Unsolved Mysteries has done a number of these cases where people believed to have had breakdowns disappear. Cases like Gordon Page, Rogest Cain, Patricia Meehan, Kristi Krebs, the guy who disappeared on the Baja whose name I can't remember, and I know there are a few more than I am not remembering. I remember one about a mentally impaired young man who disappeared from a farm but I can't think of his name for a thousand dollars, just remember he was with a cat before he vanished.

Logically, you would think these people would be the easiest to find since they aren't fugitives running from the law, and if they had some kind of breakdown and couldn't remember who they are, they would not only be easier to find but might seek out help.

Yet these case seem to be rarely solved. These people often just disappear into thin air.

Given this infrequency of these being solved, you have to wonder why and what usually happens to these people. Have they just been smarter than we thought at hiding or do they meet with foul play this often? Its sad to think our society is this dangerous to where they meet with foul play this often, its troubling and strange to me they don't usually turn up.

What are some theories of what usually happens to them?

Gordon Page: I don't even want to think of what could have happened here. I don't feel this was a peacfeul ending.

Rogest Cain: Likely passed in a hospital or assisted living without being ID'ed. Eyewitness accounts/sightings likely correct.

Patricia Meehan: Remains will eventually be found near the scene of the accident, a la Dan Wilson. Eyewitness accounts/sightings likely incorrect.

Kristi Krebs: Eyewitness accounts/sightings have more merit than those of Patty Meehan, but I'm growing increasingly suspicious of all of these sightings. So many have proven completely untrue. As to Kristi, I'd like to say that she became disoriented and lost in those woods, but how big a wooded area even was it? If it was smaller, she either would have found her way out or have been discovered dead or alive if lost within its borders.

Most of these people wander off and die from exposure in remote areas. Over time, their remains get scattered. Which makes it even more difficult to locate them and solve their disappearances.

Most of these people wander off and die from exposure in remote areas. Over time, their remains get scattered. Which makes it even more difficult to locate them and solve their disappearances.

I'm guessing the Dan Wilson case might be influencing your opinion somewhat, and there is probably merit to that. I don't doubt it happens that way sometimes.

But he actually had a physical ailment caused by the carbon monoxide fumes from his car, some of these others had mental trauma I think, but would it have caused them to be to far gone to know to get out of the elements? Or get themselves lost to where they couldn't find their way back to any sort of civilization or safety?

I admit its possible in every case but not necessarily definite.

Gordon Page: I don't even want to think of what could have happened here. I don't feel this was a peacfeul ending.

Rogest Cain: Likely passed in a hospital or assisted living without being ID'ed. Eyewitness accounts/sightings likely correct.

Patricia Meehan: Remains will eventually be found near the scene of the accident, a la Dan Wilson. Eyewitness accounts/sightings likely incorrect.

Kristi Krebs: Eyewitness accounts/sightings have more merit than those of Patty Meehan, but I'm growing increasingly suspicious of all of these sightings. So many have proven completely untrue. As to Kristi, I'd like to say that she became disoriented and lost in those woods, but how big a wooded area even was it? If it was smaller, she either would have found her way out or have been discovered dead or alive if lost within its borders.

Been awhile since I saw the segment, but didn't the dogs track Patricia's scent back to the highway?

As for Kristi, if I remember correctly seems like her clothes were found in the car that she was wearing. Makes me wonder if she might have been a victim of sexually motivated foul play. Maybe she initially got stuck and some perv came by seeing a sick opportunity, dragged her off into the woods? I admit its far fetched by why else would her clothes have been removed?

As for Gordon Page, again, he apparently still had enough wits about him to try and hitchhike. So would he have wandered off and got lost?

Been awhile since I saw the segment, but didn't the dogs track Patricia's scent back to the highway?


I believe you're correct.

I'm not always convinced that dogs are right 100% of the time and have a feeling that they're sometimes afforded more credibility than perhaps they should be given. Unfortunately, we as humans have yet to unlock the full technology which proves/disproves this.

With Meehan, yes, she was definitely experiencing mental health issues, but we simply don't know what physical impairments the accident may or may not have caused. Many have speculated that she suffered a concussion as a result of the accident, which I heavily lean toward myself.

But he actually had a physical ailment caused by the carbon monoxide fumes from his car, some of these others had mental trauma I think, but would it have caused them to be to far gone to know to get out of the elements? Or get themselves lost to where they couldn't find their way back to any sort of civilization or safety?

