The Missing Man Who "Melted Into The Ground" - Charles McCullar (PART 1)

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This video covers the disappearance of Charles McCullar in Crater Lake National Park.
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[@TheMissingEnigma]

Be sure to visit www.holzkern.com/enigma and use code "enigma15" to receive 15% off your order!

[@ianmc87]

I haven't had a watch for years now. But some of these do look nice.

[@erikbongnilsson246]

do we have to wait a moths for it, or did you record everything in one go, so they can be published while we still have all the details of the case fresh in our memories?

[@gregorybathurst7171]

When Sir can we expect part 2 of this so called mystery. Going out hiking and camping in the dead of freezing winter weather is insane but people do it , if you prepare correct you'll be fine , opposed to being injured , I know the rigours of winter hiking being subject to years of Australian army cadets Corp where field trips were organized for 8 day winter hikes up into the freezing highlands and Tasmainan winter hikes 8 day summer hikes were for the less experience. We were given the best survival skills the Aussies army could provide.ive been on 5 long winter hikes and numerous shorter ones as support staff , what's extreamly concerning is the important things that should have been found immediately were never found , like his boots , his coins , jacket and why was a stack of his property scattered about , the people who stumble on stuff like this like an abandoned camp site should at least be held in some sort of account , due to know one just gets up and walks away from there living situation peoples first reaction should be stand back touch nothing and observe make drawings cause you probably stumbled on something important . Anyone who just gets into the site and rejoice at what little they find like money , knifes ECT and rip the place to pieces is culpable..

[@0therun1t21]

I love their bracelets and belts, and especially the handbags but I can't afford one. Pretty cool sponser.

[@richboyprado]

These watches are beautiful - awesome sponser Looks good on you by the way - goes with your style & blends with the tattoo nicely

[@glamdolly30]

His poor father. This case really encapsulates the agonies loved ones suffer, in not knowing what happened to their lost relative.

[@TPS_Report]

It is so heartbreaking. He was clearly getting manic about it, grasping at any possibility and shouting them to any authorities in the hopes that someone, anyone would listen and help him to exclude all these possibilities.

[@EphemeralProductions]

Must have been so so hard for him to finally hear his bones had been found. Especially hearing about food packages, being reminded of what his son liked to eat. 😢❤

[@EphemeralProductions]

@@TPS_ReportI know. Poor poor man ;(

[@Tom-ahawk]

As a father looking for their son, I can totally understand doing everything in your power to find answers, even if you piss people off or look unhinged.

[@greengoblin876]

If you dont mind me asking Is your boy missing or did his mother move away, cos either way , everyone deserves to know where theyre from or how their offspring is doing . Keep on keeping on my friend. I have 2 sons that i never knew beyond 3 years old !

[@teaspoonsofpeanutbutter6425]

Fk others sensitivities - they'll get over it. You'll never get over a missing loved one.

[@ShrexyGuy]

I'll keep you in my prayers brother ❤

[@josephbargo5024]

Honestly, given the circumstances and the supposed sway he had, he seemed very level headed and rational. The errors and apparent contradictions he made can explained a few ways. Whether it’s exaggeration (none of the these people were questioned for example), or miscommunication about what items should have been found where, I’m sure it was a simple mistake. Also, given the father’s assumed profession/background, his theory probably doesn’t sound that far fetched to himself.

[@dankone3]

Yeah but what’s the point of trying to turn the situation into something it clearly isn’t? He knows nobody killed his son, why does he keep peddling that bullshit

[@Gary_Hun]

I cannot describe how much better your signature art style / presentation is, than the regular crap stock footage galore most other videos tend to be.

[@kathyh.7709]

I agree. Those stock videos make that other content unwatchable.

[@stephpom5373]

He's creepy af. His emotions seem forced. Way up on the spectrum

[@brunamedeiros2959]

​@@stephpom5373 hum, you have 12 coments on this channel, all of them talking smack about the dude. If you feel like that, just don't watch his videos. Also "he's on the spectrum" it's such a rude thing to say, you don't get to assume things qbout people you don't know, what are you?? A internet doctor?? You seem to be the one creepy and rude.

[@PaulRudd1941]

​@@stephpom5373 yet you have 12 comments on his channel.

[@CatholicGirl99]

@@stephpom5373 Are you talking about the narrator? Lol

[@PlacentaFishcakes]

I can't imagine how much research these hour long videos take , but i genuinely believe your excellent longer form episodes are your best work by far and really show how amazing this channel is. Thanks so much. I hope your channel continues to grow and your videos receive the audience they deserve.

[@Doom2pro]

My theory: He walked into a valley filled with deep, loose snow, fell into it, couldn't get out and died mostly vertically. As the snow melted it gradually revealed his body allowing animals to pick away and remove the top half of his body, leaving the colder, more buried lower half to slowly thaw and eventually decompose the rest of the way in the creek. His other belongings could have been left farther away from where he died and other people took them and never reported it.

[@Hard_Car_Life]

That sounds like a really good explanation. I fell down in really deep snow and couldn't get up for the longest time. It's possible he fell vertically and couldn't get out.

