Or that every word was intentional? He found the chest and gold in the summer of 2020. French treasure hunter sues for $10million after claiming Forrest Fenn But that second one was very subtle. No, Jack Stuef did not know Forrest Fenn before finding his treasure chest. With a bronze chest and the lock appearing in good condition, why is the key steel/iron? No, there are no plans to disclose the location of the chest and its final resting place besides "in the Rocky Mountains of Wyoming". Forrest Fenn's treasure was found by Jonathan "Jack" Stuef in June 2020 Scan this QR code to download the app now. Jack first learned of the treasure hunt in 2018 from tweets. Jack Stuef on Reddit : r/FindingFennsGold 1. Yes, Jack Stuef proved he is the finder of Fenn's treasure with photographic evidence. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The people who were searching for the chest wanted to be right. And Ive had some of those people email me. You would think so. The latter seems more likely. Daviss verdict was that the area is not equipped to handle a heavy human presence, so they agreed to keep its location a secret. The late Forrest Fenn and reported treasure discoverer Jack Stuef. As personalities clash, deaths come to light, and popular theories fall out of favor, several people find themselves changed by the hunt in ways they wouldnt have expected for better or for worse. Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. Ahead of proceedings set for June, a lawyer for Fenn's estate has subpoenaed Stuef for a deposition, hoping he'll say that he followed the clues in the poem contained in Fenn's memoir to the original hiding spot. The nuggets, the gold coins, the ancient artifacts are cool on their face. Peter Frick-Wright is a contributing editor and the host of an Apple Original podcast about the Fenn treasure, coming later this year. Then with time, Jack started opening up about his entanglement in the quest. And he always said that there was a kind of fail-safe inside. When youre holding a treasure in your hands, its the coolest thing in the world. Trash & recycling. I was trying to chronicle the hunt and also trying to be a treasure hunter. If the answer is yes, would you specify whether that information is in the poem, or in the hints in the book? Hidden in the Rocky Mountains a decade ago, a treasure hunter from 'back East' has found the chest. , Stuef applied for tax status and apparently moved to Puerto Ricowhere there is almost no capital gains taxin September 2019, nine months before he found the treasure. In a Dec. 7 post, Stuef explained that he went public as a result of the suit. It clearly impacted [Stuef] in a major way. You have stated that the blaze was damaged by nature and that you didnt initially recognize it as the blaze even 6 feet away. June 16, 2020 Fenn posts three photos of him with the treasure in what appears to be a lawyers office. Hands down! Many speculate that Fenn is extending a courtesy to the finder for tax purposes, keeping the federal government in the darksince they likely manage Sign in to access your profile, save content and more. Through the time to Fenns death, I think a lot of people, myself included, felt like we werent getting the full story. My name is Jack Stuef, and I am the finder of the Forrest Fenn Treasure. Over the past two years, all but one of the lawsuits have been dismissed. Student Cracks Code, Discovers Location of Elusive Treasure Hidden in Yes, all the other clues are recognizable out there at this point the same as when he hid it, but none of them were as susceptible to damage as the blaze was. It taught me that I am as gullible as everyone else. Karl Sommer, the lawyer for Fenns estate, put it differently. All Zip Codes in Philadelphia PA All Rights Reserved. Wed have to define too big, but right around the time I was getting into it was when there were three deaths in a month. In some strange way, it will make me smile knowing you are the only person who can truly smile back.either as a delighted nod or a pitiful shake of the head! I watched your video on confirmation bias and thought it was extremely helpful. I think he got into his groove with handling interviews quickly, and I certainly looked at and watched and listened to everything. Download the app. Maybe you can ask the DIA if they have a key for their version of the chest. