Found Deceased CA - Paul Miller, 51, Canadian missing in Joshua Tree Natl Park, San Bernardino Co., 13 Jul 2018 #2

[wary]

If he was deceased out there wouldn’t vultures have been seen , are they not common in the area?


Was there any way for him to exit the trail without going back to the trailhead? I recall another poster stating something about he could have exited via some of the other unofficial trails, something like that. I haven't found that post yet but I remember it.

From what I've heard, vultures aren't tremendously common in that area, that time of year, and bodies may tend to mummify rather than decay, in the intense dry heat. Note that Rachel Nguyen and Joseph Orbeso were out in the open in Joshua Tree longer than Paul has been missing, and no one mentioned seeing vultures.

 

[Gulliver]

Thank you.
I spent a bit of time last night on the Twitter #JTNP and found a thank you from PM’s sister to Neil. so she believes he’s real

It’s the very first thread mentioning the missing hiker. Mid July

It’s not twitter. FB. So sorry. I’m not sure I’m even supposed to mention those.

 

[jash]

Was there any way for him to exit the trail without going back to the trailhead? I recall another poster stating something about he could have exited via some of the other unofficial trails, something like that. I haven't found that post yet but I remember it.

You may be thinking of my post here: CA - CA - Paul Miller, 51, Canadian missing in Joshua Tree National Park, San Bernardino Co., 13 Jul 2018

According a local, hikers will on occasion get turned around when leaving the oasis and can wind up behind a grocery store in town.

 

[frisson]

From what I've heard, vultures aren't tremendously common in that area, that time of year, and bodies may tend to mummify rather than decay, in the intense dry heat. Note that Rachel Nguyen and Joseph Orbeso were out in the open in Joshua Tree longer than Paul has been missing, and no one mentioned seeing vultures.

Not to derail the thread, but I have a related ontopic question. Rachel and Joseph who were missing in JT.... were there any scents detected by the dogs? And was the weather similar? TIA.

 

[neesaki]

My mind keeps going back to "they could find not a single footprint "? There are footprints all over this trail. Did they mean in the parking area by his car, at the trailhead ?
Google Maps

 

[tarabull]

:bumping:
Just a note: There is an update (#10) on the page just saying there still hasn't been any clues found in California as to Paul's whereabouts or condition. And they are also asking people to please share the missing person flyer as widely as possible; and keep the Miller family in your prayers
________________________________

Where is Paul???

​

 

[tarabull]

Here's the parking lot where the car was found to 29 Palms where they had a hotel room: Google Maps

Walking the "strip"at 29 Palms I think it's quite possible that from out in the park you could see a hotel sign before a grocery store...FWIW.

Walk the strip Google Maps

ETA: Regardless...thinking out loud is all.

 

[tarabull]

From what I've heard, vultures aren't tremendously common in that area, that time of year, and bodies may tend to mummify rather than decay, in the intense dry heat. Note that Rachel Nguyen and Joseph Orbeso were out in the open in Joshua Tree longer than Paul has been missing, and no one mentioned seeing vultures.

Vultures are listed as common in the area...fwiw

Vultures
Turkey Vulture * Common Migrant

Birds - Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)

Birds

ETA: what is considered UNUSUAL is a flock of 200 of them but it happens:

Snipped...
...Unusual Sightings
Occasionally groups of 200 or more turkey vultures will spend the night in the trees at the Oasis of Mara during their spring migration. They present quite a sight especially with their wings slightly spread, warming in the early morning sun.

 

[tarabull]

Find Paul Miller on Instagram: “Its been over 2 months and Paul is still missing without a trace. Please continue to share Paul's story with hopes he will be returned to…”

Find Paul Miller (@findpaulmiller) • Instagram photos and videos

 

[MaryG12]

Here's the parking lot where the car was found to 29 Palms where they had a hotel room: Google Maps

Walking the "strip"at 29 Palms I think it's quite possible that from out in the park you could see a hotel sign before a grocery store...FWIW.

Walk the strip Google Maps

ETA: Regardless...thinking out loud is all.

I see there is a casino in the vicinity, Tortoise Rock Casino.

Did the Millers go there at all? Did Paul win a substantial amount of money then disappear?

Worse yet, did he lose a substantial amount of money, then disappear?

Thinking out loud...

 

[neesaki]

This case is so baffling, maybe not as much as Brian Shaffer’s, Brandon Swanson's ... am I missing any?..... but close.

 

[MaryG12]

This case is so baffling, maybe not as much as Brian Shaffer’s, Brandon Swanson's ... am I missing any?..... but close.

There is a significant piece of the puzzle missing - maybe instead of LE just searching within JTNP, also asking around where else the Millers went since arriving in California, where did they dine, do any other sightseeing, etc. it may help.

