Here's a timeline of the case. He hadn't served in the military, and his fingerprints didn't match those of anyone else on file. COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — After more than two years, the identity of the deceased hiker who went by the trail name Mostly Harmless is finally known. According to Godso, Rodriguez didn’t graduate. I feel that the thing I think of most in his story is that he dared do something different, get away from his everyday life and meet people on a level he chose and just exist with the things he carried with him. It’s not unusual for thru hikers to use trail names as a way to further disconnect from outside life. Rodriguez’s identity has already circulated through the world of amateur web sleuths. The man must have been dead for only a few days at most and his body was extremely thin, Horton said. Rodriguez was born in 1976 and was an IT worker in New York with roots in Louisiana. Still, Spires said online groups dedicated to identifying people can have a positive impact. Identity of Deceased Hiker Uncovered. “He was a real friendly guy,” Gormley said. Title. [8], On July 23, 2018, the hiker was found dead in his tent by two hikers in Big Cypress National Preserve. We were just curious to look at it again and remember it all together.". DNA samples from the family were sent from Louisiana to Collier County and eventually to Othram Inc., a laboratory in Texas. Upon the discovery, the body weighed a startling 83 pounds. Rodriguez gladly spoke with him, Gormley said. So much of the backstory in the case can only be explained by one person ⁠— Rodriguez. DNA research has indicated that the decedent was likely of Cajun ancestry. 13 hours ago. “It blows my mind because Vance would not have wanted any of this publicity,” Dowden said. > The unsettling truth about the ‘Mostly Harmless’ hiker. Tags :Texas,Florida,New York,New Jersey (NJ) (Collier County Sheriff's Office) Almost two years since the day a pair of hikers came across the body of a man, now popularly identified as 'Mostly Harmless… The mysterious hiker dubbed 'Mostly Harmless' whose body was found in a Florida campground in 2018 has been identified as 44-year-old Vance Rodriguez On the way, he met several people who took pictures of him. He had savings and “desires to manage his own affairs,” according to court documents. Some Facebook groups that were created with the purpose of identifying Rodriguez have shifted their efforts to new cases. His body weighed just 83 pounds. "It is pretty unusual for a thru hiker not to carry a cellphone.”. It includes just one wooden picnic table and a fire pit in the center that sits on the dirt. He also used the names "Denim" and "Ben Bilemy." “We are still guessing. In 2018 hikers discover the body of a man who has passed away in his tent. The District 20 Medical Examiner’s Office reported the man’s cause and manner of death as undetermined. A hiker known as "Mostly Harmless" whose body was found in the Florida Everglades in 2018 has been identified as a Lafayette man whose family still lives in the area. It is described on the cover of the first editions as "The fifth book in the increasingly inaccurately named Hitchhikers Trilogy". His death drew attention from the hiking community, folks in the tech industry and true crime fans. Rodriguez was conversational and wore a big smile when Fairbanks approached him. More:Deceased hiker 'Mostly Harmless' has been identified after two years. At the time of death, he was presumed to be between the ages of 35-50 years old, with gray hair and beard, blue eyes, and teeth in excellent condition. Investigators thought he had ties to Louisiana and might have worked in the technology industry. He still wonders about parts of Rodriguez’s story and how the man died. Mostly Harmless' fingerprints didn't show up in any law enforcement database. Reality hit them pretty hard.”. Facebook groups with thousands of members popped up with the purpose of combing through clues to try and identify him. January 13, 2021, 4:31 PM. Othram had confirmed the match between Rodriguez and his family by performing the required testing. “I didn't even look around to see what was out there and then it got dark. The mysterious hiker dubbed 'Mostly Harmless' whose body was found in a Florida campground in 2018 has been named as 44-year-old Vance Rodriguez. He contacted law enforcement and tried as much as he could to help identify Rodriguez. It was already dark when the first law enforcement officers arrived at the campsite. For Detective David Hurm, of the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, efforts