Community Trail Safety Monitoring • Rutland County, Vermont

Case Files & Evidence Archive

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Notice: The materials in this archive contain detailed descriptions and photographic evidence related to ongoing missing person investigations and unexplained incidents. Some content may be disturbing. Access to full case files requires an authorization code. If you believe you have information relevant to any case listed here, contact GMTW at greenmountaintrailwatch@proton.me.
CASE FILE #001 OPEN

Sarah Kessler — Missing Since May 23, 2020

Age: 23 Last Seen: Long Trail / Route 4 Status: Missing

Sarah Kessler of Killington, VT departed for a solo day hike on the Long Trail near the Route 4 crossing. Her vehicle was found at the trailhead. Water bottle and one hiking pole recovered near Clarendon Gorge suspension bridge. No body recovered after six-day search.

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Investigation Summary

Sarah Ann Kessler, age 23, resident of Killington, Vermont. Employed as a seasonal lift operator at Killington Resort. Experienced hiker with knowledge of local trail systems. Left her residence at approximately 8:15 AM on May 23, 2020 for what she described to her roommate as "a quick out-and-back to the gorge."

Kessler's 2016 Subaru Outback was located at the Long Trail/Route 4 parking area at 9:47 PM that evening after her roommate reported her overdue. Vehicle was locked. Kessler's wallet, phone charger, and a change of clothes were inside. Her phone was not recovered.

Evidence Recovered

Item #001-A: Water Bottle
32oz Nalgene bottle, clear with purple lid, found on east side of Clarendon Gorge suspension bridge approximately 15 feet from the south anchorage. Bottle was full. No fingerprints recovered (surface contaminated by weather).
Item #001-B: Hiking Pole
Black Diamond Distance Z trekking pole (single), found 8 feet from water bottle. The pole was collapsed and appeared to have been placed rather than dropped — it was leaning against the bridge railing with the grip up.
Item #001-C: Fabric Fragment
A small piece of blue synthetic fabric matching the jacket Kessler was known to be wearing was found snagged on a branch approximately 40 feet below the suspension bridge, on the south side of the gorge. The location is steep, heavily wooded, and not accessible by trail. The branch the fabric was caught on was approximately 25 feet from the water's edge.

Anomalies

The search team noted several details that were not included in public reports:

Observation #001-1
Scuff marks on the suspension bridge railing were inconsistent with a fall or jump. Forensic analysis noted the marks suggested lateral movement along the railing rather than force against it. Interpretation: someone moved along the outside of the railing, holding on, for a distance of approximately 12 feet.
Observation #001-2
A trail camera positioned approximately 0.2 miles south of the gorge captured an image at 2:34 PM showing Kessler walking northbound on the Long Trail. She appears relaxed, not distressed. This is the last confirmed sighting. The same camera captured no southbound return. The camera north of the gorge showed no activity for the remainder of the day.
Observation #001-3
During the search, K-9 units tracked Kessler's scent from the bridge south along the gorge rim for approximately 0.15 miles, then the scent trail ended abruptly at a rocky outcropping. Dogs showed no further interest in any direction. Handler noted this was "unusual — scent doesn't just stop."
GMTW Note: A volunteer reviewing our camera archives six months later discovered that trail camera #3, positioned 1.1 miles south of the gorge, recorded a single frame at 11:47 PM on May 23 showing two figures moving northbound on the trail. The image is severely degraded. This was not included in the original investigation as it was discovered after the case review period. Image has been archived.
Single shoe found on trail near Clarendon Gorge, May 2020
Evidence photo — Footwear recovered near trail, Clarendon Gorge area. Image submitted to GMTW.
[Trail camera frame #001-TC3 — image withheld pending review]
CASE FILE #002 OPEN

Marcus Webb — Missing Since March 18, 2022

Age: 31 Last Seen: Long Trail near Clarendon Gorge Status: Missing

Marcus Webb of Manchester, VT departed for a solo overnight hike along the Long Trail. His backpack was found 0.4 miles south of Clarendon Gorge, opened and contents scattered. Food and water untouched. Phone missing. Five-day search found no further trace.

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Investigation Summary

Marcus James Webb, age 31, resident of Manchester, Vermont. Self-employed woodworker. Avid long-distance hiker (completed Vermont's Long Trail end-to-end in 2019). Left Manchester at approximately 1:00 PM on March 18 for a planned overnight at Clarendon Shelter. Expected return: March 19, late afternoon.

When Webb had not returned or made contact by the morning of March 20, his partner reported him missing. His vehicle, a 2019 Toyota Tacoma, was found at the Long Trail access point on Cold River Road.

