Buzz
Hidden within the humid clutches of Southern Florida, Everglades National Park is a realm of untamed wilderness and mysterious charm. Covering a vast 1.5 million acres (6,070 square kilometers) of marshlands, mangrove forests, and sawgrass plains, this expansive park is more than just a natural wonder; it conceals dark secrets and perplexing vanishings that remain unsolved.
The following 10 eerie stories center around individuals who mysteriously disappeared within Everglades National Park.
10. The 1969 Madison County Jane Doe
On February 26, 1969, a burnt skeleton was found in Everglades National Park, about 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) west of Miami. Initially, investigators speculated that the remains might belong to Ruth Eisemann-Schier, a suspect in the Barbara Mackle kidnapping. Jane Doe had been bound with metal coat hangers, confined in a wooden trunk, drenched in gasoline, and set ablaze.
Eisemann-Schier holds the distinction of being the first woman ever to be placed on the FBI’s top 10 most wanted list. In May 1969, she was sentenced to seven years in prison after confessing to her role in the kidnapping of Miami heiress Barbara Jane Mackle alongside her boyfriend, Gary Steven Krist.
On December 17, 1968, Krist and Eisemann-Schier abducted Mackle, confining her in a coffin-like box for more than three days. Once Mackle’s father paid the $500,000 ransom, the couple revealed her location to the authorities. Krist was apprehended three days later, while Eisemann-Schier managed to evade capture for nearly 80 days. Her disappearance sparked initial speculation that the remains found might be hers.
However, authorities later confirmed that the remains were not hers. Eisemann-Schier was eventually captured in Oklahoma and extradited to Georgia, where she pleaded guilty and was sentenced to seven years in prison. The identity of the 1969 Madison County Jane Doe, however, remains a mystery to this day.
9. 1975 Madison County John Doe
In March 1975, a Miami family collecting butterflies and photographing wildflowers stumbled upon two decomposing bodies encased in plastic. The young murder victims, John Doe and Jane Doe, were found about 10 feet (3 meters) apart, hidden in a cluster of bushes near Loop Road, five miles (8 kilometers) south of the Tamiami Trail.
The family reported that they were enjoying the surroundings, taking photographs, and exploring the area when they ventured down a side road and discovered the bodies. As they walked, they noticed an unusual smell, and the family’s son accidentally came upon one of the bodies.
The bodies were nearly fully decomposed, with only a rib cage, one arm inside a bag, and a pelvic bone found in another. One of the bodies appeared smaller, while the other seemed to measure around 5’5" (1.65 meters) in height.
The family immediately contacted the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department. Initially, they thought the remains might belong to a young couple from South Dade, Florida, who had gone missing nearby. However, the identities of John Doe and Jane Doe have never been uncovered.
8. 1983 Madison County John Doe
In 1983, an unidentified man took his own life in Everglades National Park.
Known for his 'baby-faced' appearance, the man tragically passed away after shooting himself twice with a pellet gun, stabbing himself nine times, slashing his throat, wrists, and forearms, and eventually jumping into the lake.
The pellet gun used by the man was made in New York. Neither of the .177-caliber pellets managed to pierce his skull. Afterward, he slit his throat with a disposable scalpel. He then attempted to stab himself in the chest, but the thrust was deflected by his breastbone.
The man went on to stab himself nine times in the abdomen and once in his wrists before collapsing into the lake. Authorities later determined that the man was 5’4" (1.6 meters) tall, weighed 145 pounds (65.8 kilograms), had brown hair, and smoked Marlboro cigarettes.
7. Craig Lawrence Allen
Craig Lawrence Allen, a resident of Fort Lauderdale, was last seen on August 14, 1993. The following day, he made a phone call from Kendall, Florida, to an unknown person, after which he vanished without a trace. A computer analyst by profession, Allen was known for leading a quiet life, refraining from alcohol and drugs, with only a small circle of friends and no romantic relationships.
Earlier in the year, Allen had converted from Judaism to fundamentalist Christianity. By 1993, he had placed all his belongings in storage, chose to live as a homeless person, and slept at campgrounds and on the beach. This period also marked the beginning of his increasingly delusional behavior.
During a visit to a friend in Washington, D.C., Allen pointed out Bible verses and told his friend that he himself was the Antichrist. After this visit, Allen returned to South Florida, where he became homeless again, keeping occasional contact with his parents and grandparents, so they knew he was still alive.
On August 10, 1993, Allen sold his car to a dealership for $4,600. Two days later, during a phone call with his mother, he ominously told her, “You’re not going to like what I’m going to do,” and “You’re not going to hear from me again.”
Just two days after that conversation, Allen vanished. His credit card activity ceased, and his message service was discontinued. Authorities have speculated that Allen may have joined a cult or taken his own life. To this day, his exact whereabouts remain unknown.
6. ValuJet 592 Crew
In May 1996, an emergency dispatcher in Florida received a call reporting that a large jet had crashed into the Everglades National Park’s Everglades Holiday Park. The aircraft, a twin-engine DC-9 owned by ValuJet, crashed to the ground and sharply banked to the right, nearly plummeting straight down.