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. We may have never known exactly where the treasure was hidden, but a frivolous lawsuit against Fenn has brought forth never-before-seen details. Did you indeed walk a human trail for a portion of your solve, or not? They say exactly what he wanted to without giving too much away and requiring work to understand him to reveal what they mean. Despite photos surfacing of the chest and its contents, Fenn said he wont reveal more details until the man from back East gives him the OK. Was the natural damage that the blaze suffered something that occurred slowly (like erosion, settling, etc.) It is EXACTLY what made the hunt so difficult for so many. I hope this doesnt sound crazy its an honest question. A DuckDuckGo extension in your browser, please access Newser without it: Either by removing it, whitelisting us, or using another browser. Lets be clear, he took the attention. Im not reading much of the online conversation because the emails keep me plenty busy. Privacy Policy. His is a native Michigan and a medical student. He told me he hid it when he did because he was in Wyoming anyway for an event at the museum in Cody, so it was convenient to hide it on the same trip. Finally last week, we got that answer. The moment it happened was not the triumphant Hollywood ending some surely envisioned; it just felt like I had just survived something and was fortunate to come out on the other end, The Finder writes. The treasure chest's finder: a Pennsylvania medical school student. One of the people who searched unsuccessfully for the treasure, Jamie McCracken, filed a claim against Fenn's estate. The finder identified himself Monday in a. I think the past tense does help you realize that there is a gap there, the search you have to do for the blaze. Are place names on a map relevant at all to the clues in the poem? If the poem wasnt a puzzle then how or why did it take him 15+ years to create supposedly? Jack had remained anonymous, he said, not because he had anything to hide but because he feared the potential threats that came with his findings. City offices are open for regular business hours. Youre awesome Jack thanks again for taking the time to answer me. And as an antiquities dealer with mountain experience, he would have seen a lot of old things and know how things survive in good shape (as well as the damages that can occur). Fenn really did curate the box. Cue the frivolous lawsuits. Some services are being offered online or by appointment. The treasure was filthy, and dirt got all over the interior bag I had it in. Whoever found the treasure would have to maneuver very carefully if they wanted to keep it. Which brings us to Jamie McCracken, theFlorida man now hunting for treasure in a New Mexico courtroom. He has been writing about the outdoor industry, running, cycling, camping, and more for nearly a decade. After pinpointing the location, he thought Forrest was talking about, he spent 25 days over 2 years combing the area where he thought the treasure chest was hidden. It was the very definition of an attractive noose. I think it would be cool to listen to that and close my eyes and envision your journey! Compilation: Mintina. Did Forrest Fenn simply overlook the effects of time and moisture on the key, or did some protection he have for the key fail? Again, he doesnt include any new information. I did ask him about those two little slip-ups. NOTHING about it will be accidental and The treasure will be found by someone who followed the clues to the location.. Or do you think you were just able to tap into some good info through the internet (scrapbooks, videos, interview) That helped you compute out the solution? 2. He declined to comment until his case is resolved, and its set to begin proceedings in June. (Not I, I assure you!). I think that I might have found a topic that you can address. 4. Opening up about his entire treasure-hunting experience, Jack Stuef remarked, The moment [I located the treasure] was not the triumphant Hollywood ending some surely envisioned, It just felt like I had just survived something and was fortunate to come out the other endWhen I finally found it, the primary emotion was not joy but rather the most profound feeling of relief in my entire life. In another blog post, Jack revealed that he has since secured the gold and jewels in a vault in New Mexico, where they will remain until he eventually sells them. 5 Years Later, a Trial, Trump Requests Mistrial in E. Jean Carroll Case, Biden Holds Line on Talks, but Cracks Are Emerging, Aerosmith's Big Announcement: 'Think It's About Time', Texas Governor Slammed for Tweets After Mass Shooting, It's the Second-Largest Bank Failure in US History, On Day He Decided to Flee Khartoum, US Doctor Killed, Killer Confesses to Old Murder. An affidavit in an ongoing lawsuit confirms that the treasure was buried in iconic areas of the United States, and now officials are struggling with how to keep the treasure's location from being released. [Carrie then includes a long list of all the coincidences she found]. Even if it made them do crazy and sometimes dangerous things. He has freelanced for other publications such as Outside Business Journal, Gear Patrol, and before that, various newspapers. To me, you need evidence that he intended something to be a hint in order to consider it as such, and I was happy to leave legitimate hints on the table if they didnt meet that high burden of proof. Department of Banking and Securities. 