Do people really believe Forrest Fenn ever had a hidden treasure? I don't! FF has allegedly been suffering from Dementia for many years, and in his own words, he stated:
"I hid the treasure chest at the first onset of Dementia. I knew I had a disease, so I made myself a note that revealed the exact location because I wanted to give some additional clues later on. Now I don't remember where I put the note. Maybe if I search for my fishing box, I can find what I was looking for. But why would I want to fish in this weather? I'll go ask my wife, Phyllis, where my tool kit is."
If FF suffers from Dementia and even had to write down where he hid the treasure because he might forget where he hid it, maybe all of his clues are not even correct, or there was never any treasure to start with.
There is a blog run by Dal Neitzel, who wrote about how he has been confronted by a few folks over the past seven years who have claimed Forrest's Treasure Hunt to be a big fat hoax. He said he needed to clear up everything, including one of my questions about FF making so much money from people who buy his book. This was Dal's answer.
"It has been ridiculously tossed about more than once that Forrest created this treasure hunt to line his own pockets, that it is nothing more than a scheme to sell his book, The Thrill of the Chase and pocket the profits. Anyone who has done the slightest investigation into The Thrill of the Chase can see that there is no money in the sales of that book, nor any other, for Forrest. Forrest gave the rights to sell the book to an independently owned, small bookstore in Santa Fe called Collected Works Bookstore. They are the only bookstore that sells TTOTC. He claims that when they sell a book, they give 10% to a Cancer Fund that Forrest started. The rest is theirs. Forrest does not see anything from the sale of those books. Additionally, Forrest has all the money he needs. His worth is reputed to be above several million. One of his goals was never to sell anything where his best client paid him $100. So it's unlikely that selling a $35 book that probably cost $25 to print and ship was an incentive to "line his pockets."
My answer to that is nowhere in the books or website does it say the money from the book sales go to any Cancer Fund. And then you have to buy the second book, "Too Far To Walk," to get the map of where the treasure is hidden and more hints. It makes me wonder why specific questions were never answered?
It is crazy to think that any person can find his treasure in one of four States. As a matter of fact, it is impossible. I can't take FF too seriously when he gives such a ridiculous area for people to look at. Even old lost treasures gave more detail than the one FF has given.
Some of his fans have said FF is an angel who does good for people, but I ask what good he has done? He alleges to have hidden a treasure over eight years ago - 8 years! How is that doing something good thing for people?
These people are chasing their dreams based on one man's word. My God, people have lost marriages, life savings, and even their lives for this treasure. How on earth can this be a good thing? How on earth does this make FF an angel? If anything, I think it makes him a narcissistic game player.
There's no evidence that this chest ever existed and no evidence that the contents of the chest even existed. This is difficult for me to understand since I have spent over 24 years basing everything on truth and evidence. There is no evidence or fact to FF treasure.
FF claims the person who found the treasure provided him with a photograph of the location and treasure. Really? I find it hard to believe any person who found this treasure would want to remain quiet.
Five people have died while searching for the treasure.
Randy Bilyeu went missing in January 2016 and was found dead in July. His body was discovered by workers along the Rio Grande,
Jeff Murphy of Batavia, Illinois, was found dead in Yellowstone National Park on June 9, 2017, after falling about 500 feet (150 m) down a steep slope.
Pastor Paris Wallace of Grand Junction, Colorado, died in June 2017. His car was found parked near the Taos Junction Bridge, and his body was found 5 to 7 miles downstream along the Rio Grande.
Eric Ashby was found dead in Colorado's Arkansas River on July 28, 2017.
Michael Wayne Sexson of Deer Trail, Colorado, was found dead by rescuers on March 21, 2020, alongside his unnamed 65-year-old male companion, who later recovered in hospital.
How tragic it is that these men had to die. And, for what! You know what, FF - I still don't believe this treasure ever existed. I think FF is a major con artist and liar! Congratulations, FF - you made millions from the biggest hoax in history.