Evidence Recovered

Item #002-A: Backpack
Osprey Atmos 65L, green, found approximately 30 feet east of the Long Trail at a point 0.4 miles south of Clarendon Gorge. The pack was upright, unzipped, with contents removed and arranged on the ground in front of it. Clothing, food, water filter, stove, sleeping bag — all present. Webb's sleeping pad was unrolled and laid flat as if someone had been sitting on it. Water bottles were full. Food was untouched. Journal, headlamp, and phone were not among the recovered items.
Item #002-B: Boot prints
Prints matching Webb's hiking boots (Salomon X Ultra, size 11) were tracked from the trail to the pack location. At the pack location, the prints showed him moving in a tight circle, then a second set of prints appeared. The second set was barefoot. Both sets of prints continued east, off-trail, for approximately 200 yards before the ground became too rocky to track. K-9 units lost both scent trails at the same rock shelf.

Anomalies

Observation #002-1
The arrangement of Webb's belongings was described by the lead SAR volunteer as "deliberate, like an inventory or display." Items were grouped by category and laid out in rows. This is not consistent with an animal disturbing a pack or a person hastily searching through it.
Observation #002-2
Webb's journal (recovered from Clarendon Shelter, where he apparently spent the first night) contained entries through the evening of March 18. His final entry reads: "Beautiful night. Clear sky. Can hear something moving in the trees — probably a porcupine. Going to sit up for a bit and watch the stars." No further entries.
Observation #002-3
The barefoot prints found alongside Webb's were analyzed by investigators. The prints were described as human in basic form but with an unusually long stride (estimated 5+ feet) and toe impressions that were deeper than the heel, as if the person were moving forward on the balls of their feet. Foot size estimated at women's 9-10. The prints were in ground soft enough to capture detail, but no attempt was made to cast them before weather degraded them.
GMTW Note: This case was the primary reason GMTW issued its first formal advisory against solo hiking near Clarendon Gorge. The proximity to the Kessler disappearance (0.4 miles apart) and the similar pattern — experienced hiker, solo, last trace near the gorge, no body — warranted public attention. Both cases were investigated independently and no official connection has been publicly acknowledged.
CASE FILE #003 OPEN

Jamie Robles — Missing Since May 14, 2024

Age: 28 Last Seen: Bucklin Trail, Killington Status: Missing

Jamie Robles of Burlington, VT departed for a solo day hike on the Bucklin Trail. Vehicle found at the trailhead. Hiking boots found placed neatly beside the trail 0.7 miles from the parking area. No further trace recovered after four-day search operation.

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Investigation Summary

Jamie Robles, age 28, resident of Burlington, Vermont. Graduate student at UVM studying environmental science. Experienced hiker and trail runner. Departed Burlington early morning May 14 for a planned day hike to Killington Peak via the Bucklin Trail. Expected return by 6:00 PM.

Robles' vehicle, a 2020 Honda CR-V, was found at the Bucklin Trail parking area. Vehicle was unlocked. A half-finished coffee was in the cup holder. Robles' dog, a border collie named Maple, was found in the vehicle with the windows cracked. The dog was unharmed but extremely agitated, according to the responding officer, and would not stop staring at the trailhead.

Evidence Recovered

Item #003-A: Hiking Boots
Pair of Merrell Moab 3 hiking boots, women's size 8, found placed side by side on the left edge of the Bucklin Trail at the 0.7-mile marker. Boots were untied and set down neatly with laces tucked inside. They were facing toward the trailhead, as if the wearer had been walking back when they removed them. No socks found.
Item #003-B: Phone
Robles' iPhone was found 0.3 miles further up the trail from the boots, placed on a flat rock beside the trail. The phone was powered off. When recovered and charged, the most recent photos showed typical hiking content from that morning. The final photo, timestamped 10:42 AM, shows a section of trail ahead. In the upper right corner, partially obscured by trees, there appears to be a pale shape that does not match the surrounding foliage. Photo has been archived by GMTW.

Anomalies

Observation #003-1
Beyond the point where the phone was found, SAR teams discovered barefoot impressions in muddy sections of the trail continuing uphill. The impressions matched Robles' foot size (women's 8) but were interspersed with a second set of barefoot prints, significantly larger, that appeared to be walking alongside. Both sets of prints left the maintained trail at the 1.4-mile mark, heading east into untrailed forest. Tracking dogs lost the scent within 200 yards.
Observation #003-2
Robles had texted their partner at 9:58 AM: "Starting up! Beautiful morning. Trail's empty, just me and the birds." At 10:17 AM, a second text: "LOL there's someone way up the trail just standing there, probably taking in the view." No further messages were sent.
GMTW Note: Jamie Robles is the third person to go missing along the Long Trail/AT corridor in Rutland County since 2020. All three were solo hikers. All three disappeared during daylight hours in spring or early summer. In all three cases, personal belongings were found but the person was not. We have formally requested that authorities establish a task force to investigate these cases as potentially connected. Our request was acknowledged but no task force has been formed.
[Photo #003-PH-FINAL — Last photo from Robles' phone. Under review.]
CASE FILE #004 RESTRICTED

[Subject Unidentified] — Ongoing Investigation

Opened: January 2026 Classification: Active Surveillance Status: Restricted

This case file consolidates all reports, evidence, and analysis related to the unidentified figure reported multiple times across the GMTW coverage area since 2019. Access to this file is limited to GMTW operations volunteers and authorized researchers.