'America' Forrest Fenn's Treasure Hidden Location Will Be Announced Allen, hypotheticals are always difficult to answer with any accuracy. Based in Denver, Colorado, Elliott spends time running, hiking, camping, slinging beers, and occasionally fishing. It feels like you a part of something so much bigger than yourself. Thats not too much to give away because theres a million canyons. Did the solve involve the use of synonyms for words found in the poem clues? Im aware that over the years you have intimated that you may like to give these items to the person who found it, Stuef wrote. Hahaha! Well, the McCracken proceedings are set to begin in June. I am curious what you think and would appreciate your feedback, is this a tremendous amount of confirmation bias or a plethora of red herrings? In 2020, Fenn simply announced that the treasure had been found yet gave no details about its location or its finder. Jonathan "Jack" Stuef, a 32-year-old medical student from Michigan, has come forward as the finder of Forrest Fenn's fabled hidden treasure. Fenn made the announcement on his blog last weekend, saying that an adventurer from the East found the chest. To learn more, check with your department of interest. also im a full-time trader so we have that in common. On a website dedicated to the treasure hunt, Fenn's grandson, Shiloh Forrest Old, wrote that Stuef found the treasure chest "as a result of years of careful searching.". treasure was exactly where Fenn originally left it. For years, searchers have theorized that the treasure was found in Yellowstone, which is why Stuef wouldnt share any specifics: found property in a national park is supposed to be turned in to the park supervisor. Davis surveyed the area the following week and concluded that the spot was not set up to handle the increased foot traffic that revealing the location might bring. Service updates. No. It may have been bigger than a football field, but keep in mind thats the total limits of what I thought was possible. Yes. So, I could not help but notice that you resemble Forrest in many ways. perhaps you have a similar genetic makeup and therefore you were able to think the same as Forrest. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. If the lawsuit advances and Stuef is forced to provide a deposition, well likely find out precisely where the bronze chest sat in the wilderness for a decade. Then, in July, it came out that it was found in Wyoming. He says he feels an obligation to the community to at minimum disclose which state the treasure was found. Is the chests lock mechanism also steel/iron (and if so did it suffer the same rusty fate)? In terms of covering the hunt, Id like to think I was mostly rational, but there were times I fell into some conspiracy theory-type things. By rejecting non-essential cookies, Reddit may still use certain cookies to ensure the proper functionality of our platform. Daniel Barbarisi is the author of Dueling with Kings. The only hints he provides about the bountys location are that its between 5,000 and 10,200 feet in elevation, is located near trees, and that he hauled it there himself in two trips. did you have a similar experience? He said he put it inside rather than in the lock because he knew it would rust. 2023-04-25 14:28 HKT. If I had gone in that area, I probably would have needed some luck to notice it even without damage because I didnt know what I was looking for. But mostly what informed me was studying his words. For a little more than a decade, hundreds of thousands of people searched for a box of gold, jewelry, and rare coins hidden by the eccentric art dealer Forrest Fenn. Jack Stuef, a 32-year-old medical student at the time, found the treasure in 2020. The McCracken lawsuit made public photos of the chest in situ, still embedded in the ground, as well as. His view seemed to be that the location of the treasure became public information when Fenn published his poem. The exact location remains a secretthough one at risk of being divulged. And Stuefs first email reads like it was written by a committee of lawyers. I searched for it for two years, and on June 6 of this year, I retrieved the treasure from the place I found it in Wyoming, the same place Forrest hid it 10 years ago. However, as he got into a few controversies within his