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[trailhead] What happened to Jacob Aaron?
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thebruce
Dances With Wikis


Joined: 16 Aug 2004
Posts: 6899
Location: Kitchener, Ontario

[trailhead] What happened to Jacob Aaron?

Ok, first off, this launch was very limited in that it appears it was only to me, via Facebook, by my real name. So it was hard to tell if this was a real person or an arg launch. But after some interaction with said person, the events in question were just too suspicious and 'argish' to think otherwise. So, I think I'm taking a due risk by sharing it all (and, well, it appears I was prompted to anyway - as you'll read below Smile)

Bare with me as this is long (much has happened since Thursday afternoon Coffee

-----------------------
Thursday, while checking my Facebook inbox, I got a popup message from "Catherine Aaron" saying hi, asking if I remember her and if I heard about her dad. Suffice to say, no. So I replied after having checked out her profile (wary at this point it may be a real person, but might be an arg character - always a fun balance Razz).

She had posted a status update and note less than a 1/2 hour earlier:
Quote:
Status: 4:13pm) Catherine is just got back from the funeral. Dropped out this semester. I'll miss you forever

Catherine wrote:
Subject: My dad was murdered...and nobody seems to care.

Friars Point is not a big town. It's tiny. You would think a murder would matter.

My dad was murdered a week ago. The funeral was yesterday. I came home from school to be with Mom. She's a mess right now. I am not sure how I can help.

When I talked to the police about the investigation, they said "Looks like we will never know what happened." This was three days after the murder. I want to know why my father's murder is going unnoticed.

AHHHHHHHHH! I just want to scream so loud, but Mom needs me to hold it together.

Guess I can keep it up for a little while.

My first reply
thebruce wrote:
I'm sorry... I can't place your name. Do you have the right Geoff? Unless you moved to Mississippi from Ontario a while back. And if you're 19, you're 10 years younger than me...

Did we meet elsewhere? My memory is shakey...
Sorry to hear about your dad though. But I haven't heard anything up here.

Catherine wrote:
I'm pretty sure you're the right guy. You might not remember me. I think you knew my dad actually. Jacob Aaron?

He always spoke very highly of you. I am just trying to track down some of his old friends.

I noticed she was online so I sent her a facebook IM and began a little chat (key points bolded)
Quote:
Geoff) hi Catherine
Catherine) hey
Geoff) so, I'm not sure I knew your dad... I've never been to Mississippi
Catherine) sorry, i know i was just a kid last time you saw me. you live in ontario right?
Geoff) yeah, have you been here?
Catherine) I used to go on trips with my dad. He did a bit of business in Waterloo.
Geoff) really. when was this? what kind of business?
Catherine) He was a software consultant. He did some work for a friend of his up there. I guess it was...five years ago? Sometime around then. Maybe I have the wrong Geoff?
Geoff) 5 years ago... do you know who this friend was or anything else about his work?
Catherine) From the way he talked about the guy, I was pretty sure he would know me. So if its not you...I guess do you know any other Geoff May's in the area?
Geoff) I'm the only one that I know of in Waterloo, at least.
Catherine) Hmm...well, I guess think about it. If you remember, let me know.
Geoff) was I the one your father worked for?
Catherine) No no, not sure who that was. I can't seem to remember and mom is....well, she's a little messed up at the moment. Hard for her to really talk about anything.
Geoff) might I know her? was she ever in the area?
Catherine) Nah, she never travelled with dad.
Geoff) anything else that might help jog my memory if I'm who you're looking for? photo? video?
Catherine) Well, thats a picture of my dad for my profile pic. I don't know if I have any more on here. That's one of the reasons I was trying to track down his friends. Thats a bit old though...[b]probably 16 years ago
Geoff) hm. well it's hard to see his face. It's a very nice picture though. I love photography Smile
Catherine) Thanks...well, I guess if you remember him let me know. I'm headed to the grocery store. Mom is hungry...
Geoff) what's your mother's name?
Catherine) Bridget. Why?
Geoff) Looking to see if there's any other info about them out there.
Catherine) Hmm...well, our hometown is pretty small (just one grocery store lol).
Geoff) hehe closely knit I guess.
Catherine) *very* I gotta run. Thanks for talking, and sorry if you're not who I hoped you were. I guess I will talk to you sometime soon.
Geoff) ok... well keep in touch, let me know if you figure out anything. I'd love to help
Catherine) Thanks again


