take care and be safe near the forest! Unidentified bodies are regularly discovered in remote corners of the . Hi Connie,If you'll contact me at kmmblog@gmail.com I'd be willing to write a more detailed account of Crhistine's case. And those pretty young girls, yea, daddy taught'em to shoot when they were little, and one of them is fixing to put 2 in your chest. This pass is required to ride OHV trails in the Apalachicola and Ocala National Forests. Well, you made a lot of unfounded assumptions.. How do you know the FBI has actually got you under surveillance? If you can't handle it then it's simple, stay home. His body was found six days later, his dog alive and . "We have it made", we have fishing, skiing, ATVing, Horse back riding. Riding Restrictions Woods, forest, lakes these are all places people have used in the the past to do bad things and hide stuff so yes, arm yourself. When my husband and I were hitchhiking from Key West to the Pacific Northwest, he and the driver of the car who had given us a ride chatted about the forest. We're actually going back this weekend. Also, every officer eventually handles a case where someone was overpowered, and the gun is wreathed away from them. Ocala National Forest, 2011 . You'd think the normal reaction would be, 'thanks for the head's up! Violence happens in wilderness areas because there is no one around to witness it. The forest has long been my place of reverie and reflection. Yes it is like the wild west, and you have to think that way. Marion . It's a great place to enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, horseback riding, and kayaking. And of course they are lacking in empathy, heart, and considerations. In 1995, a fellow inmate at Florida State Prison stabbed Schaefer to death. I live in the Ocala National Forest. So few to make humanity look bad:). The four wheelers tear up the foot paths and take away any peace and quiet you might be trying to get. Waters. Not a place to run out of gas, forget AAA out here. And it never hurts to have a gun. I am in Law enforcement. At that point we decided we did not want to be seen and no longer walked with our lights on. SOZO Kids helps kids living in the ONF. Cops wont show up for awhile unless their in the area. If I knew when I bought this place about all that goes on here would I choose to live here again? You might be interested in this, Schaumburger. Im sure hundreds of people have read this article.And to those who dont like Its called Freedom of speech. Of course it is true of any large wooded area not yet ruined by the government and regulated by the criminals known as police. You are viewing a new design of the TOTV site. If the picture matches call the police station associated with the arrest. I had never thought about it until that moment, but I was actually terrified to see a human being. There have been a lot of sightings in this area yes, but from personal first hand experience from growing up around here and spending a lot of time out there I can say there are certain areas I will avoid. Its doesnt matter if they happen elsewhere in cities, or wherever. While I was a little pissed cuz he could of helped us. It is a very beautiful place. This forest is a hidden gem in Florida that many people don't know about. But I still do not carry a gun and I have felt safe! Better to stay on the main roads! Ive been to Hidden Pond a hundred times. Lacey also had a scar on her right thigh and abdomen, a dimple on her left cheek. Alerts. No one is denying your feelings. "Everybody is just so generous here, and just great, man," said . I have seen people shoot and kill each other right before my eyes. Hood National Forest 10-10-2019 Michael Dean Vos Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest 07-02-2021 Lester Young Whitmeyer Willamette National Forest 07-23-2021 Steven Van Pelt Deschutes National Park 01-17-2022 Alberto Sillonis Hells Canyon National Recreation Area, 02-04-2002 Jay Cee Pisgah National Forest 11-28-2016 Patti Pendleton Arcadia Management Area 06-13-2019 Michael James Sinotte Great Swamp Management Area, 04-12-1998 Jason Knapp Table Rock State Park 07-24-2016 Robert L. Jones Sumter National Forest, 06-14-1969 Dennis Martin Great Smokey Mts National Park 10-08-1976 Trenny Gibson Great Smokey Mts National Park 09-25-1981 Thelma Melton Great Smokey Mts National Park 04-27-2011 Christopher Lee Cessna Great Smokey Mts National Park 03-17-2012 Derek J. Lueking Great Smokey Mts National Park 10-06-2019 Daphine Lynn Westbrook Lookout Mountain, 06-07-1947 Dr. Robert N. North Big Bend National Park, 03-07-2021 Sarm Heslop Virgin Islands National Park, 06-23-1963 Bruce Ferrin Uinta