This is exactly what happened with Dan Wilson. Don Kemp as well. Each individual has a different variable that affects their behavior like mental health or head trauma, but ultimately these people are either cognizant enough to know where they are but do not want to be found, get lost due to mental impairment, or legitimately get lost and turned around and perish.

I believe you're correct.

I'm not always convinced that dogs are right 100% of the time and have a feeling that they're sometimes afforded more credibility than perhaps they should be given. Unfortunately, we as humans have yet to unlock the full technology which proves/disproves this.

With Meehan, yes, she was definitely experiencing mental health issues, but we simply don't know what physical impairments the accident may or may not have caused. Many have speculated that she suffered a concussion as a result of the accident, which I heavily lean toward myself.

I think its fair to raise that question. But given how much they have been used in law enforcement, I have to think their track record of finding people or being right is at least somewhat good.

There is no doubt they have great smellers, but I think sometimes depending on the breed they can easily get distracted by some other scent if not very well trained. I've read the reason bloodhounds are used the most is not because of their noses being more keen than other dogs, but because they are simply more disciplined to stay with a given scent. It does bring to mind the David Stone case, remember he was the stock market analyst who disappeared in the desert with the bizarre six knives in Rob's room note? I believe his scent was traced back to the road as well yet later on his remains were found out in the desert.

I think Patricia Meehan suffering a concussion due to the accident is probably a good bet. In fact her behavior right after the accident, basically watching the whole scene like a disinterested spectator I believe was very consistent with concussions.

I think its fair to raise that question. But given how much they have been used in law enforcement, I have to think their track record of finding people or being right is at least somewhat good.

There is no doubt they have great smellers, but I think sometimes depending on the breed they can easily get distracted by some other scent if not very well trained. I've read the reason bloodhounds are used the most is not because of their noses being more keen than other dogs, but because they are simply more disciplined to stay with a given scent. It does bring to mind the David Stone case, remember he was the stock market analyst who disappeared in the desert with the bizarre six knives in Rob's room note? I believe his scent was traced back to the road as well yet later on his remains were found out in the desert.

I think Patricia Meehan suffering a concussion due to the accident is probably a good bet. In fact her behavior right after the accident, basically watching the whole scene like a disinterested spectator I believe was very consistent with concussions.

What was the case in.. I'm going to say Connecticut, but, don't take that as gospel.

Someone wrecked their car in the snow and disappeared. Many years later, their remains were discovered like a mile away from the vehicle. Basically, they got out and started walking.. Either had such a concussion that they weren't thinking clearly or perhaps a brain bleed and just wandered into the woods until they collapsed and died. Either from exposure or the effects of the accident (Once soft tissue decays, it's hard to tell)

But, the parents were all up in arms about how they thought she had been abducted..

We could put this up there as another of the Unsolved Mysteries memes, for lack of a better term. If you find someone's car and they are missing.. Search within a 3 mile radius of it, because most of the time.. You'll find their body.

So, the list of memes is that, check bodies of water for the vehicle.. Missing people are almost never sex trafficked.. People who have 'amnesia' probably don't..

I remember the Rogest Cain segment vividly. His son was really handsome.

I think a lot of these cases were not solved due to the stigma of mental illness at the time. Even what was once called r3t@rdation (developmentally disabled now) was also stigmatized. I don't think law enforcement tries as hard as they would today if someone like this came up missing. Back then it was either they will pop up somewhere or they don't want to be found.

Gordy was hard to miss and had such distinctive features. With his case I did not believe he escaped the group home. I think he probably died by accident due to a restraint at the group home and someone panicked and got rid of his body. Someone like Gordy would have been found.

Rogest was either picked up and a John Doe until he died as someone said or died of exposure. I really don't think there was any foul play he simply became disoriented.

I remember when being called slow (delayed) or having a mental illness was very much a source of shame for families. I always think about what happened to Rosemary Kennedy and it really makes me sad.


One case that has been on my mind lately is Adam Hecht I made a thread recently on him with a lot of varying opinions.

Selena Edon's case was hard to digest because they went out of their way to hide the fact she was a lesbian. It could have given us more context by knowing that fact. It could have been a hate crime.

Gordy was hard to miss and had such distinctive features. With his case I did not believe he escaped the group home. I think he probably died by accident due to a restraint at the group home and someone panicked and got rid of his body. Someone like Gordy would have been found.


That would be.. Unusual. So far as a group home disposing of the body. You can search and see that deaths can and do happen at group homes, but.. It's not easy to dispose of a body. Possible? Sure. anything is possible. You can't eliminate anything, but.. There's lots of staff at those places.. And.. To go this long with no one having some guilt and flipping on the people responsible or there being rumors about it.. Just seems a stretch.