first few years, he left the media industry to study medicine. Journalist Daniel Barbarisi, author of Chasing the Thrill: Obsession, Death, and Glory in Americas Most Extraordinary Treasure Hunt, convinced Stuef to reveal his identity and he agreed. Did realize and try to backtrack? The number of people who go to the point that they were neglecting their home lives was pretty rare. Treasure hunters: Finder's lack of details raises red flags - New York Post For the most part, we stayed away from anything too dangerous. Fenns lawyer has also subpoenaed Stuef, who could be called to say that he solved Fenns riddle with no help from Fenn, and that the treasure was found in the exact spot where it was left in 2010. It fits a dictionary definition of the word and is used correctly in context. But I could never get passed my confirmation bias of Madison Junction, Firehole Canyon, Nez Perce Creek: HOB, Nez Perce/Mary Mountain trail. I ask that second question because I know I would have gone through it piece by piece. Thats the reason or excuse to search for it, but not the why. I put all this to tax attorney Larry Brant, who I consulted with. So, what comes next for those seeking answers on the treasures exact location? At the same time, it wouldnt surprise me if someone figured that out and hadnt told him. Do you think you would have found the treasure a lot sooner with a body at the spot? In terms of looking at that as a concept, you have to look at why people search for this thing. Thats a rather daunting list of objectives. In April, assistant U.S. attorney Kimberley Bell filed a motion to intervene in McCrackens case, arguing that publicizing the exact location of Fenns treasure would result in a surge of visitors and damage to the park. From there, online forums and YouTube channels would grow and change over time with new theories, field reports, and finger-pointing. Hi Jack, I hope you had a Merry Christmas, I have two questions concerning the final clue that you might entertain answering. Jack Stuef is the native of Michigan and medical school student who found Forrest Fenn's treasure chest in 2020 at an undisclosed location in Wyoming. French treasure hunter is suing Forrest Fenn's estate for $10million after claiming he was cheated out of finding hidden chest filled with gold and coins because it was MOVED after he solved. Its also important to note he once gave us an idea of how many hints were in TTOTC, and it wasnt very many. When a lucky searcher struck gold and found the chest in June, Fenn did not identify the winner, who wished to remain anonymous, and he did not reveal the location of the chest, telling ABC News after it was found that he "hid it in a pretty good place.". Jack Stuef, a 32-year-old medical student at the time, found the treasure in 2020. Thanks Donna. He didnt see the life that this would take on, and I cant blame him for that. I hope you are staying safe and anonymous for now. At present, Forrest Fenns site has a banner on the top that reads, Forrest Fenns Treasure was found in Wyoming in 2020 the chase is over.. Department of Education. Things Fenn lied about, according to "finder" Jack Stuef Been wiseis using the past tense been important? He also said that he selected the treasure location with care: I considered mudslides, forest fires, earthquakes, and floods. These statements set up a few questions that I think are safe for you to answer: 1. Maybe he had time to prepare. If you were free and clear of any legal worries, would you want other searchers, who developed a fondness of Forrest and his Chase over the years, to know the special spot? Thanks Dave. When Forrest Fenn announced his famed treasure was claimed in June, he said he wouldnt reveal the finders identity without his permission. Depends on your definition of significantly. The poem directs you to a section of forest in which to search for the blaze, but that is something you had to search for. Is any part of the solve outside of Wyoming? Barbarisi explored that ethos and went afield with several of the characters involved in the search, which became the basis for his book. And although he solved the riddle in 2018, he wasnt able to locate the actual chest until two years later. Sooooo, is there an album or artist that you listened to that sticks out when you reminisce back on your WY adventures ? "The U.S. District Court for New Mexico has . 