or another, the story has haunted me to the point that I felt compelled to travel to Silver Plume and see the town for myself. For years, I've collected case files on the disappearance and discussed the events with town residents. There is still so much debate about what exactly happened. Just the opinions and wild theories themselves are fascinating. And there are many details about the case that the Unsolved segment never pointed out.

My team and I are honored to be working with the Reinhard family to produce this film. I will be blogging throughout the process, sharing photographs, videos and archival information for those interested.

To keep up to date on the project, please visit the blog on our official website listed below on my signature. (Apologies, this forum doesn't allow for new users to post links until after they've made five posts or more).

As mutual fans of the original Unsolved, I wanted to share this information with everyone here first!
Wow !! Can't wait to see this !

Hello, everyone. This is my first post to the board, but I've been lurking around for many years and I'm a lifelong fan of the show. Your case listings and updates here are a tremendous resource.

I'm a producer on the upcoming documentary film, Dark Side of the Mountain, that focuses on the disappearance of Keith Reinhard in Silver Plume, Colorado.

The film explores this lingering mystery through a chilling composite of narrative psychology and haunting imagery. Using personal insight from Reinhard’s own letters, short stories, and poems, the film will paint a vivid reconstruction of Keith’s unfinished novel in his own words - writings that have been lost for over two decades.

I recall first seeing the Reinhard case on Unsolved as a child. For one reason or another, the story has haunted me to the point that I felt compelled to travel to Silver Plume and see the town for myself. For years, I've collected case files on the disappearance and discussed the events with town residents. There is still so much debate about what exactly happened. Just the opinions and wild theories themselves are fascinating. And there are many details about the case that the Unsolved segment never pointed out.

My team and I are honored to be working with the Reinhard family to produce this film. I will be blogging throughout the process, sharing photographs, videos and archival information for those interested.

To keep up to date on the project, please visit the blog on our official website listed below on my signature. (Apologies, this forum doesn't allow for new users to post links until after they've made five posts or more).

As mutual fans of the original Unsolved, I wanted to share this information with everyone here first!

Thanks for posting and welcome to the board! I can't wait to watch the documentary! Please be sure and let us know when it comes out and how we can watch it. Easily one of the most interesting UM segments and I'm so glad the family is working with you to add their insight. :)

Hello, everyone. This is my first post to the board, but I've been lurking around for many years and I'm a lifelong fan of the show. Your case listings and updates here are a tremendous resource.

I'm a producer on the upcoming documentary film, Dark Side of the Mountain, that focuses on the disappearance of Keith Reinhard in Silver Plume, Colorado.

The film explores this lingering mystery through a chilling composite of narrative psychology and haunting imagery. Using personal insight from Reinhard’s own letters, short stories, and poems, the film will paint a vivid reconstruction of Keith’s unfinished novel in his own words - writings that have been lost for over two decades.

I recall first seeing the Reinhard case on Unsolved as a child. For one reason or another, the story has haunted me to the point that I felt compelled to travel to Silver Plume and see the town for myself. For years, I've collected case files on the disappearance and discussed the events with town residents. There is still so much debate about what exactly happened. Just the opinions and wild theories themselves are fascinating. And there are many details about the case that the Unsolved segment never pointed out.

My team and I are honored to be working with the Reinhard family to produce this film. I will be blogging throughout the process, sharing photographs, videos and archival information for those interested.

To keep up to date on the project, please visit the blog on our official website listed below on my signature. (Apologies, this forum doesn't allow for new users to post links until after they've made five posts or more).

As mutual fans of the original Unsolved, I wanted to share this information with everyone here first!

Got it bookmarked! Good Luck :)

I'm looking forward to the documentary as well.

I went back and reread a lot of this thread and thought of something else to consider:

Had Reinhard planned on starting a new life, how exactly did he make it out of the town? Witnesses place him (around 4:00 p.m. on the day he disappeared) walking towards Mt. Pendleton. No witnesses saw him anywhere else (hitchhiking, standing on the side of a road, etc.) after that.

And with regards to the conspiracy theory that both men were killed to be "silenced", why haven't there been any mysterious disappearances from either the new tenants of the building that Young/Reinhard rented, or people from Silver Plume or nearby areas?

I'm looking forward to the documentary as well.