I think more that he did escape.. Was wandering along the interstate.. Probably got tired (After all, it was midnight when he was found missing) and went off the interstate somewhere to sleep.. And possibly died of exposure. Though, he went missing in May and average temps aren't really where you would expect a death from exposure.. But, if it was raining.. Who knows?

Maybe he did get a ride from someone.. I tend to not know what to think of the baseball cards. All we have is that baseball cards were found and his three favorites were separated.. I'd love to know more details on that. I can't take that as being a valid clue just based off the report.

I fully believe he is dead. But.. How long did he live after escaping is the real question to me.. And how far did he make it? Did he get picked up hitchhiking and start making his way to Texas? Previous escape, I believe that's where he was trying to go to..

I also wonder if the family has submitted DNA for testing..

For all we know.. He took the identity of one of the people living at the home and is living today under that identity.. Though.. I don't really buy into that.

I think most of us try to solve theses cases using facts, logic and rational thinking and maybe that's the underlying reason that the cases have remained unsolved. People can behave unexpected and irrational at times.

I suffered a mental breakdown a couple years ago from that "popular" virus that was going around at the time. It really messed up my sleeping habits, breathing and well being for two and a half months. Even though I was being treated with strong antibiotics, I felt like I was never recovering and I was determined to stay out of the hospital.

TL DR
This virus affected my ability to think straight so I became so overwhelmed from feeling hot, I went to my living room and laid down on the cold tile floor. I took all my clothes off and floundered around complaining about feeling hot. That's how my spouse found me 2 hours after I disappeared from the master bedroom. I was told that I was calling God to come take me away. A clear thinking person who felt hot would take a cold shower or maybe put an ice pack on the head. Not me because I was out of my mind.

That would be.. Unusual. So far as a group home disposing of the body. You can search and see that deaths can and do happen at group homes, but.. It's not easy to dispose of a body. Possible? Sure. anything is possible. You can't eliminate anything, but.. There's lots of staff at those places.. And.. To go this long with no one having some guilt and flipping on the people responsible or there being rumors about it.. Just seems a stretch.

I think more that he did escape.. Was wandering along the interstate.. Probably got tired (After all, it was midnight when he was found missing) and went off the interstate somewhere to sleep.. And possibly died of exposure. Though, he went missing in May and average temps aren't really where you would expect a death from exposure.. But, if it was raining.. Who knows?

Maybe he did get a ride from someone.. I tend to not know what to think of the baseball cards. All we have is that baseball cards were found and his three favorites were separated.. I'd love to know more details on that. I can't take that as being a valid clue just based off the report.

I fully believe he is dead. But.. How long did he live after escaping is the real question to me.. And how far did he make it? Did he get picked up hitchhiking and start making his way to Texas? Previous escape, I believe that's where he was trying to go to..

I also wonder if the family has submitted DNA for testing..

For all we know.. He took the identity of one of the people living at the home and is living today under that identity.. Though.. I don't really buy into that.

His parents moved to Florida, I believe.

There would be absolutely no reason for your last point to have any merit. Why would he have switched identities? He obviously wouldn't have any need to want to to so himself. Let's maybe just erase that thought from this any any future theories! :crazy:

The reason these people never show up is because they are dead. They eventually ran into a person who took advantage of them, not hard if you take into account that they are wandering on the streets all of the time.

Rogest is the father of former NFL player Lynn Cain, who was interviewed for the segment. He is also the grandfather of rapper will.i.am.

!!

You raise a good question OP, one that bears some thought.

"Logically, you would think these people would be the easiest to find since they aren't fugitives running from the law, and if they had some kind of breakdown and couldn't remember who they are, they would not only be easier to find but might seek out help."

That is a correct statement, and I would fully agree. However, there is a major caveat to this. The sample we are looking at, either the cases named or UM in general, is not a representative sample of the population.

Yes, usually cases involving a mental breakdown are solved in a matter of hours, maybe days. That is probabally true in 99% of cases. However, those cases are unlikely to end up on UM or any other show.

Just because something is true for the population as a whole does not make it true for all sub-samples. And, to the contrary, when the sub sample has been taken in a way that conveys information about its probability distribution then that needs to be accounted for.

If a mental breakdown case ends up on UM it is not a typical case, and the probability distribution of outcomes is going to be very different. Of cases that end up on UM, I would expect more unusual outcomes that do not reflect expectation for the population as a whole.

