Lake monster researcher disappears

**Skeptical**

The more paranoid among us have long said that paranormal research is not the safest job in the world. The latest affirmation of that seems to be Dennis Hall, a Champie (Lake Champlain lake monster) researcher. Here's the story from Cryptomundo:

http://www.cryptomundo.com/cryptozoo-news/missing-dhall/

Now, the cynics out there may say that it is not always the most stable of individuals that are attracted to such a professional as lake monster hunting. Eccentric or not, Halls disappearance is certainly disconcerting.

S
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"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." -- Thomas Jefferson

Yipsl · Guest

There are ways to find out if he's missing, a call to his local police department. If he truly went missing, then I doubt his website would have the new disavowal.

It looks to me like he just dropped out of the crypto field. Moseley remarked that it happens on and off with Ufology.

**Skeptical** · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 7:52 am Post subject:

Unfortunately, paranormal fields, especially UFOlogy, seem littered with untimely deaths. Morris K. Jessup and James MacDonald were both suicides. D. Scott Rogo was murdered. I imagine that the rate is no more than the general populus - maybe we are just more aware when things go terribly wrong. The point is, there is some precedent upon which to worry that something may be seriously amiss with this man.

Not sure who else is involved with Hall or his website but, if they were really concerned, one would think that the site would feature a serious plea for information on his whereabouts. The world is strange but, in our little rarified world of the paranormal, it can be downright unexplainable.

S
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"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." -- Thomas Jefferson

Yipsl · Guest

It's the ones that are suicides that trouble me. While they fit into conspiracy theories, the sadness and despair caused by belief in the fringe is rather more common then in other "hobbies". It's more akin to being betrayed by a lover than finding out that playing AD&D around a table top just isn't fun anymore.

A skeptical blogger paraphrased Chesterton, so I'll paraphrase Lewis in a similar context. If one is investigating a paranormal claim and the alien, ghost, cryptid or whatever appears right before you and proceeds to tell you that you've been chosen, then just say "nice story" and go on about your investigation.

In the end, it's all about the folklore. It's all about the story. What most people don't realize about folklore is this:

Folklore happens.

Go and investigate, but don't take belief to suicidal depths. If you're heading in that direction, box up your books and call it quits. When sanity returns, then you can appreciate the high strangeness behind all the stories we've told each other from the earliest campfires on the African savannah to the latest posts on the internet.

garuda79 · Joined: 09 Oct 2007 Posts: 39 Location: South Florida

Lest not forget Spanish Cryptozoologist Jordi Magraner, who disappeared in Afghanistan in 2001 (not a safe place to be) while researching alleged hairy hominid encounters near the Pakistani border. According to officials he wax executed by Taliban fighters.

Albert
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Aura Rhanes

**Skeptical** · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 6:04 pm Post subject:

If there's any justice in this world, I'd really like to see those hairy hominids take a little revenge on the Taliban - just like that old Jonny Quest episode where a pack of Yeti take care of a bunch of pesky Red Chinese. A little Fortean retribution - now that would be a story! Shocked

S
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"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." -- Thomas Jefferson

Ataraxik · Posted: Wed Oct 10, 2007 7:02 pm Post subject:

Hmmmm, Jonny Quest, eh? No, no... I see this as more of a job for Clutch Cargo and company, namely Spinner and Paddlefoot, and don't forget Swampy. Why, the soundtrack alone (remember the bongos and flute only jazzy music?) might tame any Commies, terrorists, or aggressive cryptos out there.

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stareater · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 26

I just saw some of his footage last night on the Discovery Channel show 'America's Loch Ness Monster'. One of the older videos was rather inconclusive, but a more recent one certainly showed two living animals frolicking in the lake, although there's no proof they were anything other than common animals. It seems like the thought that Hall has simply stepped out of the monster hunter club is a valid one; there are no articles that I could find that offer evidence that he has physically vanished. It seems he's just cut off contact with others in the field. Could be a case of depression or burn-out.

**Skeptical** · Posted: Tue Feb 26, 2008 1:48 pm Post subject:

I haven't heard any follow-up on this either, Star. I'd like to think that he checked in with someone eventually. Cryptozoology, like UFOlogy is a crazy business filled with odd characters. If one gets to the point where they need to take a break, I think it almost requires that you disappear for a while until all the kooks lose your phone number.

S
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"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." -- Thomas Jefferson

stareater · Joined: 26 Feb 2008 Posts: 26

I agree on all points. I think when something like this turns into an obsession, it tends to lead to a solitary life. It's also understandable that everyone would beat down your door if you consistently claim to have proof of a creature such as Champ, and it would get frustrating trying to constantly prove something you believe in so deeply. It certainly can make you throw up your arms and want to make the world go away. I guess all we can do is keep an eye out for any further info, and maybe follow the suggestion of finding his address and trying to contact him via snail mail. Oh, by the way . . . Yipsl, AD&D on the table top is still fun. We've played every Saturday for the past 10 years and are still going strong. It's only as fun as the DM makes it. Very Happy

**Skeptical** · Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2008 9:39 am Post subject:

I dropped an e-mail to Loren Coleman over at Cryptomundo asking whether Hall had resurfaced. No response yet but I will pass along anything I find out.

S
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"A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have." -- Thomas Jefferson