[@Jazzjasey]

Spot on

[@columbiariverpussycat3769]

Why was his pants undone?

[@Jazzjasey]

@@columbiariverpussycat3769 it's simply the weather, elements or a branch that undid it over time

[@Doom2pro]

@@columbiariverpussycat3769 tried to free himself/paradoxical undressing.

[@kamya7104]

This channel is highly, highly underrated. Yuba Five was such a masterpiece.

[@frakismaximus3052]

That one was never much of a mystery to me, but the new information this channel brought was excellent

[@ac-v5360]

I think about that one on a regular basis. Masterpiece.

[@norsuist]

The mystery is more about what drove the boys to the wild and out of the car​@@frakismaximus3052

[@ivonne5987]

I completely agree! So well done 👍🏻

[@Idaho-Cowboy]

I've been in Crater Lake in May where the snow along the road was taller than the car I drove in. Someone going missing in the winter isn't exactly surprising. The unanswered questions are intriguing, but most likely this is a case of someone getting in over their head in the snow and underestimating the elements.

[@flingonber]

Yeah, I live near Crater Lake and the snow in January and February there is incredibly deep at that time of year; one year in the 50s there was 75 feet (yes, feet) of snow. Just based on the fact that his plan was to hitchhike in, I kind of doubt he had adequate gear or was prepared for the conditions...people do go at that time of year but it's not something casual.

[@DougShoeBushcraft]

He had no snow shoes. Post holing through deep snow is exhausting work. My guess is that he collapsed, fell asleep, and never woke up. It could have been hypothermia. It could have been a medical event. I know he was young, but a person can have a heart issue and not know it. Or he simply could have pushed it too far. Everyone has limits. Those are my thoughts. Awesome video, as usual on this channel. I can't wait for part 2 and hearing your thoughts about the cause.

[@OldsmobileCutlass1969Va]

Between this channel and Mr Ballen... It almost always seems like the "experienced" hikers are the ones who over estimates a task and run into trouble causing the missing part. And people who are new to an area... Especially in the dead of winter, can't be an expert in my opinion. Especially when 10'+ of snow cover! Any rational person after the fact would have seen the conditions once at the general store and probably turned around, realizing that they are under prepared for the visit.

[@ac-v5360]

Great point. Perhaps stepped into a big drift (80” is ~2 metres), the snow holds him in relatively vertical position, which perhaps explains how the pants were found? Just guessing here while waiting for the second part.

[@bearjersadventures9864]

I agree. With no snow shoes he very likely may have became exhausted. He is from Virginia if I recall correctly. I wonder how much experience he had with deep snow? I think falling into a tree well is another possibility.

[@dfreak01]

Yeah, and hypothermia can cause people to feel hot and start stripping but the bones in the pants doesn't fit that. 🤷

[@victory8928]

@@bearjersadventures9864his father also mentioned that Charles could make snowshoes. As to their effectiveness we have no idea. He had the materials from at hand and nature. That and as mentioned in part 2(which only drop today), the weather at the time wasn’t completely snowing and there may have been a slippery, thick layer of ice above the snow from snow melt and refreeze. Plus charles could have travelled on compacted snow for most of the journey as there is a snowmobile/skiing track that would bring you close to where Charles was found.

[@josi4251]

I cannot imagine what it's like to have a missing child of any age -- it has to be horrible not to know what happened. The father was right to question authorities about the investigation, and at times it appears he jumped to some odd hypotheses. Anyway, ME, thank you for this very thorough and detailed investigation! We appreciate what you do.

[@TPS_Report]

It is so heartbreaking. He was clearly getting manic about it, grasping at any possibility and shouting them to any authorities in the hopes that someone, anyone would listen and help him to exclude all these possibilities.

[@yomomma7126]

This is by far the best channel on KZbin that deals with this subject. The amount of research that is put into each video is amazing.

[@nickthestampede2160]

if you think this is good, you'll love Dave Paulides' channel. @Canam Missing Project

[@Wasteland88]

​@@nickthestampede2160David leaves out certain facts to fit his narrative. This channel is miles ahead of David's channel.

[@ZombicidalMadMom81]

I'm a born & raised Alaskan, we get black bears in our garbage cans and wolves creeping in grocery store parking lots at night. They are primarily scavengers who prefer an easy meal as opposed to running down their food. Perhaps it's due to this bias that, to me, a damaged pack and items w/ empty food cans strewn about = animals smelled the food cans and got into the pack. Most likely sometime after Charles died; which would also explain why his jaw bone and skull were found so far apart, along w/ other bones littered in between. Animals are gonna hunker down in the Winter but when the snow starts melting; bears wake up hungry and wolves will start meandering, looking for food. A dead body that's been mostly frozen during the Winter would be easy pickin's; items would've started to deteriorate by then too like fabrics.

[@Ranman1]

The outdoors are littered with the bodies of experienced outdoorsmen!

[@TLovly77]

And bodies of killers. I saw a case not too long ago of a man that had been killing people for a long time along the trails of a national park and no one was none the wiser even the police, so we never know what happened in some of these cases.