Considering two of the previously mentioned cases (the ones I am more familiar with)

Rogest Cain may have been suffering from a stroke, but that is conjectural based on the report of a witness who did not know him. Other than that, there is no evidence of mental impairment aside from his absence from his usual routine. So his classification into this archetype is tenuous. While it is possible that he died and was not properly identified, that is somewhat hard to reconcile with the fact that he was on national television and likely should have been identified even if after the fact.
More significant in his case is the fact that at some point his vehicle with contents was found in LA with all his important documents, but supposedly no cash. The mechanic indicated he had been paid in cash to work on the same vehicle earlier, and was the one who reported Cain was slurring his speech.
The implication of these facts is that you have a man with presumably large sums of cash on hand, mentally incapacitated, wandering the streets of 1980's LA. That the police ruled out foul play seems dubious in this light.

Patricia Meehan again may or may not have been suffering a metal episode of some type, her classification into this group is like Cain speculative. However, despite the considerable time elapsed since her disappearance her remains have not been found near the scene. While this does not prove she is not there, I am very dubious that her remains will "one day be found" there as some have said. If she was to be found the time has likely long past.
However, unlike Cain, who disappeared in an urban area giving rise to a null hypothesis of foul play, Meehan was in a truly rural area that would give rise to a null hypothesis of death by exposure. Her not being subsequently found in that case is likely attributable to the extent of rarely traveled private land in the area that she was last seen in. However, eyewitness accounts cannot be easily dismissed either, as if she did leave the area she could have met with foul play as well which would explain her persistent lack of whereabouts.

Notice that in both these cases their mental state is a mystery along with their whereabouts. Notice also that the mental state may have been a contributor to foul play, which dramatically changes our expected distribution of probability for them being found. Generally one does not expect people who die of misadventure to have their death concealed, but that is certainly expected in cases of foul play.

His parents moved to Florida, I believe.

There would be absolutely no reason for your last point to have any merit. Why would he have switched identities? He obviously wouldn't have any need to want to to so himself. Let's maybe just erase that thought from this any any future theories! :crazy:

Yes, but his previous escape he was trying to go see his brother, who lived in Texas.. At least, that's what I remember.

As far as him being in a home under the wrong identity.. Do I buy that? Of course not. But.. Can it be disproven? I mean, we just had that woman down in.. Bahamas or wherever it was that was found. Crazier things have happened. You can't particularly eliminate it. Don't give it much credibility, but.. It does have to remain on the table. Not at the top of the pile, obviously.

The truth of the matter usually winds up being.. The simplest solution.. Is generally what happened. What's the simplest solution for Gordon Page? He escaped and met his end. Whether that end was accidental or otherwise.. All options there would be on the table with the info we have at hand.

Short of him being abducted for the sex trade. That one is just SUCH a cop out and ALMOST NEVER winds up being the case. Of course.. It's rarely mentioned when it's a guy, but.. That's got about as much believability to me as him being alive but with 'amnesia' now.

You raise a good question OP, one that bears some thought.

"Logically, you would think these people would be the easiest to find since they aren't fugitives running from the law, and if they had some kind of breakdown and couldn't remember who they are, they would not only be easier to find but might seek out help."

That is a correct statement, and I would fully agree. However, there is a major caveat to this. The sample we are looking at, either the cases named or UM in general, is not a representative sample of the population.

Yes, usually cases involving a mental breakdown are solved in a matter of hours, maybe days. That is probabally true in 99% of cases. However, those cases are unlikely to end up on UM or any other show.

Just because something is true for the population as a whole does not make it true for all sub-samples. And, to the contrary, when the sub sample has been taken in a way that conveys information about its probability distribution then that needs to be accounted for.

If a mental breakdown case ends up on UM it is not a typical case, and the probability distribution of outcomes is going to be very different. Of cases that end up on UM, I would expect more unusual outcomes that do not reflect expectation for the population as a whole.

Considering two of the previously mentioned cases (the ones I am more familiar with)

Rogest Cain may have been suffering from a stroke, but that is conjectural based on the report of a witness who did not know him. Other than that, there is no evidence of mental impairment aside from his absence from his usual routine. So his classification into this archetype is tenuous. While it is possible that he died and was not properly identified, that is somewhat hard to reconcile with the fact that he was on national television and likely should have been identified even if after the fact.
More significant in his case is the fact that at some point his vehicle with contents was found in LA with all his important documents, but supposedly no cash. The mechanic indicated he had been paid in cash to work on the same vehicle earlier, and was the one who reported Cain was slurring his speech.
The implication of these facts is that you have a man with presumably large sums of cash on hand, mentally incapacitated, wandering the streets of 1980's LA. That the police ruled out foul play seems dubious in this light.

