Thelma Polly Melton - Great Smoky Mountains National Park - Locations Unknown

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
Thousands of people have mysteriously vanished in America's wilderness. Join
us as we dive into the deep end of the
unexplainable and try.

Speaker 2 (00:18):
To piece together what happened.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
If you are listening to Locations Unknown, what's up, everybody,

(00:57):
and welcome back to another episode of Locations on I
Am your solo host Mike van der Bogartz.

Speaker 2 (01:04):
Joe is.

Speaker 1 (01:05):
Don't know where Joe is this week, but he We
celebrated a big birthday week last week, turned the Big
four to oh, so he is not with us this week,
So I'm gonna be giving this a shot solo tonight.
So before we get going, I just want to thank
all of our loyal listeners for tuning in. Got some
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(01:27):
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(01:48):
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(02:11):
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(02:34):
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Speaker 2 (03:13):
Have we love this.

Speaker 1 (03:14):
Place we're in a zoo, basically people walk by and
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had a bunch of people tworking last, episode so we're
gonna miss, that but on to bigger and better things.
Hopefully in the, meantime you can also check out a
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check Out Peanut butter And Mountain, Podcast off The, Trails
The Weirdos We Know who Runs This, park And Crime

(03:36):
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(03:57):
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(04:19):
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pay for the, Stuff so just as a thank you
for supporting the. Show obviously there's No joe, here so
who knows what kind of updates he's, got so we
will just get right into the. Show On september twenty,

(04:53):
fifth nineteen eighty, one a fifty eight year old woman
mysteriously vanished while hiking a familiar trail In Great Smoky.
Mountains moments after walking ahead of her, friends she disappeared
without a. Trace strange behaviors leading up to that, day
including unusual phone calls and miscommitments only deepen the. Mystery

(05:14):
despite exhaustive, searches her fate remains. Unknown was she, lost,
abducted or did she deliberately. Disappear join us this week
as we investigate the disappearance Of thelma Poly melton In
Great Smoky Mountains National. Park so we are going back

(05:52):
To Great Smoky Mountains National. Park it's one PARK i
have not been to. Yet i'm hoping to get there.
Someday it looks beautiful and all the pics and Videos i've. Seen,
specifically this case takes place In Deep Creek trail near
The Deep Creek.

Speaker 2 (06:08):
Campground this is a well known.

Speaker 1 (06:09):
Trail it's an easy hiking path that runs parallel to
The Deep, creeks a stream in the, Park so very
easy trail for anyone to. Do. Obviously this park is
located In tennessee and a bit Of North. Carolina it
was Established june, fifteenth nineteen thirty. Four it is one
of the most populated or visited parks in the. Country

(06:30):
so in twenty twenty three you saw over thirteen point
three million, People so a lot of people visit the.
Park some quick habitation history of the, areas so around
ten THOUSAND bc was when the first Humans Paleo indians
arrived in the region as nomadic hunter gatherers following the
treat of The. Glaciers evidence includes stone tools spear points

(06:52):
found in the area indicating they hunted megafauna like. Mastodons
that would be a crazy site if you could jump
in yourri and go back and see. That fast forward
now to about one THOUSAND, bc so archaic and woodland
periods see semi permanent. Settlements indigenous people ancestors of The
cherokee developed agricultural our, agriculture so we're talking, corn, beans,

(07:15):
squash and they created villages with more sophisticated tools and.
Pottery around one thousand to seventeen hundred, eighty The cherokee
established a strong, presence forming the Overhill cherokee towns along
rivers like The Little. Tennessee they live in semi permanent,
villages practicing, farming, hunting and, trade with a population estimated

(07:36):
at several thousand in The Smoky smoky's region by the eighteenth.
Century so, unfortunately a lot of us who've had history
know what comes, next and it's a sad part of
history here In, america but it is still part of.
History so late seventeen hundreds to the early eighteen, Hundreds european,
settlers primarily, Scott irish And german, immigrants began, arriving and

(07:58):
initially their contact With cherokee tribes led to, trade but
conflict arose pretty. Quickly by eighteen thirty, eight The trail
Of tears forcibly removes most of The, cherokee though some did,
remain forming The eastern band of The Cherokee indians in
your present Day, Cherokee North. Carolina, now eighteen hundreds to
early nineteen, hundreds white settlers established small farming communities and

(08:22):
logging towns Like Cade's cove And. Elkmont population grows to
a few, thousand relying on subsistence agriculture and. Timber by
the late nineteenth, century industrial logging, intensified altering the, landscape and,
thankfully by the nineteen twenties up to nineteen thirty, four
a movement began to grow to Create Great Smoking Mountains
National park In tennessee And North. Carolina, so and this

(08:45):
was really helped with private donors Like JOHN. D Rockefeller.
Junior so what they did basically was they went out
and they bought out all the land owners in the,
area which displaced about twelve hundred, families and In june,
fifteenth nineteen thirty, four park was. Established permit habitation within
the boundaries of the park was we weren't allowed to do, it,
so you, know thankfully they did. This i'm going to

(09:07):
get into some facts about the. Park it really preserved
this park because it probably if things had kept, going
would have gotten. Clearcut, so you, know thankfully they were
able to get this park established and now we can
all enjoy the amazing wilderness Of Great Smoking Mountain National.
Park so a couple interesting facts about the. Park so

