Tragedy in Death Valley

[@BedtimeStoriesChannel]

Thanks to SurfShark for sponsoring this episode. Go to Surfshark.deals/bedtimestories and use code BEDTIMESTORIES to get 83% off a 2-year plan and 3 extra months for free!

[@Lady_Chalk]

I may have said it before, but I love the illustrations!

[@adamofgrayskull7735]

Best channel on Earth FACT......fight me

[@shanice1549]

How are use guys not at a 1mil subs yet? 🤔 Ppl real be sleeping on this channel. Anyways great video & artwork ! ❤

[@AnimeShinigami13]

watch the anime for Deathnote. not the netflix version. you only watch the live action version of an anime to see your favorite characters come to life. that said, it is a mind fuck the first time you watch it. :) I want to strangle Ryuk tbh. He's an asshole, and not a smart one either!

[@Novakane78]

I am so sorry that you saw the Death Note movie ...and sorry you saw it before the series

[@HeleneLouise]

The dangers of that part of the country are common knowledge to most Americans, but probably not to many tourists. One thing I knew from living in Arizona...always keep a couple of gallons of water in the car. Being sure to do that actually saved me once.

[@danfurtado9158]

Same procedure as living in a cold environment. Keep food water blankets gloves warm gear just incase you need to sit tight or dig your car ouy

[@pollypockets508]

What happened?

[@kdrapertrucker]

Europe is such a tame enviroment, while the Americas are mostly wild and dangerous. You should never set out on a long trip in the Western hemisphere without a couple days food, water, blankets, etc. As there are many places where you are tens or hundreds of miles from civilisation.

[@kdrapertrucker]

@@pollypockets508 they tried to take a shortcut across death valley, they thought the roads on their tourist map were paved roads, but they were mostly dirt mining roads that hadn't been maintained since the mines closed over a century earlier. These roads require 4wheel drive, large, low pressure tires and substantial ground clearance. They tried to drive on them in a minivan meant to stay on pavement, kept driving even after blowing 3 of 4 tires, and then sunk in the sand. Then decided to try to walk the 25-30 miles to China Lake Naval Weapons Station. Even if they made it to the edge of China Lake they'd be 60-70 miles from any base facilities. China Lake is huge, and mostly empty.

[@HeleneLouise]

@@pollypockets508 I was having car trouble on the interstate, a long way from help. The car was overheating, and I used some of the water in the radiator. I was able to get to a service station. It was scary to have problems like that in the desert, but it made it go a lot easier to have two gallons of water.

[@eucliduschaumeau8813]

They used the German tourist map to find a faster route to cut time off their trip back to catch their flight back to Germany. The map showed an unimproved road that in theory would have shaved many hours off this return trip, but it was not the well-marked, paved road they thought it was. It was no more than a dirt track that was rarely or never used. By the time they were in dire circumstances, it was too late to turn around, so they pressed on and the road fizzled out. Their tires had been flattened by sharp rocks and they continued, only to get mired in sand. At 128 degrees Fahrenheit, they had no chance.

[@NodDisciple1]

@@spent1276 That's how every great accidental tragedy starts, a series of compunded small mistakes. Could they have lived if they either left earlier or had just sucked up the heat and took the longer and safer route?

[@Komotau4691]

Good one theories there. Also I think death kids have been taken away and eaten by wild animals....

[@Nope-hz1ux]

I used to live around Death Valley and shit like this happens almost every year. Idiots wandering off into the hottest place on earth without an ounce of preparation. It would be sad if it wasn't so common, it's just stupid at this point.

[@edwhatshisname3562]

Moral of the story: plan for hold ups and don't cut corners.

[@theeddorian]

@@edwhatshisname3562 More importantly, know where the corners are. There is at least one instance of tourists following the "directions" of a GPS and getting stranded. They were lucky and were found alive.

[@badopinionsrighthere]

I can't imagine the feeling of fear and despair they felt, knowing they were doomed but hoping that someone would come save them. It's heartbreaking.

[@jawjagrrl]

As a native American, I thought I had a good handle on the scale of these parks before traveling there for vacations. But growing up on the east coast didn't prepare me for the sheer scale of these places out west - larger than some European countries! I spent a full day driving across Joshua Tree, not even making it to the center of the park before midday with only a couple of quick stops for photos. Not a place to run out of gas, have car trouble or run out of water. There is a constant awareness of the dangers of your environment that just doesn't exist on the east coast. I feel for these people and hope for the families that someday evidence of the children can be found.

[@anticksss]

East coast gang

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

Yes, as someone who grew up on the east coast and then moved to California for a few years it's amazing how much open space there is out west. It is beautiful but can be deadly if not respected.

[@nedisahonkey]

Why would being Native American give you some sort of innate feel for how large national parks are? 😂 And yeah Death Valley NP is absolutely massive, larger than Rhode Island and Delaware put together and with about 1000 miles of road. Its not at all unusual for easterners to be stunned by the size of the West, California and the places contained therein. Personally I can't imagine living somewhere as crowded, humid, cold and uptight as the east coast. There are a lot of negative stereotypes about California that ring true, but thankfully those are almost all Southern California. Here in Northern California we have the beauty and laid back vibe of California without quite as many vapid idiots as LA and the rest of So Cal.

[@jodytaylor936]

@@nedisahonkey yeah I was also confused how being a native gave em some sort of innate knowledge of how big national parks are

[@fnamelname9077]

@@nedisahonkey South Cali for Mexico.

[@davidguerra6893]

As an avid desert hiker but also a father to 2 young boys I cannot imagine the exasperation felt by the parents to see their kids waste away in the extreme heat. I pray for their souls….

[@georgevavoulis4758]

I can't think of a more horrible way to die . God rest their souls

[@Rksanchez871]

They weren’t prepared, told nobody where they were going, and made every mistake possible, one could argue they murdered those kids with how insane their lack of preparedness and common sense was

[@CtrlAltDlt68]

I remember reading the online blog of one of the search and rescue guys on that Death Valley team years back about this exact family. Nice to see other folks speaking about it as well. It's truly a sad and tragic story.