Patricia Meehan again may or may not have been suffering a metal episode of some type, her classification into this group is like Cain speculative. However, despite the considerable time elapsed since her disappearance her remains have not been found near the scene. While this does not prove she is not there, I am very dubious that her remains will "one day be found" there as some have said. If she was to be found the time has likely long past.
However, unlike Cain, who disappeared in an urban area giving rise to a null hypothesis of foul play, Meehan was in a truly rural area that would give rise to a null hypothesis of death by exposure. Her not being subsequently found in that case is likely attributable to the extent of rarely traveled private land in the area that she was last seen in. However, eyewitness accounts cannot be easily dismissed either, as if she did leave the area she could have met with foul play as well which would explain her persistent lack of whereabouts.

Notice that in both these cases their mental state is a mystery along with their whereabouts. Notice also that the mental state may have been a contributor to foul play, which dramatically changes our expected distribution of probability for them being found. Generally one does not expect people who die of misadventure to have their death concealed, but that is certainly expected in cases of foul play.

Thank you for the well thought out response. And I think you are probably pretty close to on the money here. We sometimes forget that Unsolved Mysteries mostly undertook very unusual cases with unusual circumstances that often did not fit the mold of how similar situations usually turned out. So that is definitely something to consider I did not initially give much thought.

Even so, it is still troubling that these cases seem to rarely get solved and you wonder what factors are at play with that. I tend to believe some of the explanations people have pointed out in this thread certainly are the case sometimes, but also wonder if there are other underlying factors at work as well.

One case not talked about a lot but was very similar to Gordon Page was about a young man with an unusual name, Odett or something like that who disappeared from a farm where he was staying. I've also wondered what may have happened to him. Then there was the one about the drummer whose name I can't remember, the one who said to his mom he hated his house now that they kept changing things around. That to as far as I know was never solved.

Hopefully at least a few of these can still have resolutions, but in all of them a lot of time has passed so it is sadly doubtful.

Thank you for the well thought out response. And I think you are probably pretty close to on the money here. We sometimes forget that Unsolved Mysteries mostly undertook very unusual cases with unusual circumstances that often did not fit the mold of how similar situations usually turned out. So that is definitely something to consider I did not initially give much thought.

Even so, it is still troubling that these cases seem to rarely get solved and you wonder what factors are at play with that. I tend to believe some of the explanations people have pointed out in this thread certainly are the case sometimes, but also wonder if there are other underlying factors at work as well.

One case not talked about a lot but was very similar to Gordon Page was about a young man with an unusual name, Odett or something like that who disappeared from a farm where he was staying. I've also wondered what may have happened to him. Then there was the one about the drummer whose name I can't remember, the one who said to his mom he hated his house now that they kept changing things around. That to as far as I know was never solved.

Hopefully at least a few of these can still have resolutions, but in all of them a lot of time has passed so it is sadly doubtful.

One case not talked about a lot but was very similar to Gordon Page was about a young man with an unusual name, Odett or something like that who disappeared from a farm where he was staying. I've also wondered what may have happened to him.


Oded Gordon. Another case where there is a fairly sharp bifurcation in theories.

The theory presented by UM focused on him being a walk away from the facility. Between the dog track and a subsequent report from a motorist he may have hitchhiked away.
An alternative theory sometimes put forth involves the facility having some kind of accident/incident followed by a cover up of the death, to me this is beyond far fetched.

Oded had what would be described as severe learning disabilities, but some information on the case suggests he might have been more of a savant type, which slightly complicates assessments of his ability to flee in such a matter. The most plausible guess would be that he had the mental ability to plan a trip to New York where he was from, perhaps even being brilliant enough to have a mental map of the highway grid and the way home, while at the same time lacking the social skills to effectively and safely hitchhike that far.

I always found his case pretty sad because it seems likely he was hitchhiking and being socially inhibited and nonverbal would have been a ripe candidate for abuse at the hands of a malevolent actor. That would also unfortunately fit with the last known sighting of him in Massachusetts and the utter lack of a sighting or remains for the 30+ years since.

I think his name was Devon Williams or something, Truck driver who seemed to be going nuts in the woods. But his case was solved. At least they found his body.