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Hint: Listen carefully.

Subject Profile

Across 127 reports received by GMTW since 2018, 43 describe encounters that cannot be attributed to known wildlife or human activity. Of those, 31 include a consistent element: a tall, thin figure, usually female-presenting, observed standing motionless at treelines, trail edges, or near water features. The figure has been reported at distances ranging from 40 feet to approximately 300 yards.

Consistent Descriptions

Physical Appearance
Tall (estimated 5'10" to 6'2"), thin build. Appears to be wearing light-colored clothing described variously as "a dress," "a gown," or "something white." Multiple witnesses have noted that the clothing appears old or deteriorated. Hair is long and dark. Face has never been clearly observed — always seen at distance, in low light, or turned partially away.
Behavioral Pattern
The figure is almost always motionless when first observed. It is typically standing at the edge of tree cover, facing toward the observer or toward a trail. When approached, it withdraws into forest cover. In every case, the figure moves with abnormal speed or silence — witnesses describe looking away briefly and finding the figure gone. The figure has never been observed in full daylight; all sightings occur between dusk and dawn.
Associated Phenomena
Reports involving the figure frequently describe: sudden forest silence (cessation of bird and insect sounds), a feeling of being watched before visual contact, unusual cold air, and in three cases, a faint sound described as "singing" or "humming" that does not echo and has no identifiable source direction.

Correlation with Missing Persons

The three missing persons in GMTW's coverage area share the following commonalities with figure sightings:

Pattern Analysis
All disappearances occurred within the same 5-mile corridor where 78% of figure sightings are concentrated. In each case, the missing person's last known movements suggest they left the trail voluntarily. In two of three cases, a second set of barefoot prints was found alongside the missing person's tracks. In all three cases, tracking dogs lost the scent at rocky terrain. The figure was reported in the area within 72 hours of each disappearance.

Current Status

GMTW has expanded camera coverage and volunteer patrols in the corridor. We are actively seeking additional witnesses and any photographic evidence. If you have seen this figure, please report it immediately — even if you think it was nothing. Even if you're not sure. Especially if you're not sure.

This file was created to consolidate what we know. It is not enough. Three people are missing. Something is in these woods. We intend to find out what.
EVIDENCE ARCHIVE UPDATING

Photographic & Physical Evidence Log

Items catalogued: 34 Last updated: Feb 2026

Consolidated archive of photographic evidence, trail camera footage, physical items, and correspondence received by GMTW. Evidence is catalogued and cross-referenced with case files and incident log entries.

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Trail Camera Archive

TC-001 / Sept 2, 2019 / 3:17 AM
Figure captured at approximately 40 feet. Infrared exposure. Subject appears standing, facing camera. Clothing appears light-colored. Proportions noted as unusual by three independent reviewers.
[Image TC-001 — Pending release authorization]
TC-003 / Nov 3-5, 2021 / Corrupted sequence
47 hours of static. Three recoverable frames at ~31hr mark show pale shape at edge of frame. Enhancement attempted — inconclusive. Original SD card preserved in chain-of-custody storage.
[Frames TC-003-F31a through F31c — Too degraded for public release]
TC-SOUTH / May 23, 2020 / 11:47 PM
Frame showing two figures on trail, northbound. Discovered six months after Kessler disappearance during archive review. One figure appears to be walking slightly ahead of the other. Enhancement ongoing.

Physical Evidence

PHY-007 / Dec 7, 2022 / Shelter contents
Items recovered from crude shelter near abandoned CCC logging road: wristwatch (Timex Expedition, stopped at 3:17 AM), eyeglasses (prescription, wire-frame), single hiking boot (men's left, size 10). Wristwatch is consistent with a model owned by Marcus Webb. Confirmation pending.
PHY-012 / Feb 21, 2024 / Anonymous map
Hand-drawn map marking seven locations between Clarendon Gorge and Shrewsbury. Accompanying note: "SHE WATCHES FROM THESE PLACES. DON'T GO AT NIGHT." Paper analysis: standard copy paper, commercially available. Ink: ballpoint, blue. Handwriting analysis inconclusive — block letters appear deliberately disguised. Five of seven locations investigated; three contained evidence of recurring human habitation.
PHY-018 / May 2, 2025 / Shelter scratch marks
Photographs of parallel scratch marks on exterior of Bucklin Trail shelter. Three marks, approximately 18 inches long, roughly evenly spaced. Depth suggests a hard, sharp implement. Spacing does not match bear claw patterns (too wide) or any standard tool.

Correspondence

COR-003 / Various / Anonymous tips
GMTW has received 11 anonymous communications since 2019. Most provide vague warnings. Three contain specific location details that correlated with subsequent incidents. One, received in October 2025, contained a single sentence: "She's been here longer than any of us."
This archive is updated as new evidence is received and catalogued. If you have photographic evidence, physical items, or information relevant to any case, contact GMTW at greenmountaintrailwatch@proton.me or submit a report through our main site.