RedHaus
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All good points. ‘No question that she was inadequately prepared and certainly in practice, took foolish risks. So an accident should be at the top of my list. I guess it’s all the odd things she was doing...that make me believe there was a game afoot...at least on her part. She’s not really hiking much, she’s posting the same pictures over and over, she’s waiting around supposedly to be with these same friends, she’s “out of pocket” the whole day before she disappears, she’s heading up the mountain late in the afternoon, she disappears on the day of their media triumph...and the weird location service of Sundsvall, Sweden that shows up twice. Of course, she may have been planning to leave him and had an accident first. Or she may have been evasive as she planned her suicide. Or.....
Well summarized, SMM! And awesome sleuthing today by you and others, especially our expert and experienced hikers!
Where ED was and what she was doing between 22/10 and 22/11 is starting to become much clearer to us all.
DC's dossier provides us with a lot of that information, but the analysis here done by others on ED's social media has provided a much clearer and perhaps more realistic picture of that month. Trying not to repeat things already stated, I have 8 key suppositions rattling around in my mind, IMO, and with only respect for ED and DC:
1. ED's month away was not an intended solo trek by her. It was an assortment of biking and hiking adventures in France and Spain after she abruptly left DC on 22/10.
2. ED / DC maintained their business that month marketing their books, ED continuing to hike and post pics, prepping for the Olive (19/11) and BBC (22/11) articles.
3. ED may have had a great deal of ambivalence about continuing that persona - especially in light of their relationship status and their dogs being placed elsewhere.
4. ED struggled with planning and provisions, and was ill-prepared for any advanced solo overnight treks. I think she knew that and was reluctant and scared to do so.
5. ED may also have never planned on returning to DC on 25/11, but rather was planning her new life (or her death) as the end of her freedom was nipping at her heels.
6. ED was not actually planning on a multi-day hike when she left her van on 21/11 or when she summited the col on 22/11, despite what she may have told DC or LE.
7. ED was emotionally fragile and likely trying to manage her mental health challenges on her own. Distance from DC may have helped, but perhaps not enough.
8. DC and the LE know a lot more than the public about ED's communications with others from her email, phone, and messaging data - at least I hope so!
So where does this leave my theories on this case? In order of probability, IMO these are my leading theories at the moment...
A. ED committed suicide in a concealed location, likely on the France side (possibly in Boum de Vanesque),
B. ED was attempting to voluntarily disappear with a 'friend' and was either tragically killed by that person or by someone else as she hitched her way to that friend,
C. ED successfully voluntary disappeared with a friend and for some reason is concealed by her choice (hence no credit card, phone, contact or social media trace)