So where should the police investigate these murders? Nunerous crime cases have been reopened over the last 100 yrs because of csmpers, and hunters coming across skeletal bones or decomposed bodies. I am an old, white, tax paying, voting lady with a college degree, a job and a home. They shoot the animals just to have something to shoot at and leave the carcass behind for the vultures. Please enable WebGL or use a browser that supports it to view the maps. Lacey Buenfil ,missing from the park 7yrs. Doesnt mean I havent experienced any weirdness though. They can reapply for money to finish education if they maintain good grades. Ive hiked entire days and never seen a single human. No matter where you are, you should always be concerned with personal safety. Just wonder what they do to get by. We dont need people like you saying the crap that you said in your stupid blog. Three campus cop who was playing along with UNLV sorority girls trying to steal my cats -- all of them actually caused me to become homeless from another apartment from that theft, so you can actually make that six times if you include campus cops. Hi Connie,If you'll contact me at kmmblog@gmail.com I'd be willing to write a more detailed account of Crhistine's case. One was the white one that we first saw. Again not uncommon in any place one would live. I do try not to judge them. Project SOS has now benefited 81 youngsters with approximately $160,000 in scholarships, according to Kadow. But that is a reflection of the times.What you must be aware of here, now more than ever, is a couple good ol' boys turning out to be meth heads, thieves or rapist/killers that see YOU as an EASY target. This browser is no longer supported. Hog Valley was akin to Mexico. These are the people that do not need guns. If anything, the greater tragedy is all the trash left behind in the forest by careless humans.I must respond to the commenter who stated that, "wild animals are unpredictable". Its full of "rainbow people" doing what cults do. The figures from the 2022 PIT count will not be released for several weeks. I am out there at least 30 nights a year. It happens. Durhamsaid on a recent cold night the facility took in 34 people. This is not the place to learn how to drive through deep sand or mud. If you hang around fish you come up smelling like one. All Ocala National Forest campgrounds allow pets, but they must be kept on a leash no longer than six feet and are not permitted in designated swimming and picnic areas. A dangerous place? Count volunteer Kelley Mims, with the City of Ocala, said there are "quite a few" homeless encampments outside of the city limits. Florida's Ocala National Forest. So kudos to you and keep on writing about this amazing stuff.Sincerely, Dev Peznickel. This is where I come to feel that there is a god. There are ways to get involved if you're interested. It sounds wonderful there but after reading this I'm wondering if it's a good choice. Ms. Blackburn, Have you thought about having them activate Christine's case. Ocala Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is part of the Ocala National Forest, the oldest national forest east of the Mississippi River. Yes. Especially when most of our communities out here are poor people. He walked about six miles from Juniper Springs. "When we come across an unsheltered individual seeking assistance, we typically try to get them into an emergency shelter or transitional housing program (a)lthough some may refuse," she wrote. Ocala National Forest is one of the three national forests in Florida and is a hotspot and a haven for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers with a passion for nature and wildlife! The basket in the back of the bike that had a VERY REAL looking HUMAN SKULL that was cracked. Yes, on Friday and Saturday nights there are many locals that go out in the forest and go 4 wheeling, or party at the lakes. And you mentioned that you are in the Criminal Justice System. Totally freaked out now, we broke out our sleeping bags and laid there until 1:30 in the morning, as a number of trucks continued to drive by for hours, some stopping, and then peeling off loudly. Anywhere you go its gunna be like that forest or the city when you meet a random person you instantly put yourself in fight or flight mode. ), I would help you, feed you and defend you against the menace (whether that be a government or civilian menace.) "Kids around here are told they'll probably never make it beyond eighth grade," Pastor David said. Yes, that is our attitude. Considering the forest is 673 sq miles, I think a body count of 12 in 42 years is extremely low. Welcome to Ocala Outreach Foundation! My camping van with solar panels, composting toilet and weapons awaits its launch in the next year or two. You might be interested in this, Schaumburger. Now we have almost 8 billion. so to all who feel afraid of "The Forest" relax and enjoy it don't fear it. I'll be sure to be a bit more vigilant with my surroundings/personal safety. Why do people feel they must denigrate others when research, news articles, and eye witness accounts tell the full truth? Bad things do happen here but I will never blame the forest. Sheltered persons and the number of available beds was also to be part of the count, according to officials. Lisamarie1250, thats quite the silly comment! Then they started moving again, shining lights into the woods. If you can't handle it then it's simple, stay home. You should have reported him to the police that night. There are several small towns and living areas in the forest. I have learned to stay far away from forest roads on Friday/Sat nights because that's when the drunken stuff happens. Been here fore years. It needs to have plenty of gas and if you are going to be driving on trails, it needs to be a 4 wheel drive. Just be very aware of your surroundings. Others do not feel safe.read of of the other accounts of people that live next to or inside of forests, state parks, etc and one gets a very different picture. They will not rest until we all hate and distrust each other and