I have spent the greater part of this past week researching anything I could find on Jason Donald Reynolds.
I found a Donald William Reynolds married a Sharon Eve Hawks on August 16, 1969 in Mifflin, Ohio.
(see link 1). Their children were listed as being Jason Donald Reynolds, Shannon Elizabeth Reynolds, and Laura Beth Reynolds.
Then thru zabasearch, ussearch, and intelus, I found a Donald W Reynolds and a Sharon E Reynolds originally lived in Ashland, Ohio and eventually moved to Kalispell, Montana. Then to Billings, Montana, and currently Deer Lodge, Montana.
Backing up just a bit. Ashland, Ohio, and Mifflin, Ohio are only 9 miles or 15 minutes apart.
(see link 2) So, these being the same people listed in link 1 are pretty possible.
Let's say Jason Donald Reynolds graduated from high school in 1993. He would have been 18 the following July after he disappeared. So I think this is pretty possible. Throughout the United States, Seniors get out at different times of the year. Here in my area of Michigan, their last day is just before Memorial Day, other states that my best friend has lived in, it's the beginning of May.
Jason decides to take off to explore the country. He's saved up a lot of money. And/or, he comes from an affluent family, and they give him money. Fast forward to June of 1995. He attends the Grateful Dead Concerts. He misses his ride with the two Caroline's and begins to hitchhike where Mike picks him at an unknown location.
Jason tells Mike, "hey, I need a ride to ??, are you heading that way?" Mike tells him ?? is en-route to where he's ending up. What if the two Caroline's and Jason were enrolled at a college? There's one I could find that was directly on the route Mike would have taken from Emporia, VA, to Inman, SC. And that stop would have been in Charlotte, NC.
(see link 3)
There's other colleges along the route but most are slightly off the route. Spartanburg is another place. It's aproximately 19 minutes south of Inman, SC.
(see link 4)
Link 5 shows the route from Charlotte, NC, to Inman, SC.
Another theory, is Jason was in the military or was about to join the military? There's many military bases located throughout North Carolina and South Carolina. Although, I don't think this is very likely for our guy Grateful Jason Doe had shoulder length hair and no id on him. Just a thought.
Anywho, what do you think of my theory and findings?
Link 1: information regarding Sharon Eve Hawks and Donald William Reynolds. The listing is about the ninth from the bottom
http://www.familyorigins.com/users/p/u/r/George-T-Purcell/FAMO1-0001/d39.htm#P3806
Link 2: map for Ashland, Ohio, to Mifflin, Ohio
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=miffl...code_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBMQ8gEwAA
Link 3: map for Emporia, VA, to Charlotte, NC
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=empor...code_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQ8gEwAA
Link 4: map for Inman, SC, to Spartanburg, SC
http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-...code_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBsQ8gEwAA
Link 5: map for Charlotte, NC, to Inman, SC
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=empor...code_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQ8gEwAA
Link 6: map for Emporia, VA, to Inman, SC
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=empor...code_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQ8gEwAA