(09:28):
this ONE i did not. Know the park was a
refuge For Ice age. Survivors so during The Last Ice,
age approximately twenty thousand years, ago The Great Smoking mountains
served served as a refuge for plant and animal species
migrating south to escape advancing. Glaciers this geological history contributes
to the park's exceptional biodiversity, today including species like hellbender

(09:50):
salamanders that have persisted for. Millennia this is another ONE
i didn't know a lot of. FACTS i didn't know this.
Episode so synchronous fireflies perform a rare natural show in this.
Park if you've never heard of synchros, fireflies don't feel.
BAD i never heard of them. Either the park house
one of the world's few populations of synchronous, fireflies which

(10:10):
flash in unison as part of their mating. Ritual the
spectacle peaks Late may to Early june Near elkmont and draws,
thousands but access is limited via lottery system due to
its rarity and ecological. Sensitivity that is SOMETHING i would
like to see someday in my. Life if you're one
of those people that loves visiting old, cemeteries this park
contains over one hundred and fifty historic, cemeteries so scattered

(10:34):
throughout the park are more than one hundred and fifty,
cemeteries ranging from small family plots to larger burial grounds
remnants Of appalachian communities displaced during park. Creation many are,
unmarked identified only by periwinkle plants settlers used to ward
off evil. Spirits this next ONE i do remember from
a previous. Episode it sounds absolutely wild and something that

(10:56):
kind of sounds made, up but it's. Real so mountain
waves cause destructive winds in the, park so the park
experienced power experience is powerful mountain wave winds reaching speeds
of eighty two one hundred miles per hour. More this
happens a couple times a, year usually From october To.
April these, winds strongest near foothills Like Cade's, cove contributed

(11:17):
to the devastating twenty Sixteen gatlenburg wildfire by fanning flames.
Unpredictably that is absolutely. Wild So elkmont became a ghost
town after park. Creation so The elkmont, area once a
thriving logging community and vacation, retreat turned into a ghost
town after the park's establishment in nineteen thirty. Four residents

(11:37):
were allowed to stay under lifetime, leases but as leases,
expired over seventy buildings were, abandoned which nineteen today are
now preserved for. Visitors The Fontana dam displays communities. Underwater
So Fontana, lake bordering the park's southwest, edge was created
by a four or eighty foot dam completed in nineteen forty,
four the tallest dam east of The. Rockies its construction,

(11:59):
flooded so sveral, communities submerging homes and cemeteries now beneath the,
lake occasionally visible during low water. Levels pretty. Crazy the
park's old growth forests are globally. Significant so this is
getting back to WHAT i said about thankfully why the
park was. Created so about twenty five to thirty three
percent of the park's, forests roughly one hundred thousand to

(12:19):
one hundred and thirty thousand acres our old, growth never,
logged with trees hundreds of years. Old this is the
largest such stand east of The, mississippi and it's very
rare in this type of temperate deciduous forest biome. Worldwide
so very important that, they you, know protected this area
BECAUSE i would have, IMAGINE i would imagine if they

(12:40):
hadn't created this, park most of those trees probably would have.

Speaker 2 (12:42):
Been clearcut by.

Speaker 1 (12:43):
Now so thankfully they protected the. Park get into a
little bit of the climate, here so thanks to our
friends at THE cope And Climate Classification, system the climate
Of Great Smoking Mountains National park is classified as a
humid sub tropical characterized by mild to warm, summers cool
to cold, winters and significant precipitation year.

Speaker 2 (13:03):
Round.

Speaker 1 (13:03):
Temperatures average highs in the summers eighty eighty five degrees
fair night or twenty seven to twenty nine degrees celsius
at lower elevations it cools to seventy to seventy five
degrees fahrenheit twenty one to twenty four degrees celsius for
our foreign listeners at higher peaks Like Klingman's, dome which
can get down to the fifties or sixties in, summertime

(13:23):
so winters see highs of forty five to fifty five degrees,
fahirnight or seven to thirteen degrees celsius at lower, levels
and thirty to forty degrees fahrenheit are minus one to
four degrees celsius higher. Up precipitation annual rainfall averages fifty
five to eighty five inches or one hundred and forty
to two hundred and sixty sixteen. Centimeters this increases with
elevation and making it one of the wettest areas in EASTERN.

(13:47):
Us snowfall does, vary, though with five to ten inches
thirteen to twenty five centimeters at lower elevations and up
to sixty two one hundred inches or one hundred and
fifty two to two hundred and fifty four centimeters at
higher elevations like The Newfound, gap and this occurs mostly
In december To march. Seasons spring is Usually march To.
May it's mild and, rainy with blooming. Wildflowers summer Is

(14:09):
june The. August it's, warm, humid and, lush though afternoon
thunderstorms are. Common fall is Typically september To. November this brings,
cooler drier weather and vibrant foliage peaking In. October winter
Is december To. February, obviously it's, chilly with occasional heavy
snow at higher. Elevations some unique features of the. Park
the park's smoky haze comes from vegetation releasing volatile organic

(14:33):
compounds enhanced by high. Humidity often it needs to be
seventy to ninety. Percent elevation drives the. Microclimates that's pretty.
Interesting so that's where the smoky word in the park comes.
From so a little bit about the. Train so The
train Of Great Smoking Mountains National park is rugged and,
diverse shaped by obviously ancient geological processes and its position

(14:55):
along The Tennessee North carolina. Border so elevation in the,
park you, know it spans from a low of eight
hundred and seventy six feet or two hundred and sixty
seven meters at the mouth of The Abrams creek to six,
thousand six hundred and forty three feet or two twenty
five meters At Klingman's Dome dome the highest point In,
tennessee and The Appalachian trail mountains in the, area so

(15:16):
it's dominated by The Appalachian. Range the train features rounded
for forested ridges and peaks remnants of a mountain chain
once as tall as The, rockies which was eroded over
two hundred million. Years how crazy would that be if
the eastern part of The United states had a mountain
range like The rockies in, It so that's interesting to think.