Unsolved Mysteries has done a number of these cases where people believed to have had breakdowns disappear. Cases like Gordon Page, Rogest Cain, Patricia Meehan, Kristi Krebs, the guy who disappeared on the Baja whose name I can't remember, and I know there are a few more than I am not remembering. I remember one about a mentally impaired young man who disappeared from a farm but I can't think of his name for a thousand dollars, just remember he was with a cat before he vanished.

Logically, you would think these people would be the easiest to find since they aren't fugitives running from the law, and if they had some kind of breakdown and couldn't remember who they are, they would not only be easier to find but might seek out help.

Yet these case seem to be rarely solved. These people often just disappear into thin air.

Given this infrequency of these being solved, you have to wonder why and what usually happens to these people. Have they just been smarter than we thought at hiding or do they meet with foul play this often? Its sad to think our society is this dangerous to where they meet with foul play this often, its troubling and strange to me they don't usually turn up.

What are some theories of what usually happens to them?

the guy that was missing in Baja California was Gordon Collins. He was on a fishing trip and a storm hit killing the other members. he was never found, but eyewitnesses reported seeing him on the beach and drifting around the area.

the way they showed the reenactment and described Patricia Meehan's activity at the accident scene: it seems like she was trying to piece it all together as if she was wondering WTH happened. she could have hit her head, but the fact that she was driving down the wrong side of the road leads me to believe that she wasn't all there before the crash either. she was said to be taking medication. I know people who have had harsh adverse reactions to prescription medication. it can be dangerous if not treated immediately. I recently read of a sport reporter in Houston that had this same issue. Everyone thought that she was abducted, but she was found under an overpass in an area that she did not belong to. she became extremely disoriented after taking her meds. Luckily someone spotted her and sensed that something was wrong and they were brave enough to help her. she has sense made a full recovery.

I agree with TheCars. I think a lot of these cases the circumstances of how they get to where they were going are different, but wandering and being outdoors away from the main path takes its toll. once you become dehydrated and lose your sense of direction you are prone to become a casualty to mother nature. I think this explains what happened to David Stone as well. I don't know that he was committing suicide, but I think he overestimated his survival ability and navigation skills. the note he left in his car is hard to discern. was he aimlessly rambling or was he trying to make his disappearance seem mysterious?

I think his name was Devon Williams or something, Truck driver who seemed to be going nuts in the woods. But his case was solved. At least they found his body.

Yeah that was bizarre. I started a thread on that case alone a couple years ago. I used to work out in the woods as a surveyor, can only imagine how surreal it would be to see an 18 wheeler picking its way through the woods.

And the case was partially solved, but its still not know what caused Devon's breakdown. It's never made sense to me, he apparently was not on drugs and never had any history of mental illness. I've often wondered if there was something specific that triggered his breakdown.

the guy that was missing in Baja California was Gordon Collins. He was on a fishing trip and a storm hit killing the other members. he was never found, but eyewitnesses reported seeing him on the beach and drifting around the area.

the way they showed the reenactment and described Patricia Meehan's activity at the accident scene: it seems like she was trying to piece it all together as if she was wondering WTH happened. she could have hit her head, but the fact that she was driving down the wrong side of the road leads me to believe that she wasn't all there before the crash either. she was said to be taking medication. I know people who have had harsh adverse reactions to prescription medication. it can be dangerous if not treated immediately. I recently read of a sport reporter in Houston that had this same issue. Everyone thought that she was abducted, but she was found under an overpass in an area that she did not belong to. she became extremely disoriented after taking her meds. Luckily someone spotted her and sensed that something was wrong and they were brave enough to help her. she has sense made a full recovery.

I agree with TheCars. I think a lot of these cases the circumstances of how they get to where they were going are different, but wandering and being outdoors away from the main path takes its toll. once you become dehydrated and lose your sense of direction you are prone to become a casualty to mother nature. I think this explains what happened to David Stone as well. I don't know that he was committing suicide, but I think he overestimated his survival ability and navigation skills. the note he left in his car is hard to discern. was he aimlessly rambling or was he trying to make his disappearance seem mysterious?

Thanks for clearing up the Baja case, it was Gordon Collins. That was another one of those frustrating cases that seems like it should have been solved, all those sightings and he was mostly seen in business or residential areas. Yet suddenly the sightings stop and you don't know what happened. That case kind of epitomized what I'm talking about. Also in his case having been seen traveling down a peninsula, there are limited places he could go unless he made it back off of it. Yet he wasn't ultimately found.

