Why are cases where people vanished due to mental breakdowns rarely solved?

[XCalibur]

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?

[Gelatinous Goo]

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.

[TheCars1986]

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.

[XCalibur]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

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.

[XCalibur]

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Goo

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?

[Gelatinous Goo]

Originally Posted by XCalibur

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.

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by XCalibur

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.

[XCalibur]

Originally Posted by Gelatinous Goo

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.

[Labonte18]

Originally Posted by XCalibur

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..

[infinityluxe]

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.

[Labonte18]

Originally Posted by infinityluxe

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.

[rusty spike]

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.

[Gelatinous Goo]

Originally Posted by Labonte18

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!

[Clockwork]

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.

[thinwhiteduke74]

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.

!!