I went back and reread a lot of this thread and thought of something else to consider:

Had Reinhard planned on starting a new life, how exactly did he make it out of the town? Witnesses place him (around 4:00 p.m. on the day he disappeared) walking towards Mt. Pendleton. No witnesses saw him anywhere else (hitchhiking, standing on the side of a road, etc.) after that.

And with regards to the conspiracy theory that both men were killed to be "silenced", why haven't there been any mysterious disappearances from either the new tenants of the building that Young/Reinhard rented, or people from Silver Plume or nearby areas?look at all the people featured on um that we know vanished on there own . How did they get out without being seen ? It's not hard. Once he got out of silver plume no one knew who he was or would have taken notice of him .

Wow, just wow. I looked at the website. An actual documentary on the case. This is going to be incredible. Now if only we could get a documentary on Dale Kerstetter.

Once he got out of silver plume no one knew who he was or would have taken notice of him .

I don't know...he was rather distinctive looking. I think people would have noticed him. That's why I tend to believe he perished on the mountain. He wasn't at all prepared for a hike up there.

look at all the people featured on um that we know vanished on there own . How did they get out without being seen ? It's not hard. Once he got out of silver plume no one knew who he was or would have taken notice of him .

Off the top of my head, the only people I can think of that legitimately left on their own volition were Alex Cooper, Craig Williamson, and the husband (can't remember his name but it was a very rare case of a man who had an injured foot and disappeared during a ski trip, IIRC). All of them had legitimate reasons to disappear and start a new life: Cooper was fearful of being arrested and his true identity being found out, Williamson wanted to get away from a unwanted marriage, and the husband also was fearful of getting into trouble with the law. Reinhard does not fit this bill at all. Various people who knew him said he would have never abandoned his family, especially at the time because he still had a teenage daughter living at home.

ETA: The husband was Scott Hill.

Off the top of my head, the only people I can think of that legitimately left on their own volition were Alex Cooper, Craig Williamson, and the husband (can't remember his name but it was a very rare case of a man who had an injured foot and disappeared during a ski trip, IIRC). All of them had legitimate reasons to disappear and start a new life: Cooper was fearful of being arrested and his true identity being found out, Williamson wanted to get away from a unwanted marriage, and the husband also was fearful of getting into trouble with the law. Reinhard does not fit this bill at all. Various people who knew him said he would have never abandoned his family, especially at the time because he still had a teenage daughter living at home.

ETA: The husband was Scott Hill.
There's been more then that on people vanishing on there own. Tom Dixon , the guy who ripped off the bank he worked for (can't remember his name ) and there is others . Who was the rich guy that got into money trouble and left his family and they looked forever but turned up nothing then it aired on um and he decided to go back home ? Then that guy that had the talapia farm that vanished and ended up calling his wife a few years later when he saw himself on um.
Anyhow , if Keith was so close to his family why would he leave them to go run a store in silver plume ? He didn't take his family with him so how close were they?

There's been more then that on people vanishing on there own. Tom Dixon , the guy who ripped off the bank he worked for (can't remember his name ) and there is others . Who was the rich guy that got into money trouble and left his family and they looked forever but turned up nothing then it aired on um and he decided to go back home ? Then that guy that had the talapia farm that vanished and ended up calling his wife a few years later when he saw himself on um.
Anyhow , if Keith was so close to his family why would he leave them to go run a store in silver plume ? He didn't take his family with him so how close were they?

That was the point of my post. The people who ditched their families to start new lives or go on the run had "legitimate" reasons to do it: they were going to be in trouble with the law. Nothing even remotely close to this has been tied to Reinhard. And Reinhard was supposed to stay in Silver Plume for 90 days. If his business flourished, he planned on bringing his family to Silver Plume as well.

Here is the excerpt that talks about the nuclear waste dumping and the Tom Young/Keith Reinhard connection. It also mentions the lady he told about it, she ended up moving to Alaska.

I read from page 350 to 353. At the beginning of 350 it goes on about trucks going to mines in Idaho Springs and dumping nuclear waste into the old mine shafts. A driver confirmed the story. Photos were taken of electronic testing equipment in crates all labeled as belonging to the U.S. department of energy. All kinds of wires were hooked up with weird hum noises.