[@formerlydistantorigins6972]

My guess. The children died before the parents, so perhaps the heartbroken pair buried them, before simply waiting for their own lives to end or be discovered

[@Tekisasubakani]

Anyone who has dealt with heat exhaustion or heat stroke knows that you are not thinking clearly at all in that situation. So the assertion in the video that they wouldn't leave the kids even if they had perished isn't necessarily true. I think you might be correct.

[@edwhatshisname3562]

That was my guess too. Though I doubt they would've had the energy to bury them as the soil in those parts can be as compacted as eroding concrete. My guess would be that they may have hidden the bodies somewhere above ground and then marked the location for later, maybe under a pile of rocks or something.

[@roryjones95]

If you weren't gonna die before digging a hole you will certainly be in poor shape after. Ever the most seasoned desert workers drink all the agua

[@alexshaw4567]

One of my theories is that one of the drug makers may have found them and thought that for extra money they could sale the kids, so told the parents that they had enough gas to take two of them for help, but does not know if they would be back in time to help the parents , so the parents no chose but hoping to save the kids, had to put there fath in this person, and the person took the kids and left the parents to die

[@michaelandreipalon359]

If this is true, may they thrive on together in the the other side...

[@taxevasionadept5051]

The amount of effort that goes into these videos is astounding. Whoever does the artwork is very good at it! Great vids guys.

[@donavonseibert507]

I LOVE the artwork.

[@taxevasionadept5051]

@@donavonseibert507 I know right? It just has so much character. It’s so unique that you can tell it’s a bedtime stories video the second you see the art.

[@essen00cat]

That would be Mikey,the quiet Polish member of the team.A good guy 👍

[@teresajose2280]

@Morgrim I know you weren’t talking to me but thanks for the other channel name. I didn’t even know these guys had another channel and I’ve been watching this one for years. lol. Thanks.

[@ppnotsmol8538]

@@essen00cat I read this as "the quite polish member of the team". It had me thinking "wow, how Polish can one guy actually be" until I read the sentence again.

[@camillekatrina]

I live fairly close to Death Valley and am familiar with the territory, so here's my take on the situation. They got lost and the car probably started to overheat so they started looking for a shady place to cool it down. (They were probably running the AC full blast and ran their coolant down.) The canyon where they were found likely had some promise of shade but they ended up getting stuck. The car, of course, would've turned into an oven and they would have to evacuate and find shade. Heat stroke comes quickly in that area, especially at the temps they were seeing that day. Likely all four family members died around the same time and likely only lasted a short time in that heat. The fact that the children were missing doesn't surprise me. They were likely carried off by scavenging wildlife in the night. The adults were too large and heavy and so were left. The children's bones are probably located either on a mountain ridge or down a canyon, depending on what species of animal found them. We lose people every year in that park, unfortunately, and most of them are tourists from cooler climates who underestimate the weather. We just had two separate deaths in the last month due to said heat. It is a tragic fact in the area.

[@quill_plays_sims]

The animal theory would make sense, especially considering the fact that the bones of the parents were jumbled and scattered. Even if an animal couldn't carry them, they may have still ripped apart their bodies as they ate them. Death Valley is one of those places I will not go, there's a reason it's called Death Valley.

[@catsmeow6848]

The desert, like the forests, should never be ventured by the ill-prepared.

[@marybdrake1472]

As a life long desert dweller I can agree with this.

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

As a nature child that spent most of his free time in your youth in forrests I will disagree. For the forest part that is, Im never stepping foot in a desert.

[@marybdrake1472]

@@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714 I don't really blame you. It's rough here in the desert.

[@wickjohn8673]

Nature is beautiful as well as scary.....if you underestimate.....it will devour you !!!

[@ZGryphon]

Also the sea. And large lakes. Most rivers. Some grasslands. Tundra. Look, just stay indoors, it's better there.

[@kimmoxie2160]

My friend’s brother is a park ranger, I just learned from her that he was part of this search. I don’t have any inside info or anything but I thought it was such a coincidence that she just told me about this.

[@daveatkins3568]

That is only the first of 3 coincidences that will befall you

[@kazumakiryu8231]

Get some inside info then please :)

[@racookster]

From WebMD: "Children are more prone to dehydration and heat illness than adults because they have more body surface area per pound of weight." I was pretty sure of that, but I ran a search on children and dehydration to be sure. I guess it's kind of obvious what happened. The kids died first.

[@heisrisen9322]

@ racookster This comment deserves to be pinned. Thank you for posting. As a mom, of 3 awesome little humans, I appreciate it.

[@ryanthompson2893]

Can you imagine how horrible that dad must’ve felt watching his sons die… that’s gotta suck

[@quatrendo4544]

@@heisrisen9322 but why do you think that the comment above yours deserves to be pinned. and why did you have to say that you have bred 3 little bastards :(

[@heisrisen9322]

@ Quatrendo Stop consuming oxygen.

[@quatrendo4544]

@@heisrisen9322 you first (hopefully your kids will be present at that)

[@robertnapier624]

Death Valley. Never has a name been more appropriate for such a region. Obviously there are others like superstition mountain and the headless which bedtime stories have already covered, but anyways….

[@pollypockets508]

Agreed

[@theeddorian]

The "metallic" sounds are a peculiar effect of wind-blown sand compaction. There's a well known dune in Nevada that seems to groan at times wind recreational vehicles climb or descend the sides.

[@michaelandreipalon359]

I agree, due to old trips and vacations having such moments.

[@jimofaotearoa3636]

Yes, there are many well known beaches around the world that depending on the right sand conditions will "sing" when compressed or moved in the right way. Deserts will no doubt have the right combinations of sand and wind to make many a wild symphony.

[@Itried20takennames]

I have twice run into seemingly bright, educated Europeans who were under the impression you could drive the US coast to coast in a day (as with most European countries), and have heard the same from others. Many Europeans don’t quite grasp how big the US is - old saying “in the US, 200 years is a long time. In Europe, 200 miles is a long way.”

[@joshmay7921]

My family once took in an exchange student from Germany for a month. That German girl and her friends thought they could somehow visit Los Vegas and Niagara Falls in the span of a day, and made plans to do so. Can't remember what the end result of it was, but my parents were bemused by the girl's naivety.