 

[rosesfromangels]

There is a significant piece of the puzzle missing - maybe instead of LE just searching within JTNP, also asking around where else the Millers went since arriving in California, where did they dine, do any other sightseeing, etc. it may help.

Good idea.
However, before resources are diverted, I would vote for another grid search in the Park.

 

[wary]

Vultures are listed as common in the area...fwiw

Vultures
Turkey Vulture * Common Migrant

Birds - Joshua Tree National Park (U.S. National Park Service)

Turkey vulture (Cathartes aura)

Birds

ETA: what is considered UNUSUAL is a flock of 200 of them but it happens:

Snipped...
...Unusual Sightings
Occasionally groups of 200 or more turkey vultures will spend the night in the trees at the Oasis of Mara during their spring migration. They present quite a sight especially with their wings slightly spread, warming in the early morning sun.

For what it's worth, turkey vultures are listed as a 'common migrant', rather than a resident.

So, the question of whether they're common at the time of year that Paul disappeared is still open.

 

[tarabull]

RIIIGHT!!!!!!! :blushing:

Thanks for straightening me out wary...it's been one of those days.

So still....yet....so many questions...lol

ETA: this bird count took place in January fwiw...snipped...
...High numbers of bushtits, 69, and turkey vultures, 102, were also seen during the count.

Record-tying 66 bird species 
found in national park count

 

[wary]

RIIIGHT!!!!!!! :blushing:

Thanks for straightening me out wary...it's been one of those days.

So still....yet....so many questions...lol

ETA: this bird count took place in January fwiw...snipped...
...High numbers of bushtits, 69, and turkey vultures, 102, were also seen during the count.

Record-tying 66 bird species 
found in national park count

Off the subject, I like the sighting of a snowbird in the second to last paragraph. Not a rare species, of course.

But--same thing--the bird count was done in January, not July.

 

[tarabull]

Turkey Vulture Overview, All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Visit 29

Snipped...
...When researching turkey vultures on this site, range maps show where and when you can expect to find each species. A great portion of the United States is shown as the summer or breeding area for turkey vultures. The remainder of the map, namely the southwest, mainland Mexico, the Baja California peninsula, and the western fringe of California north to above San Francisco, and then the Pacific Northwest into Canada, are shown as year-round sites. In this case year-round does not mean that you are necessarily seeing the same birds all year, just that you are apt to see turkey vultures any time. Mostly, these birds are migratory, flying north in January and February from Central and South America to breeding areas in the Pacific Northwest, passing, in our case, through the Morongo Basin and Twentynine Palms on their way. They return south in the fall.

ETA: Note I'm done with TV's.

 

[MntnHiker]

Just thinking out loud....what if he did get turned around or on one of the unofficial trails others have spoke of? Maybe a trail that dumped him out somewhere else in the park or even somewhere in town (not sure how feasible that would be but someone mentioned an off-trail winding up by a grocery store). He is wandering around, and someone in a car sees him lost and offers to drive him back to his car. But that person is nefarious and he doesn't get driven back to his car....

I'm just thinking of scenarios that still put him on the trail but not in the park since his body hasn't been found yet, and would maybe account for no one else seeing what happened to him. JMO and all that.

 

[zecats]

Just thinking out loud....what if he did get turned around or on one of the unofficial trails others have spoke of? Maybe a trail that dumped him out somewhere else in the park or even somewhere in town (not sure how feasible that would be but someone mentioned an off-trail winding up by a grocery store). He is wandering around, and someone in a car sees him lost and offers to drive him back to his car. But that person is nefarious and he doesn't get driven back to his car....

I'm just thinking of scenarios that still put him on the trail but not in the park since his body hasn't been found yet, and would maybe account for no one else seeing what happened to him. JMO and all that.

Probably any supposition is on the list at this point. I mean, it’s known where he went hiking; it’s a relatively short, in-and-out trail with minor elevation change; the search for him began almost immediately; dogs were used...and yet, he’s no where to be found. Not even a trace. Smh over the mystery.

 

[frisson]

My mind keeps going back to "they could find not a single footprint "? There are footprints all over this trail. Did they mean in the parking area by his car, at the trailhead ?
Google Maps

I cant get past this footprint thing as well. So they know what shoes he had on exactly? And were there various footprints from different shoes/people? Is this trail heavily traveled every day? If so, why didn't more that "Neil" see him?

It seems there should be a cam or a sign in roster for times and destinations especially if the heat is dangerous and people go missing in JT. Then searchers and dogs have to search which can be dangerous too. Not blaming PM,just saying a sign in may not be a bad idea. Just maybe use initials so folks wouldn't know if a female is alone hiking. Frankly, lone males could be in danger too. OK I am not a hiker.

So no vultures. NO prints. No scent. Very unlucky situation. And of course, I mean unlucky as in finding him (the vultures) Well, you know what I mean.