2. Based on these and prior knowledge of Stuef's search area, the precise location of these photos has now been determined. Scores of treasure seekers would scour his book, television interviews, and other materials for added meaning to those clues. Stuef wrote that Fenn's death was not the first time the man had made him cry, but that he cried throughout the strenuous treasure hunt. that the treasure was found in Yellowstone, which is why Stuef wouldnt share any specifics: found property. After his death, Stuef published an ode to Fenn on Medium under the byline "The Finder." First of all, Congratulations! There are hundreds and hundreds of gold nuggets, he said. Journalist and amateur treasure seeker Daniel Barbarisi tells us what he learned from the search for Forrest Fenns treasure and what it was like to hold it in his hands. When it did happen, he was in it. I spent the last 7 summers working out in Wyoming, looking for the treasure in my spare time. Profiling all this and much more, CBS 48 Hours: The Fenn Treasure shows us precisely what went down with several of the individuals involved in the hunt, most notably, the one who found it, Jack Stuef. His name is Jack Stuef. You can read more about Stuef and his backstory here. If I could be assured the spot wouldnt be destroyed, and Forrest was ok with it, and most of them wanted it to just be handed to them, then sure. Thousands of people pursued the elusive treasure since 2010, and at least five people died in the thrill of the chase. Either he ended it himself or something else is going on. I live in the Adelaide Hills, in South Australia. Finder of Fenn treasure identified, but skeptics remain unconvinced A lot of my solves got two steps in and there really wasnt much else. He revealed his identity to Outside in December of that year, just before being added as a defendant to one. The contents aren't fully known, but there were 19th-century coins, gold nuggets, rare jewels, pre-Columbian artifacts, and more inside a small bronze chest. Copyright 2023 Fenn's Treasure. I do have a question, but first I wanted to sincerely express how much I enjoyed your YouTube video on Bias Confirmation. When Fenn put out his book, he wasnt thinking it would get so big. Its strange but yes, it seems like something that very much colored [Stuefs] hunt. I think its possible to read that multiple ways and be correct. A burner account u/inthewood33 posted this link July 15, 2018 with a description and images of a shovel and rock and crossbones that they found and interpreted as a fake blaze.. Its that concept of a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.. Once they searched that location and had a positive hit from their treasure-hunting dog, they determined they found where the chest used to sit. :). Forrest said he stayed mum on the exact hiding date to prevent searchers from pulling car rental records to calculate miles driven, etc. Five deaths are attributed to the search. Jack had remained anonymous, he said, not because he had anything to hide but because he feared the potential threats that came with his findings. You can start to feel really stupid then. And you can feel that when youre looking through it. Jack Stuef. Q3 If everything went as FF had first planned and took his life at the spot. There are some little nuggets of evidence in his quotes, but theyre not as important as that big-picture stuff. I surmise that the poem itself, taken as a whole, points to one general area on a map by place name. Once it was a phenomenon, it was too late. But if this passes without Stuef coming under oath, then modern historys greatest treasure hunt might end with a hiding spot reveal that's 3,500 square miles. Once it morphed into that, I think Fenn had recognized that, for better or for worse, it was his thing and nothing was going to take this away from him and he took that personally. In 2020, Fenn simply announced. That hed know when it was found. No, I didnt encounter a fence or barbed wire. or rather suddenly (like, if not specifically, the things Forrest Fenn lists: mudslides, forest fires, earthquakes, and floods)? Although details have slowly surfaced since Jack Stuef located the gold-filled chest, the greatest Fenn mystery of all remained unsolved: Where was the treasure hidden? Then you get out there in the wilderness and realize you have two ideas, you need nine, and youre basically just out for a walk. Ranger Sarah Davis has admitted that Fenn and Jack Stuef, the 30-something medical student who found Fenn's treasure in the summer of 2020, revealed the location to her during a Zoom call. Fenn wouldnt say who found the treasure. It took nearly a decade since hed buried it in 2010 for someone to untangle all the clues hed left on his website and in the poem, but a man from back east, Forrest stated, who wished to remain anonymous, had finally done it. Based on McCracken's discovery in the Fenn probate case, several pictures were released of the treasure chest in situ (purportedly taken on June 5, 2020). For information on a specific SEPTA route, view the