*snipped*
I read your post on WCJD. I like the way you think. This will seem hard to believe if you’ve seen any of my posts - a lot of information and theories jumbled inside my brain that are even more of a mess when translated into written form. So you seem to better be able to express the things I’m playing in my mind!
I agree with most of what you said. I’ve found lately that stepping away from cases I’ve spent months and years looking into and browsing through others I’ve never known much about, I’m able to keep distant enough to remain logical but familiarize myself enough to see things a little differently. I’m not saying that anyone here does not think logically or present great theories, but I know what it’s like to get tunnel vision. I’ve previously mentioned Occam’s Razor, and I think that principle applies some of the time.
Just to clarify a few things that I’ve been able to verify since I really began researching...
- The mechanic from Nebraska, as you said, is a lead I wish they had investigated further. Possibly they did and it led nowhere, but (if my theory of the Does being Stephen and Linda is correct) the Washington/Oregon license plate makes that witness substantially more credible! (IMO)
- The man wasn’t a mechanic at Grant’ Truck Stop because Grant’s was located in Kansas not Nebraska. I still think he was a very good lead at the time!
- The matchbook struck me as odd because there was no mention of him being a smoker. Then I remembered they were likely hitchhiking and back then those matchbooks were given out like peppermints at trucks tops, especially along highways and interstates. So, he probably picked it up while traveling and just kept it as a souvenir. Matchbooks are quite the collectors item these days, it seems!
- (Continuing largely upon my theory of Stephen and Linda being the Doe couple) I think they did leave New Jersey on and made it to Spokane, Washington in time for the World Expo (Expo 74), which ran everyday from mid May to mid November of 1974. It was the “Woodstock” of that decade and is definitely part if Spokane’s legacy. Exhibits from all over the world were there, the largest and most popular being Canada (located directly on the border) and the USSR. So they would have encountered people, cultures and merchandise vendors from all walks of life.
- The time frames given in Stephen and Linda’s Case are vastly conflicting and sometimes near impossible to verify or explain. IMO, none of the dates are accurate except for the month they were said to have left New Jersey. That being said, after leaving New Jersey and making it to WA, they would have had a few months (approx 4) left of the Expo. They were then intending to spend time on the Pacific Crest Trail, which is mostly traveled “northbound” NOBO, from Mexico to Canada. Not many people, especially back then traveled from Canada to Mexico. I do think that they spent time on the trail though. I’m just not sure what they would have done considering they were right at the Northern Terminus during the Expo but they planned to begin the hike from the Southern Terminus? Maybe they changed their mind and traveled to the other states along the west coast?
- The Jewelry Jane Doe was wearing is currently sold as “vintage” jewelry. They are mass produced and distributed now, but back then I have not been able to verify exactly who carried them. I guess 1974 was ‘a long time ago’. They were and still are found at many places in the Midwest. I own a few pieces very similar and they were purchased in the 80s in New Mexico and Colorado. Present day, the largest wholesale supplier and retailer of Indian/Native American/southwestern style jewelry is located in Gallup, New Mexico. The same town as one of the Grant’s Truck Stops. Ironically, the jewelry company was founded in 1974. They did confirm that they were not a vendor at Expo 74. I spoke with someone who said they did not carry the rings found in Jane Doe, but again, that was a long time ago, and they didn’t seem certain of that fact. (I think it’s impossible to know for sure because I found a couple of online vintage jewelry auctions that identically pictured at least one of the rings).
- When attempting to map out locations for both the Does and Stephen and Linda, I kept seeing a lot of “Route 66”. That makes sense.
- The t-shirt. ::sigh:: There were about a dozen races during that season for that series (Camel Challenge GT). The locations range from Canada to Ohio to Venice Beach to Florida. That shirt could honestly have come from any of those races or quite possibly none of those races. They were supposedly traveling with a backpack each after all. I think it’s safe to assume (and especially if they spent any time amongst the trail culture) they could have easily picked up hand-me-downs along the way. Also explains why they were not wearing underwear!
Okay...I’ll stop for now and allow you to make heads or tails of all that!
FWIW, I have contacted a few people attempting to located additional photos of Expo 74, or at least verify the date of the photos containing the man I suspect to be John Doe, Stephen or both. Maybe that will turn up something!
Thanks for the insight!
•MMcG•