Photographer Paul Miller Vanishes on Hike in Joshua Tree

Photographer Paul Miller Vanishes on Hike in Joshua Tree

Author: Locations Unknown June 14, 2024 Duration: 45:38
On July 13, 2018, Paul and his wife were vacationing in California to celebrate their 26th wedding anniversary.  Before wrapping up their trip, Paul wanted to take one last day hike through Joshua Tree National Park, hoping to get some good shots of the parks Big Horn Sheep.  After several hours had passed without Paul's return, his wife alerted the authorities and a massive search kicked off shortly after.  Join us this week as we revisit the disappearance and eventual recovery of Paul Miller in Joshua Tree National Park.  (Episode 106)  

This was the second case we covered on the podcast back on December 16, 2018.  We have re-recorded the episode with some updated content, a couple clips from our original episode, and updated information on the recovery of Paul Miller.  To all the OG listeners who have been here since Episode #2, thank you for sticking with us!  

Learn more about Locations Unknown: https://linktr.ee/LocationsUnknown

New Patreon Shoutouts: Julie Chapman, Suzanne Moak, Colleen Schaal, Andrew Fuller, Jonathan Woods, Tonya Campbell, Emily Mckee, Donna Musselman, Brownwyn Livezey, Michele Hanson, David Bowie Riding on a Tiger Made of Lightning (JJ).

Want to help the show out and get even more Locations Unknown content!  For as little as $5 a month, you can become a Patron of Locations Unknown and get access to our episodes two days before release, special Patreon only episode (Currently a backlog of 46 additional episodes), free swag, swag contests, your picture on our supporter wall of fame, our Patreon only Discord Server, and discounts to our Locations Unknown Store!  Become a Patron of the Locations Unknown Podcast by visiting our Patreon page.  (https://www.patreon.com/locationsunknown)

All our Patreon only content (Audio & Video) can now be accessed via Spotify.  (Active subscription to our Patreon channel is required.) -- Locations Unknown Subscriber Only Show | Podcast on Spotify  

Want to call into the show and leave us a message?  Now you can!  Call 208-391-6913 and leave Locations Unknown a voice message and we may air it on a future message! 

View live recordings of the show on our YouTube channel: Locations Unknown - YouTube

You can view sources for this episode and all our previous episodes at: Sources — Locations Unknown

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/locations-unknown--6183838/support.

Locations Unknown ventures into the silent, vast spaces where people have simply gone missing. Hosts Mike & Joe guide each episode through a specific case, piecing together timelines from the final known moments, through the often-frustrating official searches, and into the lingering questions that haunt families and park rangers alike. This isn't just a true crime podcast; it’s a close look at the intersection of human error, unpredictable nature, and the peculiar geography of places like dense national forests and isolated mountain ranges that can swallow a person whole. You’ll hear about the decisions made in the critical hours, the terrain that complicated everything, and the community of experts and amateurs who keep looking. The show naturally explores how these landscapes, while beautiful, hold secrets, making the wilderness itself a central character in every story. Tune in for a respectful, detailed examination of stories that end not with a conclusion, but with an open map and a deepened mystery. The podcast digs into the cultural fascination with these vanishings and what they reveal about our relationship with the wild, remote corners of the country.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Locations Unknown
Podcast Episodes
Robert Fitzgerald - George Washington National Forest - Virginia [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:53
November 12th, 2012, a seasoned hiker and devoted runner fails to show up for work after a solo trip to Virginia’s Confederate Breastworks Trail. His car is discovered days later, packed with food and supplies, but no si…
Lost in the Shadow of the Rockies – The 40-Year Mystery - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:52
Last week, we introduced you to Bobbie Jo Oberholtzer and Annette Schnee, two women who vanished the same night while hitchhiking from Breckenridge, Colorado. As a brutal winter storm swept across the Rockies, searchers…
From the Vault - Gwen Hasselquist - The Police Report - Part 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:55
With all the buzz surrounding the Gwen Hasselquist case and the upcoming Crime Junkie episode (releasing October 27, 2025), we thought it was the perfect time to re-release our original four-part series on Gwen’s story,…
Lost in the Shadow of the Rockies – The 40-Year Mystery - Part 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:01
In January 1982, two women vanished just hours apart while hitchhiking from Breckenridge, Colorado, during one of the worst winter storms the Rockies had seen in decades. As temperatures plunged below –20°F, friends and…
Flight, Fury, and Feathers: Talking Raptors with Jenna Kopp [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:33
This week we take flight into the world of raptors, nature’s most skilled aerial predators. From hawks and eagles to owls and falcons, these incredible birds shape ecosystems and inspire conservation efforts across the g…
Charles McCullar - A Case Re-examined — Myths vs. Facts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:35
In 2019, Locations Unknown covered a young photographer bound for winter shots at Crater Lake National Park. The case spawned wild theories, unsubstantiated lore, and even an episode of The UnXplained with William Shatne…
Angeles National Forest Cold Cases [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:40
Nestled just beyond Los Angeles, Angeles National Forest sprawls over 700,000 acres of rugged wilderness, where jagged peaks, deep canyons, and twisting trails beckon hikers, climbers, and adventurers year-round. With st…