[@heathervandermark2192]

Absolutely 💯

[@pulaski1]

Also buried/ concealed victims, or even bodies just dumped, but far enough "off the trail" for nobody to find before just a few bones and scraps of fabric remain. In an area where there are bears or other large carnivores or scavengers, the time that there is even a body to find might be better measured in days than weeks. The "body farm" in TN reports that in warm weather a body left exposed to the elements, can be stripped to bare bones, by scavengers and insect larvae, in less than two _weeks!_

[@Bronwen597]

You run a very respectable investigation. I can't imagine you have ever missed a single detail, all while being sensitive to the victims and loved ones. You put a lot of hard work and heart into these videos. Thank you for sharing them.

[@fourfurrypotatoes]

You brought a ton of new information to this case. I never knew he hitchhiked to the location. David Paulides did everything he could to turn this into a paranormal situation but you provided very important information. I heard from David's video that the guy had a Volkswagen beetle and they found the car. He NEVER mentioned the man was hitch hiking there. Apparently there was no Volkswagen beetle and he didn't drive it there. Good job on the investigation work you did!

[@Pipsqwak]

There are a lot of errors and omissions in every Paulides story. He makes his money by exploiting these tragedies, exaggerating the uncertainties to fit his paranormal narrative and outright lying about many aspects of these cases. He's a charlatan.

[@sprkl5d]

@@PipsqwakNot even true! Dave Paulides is very honest and thorough. To be a missing 411 case , it must have certain strict criteria. No one is perfect. Sometimes the facts in a missing case change over time. Paulides isn’t desperate for fake missing 411 cases. There are thousands of true missing 411 cases and more daily. And FYI he makes ZERO money off his 411 series. Why such a hater?

[@travisn346]

​@@sprkl5dhe makes money off of his books, films, posters and speaking engagements (and that's his right). Paulides genuinely believes his own theories, but that doesn't make them factual. I like Dave, I just don't agree with his Missing 411 hypotheses.

[@deerichardz]

@@sprkl5d

[@deerichardz]

Paulides is a hack. He is somewhat of a 'broken' person.

[@Missmori]

can i just say how awesome it is to see you revisit this story. your first ever story. and its obvious how far you've come and how much you've grown.

[@stephpom5373]

He's creepy af. His emotions seem forced. Way up on the spectrum

[@Missmori]

@@stephpom5373 that doesnt change the fact that he his research and writing has seen massive improvements? Like i don't agree with your opinion. But it also doesn't change what i said lol

[@ashmarie5049]

I really respect you clarifying and demystifying on cases like this. I feel truly terrible for Charles Senior, I can’t imagine losing a child with so little answers, and feeling like there must be something more to it. I can’t imagine the panic and denial that someone must feel in that situation. I hope that everyone out there has a Charles Sr, who will fight for you and advocate for you no matter what.

[@doc_sav]

It is hard to conceptualize just how difficult deep snow can be. Last winter I was up at a ski resort that was getting unusually heavy snow, but nothing like 10+ feet. I was out walking my wife's service dog around the paved pathways, and decided to walk over to a snowed in tennis court to let him stretch his legs a bit. I got halfway to it when one of my legs sank into the snow up to my hip. In the struggle to step back up and out, my other leg sank in. With the help of our good boy and the nearby fence, I was able to extricate myself and get back to the path in about 10 minutes of heavy physical effort. My jeans and boots got fairly wet in the process. It was kind of an eye opener because it was really the most controlled environment possible. It would be interesting to see how the area where Charles was found looks at the height of the snow season. If the ravine where he was fills with snow, it isn't a stretch to imagine him stepping right into it, sinking into snow feet over his head, possibly having more collapse on top. How would he even get out of a situation like that? Add a significant injury to the mix... Anyway, I would never fault a parent for exhausting every avenue of inquiry, even if it is irritating to the parties involved.

[@elonever.2.071]

I think the broken leg bone is key to what happened to Charles. He completely broke the bone in his leg which incapacitated him.

[@wasshisface]

There are wolves, mountain lions and bears around there. Any of these would bite through a bone, so hard to tell if it was a break before his demise

[@thetruthchannel349]

@@wasshisface No, it'd be extremely easy to examine the bone & know if it was broken or bitten through. You'd be surprised the kind of information you can get from a single bone. You can get height, approx age & sex from a single bone.

[@EphemeralProductions]

Who’s to say it got broken before he died?

[@paulholbrook7315]

When Bigfoot captures a deer, it often breaks a leg to prevent it fleeing should it wriggle free........I live 2 hours from Crater Lake....Look at pictures of the single road open in the winter....There's no way he climbed the snow wall next to the road and hiked thru 10 to 15 ft drifts for 8 to 10 miles to Bybee Creek../..A big hungry Sas took Charles.....In winter at Crater lake game is scarce, there are no berries and roots are 10-15 ft down under snow and frozen soil.....The SAS, which would have ignored Charles during the summer, likely had a hungry clan to feed and Charles was there.....Back around 1920 another photographer disappeared there in winter....His name was BB Bakowski....The local Klamath Indians avoided Crater Lake like the plague....Said it was the lair of the cannibalistic Skookums. their term for Bigfoot..........