The guy basically explains how he was doing a story on it all and all kinds of things were happening to him. Tom Young was one of the only people he kept close to. Then Tom Young spends years himself looking into it.

http://books.google.com/books?id=RuPS6PRjDV4C&pg=PA352&lpg=PA352&dq=keith+reinhard+unsolved+mysteries&source=bl&ots=4qhxsAbiQu&sig=IHTmqY77PLm-OqDe0UueFCHgBeU&hl=en&sa=X&ei=6hVuVKGvB8_4yQSo1oDwCA&ved=0CEEQ6AEwBjgK#v=onepage&q=keith%20reinhard%20unsolved%20mysteries&f=false

It also mentions that the Tom Young case has been reruled a homicide.

It also mentions that since 1996 the Tom Young case has been reruled a homicide. UM never aired this update.

Wow that was a bombshell!! I always thought Tom Young was a clear cut case of suicide now to hear that he was shot multiple times with a different caliber gun than was next to him. :shocked Thanks for the info.

It's just really strange how close together these cases are in such a small town. Can't rule out anything really. I hope the documentary touches on the waste dumping information.

I don't believe that the excerpt from the book is accurate. UM, the Charley Project, and various articles and news sources (some written after 1996) all state that Young and his dog were both found shot in the head, and that Young's death was ruled a suicide. Outside of this reference in this book, I have never found anything to corroborate the fact that Young's death was reclassified a homicide.

http://prev.dailyherald.com/story/?id=154694

"He left a bar in Silver Plume -- his best friend talked to him last -- and said he was going into the mountains," said Kai, recounting the story he heard from his grandmother, Reinhard's ex-wife. "Supposedly, people were dumping nuclear waste in the mines, and that's illegal. He went out there with his camera and he never came back."

In the segment she said he FORGOT his camera though, and that is wasn't like him to not bring it with him. Maybe she was wrong and he did take the camera. Regardless, going by this old article, at least some of the people in his family believe or are somewhat aware of the whole waste dumping information.

I found this recent podcast on missing people (10-30-14), they talk about Keith at the end:

http://www.binnallofamerica.com/boaa103014.html

Pay attention to what he says, take it for what it's worth.

The people in Silver Plume made no mention of the dumping shortly after Keith disappeared. They just said Reinhard was going around telling everyone he was going to climb Mt. Pendleton.

I found another book from a person that knew Keith. This person believes the dissapearance was staged, it seems.

https://books.google.com/books?id=wfifzfvc5jUC&pg=PA166&dq=ted+parker+silver+plume+dna+stew&hl=en&sa=X&ei=JsSaVKXaKuW1sQSPoID4Cw&ved=0CC0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=ted%20parker%20silver%20plume%20dna%20stew&f=false

Start from page 163 to 167.

Basically the same idea that people here have, no remains were ever found and it's possible he went on to start a new life but because of what happened to the pilot he decided not to come out of hiding.

Does anybody know when the Keith Reinhard documentary is coming out? It just says 2015 on the IMDB page. I would like to know where I can watch it as well.

Bear with me on this one, everyone as I vaguely remember it. I know Keith was writing a book and had recently inhabited the space where Tom used to run a business. Is it possible Keith had something to do with Tom's murder? I am not sure if this was ever discussed, nor am I saying it is what I believe, but he did get the space Tom was using and then made a point of telling everyone he was going hiking despite his many fears. Could he have been trying to make an escape by using the mountain as a decoy?

Ha – Hambone, I love how you're quietly reviving every major thread.

Ha – Hambone, I love how you're quietly reviving every major thread.

I was gone for almost two years man. I'm ready to discuss these cases!

To answer the question, no, I don't think the two cases are related other than Reinhard working on what sounds like a terrible novel about Young.

To answer the question, no, I don't think the two cases are related other than Reinhard working on what sounds like a terrible novel about Young.

Bingo.

Ha – Hambone, I love how you're quietly reviving every major thread.
Agreed. We missed you, Hambone!

Agreed. We missed you, Hambone!

Thanks! I missed all of you too!

Agreed. We missed you, Hambone!

Yes! Love that he's back!

I can't make up my mind as to whether Reinhard had an accident or committed suicide. The more I think about the "sabbatical in Silver Plume" thing, the more curious it seems to me. Keith had a successful sports journalism career. He was well-liked. He had a nice family and lived in a comfortable suburb of Chicago. Why move to another part of the country in a rather isolated community without your wife and kids?

*Edited, spelling. Dagum autocorrect.