[@Itried20takennames]

@@joshmay7921 That is similar to one of the times I experienced. We had friends from England visiting us in near Washington DC, and they asked (on Friday afternoon) about seeing California by car over the weekend. They were shocked it would take 5 or 6 long driving days just to reach CA.

[@francikaa1]

You can drive coast to coast in 1 day across the US. You will need a 700 hp Mercedes AMG, 1 driver, 2 spotters, and 65 US gal (250 L) fuel capacity. 24 h 00 min 54 sec exactly.

[@francikaa1]

@@Itried20takennames 5-6 day. LoL. New York City's Red Ball Garage to the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach near Los Angeles takes less than 27 hrs if you put the hammer down. Current record is 25hrs 39 min.

[@cayasta1970]

Being an educated European myself, but having spent a lot of time in Argentina, I had the same experience with other European travellers who seemed to ignore the vastity of the American landscape and the travelling distances of the so called New World. Moreover, they ignored completely the inner risk of travelling on extremely long stretches of road where you potentially may drive for 3-400 km without meeting any other traffic, in the middle of the nowhere, even worse if by night, plus the harshness of the local wildlife. Any mild accident or inconvenience easily survivable in an European environment, might become fatal taking place in these places even just for the time and distance required to provide rescue. I remember when the former President of the Nation Raul Alfonsin suffered a severe car crash in 1999 during an electoral trip in Patagonia: despite his team started the rescue operation immediately, it took almost two days to stabilize him, take him to a local health facility and move him from there to a hospital in the Capital which could provide adequate care.

[@uingaeoc3905]

The children's remains would be more easily scattered and lost over that period even if nearby.

[@patricialessard8651]

@Morgrim And may have ended up in some coyote dens or cougars.

[@caridennis3171]

Yeah, their remains would be a lot smaller, easier for an animal to haul away

[@compatriot852]

Coyotes, vultures, etc. probably dragged their remains away

[@Toastcat890]

Large vultures could also carry away peices of smaller bodies.

[@EphemeralProductions]

yep. agreed. very likely because it had been 20 or so years or close to it, by the time they found the skeletons.

[@deathsyth8888]

"It's just a name, like the Death Zone, or the Zone of No Return. All the zones have names like that in the Galaxy of Terror." - Professor Hubert Farnsworth, 'Futurama'

[@marhawkman303]

Yeah, well... in the movie Galaxy of Terror.... the terror was very deadly....

[@sidgar1]

Don't forget the Zone of Avoidance ;)

[@darkestbeforedawn8130]

I personally think it's misadventure. Distracted driving through Death valley as a foreign tourist on vacation could easily have caused the family to get lost. Excited to be there and marveling at the sights, dad gets lost then goes catastrophically lost.

[@rttyplgkdde]

Whenever you hear the name Death or Dead such as "Death Valley" or "Dead Mountain" just avoid going there !

[@ann-mariepaliukenas19]

Death valley is very beautiful, just have to be careful

[@firstnamelastnamethirdname]

Its called death valley because it's dry as fuck and not much grows and lives there. It's nice to visit if you're into nature and hiking. However if you're not fond with heat I'd recommend not going. It's not really really dangerous but if you're not prepared then tragedies can occur. Also watch out for the paranormal that place does have a tiny bit of reputation. But other then that just be careful and be hydrated at all times.

[@alinalexandru2466]

Dead Sea?

[@hannahdyson7129]

I have been there .Its fine if you keep to the well trodden routes aka official routes . Breakdowns are easily reported and rescued.

[@hannahdyson7129]

@@firstnamelastnamethirdname Paranormal ? Not heard that one before !

[@likeaboxofchocolates]

My heart really goes out to their families. I can’t imagine the anguish they must have felt having people they love go missing in another country and then dying.

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

Have you grown soft? Do you not know how often this happens in war?

[@WouldntULikeToKnow.]

@@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714 they were on vacation. They didn't expect the possibility of never seeing their loved ones again. Grow a conscience.

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

@@WouldntULikeToKnow. The possiblity of death is always there. Almost anyone can die in a car crash almost any day. I have a conscience man, and I also dont fear death.

[@glendanison3064]

Great video as always but such a tragic loss. People just trying to enjoy themselves but were ill equipped, inexperienced and unfamiliar with the territory. This might sound silly but sometimes I think the term park is deceptive, a synonym for relative safety that is misleading. I think that it should be changed to something like National Wilderness, to emphasize the fact there is a possibility of danger.

[@SweetUniverse]

Death Valley Death Zone. Death Valley Dying Place. Death Zone. Probable Death Valley.

[@Komotau4691]

Two times I was lost in forest and that feel of panic was horrible. Cant imagine be lost in desert.

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

@@Komotau4691 How does one get lost in a forrest? And yes Im never going to a desert.

[@Komotau4691]

@@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714 Its easy in dense forest but I was just stupid :D I goes there late in the afternoon and came out in evening when sun didnt shine and lost a path. Even with a light I ended in 2 km away in another village. Desert is way harsh of course. No water and dangerous animals everywhere.

[@baltulielkungsgunarsmiezis9714]

@@Komotau4691 I have never been lost in a forrest and I have traveled trough them at night.

[@ninavale.]

I do find the main theory as the correct one, those people were unprepared for the harsh weather and they didn't really know how this particular base worked since in their home country they were used to things working differently. I do think they got into an accident of some sort and were looking for help from the base. Maybe not to enter it but to encounter a guard and ask them to call the services, or maybe help them. Plus it was '96 not like people carried cellphones, not that it would be much help in that particular place. Because I expect there to be little or no reception. As for the kids...maybe when they died the adults did move on, it doesn't seem likely to many but this was an extreme situation and it was hot. They might not have acted as people would expect. Like they might've been tried and emotionally distressed or even hallucinating due to the conditions. Or maybe they carried on, hoping they'd finally find help so they can get their kids out of there, and take them home to bury them properly. and despite of its name the valley isn't COMPLETELY desolate and dead. There are animals there so they could've scattered some of the remains. Just bc the remains have not been found doesn't mean that the most plausible and logical theory is bogus and we desperately need spy stuff and other conspiracy theories. Also, one would think that if this poor man was some sort of spy or agent working for secret services that he'd be given a bit more intel on how that particular military base works and how to get to the right part of it. It seems a bit counterproductive NOT to brief your people on something like that and just let them die while they look for it, for the sake of "cover".