[@viciousKev]

​@paulholbrook7315 yes but Bigfoot always and without fail breaks the left leg, this was the right leg so that possibility debunked!

[@mandalorianmama]

I have to say this video feels much more polished! I like the mix of face cam, documents, photos, and drawings. Audio quite good as well. Can't wait for part 2!

[@jfrancis98]

Another great, unbiased, breakdown of what information is available. Thank you for your hard work

[@tonybell2801]

As usual, you supply the best videos in this genre. Your thoughtfulness, detail, and objectivity is always top tier.

[@joecarroll7087]

The odds of this being absolutely anything other than hypothermia, or an injury while hiking in the middle of winter is astronomical.

[@Scribe127]

How do you figure that? Between 2017-2022 75 people were known to have been murdered in national parks in the US. It is known that Crater Lake has had some particularly strange death cases. More likely that Charles had some sort of mishap but their is most definitely a real possibility of foul play.

[@brendanward2991]

Quality research, professional presentation, gripping content - this channel's got it all.

[@bgee461]

If the pants were truly found as described, it just means he fell in waist deep, tried to slip out of his pants, and eventually got hypothermia. Animals and weather took care of the rest. Anyone who has yardsaled in deep powder knows how hard it is to get out.

[@angelvalle6515]

I suspect the same

[@jkb1O5]

Lol “yardsaled”?

[@patrickglaser1560]

Skiing 26 years. First I've heard of salad, we say yardsale;)

[@robinstepanek1345]

Yeah, that’s what I thought to or he hung himself. Wasn’t any mention of overhead trees.

[@princessinmittens4783]

People get swallowed by earth all the time. It could have been very muddy at that time and it just sucked him in.

[@wjr4700]

Another awesome video. I love the dedication you have to these topics. Youre always reasonable and respectful to all parties and dont speculate beyond the evidence. I really appreciate the lack of fanfare too. Honestly one of my favorite uploaders, for a lack of a better term. Thanks man.

[@MiddleAgedPlumber]

Exactly how I feel. Other channels tend to add stupid creepy music that's too loud and drowns out the commentary, and speak in a tone an cadence meant to be eerie and it takes away from the reality of the case. I appreciate how this channel lays out all information, detailed, without the need to Hollywood it up if you will, by adding unnecessary Sounds and music. Much more respectful towards the humans involved as well. Some channels treat the cases like the people are just characters in th story and not actual people who suffered through these situations.

[@macbeavers6938]

I feel sorry for the boy's father. In such situations many parents undergo what looks to me like "temporary insanity", and understandably so. All it takes is a hiker to snap an ankle in the middle of nowhere and then mother nature takes its course. "Survivorman" mentioned this continuously in his many episodes. Very well done ME as usual. By now, the young man and his father are back together again. Let's take solace in that.

[@dtaylor10chuckufarle]

Good point, and very well said: they are together. May God bless them both.

[@macbeavers6938]

@@dtaylor10chuckufarle Thanks for the note D. I have lost a son which is horrible enough, but not to know what happened to a loved one has to be torturous!

[@flintsky7706]

He wasn’t injured in the forest, he was fucking attacked and murdered.

[@ransakreject5221]

@@flintsky7706 Maybe. But murder of strangers is very rare. Young men aren’t easy prey like hookers or kids. Kid probably had a knife. Sure it could’ve been some crazy random killer but they are quite rare. Could be it was a rape murder but very unlikely. Who wants to mug some young hitchhiker? They tend to have little. We’ll never know but more likely he fell n banged his head, broke a leg, got wounded by an animal, n froze. What almost killed me was I slipped into a stream n got wet n nearly froze. Was a huge pain to start a fire With numb hands. I started one just in time to not freeze. I’d argue if he was killed by a man it may be more likely a hunter accidentally shot him than murder.

[@duanejackson6718]

Possibly he was robbed while hitchhiking, perhaps even assaulted, he left with what belongings they dropped him off with and hiked in the woods and died.

[@Yaz-tw4pb]

Thank you for the detailed story and thoughtful analysis of the this sad case. May this young man R. I.P

[@l.e.miller1208]

Honestly I'm surprised more channels don't go back and update their videos. This was good and am happy to watch an updated video about a topic previously discussed

[@Kneon_Knight]

The channels with integrity like this one) do so, the rest are for entertainment, propaganda, opinion, or just hope no one will notice.

[@l.e.miller1208]

@@Kneon_Knight But even if its not for good reasons, updating an old popular video is clicks/content! So I'm surprised you don't see it more

[@artcflowers]

​​@@Kneon_Knightnot to mention all those channels that just repeat another channel's report, ie, how to make money on yT. Its a floodgate. ME and West Virginia Missing are the better channels, imo.✌️

[@livingabovethe12th]

Kinda feel like in all that snow he just fell down that slope. Possibly hurt and buried in snow. And thats that.

[@shasta7152]

I remember your early days. I was quite positive back then that you were gonna make it to be very popular and appreciated by your audience. And here we are. Congrats! Love love love your channel!

