The United States national park system has received a record breaking number of visitors
in the last few years. While quarantining through the pandemic, many turned to the outdoors
as a means of escape. Tragically, this increase in the number of visitors will likely mean
an increase in the number of those who go missing.
Unfortunately, there is no central database to track missing persons cases in our national
park systems. Caught in jurisdictional limbo, it can be difficult to keep authorities focused
on the return of those who have vanished. It's estimated that over 1,600 people have
gone missing in our national parks and remain so.
David Paulides, a former law enforcement officer and investigative journalist, began to compile
information on these disappearances. He identified a series of uncanny commonalities among those
who have gone missing, and this would later develop into the Missing 411 profile.
For those interested in a complete history of Paulides, the Missing 411, and potential
theories, a link to the first video in this series can be found in the description below.
The following disappearances occurred in September 2021: Kim Crumbo, Mark O'Neill, Joel Thomazin,
and Duane Miles This is Missing 411 National Park Disappearances Volume 4.
1. Kim Crumbo and Mark O'Neill
Mark O'Neill, and Kim Crumbo were half-brothers who traveled to Yellowstone National Park
in September 2021. They had planned a four-night backcountry excursion to Shoshone Lake, the
second-largest lake in Yellowstone. When they didn't return as planned, a family member
reported them missing on Sunday, September 19th.
Crumbo, age 74, was from Ogden, Utah. He was a former Navy SEAL, and he had retired after
two decades working for the National Park Service. He had worked as a river ranger,
park ranger, and wilderness coordinator in Grand Canyon National Park. He had worked
as an environmental activist, even into his retirement. He was a board member with the
Rewilding Institute and a professional river guide. He was a trained and capable outdoorsman.
There are surprisingly few details released about O'Neill. He was 67 and from Chimacum,
Washington.
On the day the men were reported missing, Yellowstone received its first major snowstorm.
In the aftermath, authorities located a vacant campsite and abandoned gear on the south side
of the Shoshone Lake. Additionally, they discovered canoes, paddles, and personal floatation devices,
along with personal effects on the east shore of the lake.
On Monday, September 20th, the body of Mark O'Neill was located. The area is prone to
high winds, and the average water temperature is 48 degree Fahrenheit. One park service
ranger estimated the survival time is only 20-30 minutes at this temperature. An autopsy
later determined that O'Neill had succumbed to exposure and was overtaken by hypothermia.
However, Crumbo remains missing. Interagency search and rescue teams continue to search.
They swept all trails in the area, and boats combed the entire shoreline of the lake, gridding
the water by helicopter. The Submerged Research Center utilized sonar equipment to search
for clues in the water. Canine teams from Western Montana Search Dogs continued to search
Crumbo, even as the rescue mission transitioned into a recovery mission on September 24th.
Crumbo and O'Neill were both knowledgable outdoorsmen with decades of experience.
They were familiar with and capable of meeting the demands necessary for long hiking and
canoeing trips.
The year's first snowstorm hit the area as search efforts were just beginning to mobilize.
The half-brothers disappeared near the large Shoshone Lake. A full loop around the lake
runs over 23 miles.
Search and rescue teams found no trails leading away from the shoreline where O'Neill was
found, and search and rescue canine units uncovered no scent.
2. Joel Thomazin
Joel Thomazin was a 31 year-old from Denair, California. He was employed by the US Army
Reserve, and He was an experienced outdoorsman, visiting the Yosemite National Park for a
solo hike on September 6. He planned to travel to hike from Hetch Hetchy to Lake Eleanor,
a reservoir in the northwestern corner of the park. He planned to return on September
9.
Thomazin was familiar with Yosemite. He grew up in the area, and he hiked the park since
he was a child. His coworkers and wife describe him as a planner, someone who's responsible
and prepared.