Speaker 2 (15:34):
About notable summits.

Speaker 1 (15:36):
Include Mount lecante at six, thousand five hundred ninety three
feet or two thy ten meters And Mount. Gayote probably
said that, wrong but it's at six six hundred and
twenty one feet and two thy eighteen. Meters there's a
lot of valleys and coves in the, park so deep
valleys in sheltered coves Like Cade's cove And greenbrier punctuate

(15:57):
the uplands formed by erosion and. Faulting these, flat flatter
areas once home to others contrast the steep. Slopes there's
also a lot of water features in the, park so
over two nine hundred miles or six hundred and sixty
seven kilometers of streams and, rivers including deep creek carved
the terrain fed by. Rainfall waterfalls such as The Grotto
falls and The Laurel falls are, common especially along steep.

(16:19):
Gradients but a little bit of the animals and other
dangers in the. Park so you've got black bearris so
the park is home to about fifteen hundred to two
thousand black, bearries roughly two per square, mile making them
frequent a frequent site to. Hikers they're active year round,
so but they're more visible in spring and fall for.
Foraging you going to see white tail, Deer eastern wild

(16:40):
turkeys this one was. Surprising elk so they were reintroduced
in two thousand and one and there's a herd of
about two hundred elk in The Cattaluchi valley on The
North carolina. Side they're mostly visible at down or dusk
grazing in, meadows though less common park. Wide you've also
got red and gray foxes two hundred forty two hundred
and forty bird. Species you've got copperhead and timber, rattlesnakes

(17:04):
both our venomous butt. Rare you've got bobcats and. Coyotes
other dangers you're going to experience in the park if
you go, hiking you, know especially backcountry, hiking is you
are going to have black bear. Encounters so confrontations are a,
risk especially if your food is improperly. Stored this is
one of the things you should always think about when.

Speaker 2 (17:21):
You're hiking in bear.

Speaker 1 (17:23):
Territory if it's grizzly or black bear is just make
sure you have like a bear cake with you and
understand the basic techniques for if you're cooking in your,
campsite you, know just try to keep it tidy and
store all your food and waste that would you, know food,
waste everything in your bear cake up in a tree
away from your camp just to make sure you don't
have any unexpected visitors while you're. Sleeping not a great

(17:45):
way to wake. Up attacks by black bears are very
very rare in this. Area there's been only one fatal
incident recorded and that was in the year two. Thousand
you just got to use a bearproof canister and hang
the food, bags you, know ten feet high and four
feet from a tree, trunk because you know black beers
will climb the trees, too so weather extremes parks climate
can shift rapidly due to its. Elevation sudden thunderstorms common

(18:09):
in the summer bring light enteresk particularly above the tree
line on peaks Like Clean Clean Men's. Dome and obviously
in winter you've got the chance to get up to
one hundred inches of snowfall. Annually just keep an eye
on the, weather and you, know the best advice is
to obviously check the weather and then pike. Early start
as early as you, can even before. Dawn and you,

(18:31):
know if you're gonna do some kind of, peak maybe
try to get it done by lunch because a lot
of the in the, summer a lot of the storms
will spool up in the, Afternoon so.

Speaker 2 (18:38):
Just be mindful of.

Speaker 1 (18:39):
Weather you do not want to get caught on a
peak in a. Thunderstorm so other, hazard you, know terrain,
hazards getting. Lost this is true for any national. Park
there's eight hundred miles of, trails so just make sure
you have a, map a, compass and just do some
basic training before you, go just on how to navigate
with a. Compass it's not too, hard but you should
know how to do. It just in, Case like you

(18:59):
HAVE gps and, phone but that stuff could get wet,
ed bro break or. Die so it's always good to
know how to use the, compass their light and cheap
the buy and then you know, dehydration, heat, exhaustion and
insects and ticks if you want to you want to
hike this area and do some backcountry hiking and enjoy
the wilderness Like joe AND, i, dude here's just some
tips to hike in this area.

Speaker 2 (19:19):
Safely so plan and.

Speaker 1 (19:20):
Permit you, know obtain a backcountry permit online or at ranger.
Station it's required for all overnight. Stays it's super cheap
eight bucks a. Person you can reserve spots at one
of the one hundred plus designated camp sites or fifteen.
Shelters popular sites Like Ice Water spring fill, fast so
make sure to do this as soon as you. Can bear,
Safety we've already talked about, it but you, know stir

(19:41):
all your, food trash and scented items you know people
don't think, of you, know toothpaste other things in a
bear proof, canister or hang them ten feet high and
four feet from the tree trunk using a bear bag
and fifty feet a, cord cook and eat one hundred
yards from your sleeping. Area if a bear, approaches stay,
calm make, noise and back.