[@debraowen6723]

Sadly. Obviously. The guy was over his head in a very deep winter snow. Slipped. Fell. Broke a leg. Laid there and died of cold and his injuries. Animals scavenged his body parts for food. The camera and other lost items got washed away and could be buried in mud during spring melt. He shouldn't have gone. Especially alone. Young guys.... 10 ft tall and bullet proof......

[@greengoblin876]

Or a bear ate him or a hunter accidentally killed him or he fell in stream .. the options are endless !

[@sunshine3914]

@@greengoblin876Either way, there would have been at least some specks of blood on the clothing.

[@PenskePC17]

​@@sunshine3914nah, all that time in the elements? You might as well have bleached them.

[@utsurobune3530]

It's a shill for big national parks

[@0therun1t21]

The fact that you revisit cases with additional details and context which puts things in a new perspective is why I really respect you and your channel. The art and presentation are like the frosting on the cake.

[@russellst.martin4255]

29:42 "Never attribute to malice that which is adequately explained by stupidity" Simple laziness often fits just as well

[@kitfisto1827]

thank you for pointing out that experience does not exempt someone from making deadly mistakes. Paulides often uses "experience" (among other things) in an attempt to explain away logical, reasonable explanations for missing persons.

[@tyj9175]

I lived on the road and road freight for two years in the US. I was always asking the driver to drop me off at random places, remote places, and was also dropped off in random places by the driver. truckers tend to ditch you before they reach their location because picking up hitchhikers is frowned upon, or outright disallowed. a logger truck is working. they are going to a job site, either way. they're not going to show up with a random dude in their truck. its very easy to disappear when on the road. you meet other people doing it and realize theres a whole subculture. alot of these people have been doing it for years and are estranged from their families in exchange for adventure, for me at least, it was contagious. I ended up not talking to my folks for those whole two years. if something happens to you while drifting, youre gone. especially if youre riding trains.

[@alexebeling9366]

what do drifters do when drifting? Do they just eat, sleep, and keep moving a certain direction? For what purpose? Very interesting life you have lead, I would be lucky to hear more!

[@jobdylan5782]

​@@alexebeling9366lsd

[@joshuat5140]

I really think this is the best investigation channel on YT imo. He always knows all the facts.

[@tomjones2348]

Well done. Thank you for the thoughtful presentation of this case.

[@hyperiontheevil]

Nice to see you back! Youre one of the few creators ill sit through adds for.

[@jayl5032]

Get an adblock/different browser, bud.

[@13donstalos]

Just wanted to say that you are my favorite missing persons channel. I have watched all your videos, and so it's always a joy when you release new stuff. Great work as usual. Thanks for all the hard work you put into your videos. Take care.

[@deathtrance217]

Another big thumbs up! I have heard this case described by many other sources and it wasn't until this telling that I was able to get such a clear picture of what happened. I always learn from your channel and it is do to the extensive research, the clear way you explain and demonstrate all your points and the fact that you never let biased thinking into the narrative. Great reporting.

[@NASkeywest]

Maybe the reason small bones were left in the socks was because Charles fell and broke his foot/leg. He died, and the body rotted away Leaving the already broken bone fragments behind. An animal would definitely take a large bone but could have left the fractured smaller bone behind

[@annmcclure8378]

You do a very nice job, on your channel. I enjoy the way you cover these mysteries, with compassion, and consideration. Thanks!

[@lizc6393]

This is the KZbin notification I get the most excited about. After working a shity double at work today, this is exactly what I needed. Thank you so much for all that you do, this content is pristine!

[@EmileTherese]

It sounds like the dad just could never accept that the son maybe didn't do things exactly like he had taught him (or perhaps even worse that he did follow the teachings and died anyway).

[@kruksog]

It's completely possible to do everything right and still fail. That is absolutely a part of the human experience. Edit: I'm not saying Charles did everything right. I'm just saying, you can win every battle and still lose the war. That's humanity, baby.

[@VenathTehN3RD]

@@kruksog It's also one of the reasons I like this channel compared to some others I've watched: He actually recognizes that this is a completely valid explanation, rather than acting like accidents/mistakes can be ruled out because the person was good at what they do. There's this weird mentality I've seen pretty often in these circles where people treat being really experienced at something as if it transforms you into some kind of transcendental being that can't make simple human mistakes.

[@teenrose13]

29:25 Thank you! So tired of hearing people say that it doesnt make sense for someone to go missing because they're experienced. Theres so many things that can happen to anyone out there 🤦‍♂️

[@kygreenskeeper8326]

Been waiting on you to re cover this my friend... Thank you.

[@robinputnam2569]

Thank you so much for all you research and explanations of Charles McCullar missing persons case. I wonder how he ever got around the lake and over to Bybee creek with so much snow, it baffles me.

[@Za7a7aZ]

I am amazed about the material you have found on this case. It's very sobering to hear you present all the evidence and the logical conclusions possible...I heared of this case before and because of the little facts told it was easy to believe something weird had happened. Thanks for sharing👍

[@kharmaiz]

Another great video! I look forward to part two. Thank you for putting so much work into all of your videos.

[@sunshinerainbow2818]

I appreciate how thorough your research is on these cases. Thank you for your hard work and excellent channel!