Mountains 08-07-2011 Eric Robinson Uinta Wilderness 07-31-2017 Melvin George Heaps Wasatch National Forest 09-08-2020 Shelby Campbell Uinta-Wasatch National Forest, 07-24-1951 Betty Joslyn Terrible Mountain, 06-01-1996 Julianne Williams Shenandoah National Park 06-01-1996 Laura Winans Shenandoah National Park 09-29-2008 Earl Funk Shenandoah National Park 07-31-2011 Scott Lilly Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area 10-23-2011 Robert Wood Jr. North Battlefield Park 05-22-2014 Michael Hugh Camilletti Monongahela National Forest, 07-01-1950 Marcella Ramiskey Mt. Has anyone had any crazy experiences out there? It is so large and wide spread that people just dump bodies and they are never found. I have lived in the Ocala national forest for a good portion of my life. I didn't take them, but im worried theres something behind this? @Beck Thank you so much for your comment. That was interesting. Zero.I have lived out here for over 25 years. Rainier National Park 11-23-1997 Cheryl Lynn Valenti Gifford Pinchot National Forest 06-20-1999 William Tietjen Mt. -. They shoot the animals just to have something to shoot at and leave the carcass behind for the vultures. Feel safe. Yes I agree there is crime everywhere in the world and in the United States. Local News. Thank you to the author Those disappearances and murders DID happen. It is happening in YOUR forest too. Been here fore years. I dont know what to do but I am afraid to go to that area after dark, and I have lived in major cities all over the country, sometimes in what we consider to be rough areas, and Ive never felt this scared. Only peace. I take my daughter whenever I can, and am trying to help arrange a camping trip for her and her friends.Over the years the Forest has changed, as have the people in and around it. Juniper Creek Run. MISSING PERSONS. I stumbled on this site researching gun laws in the park. What is up with this activity? Familiarity with criminal behavior does not make one a criminal. You asked that those committing murders leave the bodies around to be found. Visit? Urban Woodswalker, night hiking is common in warmer areas for obvious reasons. Three campus cop who was playing along with UNLV sorority girls trying to steal my cats -- all of them actually caused me to become homeless from another apartment from that theft, so you can actually make that six times if you include campus cops. You're welcome to your opinion. Above 100 means more expensive. I have a decal on my truck that says it all.. Off to the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul. My camping van with solar panels, composting toilet and weapons awaits its launch in the next year or two. A missing child may involve additional, complex considerations. I'm glad I read this article and the following comments. In the last decade I have encountered naked men, rainbows blasted out of their minds, trucks full of drunks ready to chase a woman on a horse and others who did not look like the normal hikers, hunters, campers and nature lovers. Yet, it's one of the most extensive national forests in America. There are even a couple good restaurants out there. Your Name or Nickname. Date(s): Mar 11, 2022 . Type in your Question: Type in a question that other users can answer to. We had to stop and go back to the trees multiple times because now there were 6 trucks! "How about those two that 'disappeared' from up at Alexander Springs in Oct. The same direction Lacey was last seen walking towards. A random truck came down the road and saw us. And there are activities to do in the area, surrounded by the ONF and many boating opportunities, even to get out to the Atlantic. We'll all be fine! It happens. "His multiple admissions and the nature of his prior crimes are more than enough to convince a reasonable person that he was solely responsible.". Website. My observations into what I consider the ONF is that I have run across several tent cities. About 4 miles south of Alexander Springs we came across a cleared spot that had a campfire area and some logs for sitting. But dont let your guard down. Perhaps you are in a smaller rural town and have never experienced situations like this, but I assure you these are common occurrences. Ocala: 1-352-351-4718 or Gainesville: 1-352-451-4513 frontdesk@showcaseocala.com Baker National Forest 07-18-1990 Beverly Cummings Okanogan Wenatchee Forest 10-27-1990 James Kampe Mt. Sounds like you have something in common with the Murders. Directions. My friend had his 20G and I had my 12G with plenty of slugs. On June 1, 16-year-old, Theresa Ann Bier and Russell "Skip" Welch, 43, reportedly became separated in the Sierra Nevada mountains