Big River Heads Up
For those that haven’t caught the news, a 44 year old man has committed suicide in Big River. He abandoned his truck on Friday evening June 3rd on Division Road (about 1/3 of the way west from rt3) and apparently walked south into the woods and perhaps to the
gravel pit area. He took with him poison to kill himself (drugs etc). He is a strong man (former marine) so he might have walked quite some distance.
A pretty large group of state troopers and national guard spent two days looking so far. His tracks dissapeared in the rain Saturday but the dogs did track him a ways before they lost the scent. The teams used a copy of my Big River map as the basis for assigning areas and trails to cover. They searched the Sand Dune area throughly and over to Tar Bucks Pond. Other people have been walking and the family has friends out looking as well.
After talking to the WRB land manager Elaine Maguire a number of times Monday and Tuesday I mentioned that some of us would be riding before the Tuesday meeting and would keep our eyes pealed. She mentioned this to the family on Tuesday and they all came over to talk to us and thank us for any effort we make to find his body. It was a very touching meeting, very sad. The family was extremely appreciative of anything we can do.
With all that being said, please keep your eyes and noses altert until further notice. If you smell or see something odd, don’t necessarily go looking but note EXACTLY where you are and maybe the wind direction at the time. Call Elaine Maguire at 580-1519 or the DEM emergency number 222-3070.
Do keep in mind that the field behind the Beaver Dam on New London Turnpike still (after many years) smells really bad. It has a special odor of crap. As I’ve been told, it is a small area of sewer sludge as a test for fertilizer. I looked quite carefully around that field last night and did not see anything.
If he didn’t want to be found he may not until the hunters get way off the trails as we get into the fall. But the family wants closure and anything we can do to help would be greatly appreciated so please keep alert.
Sincerely
hufifn & puffin pete
As of June 23 his body still hasn’t been found. The widow, Terry Cox is beside herself with grief. Many of our mountain biking community have pitched in to help the DEM officers and the RI Sherifs search all the trails. Terry is very grateful to all of us who have tried to help.
sincerely
peter