TeamBlunder

This really was not my worst nightmare, but was certainly nothing that I ever expected to come across when I began caching...it is our log from Cache-a Grande Holiday Cache GCHA0Q: I'm going to put this down as a Didn't Find, though we really never got to look for this cache. Instead we had an experience that a growing number of other cachers have faced as well. Unfortunately this will detract from the nice theme behind this cache. We found a dead body in the vicinity of the cache area. I won't give the exact distance or area as yet as it is still being investigated. This was definately the result of foul play. On finding the body, we backed off, and called 911. The Pinal County Sherrif's office was going to respond...that took about 40 minutes. While waiting for them looked over the area from a distance. I could see where the man was killed (also there were some recent beer cans there) and the drag marks where someone had moved the body a distance of about 125 feet to an area behind a low tree and bush. When the Deputy arrived he got my information and we walked over to the body. The man was older, at least 65. Looked like he hadn't been there that long, was not decomposed or bloated. He was shot in the upper chest/shoulder area and had been blugened. He was laying on his back and was stripped of all clothes except his blue underware. It looks like there were people out there drinking, maybe an argument, and somehow the guy got killed, but that doesn't explain the body being stripped. I don't know, as an Invesigator I make a pretty good Engineer. There was a bit of a juristicional dispute over who would have to deal with this. The City of Casa Grande, was where the site was, but they said that it was marked as MILITARY on their map so they walked away from it and the Pinal County boys were going to assume responsibility for the investigation. They weren't too happy about it as by the time they got out there, it was close to 1:30 and the overtime bell was ringing. Some of them mentioned wanting to get out to Country Thunder! They finally got ahold of the investigators that were going to have to come from Apache Junction. They had our information and asked to take pictures of the bottom of our shoes, our tires, and license plates, and allowed us to go. I believe the cache is and will be intact as the actual cache was some distance from this dead body. I had informed the Deputies of why we were there, gave the the coordinates in my 911 call and was informed that the Deputy did not have a GQS. But they didn't seem concerned about the cache, and it is far enough away from this site as it would not be considered part of the crime scene. I hadn't really thought this would happen to us, but you never know...it was a strange day, my 12 y.o. saw the body, but luckily my 3 y.o. did not. I kept him far enough away and he was actually asleep for most of it anyway. I would say anyone wanting to do this cache should wait a few days before attempting it. I hope to come back some other time, and have a better time than we did today. TeamBlunder Joe, Brad, & Erik

Here's our log for Cache-a Grande Holiday Cache, GCHA0Q, I'd say this applies as our worst cache hunt ever I'm going to put this down as a Didn't Find, though we really never got to look for this cache. Instead we had an experience that a growing number of other cachers have faced as well. Unfortunately this will detract from the nice theme behind this cache. We found a dead body in the vicinity of the cache area. I won't give the exact distance or area as yet as it is still being investigated. This was definately the result of foul play. On finding the body, we backed off, and called 911. The Pinal County Sherrif's office was going to respond...that took about 40 minutes. While waiting for them looked over the area from a distance. I could see where the man was killed (also there were some recent beer cans there) and the drag marks where someone had moved the body a distance of about 125 feet to an area behind a low tree and bush. When the Deputy arrived he got my information and we walked over to the body. The man was older, at least 65. Looked like he hadn't been there that long, was not decomposed or bloated. He was shot in the upper chest/shoulder area and had been blugened. He was laying on his back and was stripped of all clothes except his blue underware. It looks like there were people out there drinking, maybe an argument, and somehow the guy got killed, but that doesn't explain the body being stripped. I don't know, as an Invesigator I make a pretty good Engineer. There was a bit of a juristicional dispute over who would have to deal with this. The City of Casa Grande, was where the site was, but they said that it was marked as MILITARY on their map so they walked away from it and the Pinal County boys were going to assume responsibility for the investigation. They weren't too happy about it as by the time they got out there, it was close to 1:30 and the overtime bell was ringing. Some of them mentioned wanting to get out to Country Thunder! They finally got ahold of the investigators that were going to have to come from Apache Junction. They had our information and asked to take pictures of the bottom of our shoes, our tires, and license plates, and allowed us to go. I believe the cache is and will be intact as the actual cache was some distance from this dead body. I had informed the Deputies of why we were there, gave the the coordinates in my 911 call and was informed that the Deputy did not have a GQS. But they didn't seem concerned about the cache, and it is far enough away from this site as it would not be considered part of the crime scene. I hadn't really thought this would happen to us, but you never know...it was a strange day, my 12 y.o. saw the body, but luckily my 3 y.o. did not. I kept him far enough away and he was actually asleep for most of it anyway. I would say anyone wanting to do this cache should wait a few days before attempting it. I hope to come back some other time, and have a better time than we did today. TeamBlunder Joe, Brad, & Erik

I own the cache, and if no one gets up there before Sunday I will go up and get it. Also there was someone who is going to California that responded to the list serve. They said they are gong up at the end of the month, so I may just hand it off to them if that is ok, or I cam place it in a cache, if you want to.

I released Rescue Me - a white bear that sings the song "Rescue Me" when his belly is pressed - in Arizona. He is currently in Chicago.