Speaker 2 (19:59):
Away never.

Speaker 1 (20:00):
Run obviously carry bear spray as a, precaution AND i
WOULD i would say always use a bear. CAKE i
was hiking In zion AND i put my stuff in
a bag and the squirrels got.

Speaker 2 (20:12):
Into all my.

Speaker 1 (20:13):
Food so bear, cake nothing is getting into even the.
Squirrels the, squirrels you, know the bears are a, problem
but the squirrels will wreck all your food, Too SO
i would just use a bear. Cake Navigation we've covered,
this but you, know detailed topographic map isn't a bad
IDEA gps. Device cell service is usually unreliable in all
the national, parks so just plan on your cell phone not,

(20:34):
working but.

Speaker 2 (20:35):
Still bring it with.

Speaker 1 (20:35):
You trails are, marked but you know fog and dense
forests can obscure, paths so know your. Routes obviously share
your itinerary with someone off. Site, water you, know bring
two to three liters of. Water you're gonna go through
a lot of water per, day especially in the, summer
so make sure you have a purification. Method they've got
all kinds of things you can use filter TABLETS uv

(20:56):
pens pull water from anywhere in the, park but then
just filter it BECAUSE i don't want to drink it.
Raw you're gonna get giardia and that'll wreck your. Trip
so you can always do it the old fashioned way
to boil your. Water so just make sure you have
enough water you don't want to get. Dehydrated and have
that record trip weather. Prep you, know pack and, layers
ring your, fleece all that. STUFF i, mean you always
take layers, off but if you don't bring enough and

(21:19):
you get, cold you, know that's a. Problem so, footwear
this is a big THING i always tell people WHEN i,
HIKE i wear toe socks and then a wool sock
over that and that keeps the blisters. Off and THEN
i have moleskin for any blisters that might pop. Up
AND i have a nice worn in pair of hiking.
Boots and with that, combination my feet stay nice and

(21:40):
nice and healthy the whole. Trip and the worst thing
you can have is blisters on your feet that will
wreck a. Trip just take my advice and take care
of your feet while you're. Hiking, yeah and, finally you
know pace. Yourself you, know start, early know your, limits
know your, hiker you know your companion's. Limits you, know
have some basic wilderness. Training i'm not saying you need

(22:01):
to go take a, course but you, know read a
book and just you, know be prepared for being able
to handle certain. Things and Obviously joe AND i always stress,
this leave no, trace pack out all your, garbage don't don't,
go you, know stand trail and just try to keep
it as nice it is for you for the next.
Person you, know if you have to Go number, two

(22:22):
go off, trail dig a hole six to eight inches
deep and one hundred feet from, water do your, business
and then bury. It it's not the greatest thing to
do when you're you're out there, hiking but you just
got to be. Mine you want to protect the environment
you're hiking and so other people can enjoy. It so
just leave no trace and it if you. Can if
you see garbage out, there pick it up because a
lot of people are very you, know, considerate but there's

(22:44):
others that aren't, considerate and we'll leave. Trash And i've
seen it all the, time AND i always try to
pick up any GARBAGE i see because it just drives me.
Crazy but so, yeah leave no. Trace if you don't
remember anything, else leave no. Trace so all, right jumping
right into care. Profile so today's character subject of this
case Is Thelma Polly. Melton she went missing On september

(23:07):
twenty fifth of nineteen eighty. One her remains have not been.
Found she was a, female age fifty. Eight she was
five foot eleven one hundred and eighty. Pounds she had auburn,
hair brown. Eyes clothing she was last seen in she
was in a pink and white striped sleeveless, blouse tan,
slacks low cut tan, shoes left shoe with cut, sole,

(23:29):
eyeglasses white gold diamond studded wristwatch and a wedding.

Speaker 2 (23:34):
Band.

Speaker 1 (23:35):
Personality her past reported that she had been sadly dealing
with depression after her mother's passing earlier that, year also
suggesting that she might have also suggested that she might
have been having an, affair but this could not be,
corroborated and she had been married twice before her current
marriage with her Husband. Bob that could play into what happened.

(23:59):
Here so medical, issues so she did have some medical.
Issues so she had high blood. Pressure she was prescribed
medication but did not have it with her during the.
Hike she did suffer from, nausea so she was prescribed
medication but did not have it with her during the.
Hike she smoked approximately two packs Of Virginia slim cigarettes per,
day so not ideal for doing a lot of hiking

(24:23):
being a heavy. Smoker that's going to limit your ability
to go up in elevation and all that kind of.

Speaker 2 (24:28):
Stuff so occupation.

Speaker 1 (24:30):
Hobby so she volunteered regularly at The presbyterian At Nutritional
center feeding the, elderly but did not volunteer on the
day of her, disappearance which was noted as. Unusual and
she also had made several calls using her work phone
On september twenty, fourth nineteen eighty, one which she had
never done in four years volunteering. There when we'll get into,
that a little more experience in the, Wilderness so she

(24:53):
loved the outdoors and strolling through the. Wilderness but nothing
THAT i read, was you, know she wasn't like some
of the cases where, they you, know experience in wilderness
was you, know big backcountry trips and things like. That
she'd liked the wilderness and she'd been she'd done a
lot of easier hikes and things like, that experiencing this.
Location so she was very familiar with this. Area she'd

(25:13):
stayed there several summers over nearly twenty years with her,
Husband Bob, melton and then just a couple of the
names we'll be talking, About So Bob melton obviously is her,
husband her two friends that were hiking with, Her red And,
Trula so just keep those names in the back of your.
Mind jumping right into timeline. Here, so LIKE i, said
this really starts On september twenty fourth of nineteen eighty.