She then made a few status updates between then and the next day.
Quote:
Status: 5:49pm) Catherine ran into dad's attorney at the grocery store. I have to go by there tomorrow to get some stuff he left. Just one more reminder that he is gone.

Status: 8:12am) Catherine is already awake. Another sleepless night.

Mobile Status: 12:49pm) Catherine on my way to the meeting...

Status: 2:00pm) Catherine is going through the envelope dad had left with his attorney.


So this is where it gets interesting. She uploaded 16 photos to facebook. 7 photos are of grave stones, and the rest are seemingly random pictures were it not that each has a cat somewhere in the photo.
The photos can be seen here.

Quote:
Status: 2:29pm) Catherine is wondering who the hell the people in these graves are. Never heard of em...


Then she replied, finally
Catherine wrote:
Hey Geoff,

No news yet. I met with dad's attorney for lunch. He gave me an envelope that dad had left with him recently. Marty(the attorney) seems to think dad might have known he was in some trouble.

I thought he might have left me a letter, but its just a bunch of random pictures, a cd, and a couple of other odds and ends. The cd is just a garbage file. Bunch weird looking characters in a file.

And the pictures(as you can see) are no help. I had really gotten my hopes up that there would be a clue or something as to what happened.

thebruce wrote:
hm. well, I'm good with files - I could take a look at it if you like. How big is it?
I've added you to my MSN (using your live.com email address (listed in her profile)) so you could send it to me that way, or you could email it to blahblahblahSPLATblahblah.com

The pictures all seem to be either containing a cat, or of a tombstone. Very strange indeed. Do you think the picture might have some common significance? A message? Did your dad have a thing for cats?...or graves? /Smile

What else was in the envelope besides the pictures and cd?

Catherine wrote:
Yeah, dad never really had an interest in either as far as I know. It's a little weird isn't it? Most men don't like cats. And I don't know anyone that likes hanging out in graveyards and staring at tombstones.

thebruce wrote:
I like cats. I have two Smile

Anyway, would you be able to send that file? I'm sure it is something. It's not often files exist that really are entirely gibberish. Razz


After some more banter (where she reveals she doesn't "know alot about computers", didn't understand my question about the file extension, and said the file was pretty big - it was 1.71kb), she sent the file by email. Sure enough, it was a base64 encrypted text file. The decoded message:

Jacob Aaron wrote:
Catherine,

If you're reading this, then I did in fact end up in some trouble. I left all of this information for you because I think you can follow through on this. You are stronger than anyone I have ever met, and I hope that you can figure out the things I couldn't.

If you haven't yet, see if you can track down Geoff May. I know you have heard me talk about him, and I know that he, along with his friends, can aid you.

If you should ever get into trouble, make sure the envelope and all of its contents get to him. Get his address and mail it to him if you have to.

I love you sweetheart, more than you can imagine, and it breaks my heart to know I might now be with you much longer. You can do this.

I need to warn you about the Organization though. They are not to be toyed with. I won't name them here, because I don't know if they can track mentions of their name or not. But I have hidden their name in the contents of this envelope. Regardless, they are EXTREMELY dangerous. If I am not around anymore, then they are responsible, have no doubt.

I love you so much. Please take care of your mother and brother. I know you haven't spoken to him in a while, but its time you tracked him down.

Know that I love you with all of my heart.

-Jacob Aaron
Your Loving Father


And then
Quote:
Status: 4:16pm) Catherine is FREAKED OUT!

Catherine wrote:
I am a little freaked out. What does he mean? It looks like he knew he was in trouble? And what is the Organization? I'm afraid this is all over my head? Do you have any ideas?