to identify the unidentified hiker weren’t complete after Dowden called in with her tip. He went by the trail names “Denim” and “Mostly Harmless.” Mostly Harmless told one hiker in Pennsylvania he went to the woods because he was 'depressed with his life and needed a complete change.' “As soon as we discovered the body, I called 911 within seconds,” Horton said. It was the last Hitchhiker's book written by Adams and his final book released in his lifetime. In this true crime documentary, we're covering the solved mystery of Mostly Harmless, a mysterious hiker who remained unidentified for nearly two years. Horton ate some of his granola bar and they both wondered about the camper in the tent. [5], By January 2018, the hiker had reached northern Florida. The amateur hiker was popularly known as 'Mostly Harmless' but also went by the names Denim and Ben Bilemy By Akshay Pai Published on : 06:13 PST, Jul 20, 2020. Last week, he was identified as 44-year old Vance Rodriguez when friends of his stumbled … Rodriguez lived and labored there for lots of decades. After completion of the Appalachian Trail he traveled the Pinhoti and Florida Trails. “Like in those creepy movies where you go in there and there's still hot food in the bowl, but nobody is around,” Hurm said. Denim said that his dad was abusive and he didn’t speak to his parents but talked about a … Investigators couldn’t pinpoint why Rodriguez decided to leave Brooklyn to hike across the country, Hurm said. Nobles Campsite is a small area shaded by palm trees, hidden by tall grass and surrounded by all types of Everglades vegetation. [5][6], Using information from witnesses' interviews, investigators developed a timeline of his activities. BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – Florida police followed every possible lead to try and identify "Mostly Harmless," a mysterious trail hiker who died of starvation with about $3,600 in cash in his kit. Mostly Harmless was 1st viewed in the woods in the spring of 2017 around New York’s Harriman State Park and he continued southbound down Appalachian Path, Pinhoti and Florida trails. His body, weighing just 83 pounds, was found at Nobles Campground by two hikers on July 23, 2018. He seemed like he could be your brother, or your cousin. Mostly Harmless told one hiker in Pennsylvania he went to the woods because he was ‘depressed with his life and needed a complete change.’ One hiker shared this snap of Mostly Harmless in Damascus, Virginia, in October 2017. Hiker dubbed 'Mostly Harmless… Gormley believes he may have been the last person to speak with Rodriguez before he died. The unidentified hiker was, indeed, Vance Rodriguez, originally from Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, and born on Feb. 25, 1976. The thru hiker, who went by trail names "Denim" and "Mostly Harmless,” interacted with others along the Appalachian and Florida trails. Detectives even have clear photos of him along the way. Multiple hikers and travelers have encountered a nameless hiker, who only introduced himself as a ‘mostly harmless’ hiker before he was found dead in a tent. Rodriguez’s family did not return phone calls or declined requests for comment for this story. After he died in his tent, no one could figure out who he was. Dowden can’t remember exactly how long she worked with Rodriguez, but it was for several years, she said. Top Stories - Even after identification, mystery cloaks deceased hiker known as ‘Mostly Harmless’ Vance Rodriguez was found by two hikers on July 23, 2018, inside a tent deep within Big Cypress National Preserve. Lawrence and Ethel Rodriguez said their son's name was Vance Rodriguez. The Unsettling Truth About the ‘Mostly Harmless’ Hiker. Jan 13, 2021 #1 Top Stories - Even after identification, mystery cloaks deceased hiker known as ‘Mostly Harmless’ The hiker said that he was looking thin, but nowhere near 83 pounds. “They were holding out hope that it wasn't their son. Mostly Harmless was 1st viewed in the woods in the spring of 2017 around New York’s Harriman State Park and he continued southbound down Appalachian Path, Pinhoti and Florida trails. A woman who, according to property records, shared the Brooklyn apartment with Rodriguez declined to comment for this story. “I believe they had Vance with them, and they were bringing him home to Louisiana,” Hurm said. Vance Rodriguez was found by two hikers on July 23, 2018, inside a tent deep within Big Cypress National Preserve. Who Was “Mostly Harmless”? [8], Rodriguez was identified in December 2020, over two years following his discovery. HIS BODY WS FOUND IN THE "BIG CYPRESS NATIONAL PRESERVE" IN FLORIDA IN 2018. Hikers found his body inside a tent in The Everglades, east of Naples, in July 2018. CBS News. Detectives discovered the man was a thru hiker, who went by trail names "Denim" and "Mostly Harmless.”