(25:37):
One so she started exhibiting really unusual behavior at the
nutritional center near The Deep Creek campground In.

Speaker 2 (25:45):
Bryson, City North.

Speaker 1 (25:46):
Carolina so she had made multiple personal telephone calls from
the center's, phone WHICH i noted earlier was a first time,
occurrence noted by her supervisor and they said it was
deeply out of. Characters so authorities later attempted to identify
whom she had called the, phone but the phone records
could not be traced due to the technological limitations of

(26:08):
the phone technology at that, Time so we don't have
any clue who she was trying to, call but very
unusual that she was making all these, calls so the
calls were, local as no long distance charges appeared on
the center's. Records so this deviation from routine has sensed
fueled speculation about her possibly planning something significant or seeking

(26:29):
personal support prior to this. Disappearance so just keep that
in the back of your mind as we're going through
the timeline and the. Furies so it's Now september twenty
fifth of nineteen eighty.

Speaker 2 (26:40):
One it's. Morning so she.

Speaker 1 (26:42):
Unexpectedly unexpectedly did not return to her volunteer job at
the nutritional, center which was an abrupt break from her
established daily. Routine she was normally metigulous about. Attendance she
had notably not left her usual note on the previous
day indicating that she would be at, work suggesting a planned. Absence,

(27:02):
instead she remained at the campground throughout the morning and early,
afternoon reportedly spending time cooking spaghetti sauce with her, Husband,
bob who was significantly older than her at the time
seventy eight years old and he was in declining. Health
around THREE pm is when she went to leave for
a hike with her. Friends So athelma left for a

(27:24):
leisurely hike along The Deep creek trail within the. Park
she was accompanied by close Friends, Eunice Red Canyon cannon
And trula. Gudger i already said what she was, wearing
but she wore a pink and white striped sleeveless, blouse tan,
pants tan low cut casual. Shoes the left shoe had
a distinctive cracked, soule her wedding, man three diamond, rings

(27:45):
a gold wristwatch with, diamonds, eyeglasses and carried only a
pack Of Virginia slim. Cigarettes, importantly she did not bring,
cash identification, keys or her prescription medications for her blood
pressure and, nausea all left behind with. Her all left
behind in her trailer at the. Campground so that tells
me that she was not planning to be out hiking very.

(28:08):
Long she was just going for a quick stroll with her.
Friends it's now around four. Pm she was initially hiking
more slowly than, usual and teased gently by her friends
for her slow. Pace she then unexpectedly picked up speed
and quickly moved, ahead overtaking her. Companions friends called out,
chokingly but she simply laughed and continued swiftly down the,

(28:31):
trail out pacing them, significantly so then shortly after four
pm four, pm she was last seen cresting a small
hill along The Deep creek trail before disappearing from. View
friends expected to find her waiting farther along or at the,
trailhead but did not see her. Again given the straightforward
route back to camp approximately a half mile, away they

(28:52):
assumed she had returned directly to Meet bob at their.
Trailer so now it's around four thirty, pm So red
And trula arrived at the camp grin but found she wasn't,
there and her Husband bob confirmed he had not seen
her since they. Left, immediately they became concerned because she
had no apparent reason to deviate from the planned return
to their, campsite nor had she indicated intentions to go

(29:14):
on anywhere. Else so between four thirty pm and six,
pm her, friends campground, neighbors and other individuals nearby began
informally searching around the campground and adjacent trail. Areas they
called her name repeatedly and checked immediate, trails but discovered
no sign of. Her around six, pm after failing to
Locate polly, informally friends officially reported or missing to the park.

(29:37):
Rangers roughly two hours after she was last, observed so
THE MPs rangers promptly initiated an official search, operation beginning
with about twenty five park rangers and volunteers that. Evening
so trackers did identify her distinctive shoeprints, initially but lost
the trail due to heavy foot. Traffic search dogs picked
up her scent near a down tree along the, trail

(29:58):
suggesting she may have paused there, briefly but they cannot
track her movements beyond this. Point, now this is crucial
that the search started almost. Immediately sometimes we have cases
where the search doesn't start for. Days you, know the
first forty eight hours are critical in a search for
somebody out in the. Wilderness and they almost, immediately you,
know two hours after she was reported, missing they started

(30:20):
searching for. Us so it's great that the search kicked
off that, fast and they actually had some you, know
positive identifications of you, know shoe prints initially and even
sent so they've got a good idea of where she
was kind of around the time of her. Disappearance so
it just makes this whole case a little more baffling to.

