WA WA - Samantha Sayers, 28, Vesper Peak, North Cascades, 1 August 2018 #2

Hey all, one poster above has stated to get back to the sleuthing. I agree but here’s the problem: the current search team doesn’t give us anything to go off of. What exactly are they doing up there? One witness that was up there yesterday said 3-4 people were standing around the fire during the day. On FSS site, can’t glean any information there. Alot of ‘facts’ stating in the beginning have been retracted and when asked for clarification are shut down by the family. I contacted DNR who supposedly are going up to check on them today. Interestingly, if Operation Relentless Pursuit aka the wannabe caped crusaders were up on the mountain busting ass and not shoving it in our faces about the precious heather that is getting damaged, I wouldn't have anything to say. If Sam's Army hadn't persecuted SAR member(s) or if the Family would have issued a few apologies to SAR then I'd understand the situation a bit more balanced. But we all have responsibility to act responsibly regardless. By the way, to the 'grass' that is getting damaged? Well its called heather....grows a few millimeters a season....one footstep tramples it's growth for the whole 2 month season it has no snow covering it. Can take years and years for it ever to recover if at all. Could they have settled someplace else to accommodate their recovery mission--and do it like professional SAR would have? And if anyone ever wants to know about real SAR missions (who are not financed by any gofundme's) check out otherhand.org for his incredible detail he went through to find the deceased German hikers in California plus other stories. Thats real to me, respectable. I'm sorry about all of this, I'm sorry Sam had to go hiking that fateful day and to go through what it is she went through. I'm sorry to all the grieving parents that have lost loved ones in the wild and have no where else to turn but to grieve. None of it is fair and nothing is fair about disappearing on a mountain, happens so much more than anybody realizes that I hope the takeaway from this is to be on any mountain with a hiking partner and your 10 essentials.

 

As stated above, it is possible to open an account for charity and then use it for other things. I am glad the couple was busted in the GFM for the veteran. No, that veteran does not need all that money at one time. He needs to get clean. But the money was raised for him.

 

Only donate to the group that the mother or boyfriend tells you to. Because they are the ones that will audit the spending and then alert authorities if thousands are unaccounted for.

 

How much has been donated so far.

 

A total of around $75,000 between all four GFM for her cause. That doesn’t take into account the Amazon wishlist which was pulled after every single item was purchased. There were big ticket items on there also.

 

Wow. Thats alot of money. So there should be atleast 37 searchers up there with a 2k spending allowance for food, gear , travel and whatever else

 

Thoughts going out to the search party. Stay safe. Prayers going out to Sam’s loved ones. Keep the faith

 

Does anyone know what happened to all the drone footage that people were looking at and reviewing. Is that all still going on? Also I thought another person was involved in the search named Steve. Is he still flying his drones up there?

 

I believe they said the weather wasn't conducive to more drone searches for now, as they can't fly in wind and rain.

 

No. He is searching for two snowboarders that went missing last winter. They parted ways. Seems he didn’t agree with what was going on up in the mountain. He’s on the Wings of Mercy Fb page.

 

I agree. At least throw a couple cadaver dogs in the mix, just in case

 

Did LE or SAR ever officially respond to why they never did use cadaver dogs. I wonder what is contained in the official Snohomish County Sheriff's report. Is that public record? I am just curious to what level LE was involved and if anything aside a deadly fall was investigated.

 

After seeing that I was being discussed here I figured I would chime in haha. First of all my name is Steve Monchak and yes for some reason it is not spelled right on my profile lol. More important though... Yes, I was the drone pilot who posted many of the pictures that you all have seen over the past month from the Sayers case. Myself and my team offer our drones to anyone in need no matter how long they have been missing. We do this as volunteers... but have many years both military and civilian SAR experience. I spent a lot of time on Vesper peak looking for Sam. We were removed by what you see up there now... 4 men and 30k worth of equipment. Sitting around the fire and drinking beers. After my team and myself did an investigation on Bud Carr, and his claims of military and SAR training we found that it was all a lie. We confronted and showed the facts to the family and were booted from the case for doing so. We had concerns about his GoFundMe since we pulled a background check and it turns out he is quite the criminal. We also worried about the families account due to the amount being spent on nights out and dinners that even we were invited to..(We did not attend). Not only the environmental aspect but the complete waste of donations on equipment that is not needed in such a small search effort. The volunteers and the professionals have long since left the area.. though we were willing to go further with the search.

Major problems:
Bud Carr 1. Known criminal and thief/ 7 years in prison for robbery.(via public records search). Sets up a 15k GoFundMe account and says it is to help feed his family during this time off.... Wife has claimed they are using it to get views on Youtube and to start their own SAR business. Bud Carr...has a lot of new equipment that was not needed for this operation. He also keeps upping the amount needed as more people fall for it.
2. Wears a military uniform and patch that I had to earn... He never served.
3. Drinking and drugs while on the mountain.
4. Threatened life of man who questioned him about his GoFundMe. Said he would have him killed.
5. 30k of equipment that you paid for and they are 4 individuals... I am not sure about you but I do not need 30k to spend the night in a tent. The money is not even in the mothers hands. The Fiance has control of the funds and has decided to let Bud Carr make all decisions regarding spending.
6. Environmental impact... They are treating the mountain like it is a playground. Helicopters have dropped large amounts of supplies and tents at the top and a lot of damage has taken place. Easily one of the worst SAR operations ever.
7. Booting professionals in favor of people who have 0 experience. They tried to send a 58 year old woman up the mountain with their gear... Never asked her capabilities and did not care. Anything so they did not have to do it right?
8. It has turned in to more of a reality TV show... While Sam lays out there waiting to be picked up.
9. They have an Army that will belittle and harass anyone they sick them on. 30k people crazy for the SAM ARMY...

Just some of the issues we addressed in the SAR effort. Unfortunately we were dropped after this so unless we are allowed back in to the site we will not know any more than you about the current situation. All of the following we ave hard copies of and are willing to share with LE and the FS.

 

So, the mom keeps saying sam is still alive, which I believe is possible. But the search is completely focused on the peak. If she is on that peak she is dead from starvation and/or exposure. If she hiked down to lower elevations and got hurt, lost, trapped, then i could see how she could still be with us (its possible in my mind). Why dont they have some resources at lower elevations? <modsnipped accusations against our terms of service>

 

I saw your posts about his stolen valor. My husband is just as POed as you are (also army), I’m glad he’s been reported for that.

His comment about having someone killed... my husband is also LE... has this man filed a report? Because what he did, that direct threat, is a criminal offense. Very serious.

I’m sure we are all very glad you’re here!

Thank you for all the work you guys have done for Sam and her family. WE appreciate you!

 

I feel very sad that the "love and light" message is constantly getting contradicted by the very people preaching it. How can one say on the one hand (as was said in a recent live video), that one wouldn't wish this on anybody, and yet on the other hand put out a call for more technical hikers, who might well be severely injured or fall to their death looking for your loved one who is now missing for over 50 days in a mountainous region deemed dangerous (given current and predicted weather conditions) by SAR and other professional organizations? What kind of love is that?

 

Thank you for your efforts. You are more of a hero than any beer drinking, tent sitting, mountain wrecking squatter. In case that doesn’t sound like much I salute 1,000,000+ more times. I hope you have been recognized and thanked by the ones you are serving. Or I guess I should say, were serving. Nice to meet you.

 

tell it like it is Steve! woot! about time someone who has LITERALLY been there and witnessed so much and has treasure trove of proof came forward. Hi 5!

 

Welp everyone....there you go....nothing else needs to be said.
Thank you Steve for everything you've tried to do to help....it really is unbelievable to me.