Yes! Love that he's back!

Thanks Meg.


I can't make up my mind as to whether Reinhard had an accident or committed suicide. The more I think about the "sabbatical in Silver Plume" thing, the more curious it seems to me. Keith had a successful sports journalism career. He was well-liked. He had a nice family and lived in a comfortable suburb of Chicago. Why move to another part of the country in a rather isolated community without your wife and kids?

*Edited, spelling. Dagum autocorrect.

I need to re-watch this segment. Too much of it is missing from my memory.

intriguing case, but I am not sure where the mystery is. Pretty obvious that Tom Young committed suicide and Keith Reinhard died from the elements when he tried to climb the mountain

Also I think the case on Amazon is edited. There is no mention of Keith talking to a woman before he disappeared

Also I think the case on Amazon is edited. There is no mention of Keith talking to a woman before he disappeared

Later airings of the segment have this missing, so I'm assuming that it was either cut out due to re-editing the segments trying to fit them into an hour show OR that it was cut out because law enforcement determined that the lead was irrelevant to the case.

Just watched this again.

I think it's suicide. Keith moves from Chicago to get a new start and becomes infatuated with the Tom Young case. He's obsessed and decides to devote tons of time to write a novel about it only to find out that Tom committed suicide. I think that devastated Keith and he chose to do the same.

I don't think Keith killed himself. He may have been somewhat depressed that his shop wasn't taking off like he'd hoped, but he still had his writing job to go back to if his shop failed. Plus his wife and kids were back in the Chicago area at the time, IIRC. Keith told people in the town before he disappeared that he'd be back in time for dinner, so I think he had every intention of returning when he went to scale the mountain.

He was a sports writer for a local paper concentrating on high school sports.

It's not like he was a beat writer for the Cubs. If he was unhappy in Chicago why would he return?

I just find it suspicious that Keith disappears days after he finds out about Tom Young's suicide.

He was a sports writer for a local paper concentrating on high school sports.

It's not like he was a beat writer for the Cubs. If he was unhappy in Chicago why would he return?

Because his family was there. I think he got some liquid courage that day and decided to conquer one of his fears (heights) and accidentally died.

ETA: Earlier in this thread someone brought up the possibility of a mountain lion attack. Seems possible, considering the website for the county in which Silver Plume is located has a section about mountain lions and what to do if you encounter one. There's some crackpot who has recently tried to tie disappearances from national forests and parks to Bigfoot, and others have (rightly) pointed out that these people who seemingly disappear without a trace were in all probability attacked by mountain lions.

http://clearcreekcounty.org/mountain-lion/

I think it's more likely Keith Reinhard died accidentally rather than by suicide. But I do see how the suicide theory is compelling:

-His antique store was failing
-He was trying to make a living in an extremely small, isolated community after pretty much living his entire life in the Chicago area
-His family was not with him, and these are the days before we could constantly communicate with our loved ones and friends via the internet
-He took nothing with him the day he went up into the mountains
-He had some level of fascination with Tom Young, who was ultimately found dead of a suicide himself, and disappeared very shortly after Young's body was discovered


However, based on what I've read about Keith Reinhard himself, he wasn't a man who had ever had a history of depression or despondency. To use one of my favorite Stack phrases, this really was a man whose life seemed like a Norman Rockwell painting. He grew up in Deerfield, one of those many affluent north Chicago suburbs. He had a steady job as a sports journalist for the local paper in Algonquin, about which he was pretty much universally regarded as passionate. He was known to be something of a free spirit, maybe something of a hippie--and a cheerful optimist. He was very close to his children, grandchildren, and spouse. He wrote letters to friends back home that betrayed no mental or emotional anguish. Guy had a charmed life. This isn't a Curtis Pishon, somebody whose life circumstances made for a crap storm of conditions that greatly increase the risk for suicide. By all accounts, he had financial security, family support, and a personal disposition that made for greater resiliency in the face of adversity.

The day Keith disappeared, he was reportedly nursing a hangover from the night before--he had attended a party. The late start on the hike up the mountain could be attributed to the possibility that he simply rolled out of bed sometime in the afternoon after partying through the night.