think law enforcement will save us. It was about 11:30pm. What is truly the forest is not the towns mentioned previously. One of the men had . In the last decade I have encountered naked men, rainbows blasted out of their minds, trucks full of drunks ready to chase a woman on a horse and others who did not look like the normal hikers, hunters, campers and nature lovers. I got a weird vibe as I went into the store. No questions asked, if you threaten me or try and steal from me, or approach me after you are told to stay away you will be shot, then you will be fed to the gators. Electrical power outlets are available, and a portable bathroom is on site. Familiarity with criminal behavior does not make one a criminal. You must be a moron, to write crap like this.The Forest like any place else in this world has crime, but then if you look into Ocala, well there crime rate is much higher.So whats the difference?Nothing, nada. The City of Ocala website, ocalafl.org, states the Ocala/Marion County Joint Office of Homeless Prevention oversaw the count. ABSOLUTELY!!! Murders dont care- They dont have hearts..,thats why they murder! I've had 50 of them show up at Farless Prairie at dusk and pitch tents. Accept that as it is fact. Reason, 66, said setbacks including his wife's stroke and admission to a nursing home were factors in him. he never even saw the man. Its a scary thing to see a kid no more than 12 or 13 walking down the dirt paths packing semi automatic rifles and hiding in the tree's carrying guns that you usually only see in the movies. Burying someone deep in the forest allows them to get away with the crime. I am very familiar with the issue of homelessness in the Chicago area. The Springs and Lakes, are some of the most beautiful places I know of. My husband had camped out there in the past and asked me if I wanted to camp there. I'm glad you enjoy it and hope you never face what I did. There are alot of thieves and the people you gotta stay away from are clearly meth addict. Then I saw him walk from out behind the dumpster towards the bike. There was enough moonlight to see the trail and we thought that would be nice.About a mile later, we saw two pickup trucks coming up a dirt road towards where we were on the trail. were you searching for murders in the forest for a reason to spew your vile? People should know that there are many hikers that go through the ONF. It's full of addicts. If I knew when I bought this place about all that goes on here would I choose to live here again? SILVER SPRINGS, Fla. (WCJB) - Marion County Sheriff's deputies are searching for answers in a shooting that took a man's life. Its doesnt matter if they happen elsewhere in cities, or wherever. Not that what has been said in this blog did not happen---and many a time I look around and wonder just how many bodies are buried out here, and will never be found. I just hope the people that would hurt them, don't have to learn the hard way, that not everyone is a sheep. They make no sense. Its doesnt matter if they happen elsewhere in cities, or wherever. The people who accosted me did more than panhandle--in one case, they stole some stuff out of my truck, and in another case they threatened me. "Interfaith Emergency Services relies on the ESG-Emergency Housing Grant that was received through the COC (Continuum of Care) to help provide services and case management. Alexander Springs Campground 3. One of the people counted at the park was a 33-year-old man who said he had a music degree from College of Central Florida and was working as a roofer but was now on the street because of "drugs, all (types) of them. "(The interviewees) were a wide range of ages," Leibfried said. I will armed with a knife & a gun from here on out! How do you know the FBI has actually got you under surveillance? And if you want to live in a crime free place, you might as well die now because the only place your going to find that is in heaven. While I worked within the justice system, I was never an enforcement officer. Her main complaint is poor internet. It was only because I had a gun that I got out with life and limb. I would volenteer etc. Ive been to Hidden Pond a hundred times. Ocala is the arm pit f Florida! There was no cell phone reception.After we set up our tent and were cooking dinner, a white 4X4 king cab pickup came driving up slowly, stopped and turned around just past our tent. This said, the Ocala National Forest is full of beauty and wonderment and our Natural Springs are breathtaking. I have also run across vehicles that are homes to some unfortunate persons. I won't name the location, simply because we're 1) not finished there and 2) we really don't want anyone out there "rigging" the area to give us false results! Her case is heavy on my heart since I became aqare of it. Yogi the Bear. One of the homeless people counted Thursday afternoon was Ocala native Charles Reason. Show me one place where you are 100% safeOne story you have not heard about here---is one where someone has gone totally bonkers and randomly killed mass people. Once their, you were safe from the law.There have always been places you need to have your guard up, and this is one of them. Wow, I can't help but think of the texas chainsaw massacre movies when reading an these comments. alone (and I am a female). Places like Hopkins prairie, for example, are usually crowded with campers and there is even a host that comes around at night to check on the campsites and make sure everyone is safe. Im sure your place is beautiful but danger is all around. All rights reserved. Where I live it gets very hot too. Feel safe. Great post. As I reread these comments, I agree with most all of the things you have said here. I hope so. It felt like a lawless frontier. hes absolutely right, forests and parks are places bad things happen because the chance of them getting caught is slim because there isn't a lot of traffic. We camped near salt springs close to lake George. Such as with the DC shooing rampage-at their Naval shipyard, just this week. 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