[@kavannahlight5378]

Great investigation skills. Kindness toward the grieving father and his bias and looking into the entire timeline. Through your efforts, the victim's likely death place and mode of departure have been brought to light. Many prayers for the victim and condolences to the father and loved ones. Charles is at peace now.

[@michaelfairchild]

"Experienced" and "19 years old" doesnt go together. If he was 30, then sure.

[@Single.White.Female]

Poor Charles. He seemed like a really intellugent, cool guy, with a lot to offer this world. His dad had to be absolutely heartbroken. Thank you for the detailed account. So very interesting.

[@davidanderson563]

As usual, another superb, well researched video. Great job!

[@celestenova777]

This one has always fascinated me, interested on your take, sure it will be thorough!

[@Holy.HannaH]

So interesting jumping between your videos, your expressions now are much more animated that they were a year or two before.

[@DougShoeBushcraft]

The melting into the ground quote is awesome for a strange, scary tale. Good job as always. And BTW I've been watching your videos for a long time and wouldn't call anything cringe. The early ones were good, too.

[@frakismaximus3052]

Yes and you may recognize his voice on another yt channel that he used to work for prior to starting this channel )

[@crichardson3903]

Agreed. I have watched every video, some more than once and don't recall anything I would characterize as cringe.

[@CommunityMartyr]

I really like the even-handed approach you take in explaining the motivations of both parties involved. terrific video

[@joynabil]

Just what i needed in this freezing night! Thanks!

[@mrbbqcraig]

As an extremely experienced hitch-hiker absolutely you use your senses as a tool when catching a lift with someone. It's very possible he was stalked from a driver. But inevitably finding his clothes as they were and bones as they were seems to point to either his own demise or an animal attack. Great presentation and well researched dude, cheers to you 🤟🎶

[@speaklifegardenhomesteadpe8783]

My heart breaks for his dedicated dad searching for answers. Losing a child is something there's no words for, such words shouldn't exist if they did. I know the unbearable place and pray dad found comfort in the Lord. 😔

[@livewellwitheds6885]

im so happy to see you getting ads/sponsors! you work so hard

[@MithraSemiramis]

I always love your uploads and this one didn't disappoint 😻 it's poignant how the father channeled his grief into generating a phantom relationship with his son by working his case beyond the boundaries of reason 🥺💔 he still isn't as bad as Paulides 💥😂

[@NASkeywest]

Yea it’s a shame that Dave leaves out massive pieces of evidence in some cases that completely take it from paranormal to foul play usually

[@TigerLily61811]

Very eloquently said. He sounds like a man of action who loved his son very deeply. I imagine just sitting there not knowing was impossible for him to tolerate, so he did anything and everything he could think of. Even after they found the body, he still had no answers. Heartbreaking.

[@jamesdavidsmith4033]

Really excellent presentation, thank you.

[@MittensTheMurderKitty]

Hearing those letters just made me sad. That poor father.

[@karenc4544]

Thank you for your informative, well researched and thoughtful work on this video. My heart goes out to his dad. People often have a very hard time accepting the death of a loved one and do not want the death to be their “fault”. They want a reason. They don’t want it to be random, an accident. They’re driven to do something. Grief is a powerful emotion.

[@Mike-es2yg]

As far as "accomplished outdoorsman", he was 19! I don't consider 19 year olds to be "accomplished" in ANYTHING for the most part. Not enough experience.

[@diamonddave16]

Good point

[@augustusbetucius2931]

There's some truth to that, yet, by age nineteen, I'd spent more time camping, tracking and living in the woods than most will in their lifetime. It is possible.

[@kcck7588]

I know 19 year old that have done more than 50 year olds, and that’s a fact. You can’t discredit someone because of their age, because for all you know he could’ve been outdoors since he was 5-6 years old.

[@Chocoboranger]

Age means nothing. But if hes "accomplished" that has to mean he has done something of note. Worked as a guide? Eagle scout? Wish they would say so it wasn't just assumed.

[@rnkim2564]

how can a national park service REPORT... that includes a missing person and death report... GO MISSING... these are oath bound public servant/officers who file official records. WTH

[@sunshine3914]

Nothing I appreciate more than in depth analysis & critical thinking skills. Thank you!

[@annmcclure8378]

I guess, if you lose a child, and can't possibly know what actually happened, all you have is the persistence of trying to find out. I hope his father found peace, in his life, with this tragedy.

[@GabrielCamilo84]

Nineteen years and looks like 42. Extraordinary. RIP.

[@glenn8478]

Once again you deliver as usual 👍👍😊

[@danletter9357]

Yep. Like everyone else commented, great video, and awesome research. I’m a pseudo outdoorsman, myself. And experience (ego) is more deadly than anything else out in the forest. Death can come by just prolonged exposure to cold. You can even feel fine right up to the point of not. Over estimated skills, kills. Period.