after they had gone to look for Bigfoot or Sasquatch. We left our RV at in the managers parking lot (for a fee) at Clearwater Lake because we were told not to park overnight at the Florida Trail trailhead, due to reports of vandalism there.We decided to hike past the campground at Alexander Springs since it was full and it was still early in the afternoon. Hicks said the family had a residence in the Ocala National Forest, where they spent weekends. Urban Woodswalker. Lacey Buenfil ,missing from the park 7yrs. There's an easy lesson here: young women shouldn't go hiking alone in a huge, unpoliced forest with a reputation for being sketchy.Truth is that girls seek it out, though, as determinedly as Calhoun's rats in the "behavioral sink". The area is safe and you would not have to take any precautions there than in any other safe area. Along the same lines, individuals who are in possession of a gun may increase their risk of gun assault by entering dangerous environments that they would have normally avoided. Chad called a friend for a ride, but when the friend arrived, Chad was nowhere to be found. If you feel its safe, despite evidence of crime and illegal activities, so be it. It's not for everyone. Sizelove kept detailed notes of his conversations, which he turned over to a corrections officer. It wasnt a question. We bought . I've had 50 of them show up at Farless Prairie at dusk and pitch tents. I agree with you. It is unknown what type of footwear she was wearing although a friend believes she was wearing sandals on the day of her disappearance. I worked for a woman who owned a winter property there for many, many years. They should atleast leave the person where they could be found so that they could have a proper burial and at least the family can start the healing process. On April 21, 2007, one of Blackburn-Wiles' sisters pulled over and Blackburn-Wiles got out and entered a vehicle driven by Billy Ashton. Friend of a friend lives alone on her acreage in Weirsdale on Lake County line. Always loved the area. Black bears are very dangerous. The Osceola National Forest has no dedicated OHV trails, and does not require a pass. I have always been very well armed and if I feel threatened I will kill you. MLS # She warned me of spiders ahead on the trail and then literally vanished. Bad things do happen here but I will never blame the forest. Sounds like a nice place to visit but don't wander around outside the touris-y areas. FOX 35 Orlando. Missing NPF View all results No . !And if you see a group of pretty young college girls and wonder if's safe for them to be out camping. The Springs and Lakes, are some of the most beautiful places I know of. When shown a picture of Schaefer last year, Hoover said he was certain he saw Schaefer following the two girls before they were abducted. Lying between the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Huron in the northern half of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, is the nearly one-million-acre Huron-Manistee National Forests. Recently hiked the Florida Trail with my dog from Clearwater Lake to Rodman dam. These fears are not entirely irrational either, with 2,727 deaths in U.S. national parks over the past twelve years. But that is a reflection of the times.What you must be aware of here, now more than ever, is a couple good ol' boys turning out to be meth heads, thieves or rapist/killers that see YOU as an EASY target. Deputies told . I've hiked and camped in the ONF for over 25 years. The killings and body disposals are unfortunate but, in the larger picture, they are rare. Ocala Post - August 13, 2015. It's changed, but still peaceful. I've encountered bears, rattlesnakes, alligators, coyotes, and even found big-cat tracks that were significantly larger than any bobcat I've ever seen. After getting reacquainted and fueling up at lunch, we gathered with Tom Taylor to discuss and practice communication techniques . What is truly the forest is not the towns mentioned previously. And be sure not to leave food in your area at night. Alternatively, an individual may bring a gun to an otherwise gun-free conflict only to have that gun wrested away and turned on them." I have driven through there a bunch and sometimes. Here, the ecosystems are governed by natural processes, providing people with a place where the environment tests their . Unknown, Salt Springs is a nice area. Neither did I say anything about carrying guns. Its not the forest. I have been going for 25 years . They also have the Florida trail that cuts almost 100 miles through the forest along with a 100 mile horse trail. 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