(30:44):
Me so it's now late, evening so approximately nine pm to.
Midnight so during the initial nighttime, search her, Husband bob
suffered a serious medical, emergency reportedly a stroke or heart related,
events which is, crazy and it was prompted by the
distress over or her sudden. Disappearance he required immediate hospitalized
hospitalization and never fully, recovered spending his remaining years in

(31:07):
a nursing home until his death a few years. Later
so that's just that's really sad that she goes missing
and then he suffers a serious stroke or heart related,
event you, know hours later and basically never. Recovered really
sad that that. Happened it's Now september twenty sixth To
september twenty eighth of nineteen eighty, one so this is

(31:28):
when the search really. Intensified it involved upwards of one
hundred and fifty, searchers so park, rangers local law enforcement and,
volunteers and nine specialized search. Dogs personnel systematically combed approximately
forty square miles of rugged, terrain meticulously covering the deep creek,
trail surrounding, forest waterways and adjacent. Areas, however despite these extensive,

(31:52):
efforts no significant, evidence you, know such as, belongings cigarette, butts,
jewelry disturbed, vegetation footprints or science of a struggle wherever
found and whether at the time was typical of Late
september and the smokies softies fifty to seventy degrees, fahrenheit
mild and clear enough not to hinder search activities. Significantly
so it's almost like she just completely vanished off the

(32:15):
face of the, planet which is very, baffling AND i
can't explain.

Speaker 2 (32:18):
It i'll try to in.

Speaker 1 (32:19):
Theories But september twenty, ninth nineteen eighty, one so, sadly
after exhaustive searches yielded no clues or signs of her,
whereabouts The Deep Creek trail was officially reopened to the,
public though the intense trail specific search was scaled. Back
investigative and less formal searches continued in surrounding, areas shifting
to broader investigative. Strategies it's Now october second of nineteen eighty,

(32:43):
one so seven days after she, vanished the official active
search concluded due to obviously the complete lack of results
or any. Evidence and LIKE i, said there was over
one hundred and fifty people out there in nine search,
dogs and all available search resources had failed to any,
trace and authorities classified her disappearance as an open unsolved,

(33:04):
case transitioning to an investigative rather than active search, phase
and she was officially listed among The Great Smoking Mountains
National parks and enduring cold, cases with park authorities publicly
requesting any information from visitors or. Residents, now this is.
Weird we don't have an exact, date but it was
Roughly april of nineteen eighty, two so approximately seven months

(33:26):
after she. DISAPPEARED a bank check issued as an interest
payment on a certificate of deposit made out To Polly
melton was cashed at a bank In, Birmingham, Alabama, alabama
approximately three hundred miles southwest of the disappearance. Location handwriting
analysis even indicated the endorsement signature appeared, genuine strongly resembling

(33:51):
her known. Handwriting, however and this is, crazy the bank
teller who handled the transaction could not recall specific details
and identification verification was not required under banking practices at that.
Time authorities treated this development, seriously, though and they thoroughly,
investigated yet the lead ultimately became a dead, end never

(34:11):
definitively confirmed as authentic nor proven. Fraudulent no further financial
activity and connected to her was ever. Uncovered so that's just.
WILD i, know it's nineteen eighty. TWO i guess they.
DON'T i, MEAN i don't know if they would have
had you, know closed caption OR cctv in the bank

(34:32):
at that time or but it's just. Wild they weren't
able to go deeper in that. Investigation you, know someone
basically signed her name and it matched her you, know,
signature and cashed a check and that's where it. Ended
so just some other notable details about her at this. Time,
so LIKE i, said she experienced recent bouts of, grief,

(34:52):
depression and anxiety following her mother's death several years. Earlier
she had previously discussed these struggles openly with a. Minister
some speculated these emotional factors contribute, to you, know some
of the theories that they get Into her husband's bottle
of prescription valume also went missing around the same time
as her. Disappearance this also added, speculation but proved to be.

(35:15):
Inconclusive and LIKE i, said the extensive, searches, investigation and
family follow up never turned up. Anything no confirmed sightings
or credible leads have emerged since nineteen eighty two and sadly,
WELL i mean it's good closure for the. Family but
she was declared legally dead or deceased on nineteen ninety,

(35:39):
one with her family placing memorial headstone for her In.
Alabama so very puzzling. Case i'm gonna get into theories,
here AND i really don't know what could have happened to.
Her she was with her, friends she went over a
ridge and then was. GONE i, mean it's they didn't
find any trace of. Her you, know she was smoking

(36:00):
two packs of cigarettes to. Day you'd think maybe you'd
find a, cigarette but on the.

Speaker 2 (36:04):
Trail this is.

Speaker 1 (36:05):
Wild SO i decided to do a little fun here
with the Theories i've. Got i've taken the theories and
broken them into three. Buckets So i've got likely, theories
Then i've got possible but less, likely and then i
have this should be AN X files. Episode so and
these are all based on you, know what law enforcement

(36:28):
the time, said and.

Speaker 2 (36:30):
The facts of the.

Speaker 1 (36:31):
Disappearance so one of and we always talk about this
first theory in, cases and it's never usually makes.

Speaker 2 (36:38):
Sense but this Theory i'm.

Speaker 1 (36:40):
About to talk about is actually one of the strongest
theories in this. Case that was discussed at the, time
and it was the theory that she staged her disappearance
to start a new. Life so hear me out on.
This she may have planned to leave her life, behind
possibly meeting someone at a pre range spot after speeding
ahead on the. Trail the day, before she made a

(37:01):
lot of very unusual calls from her volunteer, job which
she had never done in four, years suggesting she might
have been coordinating. Something and then we have that strange
incident at the bank seven months later where someone cashed
a check in her name In, Birmingham, alabama with a
signature presumed to be, hers though. Unconfirmed and they had

(37:24):
the missing, bottle prescription bottle of valium that maybe she
took it to calm her nerves before doing. This so
why would this scenario Be this theory be. Likely so
you've got her sudden burst of speed on the, trail
familiarity with the, area she'd been, there visited there nearly twenty,
years and we've got the cash. Check this all points to.

