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Fenn treasure

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The Fenn Treasure is a treasure reportedly worth over a million dollars supposedly hidden by art dealer and author Forrest Fenn in the Rocky Mountains.[1] Fenn has said he is going to go back and get it when the value is inflated to 10 million dollars.[2]

According to Fenn, many people have claimed to have found the treasure, but no one has provided any evidence to him supporting their claim. As of July 2017, Fenn has stated "The treasure remains where I hid it about 7 years ago". In May 2017, Fenn was asked: "Has anyone determined the nine clues and what they represent?" and his response was: "I don't know that anybody has told me the clues in the right order", leading to speculation all of the clues have been solved, but the chest remains hidden. Forrest reconfirmed searchers have been within 200 feet of the treasure and many within 500 feet.[3] The Thrill of the Chase and Too Far to Walk books chronicle Fenn's life as an adrenaline junkie and the treasure hunt has attracted many thrill seekers.

History

Fenn operated an art gallery with his wife Peggy after retiring from the United States Air Force. The gallery was located in Santa Fe, New Mexico and sold everything from artifacts to fine art and was quite successful. In 1988, Fenn was diagnosed with cancer and came up with the idea during this illness to hide a chest full of treasure for anyone to go find. He filled the chest with "treasure" containing gold nuggets, rare coins, jewelry and gemstones, along with an olive jar holding his autobiography. He intended to hide it and end his life nearby, with the treasure as a legacy.[4] However, he survived his illness and waited until he was 79 or 80 to hide the treasure. Prior to the treasure hunt, Fenn found himself at odds with federal antiquities laws. FBI agents raided his home in 2009 as part of an investigation into artifact looting in the Four Corners area and seized items, but he was not charged.[5] Two people targeted in the case committed suicide and Fenn has blamed the FBI for their deaths.[6]

Deaths

Two people have died while searching for the treasure, prompting New Mexico police to pressure Fenn into ending the hunt.[7]

  1. Randy Bilyeu, who went missing in January 2016 and was later found dead in July of that year.[8] As a result, Bilyeu's ex wife told others she thought the Fenn Treasure was a hoax.[9]
  2. Pastor Paris Wallace of Grand Junction told family members he was searching for a buried treasure and later failed to show up for a planned family meeting Wednesday June 14, 2017. His car was found parked near the Taos Junction Bridge and his body was subsequently found 5-7 miles downstream.[10][11]

In late July 2017, news sources reported that a third death may be linked to the hunt for the treasure. A body was found in the Arkansas River on July 28, believed to be that of Eric Ashby, 31. It is alleged by some of Ashby's family members that Ashby had moved to Colorado in 2016 to look for the treasure, and was last seen on June 28 rafting on the river, 10-15 miles upstream from where the body was found. The raft overturned and Ashby had been missing since that time. Authorities claimed that, if confirmed as Ashby, his death would be the third attributable to the hunt for Fenn's treasure.[12]

Books written about the Fenn Treasure

  • Fenn, Forrest (2010). The Thrill of the Chase. ISBN 9780967091785.
  • Fenn, Forrest (2013). Too Far to Walk. ISBN 9780967091792.
  • Rhu Seau, Trent (2013). The Chase for Forrest Fenn's Treasure. ASIN B00CCZ5XVC.
  • Steele, Maxwell (2013). How to Find Forrest Fenn's Treasure. ASIN B00BSXTISS.
  • Briggs, Andrew (2015). Title to the Gold: Find Forrest Fenn's treasure. The clues and answers. ASIN B0145S7IU2.
  • Ritt, Jordan (2015). A Treasure More Than Gold: How I found the solution to Forrest Fenn's poem. ISBN 9781478753742.
  • Wolf, The (2015). Finding Forrest Fenn. ISBN 9781311318602.
  • Brooks, Marvin (2016). Toward Solving Forrest Fenn's Hidden Treasure Clues. ISBN 9780692711781.

References

  1. ^ Burnett, John. "Seeking Adventure And Gold? Crack This Poem And Head Outdoors". NPR. Retrieved 26 July 2017.
  2. ^ Goldsmith, Margie (September 17, 2013). "$5 Million Rocky Mountain Treasure Still Waiting to be Found". Huffington Post. Retrieved July 21, 2017.
  3. ^ ""The Lure" post screening Q&A with Forrest Fenn". May 2017.
  4. ^ Goldsmith, Margie. "The Thrill of the Chase". Hemispheres Inflight Magazine. Archived from the original on March 26, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2013.
  5. ^ Miller, Cynthia. "When Forrest Fenn treasure hunters hit a dead end". Star Tribune. Retrieved June 23, 2017. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  6. ^ Sharpe, Tom. "Dealer: Blame FBI for seller suicides in Four Corners looting case". Santa Fe New Mexican. Retrieved June 23, 2017. {{cite news}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  7. ^ "New Mexico police urge author who says he hid treasure to end hunt". foxnews.com. 21 June 2017.
  8. ^ "Missing treasure hunter's remains found in New Mexico". BBC News. 27 July 2016. Retrieved 27 July 2016.
  9. ^ "Tragic end to months-long search for treasure hunter Randy Bilyeu". CBS News. July 27, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2016.
  10. ^ Roberts, Michael (June 19, 2017). "Body Found May Be Paris Wallace, Latest Coloradan Seeking Forrest Fenn Treasure". Westword. Retrieved June 19, 2017.
  11. ^ "Pastor dies in search for famous hidden treasure". Retrieved June 19, 2017. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |1= (help)
  12. ^ http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/forrest-fenn-treasure-hunt-may-have-claimed-its-third-victim-n788191
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