[@coyohti]

I understand that a father will want to believe his son is faultless and want to blame such a terrible event on someone else's misdeeds. However, there is plenty of evidence that Charles was not, in fact, an experienced outdoorsman. A glaringly obvious piece of evidence being that he hiked into the park in the dead of winter wearing two pairs of jeans over long underwear- which might as well be saying he was wearing only long underwear. Cotton is the worst in cold weather, especially once it gets wet. Some people might argue that it was the 70s and that proper cold weather gear simply did not exist. Sure, gear like we have now did not exist but there was absolutely much better cold weather gear than two pairs of jeans over longjohns. I was a kid in Marquette, MI in the early 70s and moved to the PNW later and still clearly remember the awkward, but warm and functional, snowpants we wore for snow sports. I would also argue that an "experienced outdoorsman" would not use a proper tent knowing he's not sufficiently dressed for the weather. It really sounds like Charles had an idealized image in his head of how his camping would pan out and, sadly, it went terribly sideways at some point along the way. Regarding zippers: I believe that, in that time frame, Levi only offered jeans with button flys (it was their "trademark" thing back then). I could be wrong though. The buttons were metal, stamped with the Levi Strauss name, and riveted into the fabric. I'd think the metal detectors would have found them?

[@rocksandoil2241]

"Experience" in the East is not the same as "experience" in the cold snowy Northwest. Ditto for folks striking out in the desert after hiking in the South or East.

[@banksuvladimir]

I don’t really care when people say “experienced” even if it’s an accurate assessment. Life isn’t a game of rock paper scissors. In real life sometimes scissors beat rock and rock smashes through paper, just because you’re experienced doesn’t mean the wilderness won’t kill your ass, and it doesn’t make it “mysterious” if an experienced person dies in the wilderness. It’s the WILDERNESS, it’s literally full of animals so “experienced” that they’ve evolved to survive out there and they still get killed and eaten. It’s just silly that anyone ever brings up “experience” like it’s relevant in the slightest to the mystery.

[@dubsont1de]

@@banksuvladimir human has 10 years experience defeating nature. nature has hundreds of thousands of years experience defeating humans.

[@angelmist4253]

Assuming he was wearing actual Levi's. Could have been some other brand, couldn't it?

[@coyohti]

@@angelmist4253 Levis were specifically mentioned. I suppose they could have used the word in a generic way to mean jeans (like how people say "Kleenex" to refer to any facial tissue).

[@dariselectricincorporated3226]

Don’t care what the vid is about, or how long it is, I see a new Missing Enigma upload I hit play immediately.

[@asacschrader6367]

Thanks for another great video man! 😁

[@xXG3TPWNEDXx]

I respect his father for going all out for his son. What a great man.

[@itsg66]

Your content is always excellent!! Thank you 😊

[@TSmith-yy3cc]

Your research and presentation are fantastic! Really appreciate your approach to processing the available information.

[@robinmoore7202]

I really appreciate your channel and research/storytelling! I just hope you don’t end up like so many of these kinds channels with over-editing and background music that becomes intrusive. 🤞🏻

[@cynthiastark1472]

So glad you took on this case. I love your work which is very thorough. Thank you. ❤

[@fourfurrypotatoes]

I love the Mr. Rogers introduction. Those watches look amazing and would be worth the expensive price. Keep up the good work on your amazing videos! I think it was Mr. Rogers that did the cup thing. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[@VanessaScrillions]

I remember watching your first video of this incident :) Thank you so much for all the great videos!! I love your in depth explanations

[@YahushasDisciple]

I can’t imagine what it must be like to have a family member vanish, and never know what became of them.

[@Natef89]

I really appreciate the transformation of this channel throughout the years. I'm a new subscriber, but when I go back to your original videos I gotta say the new tone and presentation style you've evolved into is night and day -in the best way possible. Earlier videos had a bit too dark, almost edgy theme. Something you come across KZbin all too often. Now, it's like it's own thing. Almost a comforting vibe? Kudos to you in your growth MissingEnigma, I love your stuff including the older vids. Cheers.

[@fuzzfusion3749]

my man acting like he didn’t see us

[@backlogbrood2451]

Lol yup

[@mattstevenson1334]

Big KZbinr is getting too good for us plebs

[@GrifoStelle]

? Wut

[@wuwei43]

Bro getting Soo good at you tube videos he's starting to play

[@Swilla12]

That's rude

[@MorganTiller]

I apprrciate the no nonsense approach. Its great

[@johnchedsey1306]

I can't even fathom how any serious documentarian could take a case like this and somehow make it paranormal. So a kid hiked into a snowy mountainous area, probably got lost and ended up stranded by a creek and sadly passed away. For all the imagination people have, it's strange people can't imagine someone actually just hiking into a tough area.

[@Nature_guurrll]

Bravo!!! I’m excited for Part 2.

[@franalford202]

I lived in this forest in a tee pee in 1975 There was lots of hippies up there in September of that year for the day of “Harvest” A long flat bed 18 wheeler had generators on it and they had rock and roll bands playing for many campfires with blankets full of fresh cut weed available This has to be the most beautiful and spiritual place I’ve ever been to

[@rockinbobokkin7831]

I absolutely hate it when I'm taken for a fool, as I'm sure most people feel the same. I feel like David Paulides pulled one over on me with his books, as i bought some. Now, anytime someone unravels one of his nutty narratives, i smile for real.