I believe it is a possibility that reports of Keith telling "everybody" in town that he was going to climb Pendleton Mountain may be something of an exaggeration. I think this is simply a function of what the human mind has a tendency to do: if a man who later disappeared while climbing a mountain told you he was going to climb said mountain, almost certainly that is what you will remember most vividly about that exchange. In other words, I'm not sure that Keith necessarily told a great deal of people about the hike, but that a group of people strongly recalled him telling them about the hike because, of course, he disappeared on that hike--which was certainly the biggest news story going in a town of a population of around 100.

Alternatively, Keith could've also still been intoxicated when he decided to take the hike. He had a reported fear of heights, and perhaps felt ready to conquer that fear while under the influence. It may also explain his exuberant announcements to folks that he was going up the mountain. Such conditions increase the possibility of a serious accident, especially in that terrain.

I think it is more likely that Keith took a fall, or encountered a mountain lion (dusk being prime hunting time for those animals).

I think it's more likely Keith Reinhard died accidentally rather than by suicide. But I do see how the suicide theory is compelling:

-His antique store was failing
-He was trying to make a living in an extremely small, isolated community after pretty much living his entire life in the Chicago area
-His family was not with him, and these are the days before we could constantly communicate with our loved ones and friends via the internet
-He took nothing with him the day he went up into the mountains
-He had some level of fascination with Tom Young, who was ultimately found dead of a suicide himself, and disappeared very shortly after Young's body was discovered


However, based on what I've read about Keith Reinhard himself, he wasn't a man who had ever had a history of depression or despondency. To use one of my favorite Stack phrases, this really was a man whose life seemed like a Norman Rockwell painting. He grew up in Deerfield, one of those many affluent north Chicago suburbs. He had a steady job as a sports journalist for the local paper in Algonquin, about which he was pretty much universally regarded as passionate. He was known to be something of a free spirit, maybe something of a hippie--and a cheerful optimist. He was very close to his children, grandchildren, and spouse. He wrote letters to friends back home that betrayed no mental or emotional anguish. Guy had a charmed life. This isn't a Curtis Pishon, somebody whose life circumstances made for a crap storm of conditions that greatly increase the risk for suicide. By all accounts, he had financial security, family support, and a personal disposition that made for greater resiliency in the face of adversity.

The day Keith disappeared, he was reportedly nursing a hangover from the night before--he had attended a party. The late start on the hike up the mountain could be attributed to the possibility that he simply rolled out of bed sometime in the afternoon after partying through the night.

I believe it is a possibility that reports of Keith telling "everybody" in town that he was going to climb Pendleton Mountain may be something of an exaggeration. I think this is simply a function of what the human mind has a tendency to do: if a man who later disappeared while climbing a mountain told you he was going to climb said mountain, almost certainly that is what you will remember most vividly about that exchange. In other words, I'm not sure that Keith necessarily told a great deal of people about the hike, but that a group of people strongly recalled him telling them about the hike because, of course, he disappeared on that hike--which was certainly the biggest news story going in a town of a population of around 100.

Alternatively, Keith could've also still been intoxicated when he decided to take the hike. He had a reported fear of heights, and perhaps felt ready to conquer that fear while under the influence. It may also explain his exuberant announcements to folks that he was going up the mountain. Such conditions increase the possibility of a serious accident, especially in that terrain.

I think it is more likely that Keith took a fall, or encountered a mountain lion (dusk being prime hunting time for those animals).


I've got to say, I feel this is the most likely scenario, as well. I've always thought so. The whole "he told everyone in town" thing could've easily just been him running into people, along the way, who asked what he was up to. As happens in small towns where people know each other.

Because his family was there I think he got some liquid courage that day and decided to conquer one of his fears (heights) and accidentally died.

ETA: Earlier in this thread someone brought up the possibility of a mountain lion attack. Seems possible, considering the website for the county in which Silver Plume is located has a section about mountain lions and what to do if you encounter one. There's some crackpot who has recently tried to tie disappearances from national forests and parks to Bigfoot, and others have (rightly) pointed out that these people who seemingly disappear without a trace were in all probability attacked by mountain lions.

http://clearcreekcounty.org/mountain-lion/

His children were grown and not dependent on him anymore.

Although an accident is very possible, I don't think it was a coincidence that he disappeared just days after he found out about Tom Young's death. He had devoted months and months to his novel.

It kind of reminds me of Danny Casolaro. Casolaro may have committed suicide simply because all of the research/work he was going to published turned out to be a nothing burger. I think the same thing happened with Keith.