He was declared missing on September 11 by his wife, Amanda (accurate?). The last reported
sighting was on a trail near Hetchy Hetch. Over eleven agencies have participated in
the search and rescue efforts for Thomazine, but no clues have been uncovered. Searches
were conducted by foot, boat, canine, and helicopter.
This image depicts the routes taken by search and rescue teams. However, it's almost as
if Thomazin has vanished.
Park Service Rangers have requested that hikers who traveled the Miguel Meadow, Lake Eleanor,
or Hetch Hetchy areas during this time to share any information they might have.
during this time to share any information they might have. Park officials requested
that any hikers north of Tioga Road and between Cherry Lake and Tuolumne Meadows to report
any possible sightings of him or unattended gear.
Thomazin is 5'10 with brown hair, buzzed short. He was traveling with a yellow and gray backpack,
sleeping bag, red inflatable kayak, and hammock.
His wife has asked for prayers for her husband's safe return.
Thomazin was intelligent with two college degrees and extensive knowledge of the outdoors.
Thomazin was young, a practiced hiker and canoer, and he maintained his physical fitness
as an Army Reservist.
This area in Yosemite is a geographical cluster with other recent nearby disappearances.
In the summer months, solo hikers Fred Zalokar and James Youngblom disappeared from the area.
More recently, Richard Judd, 69 years old, was hiking with a companion between the Low
Merced Pass Lake and Red Peak Pass. He was separated from his companion during
the hike, and he seemingly vanished from the area. Search and rescue efforts were extensive;
however, only a day pack was discovered. Rangers are investigating, but they have released
no further information.
The Hetch Hetchy reservoir and water system was Thomazin's main destination, as he was
looking for a place to canoe on his hike.
Search and rescue teams have failed to find any trace of Thomazin, and canine units have
been incapable of discovering a scent.
3. Duane Miles
Duane Miles, age 78, was an avid hiker and outdoorsman from Beaver, Washington. He was
reported missing after he failed to return from a day hike at the Graves Creek area of
the Olympic National Park.
Miles had extensive experience in the outdoors, and he often traveled in the park alone. He
preferred off-trail hikes as he often went out to look for shed elk antlers. He informed
his friends that he intended to take an off-trail route south of the Graves Creek Campground,
exiting near the Graves Creek corral.
He was reported missing on the night of October 23rd. Search and rescue efforts were mobilized
the next day. However, a strong storm moved into the area, thinning search efforts.
Miles' vehicle was discovered at the Graves Creek Campground by a ranger and friend of
Miles. The two continued the search, despite the storm. They hiked the ~13 mile Enchanted
Valley Trail and back, and they saw no sign of Miles.
The weather cleared Monday, and search efforts began in earnest. More than half a dozen search
agencies, along with the US Coast Guard, joined the search for Miles. Canine search units
combed the area, but they found no scent of Miles. Verizon has volunteered to support
communication efforts as the search continues.
A park spokesperson has described the area as difficult to search. It has a dense understory
with thick vegetation and uneven, wet terrain.
On October 31st, searchers found a recently opened sardine can. However,
Miles is 5'9 and 185 pounds. He has gray hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing black
rain pants and a camouflage jacket.
Duane Miles was a capable outdoorsman, who was comfortable navigating backcountry terrain.
He was described as very fit. He was a skilled hiker, who frequently traversed the difficult
understory of Northern Washington parks.
He disappeared on a day hike before being reported missing that evening.
Countless other hikers have disappeared in the Olympic National Park area, including
Chet Hanson, Gil Gilman, John Devine, and more.
A strong storm delayed initial search efforts.
Search and rescue teams struggled to find any tracks of Miles, and canine units could
not find his scent.
The mysterious disappearances of Kim Crumbo, Mark O'Neill, Joel Thomazin, and Duane Miles
are haunting. These cases have few leads, and even fewer clues. The Missing 411 profile
does not solve or explain their cases, it only connects them.
If you have information on any of these cases, please contact authorities at the numbers
below.
For more national park disappearances, please consider the other volumes in this series.