real-time system status. There was a feeling that you could get close to him, and thats incredibly tantalizing to people. I think I can answer that either way and people would quibble if they knew all the answers. If that is the case with me, I would be happy to receive them, but I think it would be prudent that I first return your treasure to you so you can fully verify that it belongs to you. 2. Even when Im theoretically detached and floating above it all, Im not. Ive been pondering the problem of you being willing to communicate with other seekers, wanting to provide useful and interesting information, but not wanting to give away the treasure site. He revealed his identity to Outside in December of that year, just before being added as a defendant to one of the lawsuitsmy texts and emails were hackedwhich forced his hand. Wanted: Did you see or make this shovel & fake blaze? We want to know But Stuef passed the test. I was doing a dual-purpose thing. Q2 Have you thought about saving the same location to have your ashes rest? But the lawsuit from Florida's Jamie McCracken, who says he has evidence that Fenn was still alive after his death was announced, accuses Fenn of monitoring his search and moving the treasure four times when McCracken got too close, per Outside. Haha. "Ive probably thought about it for at least a couple hours a day, every day, since I learned about it," Stuef said. He also confirmed his find on his Twitter account. It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more Its been a month since Forrest Fenn announced his treasure was claimed, but the public is still not much closer to knowing the bountys location or finder. Had the blaze not been damaged, do you believe you wouldve found the spot on your first trip in 2018, or did you really need to know what blaze you were looking for in order to identify it (regardless of the condition of the blaze)? However, the author of this document, speculates that Jack ultimately found the treasure in a totally different location using some ulterior, less than honorable means. Here are a few questions Ive been wondering about: 1. But maybe the individual clues from there on dont have specific place names. Who Found the Fenn Treasure? Where is Jack Stuef Now? I understand if you dont have the time to answer, I appreciate you taking the time to answer my first email. Barbarisi himself had spent months searching for the treasure himself. It doesnt even rhyme completely. Barbarisi reveals that The Finder is ready to lose his anonymity. A 32-year-old medical student has been identified as the finder of a million-dollar treasure that evaded seekers for more than a decade. 1. He, needs Stuef to say that he solved the clues in the poem fair and square. I think some people read too much into that 15 years comment. As you read, youll laugh at misadventures, find relief when the treasure is found, and still have questions. Can you honestly say that you knew for certain that your location was the location prior to recovery? If Sommer questions Stuef, however, McCracken also gets a turn. A lot of the trouble people ran into was searching at the wrong time of the year. Do you have to go physically into the canyon? Thousands of people participated in the. I have spoken to so many who felt like Fenn gave them some personal message or clue. - f. However, the finder understands how important closure is for many searchers, so today he agreed that we should reveal that the treasure was found in Wyoming.. Was the damage the blaze suffered just poor dumb luck (like a tree falling, of all places, directly on the blaze or a localized landslide on an apparently stable slope occurring right at the chest site), or did Forrest Fenn simply grossly underestimate the ravishes of time and the forces of nature? It was during Jacks early years in the scientific medical program that he got into Forrest Fenns treasure chase and could not let go. It took two months of correspondence before the man who found Forrest Fenns treasure told me his name, Barbarisi writes. Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members! Know more in just minutes with our free newsletters. Also, Fenn said the person who find it would have analyzed and then moved with confidence. In preparation, Sommer subpoenaed Stuef for a deposition. POWELL The identity of the "finder" of Forrest Fenn's famed treasure has been revealed as Jack Stuef, a 32-year-old Michigan resident, though the location remains a mystery. Finder of Rocky Mountain treasure chest identified as 32-year-old medical student - ABC News Finder of Rocky Mountain treasure chest identified as 32-year-old medical student He revealed himself after a court order would have made his identity public.