Posted on 06/27/2014 5:31:30 PM PDT by BenLurkin
A search for a firefighter ended Friday when Ventura County crews found Michael Herdman’s body, two weeks after he went missing in the Los Padres National Forest.
The off-duty firefighter was camping with fellow firefighter and paramedic Taylor Byars the night of June 13 when Herdman’s dog, Duke, ran from the camp site toward Sespe Creek.
The two men went after the dog and at one point decided to split up. Herdman, 36, was barefoot and wearing a shirt and shorts. Byars said that was the last time he saw his friend or the dog.
Byars says he searched the rugged terrain of the Sespe Wilderness for two days before reporting Herdman missing June 15.
A search was launched with crews from several rescue agencies, who scoured the region by air, on foot and with search dogs. Volunteers also joined the effort, which turned up footprints that officials suspected were Herdman’s. Rescuers say they saw Duke on two occasions, but the dog managed to evade capture.
Friends described the Arcadia firefighter as an avid hiker who had experience scaling the jagged terrain near Fillmore, an area so risky that several rescuers were injured in the process. Officials hoped Herdman’s hiking skills would ensure his survival.
But as the search dragged on, officials began to suspect Herdman had been seriously injured.
On Sunday, hikers found Duke. The dog was dehydrated after spending nine days in the intense sun and in high temperatures and was taken to a veterinarian for treatment.
That night officials announced they were scaling back search efforts.
It wasn’t until Friday that rescuers happened upon Herdman’s body in an area 1,200 feet above from his campsite.
During a news conference that afternoon, Ventura County Sheriff Geoff Dean said a medical examiner was working to determine the cause of death.
“It did not appear he had been trapped. It appeared he was laying over the terrain, partially covered by brush,” Dean said.
“There’s no indication whatsoever that there was foul play involved,” the sheriff said.
“On Sunday, hikers found Duke. The dog was dehydrated after spending nine days in the intense sun and in high temperatures and was taken to a veterinarian for treatment”
It’s a good thing the cops didn’t find Duke. This pit bull would have been shot.
Except the other guy's story stinks. What experienced hiker chases after his own dog in bare feet in the woods? Who waits 2 days to report a friend missing after losing them in the woods? Sounds like BS to me.
Supposedly, the friend also was in bare feet when he made his way back to the trailhead.
Heard that somewhere — don’t know if its true.
And the firefighter was supposedly barefoot at the time..the story of his friends just stinks to high heaven, never bought the story
So they both went chasing a dog in the woods in the dark in bare feet.
Are they gay and were they consuming shrooms dipped in LSD?
The. story. is. not. right.
Odd he is found today but a good thing, sad as it is. The dog was too exhausted to lead them back in.
Paulides vouched that the other firefighter was above reproach but since the story is so strange, they will have to try to pump more info out of him.
Remember that seasoned climber of I think it was Mt. Ranier? They found her. She was in her 70's. What I didn't read in the news about that one is that she went on ahead of the others, came to a snow field and kept climbing much higher, not equipped to hike in the snow but did have survival gear with her.
I've listened to him before. I know there have been some murders in the parks. But there is something really eerie about some of the disappearances.
Aliens?
That's the last thing I want to believe. Put it this way. The author and Noory decided they wouldn't dismiss anything. Described 2 hunting experiences, one the author and one a caller. One Pacific Nw, other deep Missouri woods.
They described suddenly everything became totally still, animals were not to be seen and they felt like they were being watched. It just felt eerie. After awhile, things returned to normal.
I don't scare easily but I was scared at the end of that hour. I guess my theory has to do with the mind. Something suddenly takes hold of the mind and causes the individual to run off from the group as though driven.
One lady actually called in and asked if some particular victims were baptized. They ignored the question, finally just said one was a Christian.
Too many claim to have seen/experienced aliens. I haven't except in a dream that frightened me, and I hope they just leave me and mine alone.
The book author said the friend fireman went to the trailhead about a day and 1/2 and reported. This article says there was a longer delay.
One other thing. Many died from hypothermia; some have injuries and have to wait and hope, and some the cause of death cannot be determined.
“I’ve listened to him before. I know there have been some murders in the parks. But there is something really eerie about some of the disappearances. “
I’ve read both of his “411” books. Eerie is a good word.
Slender man?
Bigfoot. He's out there watching us, and he's more real than Obama's patriotism. :)
This is a shame, but not surprising. I hope there was no foul play, as others have mentioned, some things about this story don’t seem right.
info, good one, but he's a relatively new internet sensation I doubt would ever have appealed to me. But it's scary how kids can't separate an invented character and storyline from reality. What's the word now? Meme? The new jargon eludes me.
Mr. J, Bigfoot. I used to get so annoyed when that was the topic. But lately at least I've listened. I suppose there's a remote possibility it's some type of gorilla. I don't get excited about it but if I chanced to encounter one, I'd be frightened.
The wilderness in CA is overrun with Mexican cartel grow ops. Mt. Ranier just kills people.
Partially covered with brush???
I noticed that too, and figured it was just poor writing, and perhaps should be “partially hidden by brush”.
However, Bigfoots have been known to drag logs and brush to make their dens, so perhaps they cover their victims as well.
The curse of the Lost Padre’s Mine-—anyone who gets too close will suffer a terrible accident and death. Blindness, snake bites, falls, sickness, and other mysterious deaths are reported! Since 1874 people have had problems seeking the lost gold mine of Mission San Buenaventura.
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