[@marhawkman303]

Well the road they were on is unsuitable for the vehicle they were driving. That's how it got 3 flat tires. If not for that... they'd have probably completed their journey

[@XSatampraZeirosX]

Zee Death Valley Germans, I was reading about this case years ago, there is a VERYYYYYYYYYYY long blog about the investigation (starts off like any other missing people case) and while I was like halfway through is when the remains were actually found, so to me it was pretty cool seeing that the guy writing the blog was right about his hunch that they went in the opposite way than where everyone searched.

[@menotyou6868]

The author is Tom Mahood, who is also the man who found the remains. It is a very good article.

[@taiya001]

That picture in the end is very beautiful. These two lost babies had another parent waiting for them. I sincerely wish them both nothing but the best.

[@ke7eha]

I used to live three valleys over from Death Valley, back when I was a civilian employee at China Lake. I have driven through the park many times, including driving through areas of the park that is ectremely rarely traveled (down through Panamint Valley, the cutoff down to Trona). It is NOT something to be taken lightly. This happens far more often that is known outside the region. Oddly enough, I recall hearing multiple versions of the German tourist story (always German tourists for some reason). THe one I heard most recently was a group of tourists who followed the GPS in the fancy german sedan (BMW or Mercedes, not sure which) which routed them through a goat path rather than the paved road. The car was damaged by a rock, breaking through the oil pan and the engine seized. The group then attempted to walk out. The car was found, the people were not. I have had the GPS routing down no road through open desert happen several times in the region, even with Google maps. I knew the route, so I did not follow the GPS. I am still unsure why this happens, but I can see there are roads on the maps that simply do not exist. There is also the tragedy of the mother and son whose car broke down. She had the wherewithal to stay with the vehicle, but by the time they were found her son had died from exposure. China Lake is about an hour and a half drive from Death Valley (from the top of the pass to the city of Ridgecrest), as well as Edwards AFB and Fort Irwin. The Military often times will look for folks who are missing (it's good SAR practice). The important thing is to stay with the vehicle, have water, and have people know when you are supposed to be due in. As for the specific incident, I read about this a while back, after I had left the region. Where they went missing was not anywhere close to the Lake nor to the nuclear test sites (Area 51 is located in the nuclear test area). It's far closer to Fort Irwin, but not even all that close to Fort Irwin. As to looking onto China Lake - it's 1.1 million acres, you can only see a small portions of the base from the public roads, or even from the fenceline. There is one spot on Highway 190 (the road that goes through Death Valley) where you have an opportunity to see aircraft flying below you through a canyon every once in a while. I would not try to cross the fenceline without prior permission, having M16's pointed at you is not fun, and neither is having NCIS and the federal apparatus crawling up your ass. ddly enough, I heard of an incident with, oddly enough, German tourists who tried this one out (pulled out a telephoto camera while parked at the side of the road after having been turned around at the main gate, taking photos of the airfield). It did not end well for them. You can get onto the north range at the Lake to see the petroglyphs, though opportunities are rare and you are actively escorted due to UXO on the range being a significant problem in that area. You can also travel along the twenty mule team pathway, which goes through the east range of the base, every once in a while on an event.

[@stevew278]

I dont believe you

[@MarinaBeeBalm]

When we're you at China Lake? I was born there in the early 60s. My Father was discharged when I was 6 months old and we moved east. I've always wondered what it was like.

[@ke7eha]

@@MarinaBeeBalm 2010's. It's hot, dry, and isolated. The day IO moved out, it was 122F on the hardpan. Mark Hoppus has the best description (he was born there too) - "geniuses, scientists, physicists, and then just complete strung-out meth-heads". The base today is a very different beat to that of the '60's. President Kennedy visited in 1963, there is video of that.

[@MarinaBeeBalm]

@@ke7eha I know about the JFK visit, just after I was born and slightly after he was murdered in Dallas. I have pics from back then. I would like to see the area someday.

[@sgauden02]

Maybe the children died first, and the parents buried them, before dying themselves. Perhaps the parents even committed suicide out of despair. A tragic tale in any case. I don't think I'll ever plan on going to Death Valley.

[@sulumsphony66]

If this story strikes your curiosity, Tom Mahood's writeup of the search and subsequent discovery is quite enthralling.

[@janiscrammond7046]

Brilliant as usual. Just what I need as I het ready for sleep. Keep them coming and keep safe

[@robbie_rohm88]

How far did you get? Did you fall asleep?

[@rulerrex3]

@@robbie_rohm88 this is a great question lmao

[@janiscrammond7046]

@@robbie_rohm88 I would not be so rude, I always listen to the whole thing lmao

[@nataliekennedy4646]

how the hell does a German family that died tragically make you go to sleep your sick in the head for sure 🖕👎

[@OomaGooma]

Been a good KZbin day. Uploads from Bedtime Stories, Bob Gymlan, and Mr Ballen have made this crappy day better.

[@aaronoverby4830]

What's Mr ballen?

[@OomaGooma]

@@aaronoverby4830 a KZbin channel. It’s the strange, dark, and mysterious delivered in story format.

[@DeadlyblueEdward]

@@OomaGooma And does different things to the Like Button that are......amusing.

[@aaronoverby4830]

@@OomaGooma well I'm gonna have to take a look! Thank you!

[@lyssadyane5870]

Yes!! Mr.Ballen is an AMAZING channel as well.

[@francispitts9440]

Another awesome video. I appreciate the work that you put into these videos and they never fail to bring a story to life. The narration and artwork is among the best. This story was one I was familiar with and it’s an example of just how dangerous the environment can be when not taken into consideration. You really need to be prepared when venturing out into any desolate areas especially a desert. Too much can go wrong.

[@joshDammmit]

Sounds like a couple of adults made a really, REALLY bad call about driving off into the desert... in a dodge minivan. YIKES

[@marhawkman303]

good enough for city roads, or smooth gravel. not good enough for anythign else... and that's what he drove it on. :/

[@Itried20takennames]

They made huge mistakes, but other videos (maybe this one) note that some cultural differences may have contributed. In addition to many Europeans not realizing how big the US is, apparently maps in Germany only mark paved or easily drivable roads….not “4x4 only” trails as marked on the Death Valley map. Also, military bases usually have frequent perimeter patrols in Europe, unlike in the mid-West where just the vast desert provides security and isn’t patrolled every hour - so he might have been trying to reach the base for rescue/to be found, but only found more desert.