(37:45):
Premeditation you, know we have issues with minor depression and
a speculated affair per her, minister though that was. Unproven
this all might have motivated escape from an alien husband
who was twenty years older and unable to, hike so you,
know and then you have the lack of evidence off

(38:06):
trail that would support her exiting the area intentionally rather
than getting. Lost the things that kind of blow a
hole in this theory, though is that she left without
cash AND id or, medications though you, know she could
have stashed some resources away somewhere else or relied on someone,
else so you, know not completely blowing a hole in the,

(38:27):
theory BUT I i mean just the fact that she
just disappeared in the manner that she, did just over
a crest and was, gone like poof, gone and then
they found no evidence of, her LIKE i, said cigarette
butts or any of that kind of. Stuff kind of
strange and on a trail and in an area that's
not very hard to. Hike you, know we've got the
weird situation with the check in cash seven months. Later

(38:51):
SO i don't. KNOW i tend to agree that this
might be the strongest theory for this. Case but then
another very likely possibility wasical event leading to hidden. Remains
so LIKE i, said she did have high blood pressure
and suffered from nausea for she took, medication though she
didn't have it with her on her. Hike she could
have suffered some health crisis you, know heart attack or

(39:13):
stroke after speeding, up collapsed off trail in dense, foliage
and remained undiscovered despite the exhaust of. Search why this
could be a likely, Theory so you, know her health
conditions and lack of medication increased the odds of a medical.
Emergency the park does have rugged, terrain very thick, forest thick.
Undergrowth you, know it could conceal a, body especially if

(39:35):
she wantered slightly off path for. Collapsing you, know search
dogs did pick up her scent at a down, tree
suggesting maybe she rested there but then lost, it possibly
due environmental factors like wind or. Water the thing that
kind of blows a hole in this theory, is you,
know no body or belongings were, found, cigarettes, glasses her.
SHOES i even THOUGH i think that's a likely, Theory

(39:57):
i'm not holding it that on my list of. Theories
just BECAUSE i feel like she had gone over the,
crest had a heart attack and. COLLAPSED i feel like
they would have been able to find her body if
that would have. Happened her friends probably would have even found,
her but it's still you, know she had high blood,
pressure smoked heavy. Smoker possible she had some kind of

(40:20):
sudden medical. Emergency, yeah LIKE i, said nothing was, Found
so these are possible but less likely. Theories so accidental
fall into deep creek or. Beyond so she might have
fallen into deep creek which parallels the, trail or a hidden,
ravine or after speeding ahead with her body swept away
or lodged out of, sight the creek's flow could have
carried her downstream beyond the search. Area so it is

(40:42):
possible that this happened just due to the trail's proximity
to water a few hundred feet in, places and a
rapid pace could suggest a. Misstep the search did cover the,
creek but might have missed a submerged or distant, body
especially if she drifted into nearby, rivers though again this
this is also not that likely because note there were

(41:03):
no signs of a struggle or off trail. Footprints she
was five to eleven one hundred and seventy hundred and eighty.
Pounds that makes an unnoticed fall less probable in, daylight
especially with others on the, trail so searchers were you, know,
thorough and they included you, know water, searchers so and
they didn't find. Anything so possible theory but less. Likely
another less likely theory was suicide with valuum, overdose so

(41:28):
she could have taken her husband's missing valuume sped ahead
to isolate herself in, overdose dying and hidden. Spot you,
know LIKE i, said she did suffer from depression after
her mother's. Death she did have a history of using,
valuume so maybe her depression got to the point where
she sadly considered committing. Suicide and the only reason WHY
i even have this in the theory list is just

(41:50):
because the husband's bottle of valuum was missing and her
emotional state prior to this. Hike that is the only
reason why even have it on the theory. List but
AGAIN i don't think this is that likely because she
wasn't considered suicidal by those.

Speaker 2 (42:07):
Closer now we.

Speaker 1 (42:08):
All know that doesn't always you, know mean what it you,
know hold as much weight because people can carry a
lot of stuff internally without letting people around them. Know
her husband and her, friends everybody knew her said she wasn't. Suicidal,
again she didn't leave any trace of herself being out,
there even if she had committed, suicide so that you,

(42:28):
know there was nothing fond of.

Speaker 2 (42:29):
Her so, YEAH i don't.

Speaker 1 (42:30):
KNOW i think it's just a not very likely, scenario
but still possible because of LIKE i, said the bottle
of value missing and her depression that she was going
through prior to the. Hikes so can't completely take it
off the list of, theories BUT i don't think this
one's that high up on the. List and, finally to
round out my less likely, theories was a foul play

(42:55):
by an unknown. Assailants so it's possible she might have
been abducted or attacked by someone on the trail who
then disposed for. Body you, know the park has seen
rare violent, incidents and her isolation ahead of friends could
have provided an. Opportunity but, again you, know five eleven
hundred eighty pounds she you, know you, know not A

(43:16):
i'm Not i'm not saying she was overweight or. Anything
i'm just saying like she's a formidable target for someone
who is going to try and abduct. You and there
were no reported signs of a struggle or screaming on
in this a busy. Trail searchers found no, blood, clothing
or dragged, tracks and an abduction in broad daylight with

(43:37):
witnesses nearby would be nearly. Improbable, again could it have, Happened,
sure BUT i think the chances of it happening in
this on this, trail at this time of, day you,
know with her being a formidable target for someone trying
to abduct, somebody you, KNOW i just don't think this
one's very. Likely finally getting into this should AN X files, episode.