. As the case moved forward, Horton received friend requests on Facebook from people interested in the hiker’s identity and he’d discuss it with them. Title. Others say the trail name was descriptive: Someone said he was “mostly harmless,” and it stuck. Sometimes when thru hikers meet, they take photos together to remember their hiking days. Rodriguez’s body was held by the District 20 Medical Examiner’s Office in East Naples until he was identified. Mostly Harmless is a 1992 novel by Douglas Adams and the fifth book in the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series. In Brooklyn, Rodriguez registered a business out of his apartment called V-TECH OF NY INC. "He worked really, really hard and he was like a super genius as far as what he did,” Dowden said. Horton realized the man inside the tent was dead. Detectives couldn’t find anyone Rodriguez shared his plans or end goals with before he left Brooklyn, Hurm said. Described as 35 to 50 years old, 5-foot-8 with a black and gray beard and hair, he used the alias “Ben Bilemy” to register at several hostels during his hike from New York to Florida. Mostly Harmless told one hiker he was a big Dr. Who fan with hard drives full of his favorite television shows and movies. Collier County officials began searching for information regarding the death of this John Doe. We don’t know if he did it intentionally or if it was a tragic mistake that he died,” Hurm said. Mostly Harmless told one hiker in Pennsylvania he went to the woods because he was ‘depressed with his life and needed a complete change.’ One hiker shared this snap of Mostly Harmless in Damascus, Virginia, in October 2017. After viewing photographs of the then-unidentified man, a previous coworker contacted authorities, who obtained DNA samples from living relatives in Lafayette Parish, Louisiana. The sheriff’s office needed to find a family member of Rodriguez and then run a comparison DNA test to be certain that he was the unidentified hiker. Nobody is ever going to know the absolute truth.”. “They stopped in to talk to us and see if there was any additional information we had.”. A Nameless Hiker and the Case the Internet Can’t Crack The man on the trail went by “Mostly Harmless." They worked for a company then known as Shoppers Choice, which sold barbecue grills, outdoor kitchens and patio furniture. To their horror investigators realize that the man has died from starvation despite having food and money, he also carries no ID or phone. Rodriguez was living in Lafayette Parish when he emancipated with the consent of his parents at 17, according to court records. “There were all these clues, and it was like trying to solve a puzzle,” Horton said. He again mentioned that he was from, or at least started in, New York. BROOKLYN, NEW YORK – Florida police followed every possible lead to try and identify "Mostly Harmless," a mysterious trail hiker who died of starvation with about $3,600 in cash in his kit. Then it was released to a local funeral home for his final disposition at the request of his family. I hadn't seen him in a while, but his face was still kind of stuck with me.”, Previous coverage: Deceased hiker, known as 'Mostly Harmless,' identified after more than two years, More: Deceased hiker 'Mostly Harmless' has been identified after two years. Mostly Harmless was well known to hikers on the trail, many of whom shared food or resources with him on his journey. 'Mostly Harmless' Identified as Vance Rodriguez . Who Was “Mostly Harmless”? The Unsettling Truth About the ‘Mostly Harmless’ Hiker. Photo of a hiker who went by trail names "Denim" and "Mostly Harmless." She said she was unhappy with the way Rodriguez’s name was circulated online before his identity was officially confirmed. Dec 29, 2020 #24 Stebot said: Well now they know who he is. In 2018, the body of a hiker was found at the Big Cypress National Preserve. He told her he wasn’t carrying a phone and was using a paper map of Florida to navigate the trail, Fairbanks said. “Absolutely they did,” Hurm said. This is further corroborated by his love of Doctor Who, which he shared with another hiker. The decedent has multiple aliases, including his trail name “Mostly Harmless”, “Ben Bilemy”, and “Denim”. “This just goes to show that regardless of how little information you have, it's never impossible.”