[@marhawkman303]

@@Itried20takennames Oh yeah, It's a tragic case of someone trying to make good decisions, but failing. Some of the reasons are easy to guess, general unfamiliarity, trying to make do with things that turned out not good enough.

[@scottmcburney8938]

Mengle pass, good God, in a minivan

[@douglasking9383]

From the viewpoint of probabilities, it is likely the children died first and that the parents buried them somewhere. It is interesting that the parents should be found together. It suggests that they took their lives out of remorse; possibly jumping of the cliff? It is not mentioned how high the cliff was nor whether any of the bones were broken. With so little information, it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions.

[@BuckFutterd]

I agree, both of them dying at the same time and at the same place. I also think that yo are onto something about them maybe being in grief and deciding to end it by jumping off the cliff.

[@sharpsetify]

This seems likely. The children were probably buried under a pile of rocks.

[@marhawkman303]

@@BuckFutterd Nah more likely is that all four eventually got to the point they just couldn't go on any more and spent the last of their strength finding a comfortable place to die. They didn't get found until 25 years later, and it's possible the children's bodies simply got scattered by animals.

[@reb9719]

I found a source written by one of the searchers who found the bones, he stated that the remains were at the base of a 30 foot cliff. I would say your guess is probably pretty close to what happened.

[@reb9719]

@@marhawkman303 25 Years? All the sources I found said 1996 to 2009. Is that a different missing persons case in Death Valley?

[@stanislavkostarnov2157]

I believe the remains of at least one child had been found (though not positively identified), in a cave a further half mile up the valley... seemed the children had survived there parents and attempted to continue upwards towards what they believed would be help... there was a video about that on the "stories of Death Valley" channel a few months ago.

[@thelittleredhairedgirlfrom6527]

Or the kids could’ve been dragged there by wild animals

[@Idaho-Cowboy]

Thanks for covering this one. For some reason this is one of the most haunting cases I've ever heard about.

[@johannesbluemink4581]

Tragic story. I remember a similar one that happened in a country in Africa. A diplomat, working for the Dutch Foreign Service, drove a ATV with his wife and 2 children into the wilderness/desert, got stuck and their remains were found months or perhaps even weeks later.

[@TOVEYC1]

"FFS how long is this sentence!" 😂. Great story telling and artwork, as always 👌

[@lizdobson7030]

Was wondering if someone else heard that...

[@nikolaleggett8494]

I haven’t seen these videos in a fat min it’s good to be back

[@captainexcabier]

It's cool that you covered this mystery. There was one item you didn't happen to mention, though, which is that they didn't appear to have any proper water with them, but they did have a case of light beer with them, with evidence of discarded cans of it. My theory is that if they had any water, the adults gave them to their children, and counted on the "light" nature of the beer being able to keep them going. It actually can seem pretty thirst quenching if you are really hot and dehydrated. The thing is, alcohol is dehydrating itself, and while there isn't a lot of it in Bud Light, it'll still dehydrate you. This is why I think the adults died first, and not really knowing what their father's plan was, they wandered off in some random direction and likely will never be found, taking any water containers with them.

[@KanyeTheGayFish69]

It’s just pretty dumb in general to go to Death Valley with out water.

[@35mm21]

@@KanyeTheGayFish69 The commenter is saying they possibly had water -- just that the kids took the water containers and simply weren't found.

[@williammckinley1035]

More than likely the two children succumbed to the environment first and the parents more than likely buried them somewhere. Then the two adults died and were found together without the kids. Sad story.

[@fishtail3562]

I love how you can see the animation getting better and better with each episode, awesome work!!

[@kauphaart0]

I grew up just south of Death Valley, being the last stop for gas and food, etc. We had many, many ill prepared europeans disappearing there in the 70s. The arrogance and ignorance of people NEVER fails to astound me.

[@kneelbeforezod2160]

Agree. I live in a desert area as well and people just don’t understand how dangerous the desert heat is.

[@GlitterGothBunny]

Plus Europeans dont have anything close to deserts over there. I'm not gonna go for an afternoon hike in the Amazon cause I have no clue about that climate or dangers other than theres alot of them. People should stay in safe touristy areas

[@kneelbeforezod2160]

@@GlitterGothBunny 100%

[@DunjaKavur]

@@GlitterGothBunny europeans die stupidly in nature even in europe. you dont need a ''Death'' anything if people are daft. tourists like wandering around, ie - in Croatia, they are adamant to hike our coastal mountains and every year people die because they dare them in flipflops ( !?! ) and fall somewhere and are found dead, or without water and the heat gets them. Or both. Or they try to swim from island to island. Our tourist board is exasperated every year, trying to warn tourists.

[@aanjaneyabhattacharjee5336]

@@DunjaKavur are they mad? hiking wearing flipflops??????!!!! they must be exhausted with life to do something like that

[@whyjnot420]

This story truly reads like a proper tragedy..... with the exception of it being true. I spent about a day reading stuff on it when I first came across it a few years ago. A wasteland, a family lost, mistakes that were made, a search through what is basically a furnace and cultural differences, amongst other things that could be said about the fate of these poor tourists. Nice job choosing this to do a video on, I barely ever hear people talking about it. Definitely a story that needs to be heard. If anyone wants a good read, the page that I first read about this is called "The Hunt for the Death Valley Germans" on a site called OtherHand.

[@Chrisfragger1]

Your animation and artwork get better every time.

[@MushroomMayhem]

The outtake slayed me holy shit 🤣

[@LatherScreamRinse]

Just binged some old episodes last night. Love looking forward to these on Sunday night. Ps. Thank you for putting in the small end of movie one liners 🤣 and that was a long sentence.

I much prefer your true mystery stories over anything Chills could put into a top 15 video.

[@Inlinetodie]

Chills isn't worthy of eating this man's socks

[@michiganpride389]

Number fooooourrteeeenn.