By June, authorities had identified 36 of the 110 passengers aboard, using garden rakes, ground radar, a backhoe, and other tools to sift through the wreckage in Everglades National Park. The debris was scattered in small, fragmented pieces.
Out of the 110 victims, approximately 68 were identified. However, some remains went missing and have never been found in the vast expanse of Florida’s Everglades National Park. One such case is that of Captain Candi Kubeck, whose remains have yet to be discovered.
5. Kyle Andrew Carl Eppler
On the afternoon of July 29, 1999, Kyle Andrew Carl Eppler visited his mother’s workplace to borrow $20 for gas. That was the last time he was seen by his mother in Naples, Florida.
During his visit, Eppler informed his mother that he intended to visit his girlfriend before heading to his 4:30 p.m. waiter shift at the Grouper House restaurant. However, he never reached his girlfriend's house and disappeared instead. Over twenty years have passed, and he has not been heard from since. The day after returning to find a note written by Kyle saying, 'Gone to find my river and myself,' his mother filed a missing person report.
Eppler’s Toyota Camry was discovered abandoned in the Coastal Prairie Trail parking lot within Everglades National Park, about three hours away from his home. A parking receipt inside the car was stamped for July 28, the day before his last encounter with his mother. The vehicle contained camping equipment, clothes, a backpack, food, and journals.
Three miles (4.8 kilometers) down the trail from where his car was found, Eppler's shirt was located. Additionally, his mother later reported that at least one pair of his hiking boots, as well as a hat he often wore, had gone missing from their home.
It is important to note that Eppler was taking medication at the time of his disappearance. While it’s been mentioned that he had attempted suicide on two prior occasions, readers are encouraged not to draw premature conclusions from this detail. Eppler's case remains unresolved.
4. 2004 Madison County Jane Doe
On July 20, 2004, workers stumbled upon scattered bones in a remote section of Everglades National Park, an area unreachable by motor vehicles. The remains were later determined to belong to a woman who had been between 30 and 45 years old at the time of her death.
Jane Doe exhibited several distinct characteristics. Firstly, she appeared to have an irregular pattern of movement or posture, suggesting she had a limp. Secondly, she was found with Catholic prayer cards. Lastly, she had a jacket made in Bangladesh and a rosary featuring a depiction of Jesus Christ on the cross.
The identity of the remains has never been determined.
3. The Schreck Family
The Schreck family set off on what was supposed to be a thrilling adventure in the Florida Everglades, eager to explore the marshes and encounter alligators. However, their exciting trip quickly turned into a nightmare when their airboat veered off course, leaving them stranded in the swampy wilderness.
Scott Schreck, a seasoned outdoorsman, later shared their harrowing experience with the media, highlighting the importance of being familiar with the surroundings. Despite the terrifying ordeal, he expressed a desire to return to the Everglades, though his wife remained cautious.
Their terrifying encounter serves as a harsh reminder of the dangers that lie hidden in the vast, unforgiving wilderness of the Everglades.
2. Roger Kenneth Sawyer
Sixty-seven-year-old Roger Kenneth Sawyer vanished in 2011 while camping with his family at Everglades National Park’s Flamingo Campground, following a cross-country journey in their mobile home. A retired butcher from Oregon, Sawyer and his family were well-versed in outdoor survival.
After some of Roger’s family members split off to visit the park’s Visitors Center, Roger and his wife stayed behind in different parts of the campground. But when the family gathered again at dusk, Roger was nowhere to be found.
At this stage, park rangers along with Miami-Dade Fire Rescue launched a search for Roger, but they were unable to find a single clue, not even a discarded shoe or hat. Despite the search lasting for 10 days, Roger was never found, nor was any trace of him discovered.
Roger’s disappearance remains a mystery. Many media outlets noted the oddity of a man with such significant outdoor experience vanishing without a trace.
1. Andrew Brian Renton
On his birthday, December 14, 2007, Andrew Brian Renton left the home he shared with his parents. He packed his canoe onto his truck and told his parents he was heading to Connecticut. However, instead of going to Connecticut, Andrew drove to Everglades National Park.
Days later, on December 19th, a suicide note from Andrew arrived at his family’s home. In the note, he mentioned being diagnosed with cancer and explained that he planned to end his life so he wouldn’t burden his family. His relatives were unaware of his condition and remain uncertain about the truth of Andrew’s health status to this day.
From the postmark on the letter, Andrew's father concluded that he had gone to Everglades National Park. Nearly a month later, on January 2, 2008, authorities discovered Andrew's truck parked at Whitewater Bay in Everglades National Park. Inside the vehicle, they found an empty handgun case along with additional notes regarding Andrew's health.
On January 4, 2008, a search party located Andrew’s canoe, concealed 30 yards (27 meters) off a trail leading to Bear Lake, a few miles away from the boat ramp where his truck had been found. Despite an extensive search, Andrew’s body was never recovered. As of April 2024, Andrew is still listed as a missing person, and his remains have yet to be discovered.