David Stone is also an interesting case. Another I didn't mention was Phillip Taylor Kramer, the Iron Butterflies bass player who disappeared. I see some similarities between Kramer and David Stone. Both were intelligent and accomplished individuals, both were apparently under a great deal of stress and strain for various reasons, and both it appears may have taken on more than they could really handle. I think their cases show that these sort of things can happen to even the most accomplished and smart people, not just slower individuals like Gordon Page or Gordon Odett.

Thanks for clearing up the Baja case, it was Gordon Collins. That was another one of those frustrating cases that seems like it should have been solved, all those sightings and he was mostly seen in business or residential areas. Yet suddenly the sightings stop and you don't know what happened. That case kind of epitomized what I'm talking about. Also in his case having been seen traveling down a peninsula, there are limited places he could go unless he made it back off of it. Yet he wasn't ultimately found.

David Stone is also an interesting case. Another I didn't mention was Phillip Taylor Kramer, the Iron Butterflies bass player who disappeared. I see some similarities between Kramer and David Stone. Both were intelligent and accomplished individuals, both were apparently under a great deal of stress and strain for various reasons, and both it appears may have taken on more than they could really handle. I think their cases show that these sort of things can happen to even the most accomplished and smart people, not just slower individuals like Gordon Page or Gordon Odett.

With Gordon collins I wonder if he ever made it out of the ocean alive. I also think there was another friend of his that was never located?

Good points about Taylor Kramer and David stone.

the guy that was missing in Baja California was Gordon Collins. He was on a fishing trip and a storm hit killing the other members. he was never found, but eyewitnesses reported seeing him on the beach and drifting around the area.

the way they showed the reenactment and described Patricia Meehan's activity at the accident scene: it seems like she was trying to piece it all together as if she was wondering WTH happened. she could have hit her head, but the fact that she was driving down the wrong side of the road leads me to believe that she wasn't all there before the crash either. she was said to be taking medication. I know people who have had harsh adverse reactions to prescription medication. it can be dangerous if not treated immediately. I recently read of a sport reporter in Houston that had this same issue. Everyone thought that she was abducted, but she was found under an overpass in an area that she did not belong to. she became extremely disoriented after taking her meds. Luckily someone spotted her and sensed that something was wrong and they were brave enough to help her. she has sense made a full recovery.

I agree with TheCars. I think a lot of these cases the circumstances of how they get to where they were going are different, but wandering and being outdoors away from the main path takes its toll. once you become dehydrated and lose your sense of direction you are prone to become a casualty to mother nature. I think this explains what happened to David Stone as well. I don't know that he was committing suicide, but I think he overestimated his survival ability and navigation skills. the note he left in his car is hard to discern. was he aimlessly rambling or was he trying to make his disappearance seem mysterious?

Good point about medication and how it can cause confusion and one to feel disorientation. I changed some meds and had 3 miserable nights in a row. It really messed up my sleep habits as I had continual nightmares. According to side-effects- I was part of 8% of people who suffered strong/vivid dreams. I never had a good nights rest when taking the medicine.

I think there's many variables that can factor in to one's behavior.

People undergoing a mental health crisis are often spurred on by sources within themselves. As such, they act in ways that are not logical to outside observers. Their actions may make perfect sense to them, but without the context of their mental illness specific inspiration, it can be very difficult to comprehend their behavior.

It isn’t that they respond illogically to their situation, it is that we lack the starting point that allows us to sort out what’s going on.

I suspect that most people who disappear after a mental breakdown are actually found eventually. When not, I think it's probably the illogical and unpredictable behavior as a result of the breakdown that makes it more difficult.

Most of these people wander off and die from exposure in remote areas. Over time, their remains get scattered. Which makes it even more difficult to locate them and solve their disappearances.
I agree with this and it's very sad. Most of these cases the disappeared have deep psychological issues which have remained dormant or undiagnosed, or treated with mind-altering drugs which may have been administered by medical professionals with the best of intentions.

If I may I'd like to post a case from my country which has always intrigued me, as I did work in the area in previous years. https://youtu.be/aIPFAO7CVLI

I've always wondered what circumstances led to Michael Rosenblum's remains being on the hillside above where his girlfriend's vehicle was located. Whether his death was the result of an overdose, an accident or exposure and also the way that the Baldwin P.D. deliberately hindered the investigation.

I've always wondered what circumstances led to Michael Rosenblum's remains being on the hillside above where his girlfriend's vehicle was located. Whether his death was the result of an overdose, an accident or exposure and also the way that the Baldwin P.D. deliberately hindered the investigation.