[@AlexanderTheGreat1000]

This video was the worst one, nothing interesting mentioned

[@baradashankarnayak9481]

Chills...🤣🤣🤣🤣 Number niiiiiiiiine.. And all his entries are of those fake KZbinrs who act in their own scary videos...

[@Interiapl85]

Chills voice it's so annoying!😖

[@SoullessAIMusic]

Death Valley, the desert where I live can get as hot as Death Valley but not for as long. The sun can kill you out there if you are not careful.

[@kneelbeforezod2160]

Witch desert do you live in

[@SoullessAIMusic]

​@@kneelbeforezod2160 Colorado Desert

[@kneelbeforezod2160]

@@SoullessAIMusic oh okay. I’m from Palm Springs area it got up to 119-121 degrees last month.

[@SoullessAIMusic]

@@kneelbeforezod2160 palm springs is in the colorado desert, im in Indio i feel ya.

[@rsuriyop]

This is one instance where I feel pretty confident knowing there was nothing supernatural or paranormal that happened here. Being stuck in an environment where the temperatures are really extreme (high or low) it's pretty obvious that your chances of survival is basically zero and that you will eventually succumb to the elements in very short time. The really sad part here though is that this road that the family decided to take could have easily have been closed off and with warning signs for passerby not to use.

[@TheWs235]

Such a sad ending. Do you think you'll ever cover the Cisco grove UFO report? Its truly an amazing story, that deserves more attention

[@drabonlady]

I'm not super familiar with Death Valley or the animals that live there, but maybe the four of them died together and some kind of animal drag away the bodies of the children to eat them somewhere else. Kids that age aren't too big or too heavy.

[@Komotau4691]

Exactly my thoughts. Sadly to say but small bones can be eaten by coyotes and others...

[@marhawkman303]

@@Komotau4691 I've seen commentary that claimed that small parts of the children were found... very small parts....

[@Komotau4691]

@@marhawkman303 Interesting... Its possible.

[@asharista3152]

I've been to death valley twice and can't wait to visit again. It's so beautiful and mysterious.

[@FallenAngel9979]

Another fascinating tragic story. - love the outtake at the end!

[@PeanutForBrains]

Me: don't say aliens, don't say aliens, don't say- Simon: there had been reports of ufos Me: dAMNIT

[@jaysonraphaelmurdock8812]

😂

[@michaelandreipalon359]

Can't blame our scapegoating of such things, even if they might have a slight part. Needs more interdimensional anomalies. (Sorry for the otherwise poor joke. I'm trying to humor myself somehow so to not crush my spirits because of this tragedy and many others.)

[@sc_tn6999]

Glad I'm not the only one! I know these types of channels like to be thorough and include all the possibilities that have been brought up for these mysteries. That's what makes them so great, but I can't help but roll my eyes when UFO's/aliens comes up. Our world is far from fully understood these events could easily be entirely terrestrial in origin, and more likely than not due to human error and/or malice. This is why I'm more interested in true crime and supernatural type mysteries where every detail counts.

[@SynapticBoomstick]

That final family portrait and silent credits were a nice touch.

[@darkop3191]

It's called "Death Valley" for a reason, people. I live near it and I still don't go there... It's already bad enough here.

[@funkervogt47]

16:30 - I disagree. The adults might have left their kids behind in a shaded area like a cliff, thinking they would survive longer without exerting themselves. Partial delirium from dehydration could have also been a factor.

[@EphemeralProductions]

i'm sorry but if that's the case then they aren't real parents. a real and GOOD parent would NEVER abandon their children. I don't even have children but if I did, I'd rather stay with them and die with them than leave them alone. I'd never be able to get over the guilt of knowing I didn't do EVERY thing for them that I could.

[@chasing_dragons]

Thank you for this story. I remember hearing about this and so sad and tragic on these innocent people. Not to be insensitive to this story and especially this family's, there is a part of me that really at least wants to try and find a small towm to live near there. After 47 years of Los Angeles and Hollywood, I've had enough. There is something about that vast desolation that appears to be the antidote to the very specific urban miseries of Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley.

[@leavoda3791]

I would speculate that they left the kids together on a seemingly safe place to shelter them from the scorching heat of the sun, while they went on to search for the base.

[@mikeco3583]

For all the art and recearch that has went into this channel hands down this is one of top 3 best channels that dives into unknown.

[@yarpen26]

Actually, he made several mistakes, chiefly by confusing the Geologist's Cabin with the Warm Springs Canyon mine and after asserting that Cornelia's remains were conclusively identified (they weren't). Lots of channels went far more into detail than that.

[@thestoryofalongstorythatis289]

It's called death valley for a reason

[@neurocidesakiwi]

The variety of jams and preserves?

[@dreamsofsnow6521]

Alot of Europeans ( i mean no offense ) dont really understand the vastness of America and its wild lands , even some of our military bases are the size of small countries . I spent some time in Germany when I was in the U.S. Army and it was an awesome experience , specially Bavaria one of the most beautiful places on Earth. But in Europe even in the more wild..ish areas you really can't get lost ... eventually you will come across a well traversed trail with plenty of signs. But for me that's one of the beauties of America , if you and your friends just want to lose yourselves for a while and get away from everything and everyone we can do that , and its always great fun and a great adventure. Rest in peace to the Germans who died there , specially the Children. 🙏

[@scallopohare9431]

They can also fail to realize how extreme US climates and weather can be. My father said he could not persuade a German man who was moving to the Midwest that he would stillneed warm clothes. The man insisted his destination was on the same latitude as a mild area, so that was that.

[@dreamsofsnow6521]

@@scallopohare9431...... yeah our climates are extreme from one end of the spectrum to the other . We've spent alot of time in the Desert but mostly just in the Winter months when its bearable but for them to have gone to DEATH VALLEY in the middle of Summer and going off road was just nuts.

[@nandam3779]

I have had conversations with (adult) Europeans who refused to believe me when I told them how long it takes to drive between US cities. They just can’t imagine it.

[@nandam3779]

@@scallopohare9431What? You mean the LA climate that they see on TV isn’t the same for the whole country? That’s crazy talk! ;)

[@ThoseColoniesAreMine]

Best Bedtime Stories ending I've heard yet.