He even specifically mentions you. No wonder he always talked about you. I guess he really respected you.

thebruce wrote:
Yeah, I really wish I could remember him. I hope you don't mind that I read the message... he said he wanted you to mail me the package if you got into trouble. I really hope you don't get into trouble, but just in case, you should probably make a note of it:
blahblah blahblah street, blahblah BL, Canada, etc

If those 16 pictures you uploaded were in that envelope, then I think they might be another encrypted message in some form that is the name of the Organization. I'll have to look at it and see if anything pops out. I want to be careful about this organization too... if it gets out that I'm connected to your dad, I could have some serious problems on my hands myself.

He mentioned your brother - you have a brother? How is he handling your father's death? How is your mother?


Here's where I'm now uncertain about something. I noticed she had friended "Ed Martin" on Facebook. Not being a friend of mine, I could only view his friends (he had no profile pic either).

Friends of Ed were (only): Donnie Hoyle, Sandy Mehglich, Lance Stone, and Andrew Tobler.

Two of those names you might recognize from "You sucjk at photoshop" ( thread), and Andrew from "What happened in Piedmont". So, I don't know who Ed is, but he's either a character, a real person, or a player who registered at facebook in order to follow other arg characters. There is also an "Ed Martin" on the ARG-SIG member list.

So I asked about him, and...
Catherine wrote:
I thought Ed (Martin) was a friend of yours. He added me right after I talked to you...should I not talk to him?

My brother...he's been gone for so long. He left home about five years ago. Nobody has heard from him. He left when his girlfriend was killed. He was driving the car...he said he just looked away from the road for a second when she talked to him. But it was long enough to hit the center post of an overpass... It killed her instantly and he never recovered.

We can't seem to find him. Last we heard he was in Chicago. His name is Joseph.

Not being a friend of mine on Facebook, I don't know how Ed would have known I was talking to Catherine, unless he was just watching my profile timeline (it's relatively public) without me knowing, which pretty much puts him in the covert stalker category. So. that's a mystery.


And that, my friends, is where I'm at.
She's got my address, so I don't know if/when I might get this package, but I'll share if/when I do, of course.


Now, the outstanding puzzles: What's the name of the "Organisation" (supposedly hidden in the 16 images, or the package)? Where's her brother Joshua Aaron? How's her mother Bridget doing? What really happened to Jacob Aaron?

Thanks a lot to Catherwood who helped me out a bit in chat when I wasn't sure if it was potentially real or not (long before the attorney thing came out =)

I've been racking my brain on the tombstones, but can't see a code anywhere... the only common elements between all of them are the first/last name and year of death. The photos on the wiki page are in the order she uploaded them to Facebook (and she didn't take the pictures remember, they were in the package from her dad, so they're believably random/stock images chosen by Jacob to hide a word/phrase, assumedly).

We've scoured the net for any real-world references to any of the events mentioned above. Friar's Point Mississippi is conveniently rural, tiny and quiet when it comes to news and online presence. But Catherwood found that there are some ghost sighting stories reported there... so who knows.

(I'll be away all day today, saturday, so I'll check back at night; I don't think anything'll happen today, but Catherine may do some facebook updates and whatnot, I don't see any reason why she wouldn't)

Oh, and Runge Kutta has also since added her as a Facebook friend.
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 3:58 am
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Leyton Stone
I Have No Life

Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 2302
Location: London (NOT Ontario!)

I will check this out later, just woke up but Bruce considering you seem to be quite a known name in the ARGiverse I'm not sure if you're aware but I believe Ed Martin is a player like the rest of us. So maybe he was just checkin you out through FB like people check people out on Twitter.
_________________
PM'd: Chryo-Pharm. || ITFS. || Weirdnessicity/Lif3. ||

Playing: Help me find something!

Watching: Nothing yet...


PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:00 am
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Citizen Ed
Boot

Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 43
Location: Miamisburg, OH

I'm the Ed in question. Saw Bruce's post in the "Spam or trailhead" section and checked out Catherines FB profile. Thought it did indeed look ARGy so I sent a friend request. Sorry for any confusion.