I've always thought the most likely scenario in Michael Rosenblum's case is he went to obtain more drugs when he took his girlfriend's car and wounded up busted by the Baldwin police, perhaps even by an undercover cop selling to him. Then I think he was likely killed by them, not intentionally but perhaps accidentally while resisting arrest or trying to escape. Remember he was in a bad state when he left his girlfriend and probably desperate for a fix and it could very well have caused him to be aggressive and hostile when arrested and it led to his unfortunate death.

I think this because the Baldwin police simply did to many suspicious things to make me believe something nefarious did not happen. Similar to Andre Jones in Mississippi. I think this happens all to often with cops, someone resists arrest and leads to a shooting or someone losing their lives. And they cover it up, because they have an attitude like why should one of our comrades have his life messed up because some punk junky resisted arrest. Its unfortunate but I believe it happens frequently, not cops murdering people intentionally but accidents do often happen due to people resisting arrest. And we've seen this a lot with high profile cases in recent years too like George Floyd and Michael Brown.

I've always wondered what circumstances led to Michael Rosenblum's remains being on the hillside above where his girlfriend's vehicle was located. Whether his death was the result of an overdose, an accident or exposure and also the way that the Baldwin P.D. deliberately hindered the investigation.

Best guess on Michael Rosenblum is when he left his girlfriend he went to try and buy drugs, and as a result had an encounter with the Baldwin police where he may have been killed while trying to resist arrest. Remember he was not in a good state when he left and his need for a fix may have made him aggressive. Could have even tried to buy the drugs from an undercover cop and the situation got out of hand when they tried to bust him and he was shot. I don't think they intentionally murdered him it was probably a tragic accident. The Baldwin police did to many suspicious things for me to believe that there was nothing nefarious going on or they weren't covering up for something. He probably wound up dead after an altercation with the cops either trying to get away or being aggressive due to his need for a fix. And they dragged his body up on the hill and left him.

I think this happens sometimes with the police unfortunately and they cover it up. I imagine their mindset is often why should our guy lose his career and have his life messed up just because of some punk junkie resisting arrest and I think that is what happened here.

I've always wondered what circumstances led to Michael Rosenblum's remains being on the hillside above where his girlfriend's vehicle was located. Whether his death was the result of an overdose, an accident or exposure and also the way that the Baldwin P.D. deliberately hindered the investigation.

That case is in an entirely different league of police misconduct and coverup.

Touching back on OP's original point here..

One thing that immediately comes to mind.. We're.. For the most part.. Rational, logical people. We're going to search for someone in a rational and logical way.

These people with mental illnesses who disappear.. Don't have those.. "restrictions"?

We look at the case and say "Ok, This is the last known point they were seen.. Let's extrapolate"

Their actions are.. quite often, the exact opposite of that.

Maybe that's the disconnect and why some of them remain missing. We just can't get into their heads.

Perhaps many are not located because they destroy their identification materials (ala Kristi Krebs). By the time authorities have tracked them down (either dead or alive) the person is no longer able to communicate who they are.

I would like to think every police department has someone dedicated to looking into every possible database to identify such individuals but it's not likely.

Perhaps many are not located because they destroy their identification materials (ala Kristi Krebs). By the time authorities have tracked them down (either dead or alive) the person is no longer able to communicate who they are.

I would like to think every police department has someone dedicated to looking into every possible database to identify such individuals but it's not likely.

I can tell you for a fact they don't.

The case I was involved with.. I had to do the math on it so that the sheriff's office talked to the coroner and said "Oh.. Crap.. There she is"

Literally.. A woman missing for 20+ years, right under their nose. Sheriff's office barely even tried to find her.

I go back to the Stone disappearance. there's no evidence of it being drug induced or suicide, but I do wonder about suicide. It still could be related to mental health, perhaps an undiagnosed condition, if allowed to speculate I would guess bi-polar or CTE of some sort considering he had a violent outburst.

David was searching for a spiritual experience and perhaps was attempting to reach a state of natural hallucination. I think his lack of experience and knowledge of how to navigate that area was his downfall. Once he became disoriented he was not able to recover and died from dehydration.

I agree with this and it's very sad. Most of these cases the disappeared have deep psychological issues which have remained dormant or undiagnosed, or treated with mind-altering drugs which may have been administered by medical professionals with the best of intentions.

If I may I'd like to post a case from my country which has always intrigued me, as I did work in the area in previous years. https://youtu.be/aIPFAO7CVLI

I will watch this as soon as I can. thanks for posting.