[@erikandrus4387]

I like when Bedtime Stories rolls the credits on a tragic tale with a soft, respectable music piece. Very nice gentlemen :)

[@matthewmohri9990]

Your Channel and Beyond Creepy always give me a big smile when I see new vids out by your 2 channels. Thanks for such top quality work.

[@jpk2145]

You should do houska castle next!!

[@mvtv-montanavigilantetv5976]

I was able to visit Death Valley several times (circa 60s as kid in L.A.) and even then I sensed the insane SCOPE of it all. We had a '57 Buick and will always recall the canvas water bags strapped over the radiator, a standard method to keep from overheating, I guess. A/C was non-existent. Amazed at the heat although I'm sure we went during winter months as well as the freaky Joshua Trees, snakes and trantulas but overall an amazing place. 20 years later I was taking my Midwest girlfriend on a whirlwind tour of the West Coast; looped over to Bakersfield to head up the east side of the Sierras for a taste of the Mojave, Yosemite, etc. Only time you can see the horizon LOWER as you drop down over such vast distances. Also a bizarre incident in same place. I recall the horizon phenomena, towards end of day and highway was ruler-straight with nothing but sand on each side; 100% open to distant haze. GF nodded off in passenger seat; small Subaru hatchback. Same old story: reach back for something, take eyes off road for ONLY SECONDS. Look up and suddenly approaching a sharp S curve in a huge boulder field that I SWEAR did not exist and should have been visible as hell out on an otherwise straight, empty highway (I grew up in Kansas as well. I'm used to those.). No time to brake or try to make the curve so chose to go right off into the sand that definietly helped a wild, bouncing dodge of 2 or 3 rocks the size of a pickup standing on end. Thankfully only the exhaust pipe split from the nose-tail bouncing and able to drive off, a little louder but alive. GF not happy. Did not believe what I still stand on today. There WAS no S curve or boulder field ... at least visible TO THE HORIZON nor a duh, boulder field but no explanation how one could appear in the 2-3 seconds. Occam's Razor suggests I was too fuzzy to notice; maybe I had some Earthbound fugue state not noticing until last second but no sense of any time loss and whole thing had a normal contiquous "flow" of driving, deciding to change tap, reach back; no gaps. Enough. Only intended to note the horizon drop phenomena but triggered that memory. Early 1980s, no later than '84. Strikes me the net may help me tag this spot ... likely the CDT straightened out the highway since OR perhaps youse guys or someone out there have similar reports?

[@sunboat800]

There are some places on earth where humans aren’t supposed to be visiting and I feel Death Valley is among them. Maybe the analysis of the prehistoric activities of Death Valley maybe in-the light of the red indians and how they looked @ this landmass will give us more answers on why this is mysterious. Every culture, including us Indians, have this concept of “places off visiting” and am sure this would be one of the few places off limits for them too and if that’s history’s looked at, perhaps more answers will be revealed. Excellent narration, great job!!!! U have made my day!!!.

[@rjunuh4084]

This story peaked my curiosity and since first listening to this well worded tale of tragedy. I have read the full account of Tom Mahood the rescuer who found the adult Germans 13 years later, noting the terrain and geolocation on Google earth extensively. I still fail to comprehend why after traversing the wash 2 miles and becoming immobile that they didn’t just go back to the geologists cabin (popular landmark)which was situated 3 miles back at anvil spring, as opposed to hiking 8 miles over more rugged terrain in unbearable heat conditions to a military base they knew nothing about? Anvil spring is a reliable source of water for the area and is stocked with tinned food to cater for such unfortunate eventualities they had already been there,it would of provided shelter from the heat of day and cooler nights No doubt within a week a travelling tourist/ranger would of come across them, amazing how logic leaves the mind in ever increasing pressure situations like this. I’ve nothing but empathy for these poor unfortunate souls may they rest in peace.

[@navigator487]

I'm wondering if they were even aware there was water at the geologists cabin (and, btw, can you drink it straight or do you have to boil it/filter it?). I mean, they get out of their van (it's very hot outside given a 3-hr.+ drive from their camp at 15 mph), go directly into the cabin, and overlook the piping/water b/c they already have plenty of water for 4 people in a car with a/c? Secondly, after their car was stuck, I wonder if they were aware about the importance of an abundance of water in such an inhospitable climate? I mean, to us, it's water first, then worry about your next step, but not for someone unfamiliar with the desert. And why didn't the man "crack dawn" (coolest part of day) and head to the military base, leaving the kids/mother with instructions to walk back to the cabin and take their time (2 kids, 2 miles in am, shade, then 2 miles in pm) and have a plan b (wait for help; start a signal fire) if the man didn't return?

[@JamesWillmus]

Knowing where the car was and where bones were found, the most obvious way to search for the kids would be to trace every possible pathway back to the vehicle. My guess is that since kids get too hot or too cold far quicker than adults that the two boys likely died closer to the vehicle and the parents in a state of delusion tried to make for the airbase to get help.

[@weeksworks2521]

Horrible tragedy! I can't imagine the anguish of those people, knowing the mess they were in and being able to do nothing about it. Rest in peace.

[@ahsanrahib9958]

Its 3 am and i am sad and cant sleep. Thanks for this

[@h.calvert3165]

Hope things look up for you soon, my friend. I'm adding you to my prayer list. 🙏🏼

[@sheilastallard]

Love the end "for fuck sake's!" Keep Safe!!

[@Camm604]

OMG i live right next to death valley....i loooove when they do these type of stories and i love it even more when its close to home... can't wait to watch this!!

[@Iwishtheirwasnopain]

I live a few hours from death valley, the solitude and serene peace of the place is remarkable

[@maxbrandt6]

What a very sad story, out there you pay attention to where you are or the land will claim you.

[@grapeshot]

When I was in the US Army I went out to NTC three times in the Mojave Desert. And I can say without a doubt that it is the armpit of California. Although one time I went to Joshua Tree National Park and had a good time.

[@mikesaunders4775]

A very beautiful armpit .

[@firstnamelastnamethirdname]

As a Californian I can confirm. It's our dryass armpit. Dead, like our entire state and a lovely ignoring how awful it can be sometimes.