. ‘Mostly Harmless,’ hiker found dead in Florida, identified two years later, from Lafayette Local. Witnesses reported that he preferred ketchup and sticky buns, and that he had said he came from Baton Rouge, was hiking to Key West, and had a sister living in Sarasota or Saratoga. [6], The autopsy could not determine the specific cause of death, although he was described as being "emaciated. A hiker known as "Mostly Harmless" whose body was found in the Florida Everglades in 2018 has been identified as a Lafayette man whose family still lives in the area. They hadn’t been in contact with him for several years and had no idea he was missing or possibly dead, they told investigators. [7], He was last observed alive, after his arrival in the southwestern region of Florida, in April 2018. It is described on the cover of the first editions as "The fifth book in the increasingly inaccurately named Hitchhikers Trilogy". The mysterious hiker dubbed 'Mostly Harmless' whose body was found in a Florida campground in 2018 has been named as 44-year-old Vance Rodriguez. Mostly Harmless was in good spirits at this time, and he seemed to be enjoying his hike. In 2018, the body of a hiker was found at the Big Cypress National Preserve. I remember it even more because of how long it took to identify him,” Horton said. After years of investigation by authorities and amateur online sleuths, the identity of the deceased Appalachian Trail hiker known by the trail name “Mostly Harmless” has been uncovered. “I most definitely remember finding the body. Rodriguez lived and labored there for lots of decades. Dowden can’t remember exactly how long she worked with Rodriguez, but it … WITH NOT MUCH TO GO ON-- AUTHORITIES TURNED TO DNA.... BRIANNA ALDRIDGE HAS MORE ON THE FORENSIC TRAIL-- THAT LED TO LAFAYETTE. Hiker found dead went by 'Denim' and 'Mostly Harmless' on the trail, but investigators don't know his real name . The internet steps in to solve this mystery and despite finding dozens fellow hikers who's lives had been touched by the man who went by the trail-name "Mostly Harmless… “It had that similar feel to it.”. He cut off communication with his family once he moved to the new city, Hurm said. The deputies finished speaking with Horton and Buehler sometime after midnight then drove the men to their car. [6], The hiker started his journey on the Appalachian Trail in April 2017, from Harriman State Park near New York City. “It was hard for people to believe that someone can go unidentified, especially in this digital age. Another hiker met Mostly Harmless, who he knew as Denim, at a shelter at Springer Mountain. “Everybody deserves to be identified and to have their name,” Spires said. His emaciated body was discovered in a tent, just a few miles from a major Florida highway. He and Buehler hiked back to Nobles Campsite together. Read New Story. January 12, 2021 Pathways Leave a comment. Once Gormley heard about the deceased hiker and realized he met him, it was shocking. “I was thinking I'd like to get to know him better and maybe even hike with him.”. UPDATE: Friends of unidentified hiker Mostly Harmless/Denim/Ben Bilemy have come forward and DNA is being tested to confirm his identity. Mostly Harmless was first seen in the woods in the spring of 2017 near New York’s Harriman State Park and he continued southbound down … Mostly Harmless Hiker DNA 01/13/2021. She knew the man was Rodriguez as soon as she saw a photo of him taken before he grew out his beard on the trail. By Brett Clarkson. “After we found him, I expected to see stories with information on who he was.”. 'Mostly Harmless' Identified as Vance Rodriguez . Fairbanks interacts with and supports thru hikers as they pass through her town of Crestview in the Florida Panhandle. FBI warns … His supposed interest in science fiction led many to guess the trail name Mostly Harmless is a reference to the title of the final book in Douglas Adams’s Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy series. The campsite is a straight shot up the Florida National Scenic Trail from the interstate’s mile marker 63 rest area. The Unsettling Truth About the ‘Mostly Harmless’ Hiker. Investigators tried to identify the unknown man, but his fingerprints didn’t show up in any law enforcement database, and his DNA did not match any entry in the national DNA databases. He was identified when a previous coworker recognized photos of him in December 2020, with his identity being released in January 2021. 'Mostly Harmless' is identified: After more than two years, the hiker is identified as Vance Rodriguez. 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