[@gregbarnes1580]

I watched hi several times, but he never said anything substantive. Finally gave up.

[@MNJim1966]

How did a 19 year old man travel through 10 feet of snow with snowshoes? Think?

[@thebeasters]

Well it's pretty obviously but rarely people come out of the spell or have the curiosity too so you're a unique case

[@anonone8954]

David paulides is a shill out to fill his pocketbook.

[@ValariaJet]

​@@MNJim1966 Well its possible that this is what killed him. The snow held his weight a bit, until it didn't and then he fell and died in a position that would allow for his body to melt into his shoes. The different layers of snow would thaw at different times and shift unevenly. Either this broke his bones or the scavengers did.

[@wendispanogians2569]

Wow, that drawing of Paulides was spot-on!

[@NASkeywest]

I am fan of David P. And “missing 411” work that he does. That being said, there has been multiple cases where some very large pieces of information were left out. These pieces of evidence left out are usually MASSIVE clues as well. Not just some small minor detail but cases defining.

[@James-dy5tf]

I agree. Also, we wouldn't even know about these missing cases if it wasn't for Paulides. I've read every single book, every case, did my own research on many, and I agree many have potential explanations within the scope of what we would consider normal mundane reasons people go missing in the wilderness. That said, a decent percentage of the cases seem to have elements that fall into the strange and borderline supernatural.

[@danielhicks4826]

I am to but at this point I simply have to assume he intentionally omits certain details sometimes with certain cases, he simply has to it is either that or he is sometimes incompetent in his research and that I don't believe for a single second, it is a shame though because if you do that even just once it makes so much of your work called into question ya know, now I personally do think there is some crazy things in the woods but I believe in God and everything that comes with it I have no doubts spiritual entities and etc exist no doubt whatsoever, that being said this channel does excellent work and gets the actual police reports then shows' the audiences so ya dont just have to take his word for it and it more often than not can show what was thought to be a mysterious case have some more mundane logical reasons for the disappearance. As for why Mr Paulides does this at least with some cases like Aaron hedges for example- It could be couple reasons likely its as simple as he started out with genuine truthful intentions and yet since then his 4-11 series has borderline gone mainstream and almost certainly is a full time job for him now with decent money, so he likely tries to tow the line between wanting to do genuine research and tell the truth, but at the same time clearly omits certain details in some instances I suppose so he can add them to his books?.That being said I still respect the man far more then I dont and like James above said if not for Mr Paulides most people here wouldn't have even heard of half of these cases. At the end of the day David Paulides work is a net positive in the world I think, and likewise it is also good to have channels like these to keep people honest as well ya know.

[@coreym162]

Safe to say it's a bunch of B.S. People want life to be more thrilling and unexplained it's just usually not.

[@anonone8954]

​@@coreym162I've been married and have grandchildren. Life isn't boring and is full of surprises. I'm wondering if I'm going to have great grandchildren.

[@csj9619]

My heart goes out to this guy's father, but it seems like grief and overthinking lead to conjecture and making connections that weren't there. RIP Charles.

[@EphemeralProductions]

So sad. ❤️❤️

[@maddie8415]

I have to say that the more I hear about David Paulides' "investigations", I can't help but make the conclusion he's more interested in lore than actual facts. He's a great storyteller, but storytellers often want things to be more interesting than they really are. He tends to just leave out details that make disappearances more explainable. Thank you for covering the bigger picture. I can't blame Charles' father for wanting to believe it was more than an accidental death, though. He may not have known that this was such a cold and snowy area, or how dangerous this trip could be....so he may not have even had the chance to express any concerns to his son.

[@johnqpublic2718]

Great work, as always, @The Missing Enigma

[@plicketyplunk]

First time watching and I believe I have found a master storyteller. Subscribing.

[@problmatic]

I just recently found your channel and I absolutely love your content! Quality of storytelling and I love your on location videos. Can’t wait to watch more. Keep up the awesome work much love from Pittsburgh PA!🎉

[@MedicineWolf]

David Paulides doesn’t believe in paradoxical undressing, but he believes in serial killer Sasquatches…

[@deerichardz]

The only thing Paulides truely believes in, is the almighty $

[@kitfisto1827]

correction: shape shifting Sasquatches

[@anonone8954]

David paulides just asks questions and isn't concerned with solving anything other than a way to fill his purse.

[@skeleczar]

Yeah, I once became hypothermic and I have zero memory of it, but I managed to find an apartment complex with an unlocked door (it was the middle of the night) and instead of just staying put in the hallway or laundry room or entry area where it was warm, I went back outside and got into a complete strangers vehicle, took off my winter coat, gloves, boots, and shirt, and went to sleep. That man just happened to work the following morning at 6 am and found what he thought was a half naked, frozen corpse in his vehicle and called 911. I can’t tell you to this day why I didn’t stay in the warm apartment complex, knock on doors for help, or why I would have taken my clothes off, other than just your brain doesn’t work well when you’re dying.

[@Bill_tyler]

A name like medicine wolf but you’re blind to the world beyond the veil?

[@m0llymayo637]

Ah, man, we gotta wait for part two? Cliffhanger! (No pun intended)😊