[@grapeshot]

@@mikesaunders4775 Like at night where you can see all the stars in the sky. The sun rises could be beautiful also. But the heat,sand ,tarantulas, scorpions and snakes they can keep all that.

[@mikesaunders4775]

@@grapeshot Yeah, I'd forgotten about that!.

[@timd4524]

Possibly and sadly the parents may have been in the position of having to bury the poor children who very well may have passed first. You would want to bury them to avoid scavengers.

[@Itried20takennames]

“Murdered, faked death, government spies, etc.”. I think a simple case of European tourists, unfamiliar with the huge size and therefore not always great roads in the US (some say German maps only include paved roads, which he might have expected), with little supplies but alcohol…in one of the hottest areas in the world…covers things pretty well.

[@joanhoffman3702]

Not knowing if the recovered bones showed signs of blunt force trauma from a fall or what direction the cliff wall was facing, I conjecture that they were resting in the shade. Evidence may prove me wrong. And being severely dehydrated will mess with your ability to think clearly. You must be prepared for the environment you’re heading into. This tragedy did not need to happen. RIP.

[@olivergammon2467]

Best channel ever. Keep up the good work bedtime stories. Re watch your vids all the time and always excited for a new one. Long time viewer, first time commenting. But just felt had to let you guys now how good you are. All the best and keep safe.

[@edwardbiasi37]

Thanks guys. This is truly a sad story. It is important to tell these sort of stories though.

[@hg1651]

Check out Evan Tanner. MMA fighter for the UFC. He went on a vision quest out in Death Valley and died.

[@howdy90]

He died in Clapp Spring in Palo Verde, CA. That's more than 350 miles south of Death Valley, CA

[@Rebel9668]

While I feel for this family, surely they researched the area before visiting and noted how few and far between facilities were there? I've never had the desire to visit for just that reason and the fact of the high heat. Even back as a child when cars had carburetors I knew that travelling out west could be a problem with carburetors needing to be adjusted to cope with the differing elevations. I always thought if I ever had to traverse this part of the country to stay on the main roads and carry plenty of water and even a large cooler filled with ice. Not only for drinking water but also in case a radiator overheated on the trip.

[@marhawkman303]

Personally I suspect the father figured he'd just drive across to the other side. Evidence suggests he's a skilled driver, but the vehicle was a poor choice for that road. He managed to keep the vehicle moving... even after he had 3 flat tires. For a little while anyways.

[@acrspeed]

The signs that say "AVOID OVERHEATING - TURN OFF A/C" are still all over Arizona and Southern California for a reason. I thought modern cars wouldn't have cooling issues, until I had 2 almost new (2018 and 2020) rentals overheat. Both went into limp mode, and significantly restricted engine power. One of them struggled to maintain 55 mph uphill, while the other dropped all the way down to 35-40. I was stuck among the tractor trailers, in the right 2 lanes with hazards on.

[@nandam3779]

I think people from small countries simply cannot comprehend how vast the US is, and people whose only experience of the desert is wild west films cannot comprehend how dangerous it is, or how much a car will not protect you. Personally I can’t imagine entering Death Valley without multiple gallons of water in the car, not to mention a decent map.

[@marhawkman303]

@@nandam3779 well he apparently had a map...

[@nandam3779]

@@marhawkman303 A tourist map, apparently. Not much good.

[@zensek]

@21:43 "FFS how long is this effing sentence" 🤣🤣

[@fluffnstuph85]

Gosh I love this channel. A monolith of excellence among a sea of clickbait and BS. Keep up the wonderful work guys, I look forward to each upload, and have been through the back catalog more times than I’d like to admit lol.

[@starsnstuff842]

The deflated tyres may have been deliberate as it increases traction and makes it less likely for the vehicle sink when driving across sand.

[@MegaSkyline69]

Great Sunday night viewing just before bed. Thanks fellas 👍

[@APhoenix46]

Yet another great video guys! You scared the shit out of me at the end where there was a bit of silence and then when you spoke that sentence I jumped 🤣🤣🤣

[@nibs8837]

Finally, someone else who watches to the end!

[@JoshJohnson-yl7ll]

A couple of weeks ago I went to your channel's playlists and listened to every episode from the very first all the way to the most current one..good stuff..keep ot up guys!

[@prodigal1970]

A complete tragedy, they were not prepared for the appropriately titled "Death Valley".

[@malcolmray4466]

You should do the story of the USMC soldier who was put on sentry in 29palms and forgotten about. They found his body months later

[@bobpieczarka4357]

The research, the stories, the dulcet voices.... amazing, but the artwork is always the highlight of each episode.

[@msk5410]

Had wandered out of the room as the story was ending. Then I thought it was repeating for some reason. Loved the outtake!

[@renegadetrooper7224]

My family and I live in Death Valley. We were in a town nearby called Trona.

[@SweetUniverse]

Why?

[@Komotau4691]

@@SweetUniverse Because they like it there? :D

[@powdercowboy90]

If you were lost out there and your two kids dropped dead that would be heart breaking and horrible.....but your in a survival situation and you have to keep going. Chances are the kids only made it a short time before dehydration set in....which is even more morbid....perhaps they dug some Graves for them?

[@hostileocelot]

Great artwork Mikey!

[@mikeyturcanu5595]

Thanks)

[@666dianimal]

❤ Thanks Rich, Simon & Mikey ❤

[@AndyBonesSynthPro]

I love this channel. The "spy/ CIA elimination" theory is the most ridiculous. Considering the relationship between us & Germany, if an unlikely weapons spy team was caught, they'd give them a cold beverage & tell them to go home

[@AndyBonesSynthPro]

Also Germany is a NATO ally under U.S. Air Force/ nuclear protection treaties so the only reason for an ally to spy on us is super weird shit no one knows about or could possibly discover w/ 2 kids in tow. Germany even makes way better cars than us

[@stuartd9741]

I agree. I also think the spy element is a red herring. If there was espionage going on and the German had gleaned sensitive information we would not know about this strange case - at all due to national security. It seems like misadventure. I'll prepared /equipped.

[@Dolanlol1984]

I live in Western Australia. I have only flown to england and spain. I love your channel. I won't be able to visit USA so thankyou for the wonderfully alluring tales of the mysterious weird stories from there! Xx many thanks. 🕊✅💟🕉🌞