(44:01):
Obviously the first one on this list is supernatural abduction or.
Portal some have suggested she was taken by a paranormal
entity such as a, bigfoot or slipped into some kind
of dimensional portal common entales Of National park. Vanishings we've
covered those in some of our, episodes you. Know and
this is fueled by her sudden disappearance without a. Trace

(44:23):
SO i, mean LIKE i, said she went over the
crest of the hill and was. Gone in, reality there's
no scientific basis for any of, this and there were
over one hundred and fifty searchers and dogs out there
that likely would have found some sign if a creature was,
Involved and obviously portals defy the laws of, physics so
not very likely in my list of. Theories and, finally

(44:45):
you gotta mention alien. Abductions so there are some corners
of The internet that theorize she was snatched by alien's mid,
hike which would explain the lack of remains or. Clues
and you, know The smokies for hundreds of, years probably
fous of, years have this mystique to. It when things
like cases like this are, unexplainable WHICH i truly feel

(45:07):
like this is an unexplainable, case it opens the door
for THESE x files types. Theories, obviously alien abduction portals
and supernatural abductions have no basis in. Reality but when
all of the theories that are based in reality don't
really line up with the, case it opens the door
for those. Theories AND i don't believe. Them but there

(45:29):
are people that think something really weird happened to, her
AND i. CAN'T i can't one percent say that didn't
happen because all the THEORIES i listed for likely and
less likely don't all perfectly fit into what could have
happened to. HER i really don't know what happened to.
Her i'm leaning TOWARDS i think she staged her. DISAPPEARANCE

(45:53):
i you, know you have a lot of, evidence not
a lot of but you have a pastor who said that,
unsubstantiated but he said that she might have been having
an affair with, someone and she's got a much older
husband whose health is. Waning and then you have the
check being cashed In alabama seven months later with basically
her signature on, it and you have the lack of

(46:17):
any physical evidence in this. AREA i think it kind
of just leads towards for whatever, reason she staged her,
disappearance and she just she was suffering from, depression and
maybe she just, THOUGHT i need to wipe the slate
clean and start new somewhere, else and maybe that that's
what she. DID i never liked the stage disappearance theories

(46:38):
BECAUSE i just can't imagine someone wanting to do. That
and then all the other THEORIES i listed don't really
match that well with what could have, happened you, know
a medical. Event she would have you, know went over
the ridge and had a heart, attack collapsed on the
trailer off, trail they would have found, her you, know
accidental fall into the. Creek that begs the, question why
would she go one hundred feet off trail to see the,

(47:00):
river and you would have evidence of, her you, know
stopping through the brush and under you, know all that
thick brush to get To they would have noticed, that
the dogs would have it dogs out there right away
that already were picking up, scent and they you, know
they checked the. Waters now she, yeah she could have
her mains or her she could have, floated you, know
down river out of the search. Area so it's, possible

(47:21):
but you, know and then suicide with the, VALIUM i, mean,
yeah it's, possible but she, know she wasn't, suicidal and
no evidence, again there was no, evidence you, know she
would have had her body would have had to be
somewhere in there for that to. Happen foul play obviously
pretty unlikely in this area at this time of, day
and she was a formidable. Woman no reported signs of
screams or. ANYTHING I i just find that one not very.

(47:44):
Probable and obviously THE X files theories are completely not
based on. Reality so, YEAH i my theory is she
staged her, disappearance just based on what little evidence we.
Have so you, guys let me know what you. Think
this is another baffling. ONE i gotta thank our Researcher Cherish.

(48:05):
Screen she did the legwork on this. Episode very interesting.
Case let me know what you guys think in the.
Comments would love to hear your opinions and thoughts on what.
Happened so, yeah once, AGAIN i would just like to
thank you all for tuning in To Locations unknown and
bearing with me while solo the. Episode all these weird

(48:26):
pauses you're seeing are me trying to control all of
the show's control board and cameras and everything on my
own while still talking and reading the case. Notes so
thank you for tuning in To Locations. Unknown make sure
to tell all your friends and family about the. Show
don't forget to support us On, patreon all the other,

(48:48):
places YouTube. Memberships hopefully we'll be back next. Week joe
AND i will be back in full force and we'll
get a proper episode in so it's not just me
fumbling around here trying to figure out how to run
all this. Stuff let me know what you think. Happened
i'm puzzled by this. CASE i have no clue what.
HAPPENED i think she staged her, Disappearance but, yeah.

Speaker 2 (49:10):
You, guys let me.

Speaker 1 (49:11):
Know leave a comment in the you, know On facebook or,
YouTube wherever you're listening to this and when you're enjoying
the beauty and wonder in amazement of, nature always remember
to leave no. Trace thank you and we will see
you next.

Speaker 2 (49:26):
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Thelma Polly Melton - Great Smoky Mountains National Park

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Thelma Polly Melton - Great Smoky Mountains National Park