I noticed on one of the tombstone pictures, John D. Thomas, below his name and DoD is the name of what I thought would be his wife, Elizabeth B. Morgan. Below her name however is written "Wife of Issac B. Morgan". Don't know if it ties into the name of the organization but I thought it was kind of odd.

PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 6:56 pm
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tallerbird
Decorated


Joined: 11 Oct 2005
Posts: 278
Location: Birmingham,UK

Citizen Ed wrote:

I noticed on one of the tombstone pictures, John D. Thomas, below his name and DoD is the name of what I thought would be his wife, Elizabeth B. Morgan. Below her name however is written "Wife of Issac B. Morgan". Don't know if it ties into the name of the organization but I thought it was kind of odd.


I found a reference to John Thomas and Elizabeth and Isaac Morgan

There is a lot of info so i haven't read it all, just searched the page for the names. It looks like Elizabeth may have been his daughter (his wife and daughter were both called Elizabeth). They were buried in Washburn Street Cemetery.

I found some info on some of the others also:
Kate Matthews
Bessie Smith
Timmis

So far two of the graves are at Washburn Street Cemetery. Going to check out the others now.

I have added her also.

PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:31 pm
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drizjr
Unfictologist


Joined: 28 Nov 2003
Posts: 1700

I've been working on locating where the tombstones are too. And trying to answer "Who are these people?".

SMITH:
Bessie Smith, Mount Lawn Cemetery, Sharon Hill, Delaware County, Pennsylvania, USA
Bessie was a blues singer.
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=960

THOMAS:
John J. Thomas and his wife Elizabeth Davis, Washburn Street Cemetery, located in the Hyde Park section of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
John was a miner.

MATTHEWS:
"Katie Marks" (Kate Matthews), Pewee Valley Cemetery, Pewee Valley, Kentucky
Katie was a photographer and model.
http://www.littlecolonel.com/People/RestingPlaces/KateMatthews.htm
http://www.littlecolonel.com/KatieMarks.htm

ROBERTS:
Eva Roberts,Old Mission Cemetery, Crane Township, Wyandot County, Ohio
Found tombstone here http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohwyand2/w/om_16_Ro.html
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohwyand2/w/o_mission/dc/3/robert_franklin_j__eva_l.jpg
Profession:?
I think that only Eva is buried at that grave site as Franklin J. has a different tombstone in the same cemetery. Unless he has two grave sites?
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohwyand2/w/o_mission/dc/3/roberts_franklin_j_military.jpg

TIMMIS:
Ann and Robert (share the same marker as Fannie McDonough & George Bumbaugh), Washburn Street Cemetery, Hyde Park/Scranton, Lackawanna Co., Pennsylvania
As already mentioned, this is the same cemetery where THOMAS is buried.
Profession:?

UNGER:
Rosalie Klotz Unger, Jewish Cemetery, 900 Marginal Street, Port Gibson, Mississippi
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ssjdb/TGPortGibson.htm
Profession:?

I'm still looking for ADAMS.

Is there anything written on the backs of the photos?

PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:49 pm
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MrToasty
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee


Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 4310
Location: Des Moines, IA

Adams:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohwyand2/w/o_mission/dc/4/adams_bert_j__ruby_j.jpg
Old Mission Cemetery
Crane Township, Wyandot County, OH

PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 7:57 pm
Last edited by MrToasty on Sat Sep 20, 2008 8:18 pm; edited 1 time in total
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SLACKJAW
Boot


Joined: 29 Jun 2008
Posts: 17

I kinda think the last names might be hints at first names.

Last Name / First Name
Matthews = Matthew
Roberts = Robert
Timmis = Tim
Unger = ?
Thomas = Tom
Adams = Adam
Smith = ?

Just a thought.

PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 8:10 pm
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thebruce
Dances With Wikis


Joined: 16 Aug 2004
Posts: 6899
Location: Kitchener, Ontario

I'd looked at the links provided for the headstones as well, and made not of common letters in case they might spell something.
so listed below and where available, it's cemetery name, Street, City, State (I didn't both with the names as we've already looked at that)

Code:
#6  - OCW OH
#7  - LHS PA
#12 - WHS PA
#13 -  PP KY
#14 - OCW OH
#15 - WHS PA
#16 -  MG MS


based on these links:
6 - Adams, 2006, Darlene Clinger, Old Mission Cemetery, Crane Township, Wyandot County, Ohio
(http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohwyand2/w/o_mission/dc/4/)
7 - Smith, Mt. Lawn Cemetery, 84th Street and Hook Road, Sharon Hill, Pa.
(http://queerestplaces.wordpress.com/2007/01/17/bessie-smith-grave/)
12 - Thomas/Morgans, Washburn Street cemetery, Hyde Park, Scranton, Pennsylvania
(http://www.thomasgenweb.com/john_thomas.html)
13 - Matthews, Pewee Valley Cemetery, Pewee Valley, KY
(http://www.littlecolonel.com/People/RestingPlaces/KateMatthews.htm)
14 - Roberts, 2006, Darlene Clinger, Old Mission Cemetery, Crane Township, Wyandot County, Ohio
(http://queerestplaces.wordpress.com/2007/01/17/bessie-smith-grave/)
15 - Timmis/McDonough/Bumbaugh, Washburn Street cemetery, Hyde Park, Scranton, Pennsylvania
(http://www.thomasgenweb.com/washburn_a_d.html)
16 - Unger, Jewish Cemetery, 900 Marginal Street, Port Gibson, Mississippi
(http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ssjdb/TGPortGibson.htm)

Still waiting to hear back from Catherine. Last status update was last night: Catherine is rereading the letter. Looking for help.
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PostPosted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 9:45 pm
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tallerbird
Decorated


Joined: 11 Oct 2005
Posts: 278
Location: Birmingham,UK

I found where a couple of the cat pictures came from
photo 1
Photo 2
The free cat picture is all over the Internet and impossible to track down the origins.
They have just been taken from various blogs so no help there but it does mean that the locations in the cat pictures are not important.

I have put the names on the graves into order of date of death and tried to use the first letters of first and last names but can't find anything there.

I have also just realised there are 9 cat pictures. 9 lives of a cat? not sure it will help but worth pointing out.

PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 2:00 pm
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MrToasty
I Have 100 Cats and Smell of Wee


Joined: 03 Aug 2004
Posts: 4310
Location: Des Moines, IA

Found cat #3
LINK

PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 3:06 pm
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tallerbird
Decorated


Joined: 11 Oct 2005
Posts: 278
Location: Birmingham,UK

Found the same building as Photo 11. Not the exact same photo. It looks like having an ornamental climbing cat on your house is quite popular in Amsterdam. I want one lol.

PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 3:44 pm
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XaRen
Veteran


Joined: 03 Mar 2008
Posts: 127
Location: Germany

I just looked at the pictures and noticed, that it looks, like the tombstone on the grave of Elias Unger and Rosalie Klotz Unger is shifted from the original position.

Could this mean anything?

PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 5:14 pm
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drizjr
Unfictologist


Joined: 28 Nov 2003
Posts: 1700

Wall cat in Amsterdam. link
I can't see any difference between the two.

PostPosted: Sun Sep 21, 2008 11:12 pm
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Spunkysoda9
Boot


Joined: 17 Oct 2007
Posts: 56
Location: Planet Earth

It doesnt really catch my interest because you are the only one who seems to have contact with her, unless she decides to know everyone here as well?

PostPosted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 12:18 am
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thebruce
Dances With Wikis


Joined: 16 Aug 2004
Posts: 6899
Location: Kitchener, Ontario

yeah. I dunno.
haven't heard from her since.
might just be waiting for the package in the mail, assuming she's in danger? *shrug*
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PostPosted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:34 am
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