On November 10, 2014, outdoorsman, YouTuber and experienced hiker Kenny Veach disappeared near Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, United States.[2] Veach, who resided in Las Vegas,[2] was known for his YouTube channel where he shared videos of his adventures in the deserts and mountains of Nevada under the name snakebitmgee.[3] He frequently embarked on solo hikes in remote areas, often seeking out unusual or mysterious locations.
Kenny Veach | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kenneth Lee Veach 1967 Clark County, Las Vegas, USA |
| Disappeared | November 10, 2014 (aged 46–47) Somewhere near Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, USA |
| Status | Missing for 9 years, 11 months and 16 days; presumed dead |
| Height | 5 ft 08 in (170 cm)[1] |
Disappearance
editBackground
editIn 2014, Veach posted a comment on a YouTube video about the son of an Area 51 technician speaking about some things his father had told him about his job while drunk.[4] In the comment, since deleted, Veach described a strange experience he had while hiking in the Sheep Range near Area 51. According to Veach, he discovered a cave shaped like the letter “M” that made his body vibrate, getting more intense the closer he got to it. This made him feel very scared, making him to go back to his car.[5] This comment quickly gained attention from other users, with many encouraging him to return to the site and explore further, while others expressed skepticism.
Motivated by the doubt of many, Kenny made a second trip to find the cave in October 2014.[6] During this trip Kenny Veach reported the sighting of a black ram that watched him from atop a ridge during the entire trip.[7] Untimely, he failed to locate the cave,[2] however, Veach recorded the journey and published it on his own YouTube channel under the title “M Cave Hike” on October 18th.[7]
Third hike and vanishing
editDespite increasing concerns and warnings from others, Veach announced plans for a third trip to find the “M cave” after his unsuccessful second trip, this time armed with a gun.[8] On November 10, 2014, Veach set out on his third hike, bringing with him his truck, a cellphone and other supplies necessary for his journey. Before embarking, Veach informed his girlfriend of his plans, but he did not give specific details about the location. This would be the last time anyone saw or heard from him.[2]
Several days after Veach failed to return, his girlfriend reported him missing.[2]
The "M Cave"
editOn various online forums, Veach claimed to have hiked countless different mountains and caves in the Mojave and Great Basin deserts, and on one of his trips to the Sheep Range he found a M shaped cave near Nellis Air Force Base, that he later referred to as just “M Cave”, that was described as “nothing like he had ever seen”, claiming that his body vibrated the more he got closer to it.[9]
The area where this cave was located is considered to be a remote and challenging area, notorious for its isolation. The landscape is dotted with old mine shafts, some of which had reportedly been used by the military for chemical disposal. The area was of difficult access, requiring around 10 hours of hiking for Veach to reach the vicinity of the M Cave and return back to his car.[10] The region also had a reputation for being dangerous, with reports of drug activity and even being a dumping ground for murder victims.[9]
Kenny's initial account of discovering the M Cave drew a mixed reaction from the YouTube community. While some viewers were intrigued, others were skeptical, accusing him of fabricating the story. Despite the skepticism, many encouraged him to return and capture more footage of the mysterious cave. In response, Kenny set out on a follow-up hike to the same area in the Sheep Mountains. However, not all the comments were supportive, with one infamous comment warned him not to go back, saying, "If you find the cave entrance, don’t go in, if you do, you won't get out.”,[9] however this comment was deleted shortly after.
After being challenged by various YouTube users about the existence of the “M Cave”, Kenny Veach decided to undertake two more trips in search of it. The first of these was fully recorded and posted to his YouTube channel,[7] but he was unable to locate the cave, which only fueled further skepticism among viewers about its existence. This only fueled Veach's desire to find the cave, embarking on another trip, but this time, he never returned.[2][10] Veach told his girlfriend he would be back from the trip after a couple of days, but after failing to appear at home at the third day, his girlfriend reported him missing.[11]
Search attempts and foreground
editA search operation was launched, including volunteers and officials from the Nevada Search and Rescue team. Despite an extensive search of the area, no sign of Veach was found, except for his cellphone, which was discovered on November 22 near an abandoned mineshaft in the Sheep Range.[12][13] The phone's location suggested that Veach had made it to the general area he intended to explore, but his ultimate fate remained unknown.
In January 2021, a group of friends from Nevada launched a website dedicated to finding Kenny Veach and documenting their search efforts.[14] By December 9th of that year, the website was converted into an ARG that claimed Kenny Veach had never existed.[15] By March 2022, the website had been taken down and was no longer accessible.[16]
On November 28, 2021, CNN released a two hour documentary about the disappearance of Kenny Veach.[17]
As of 2024, Kenny Veach is still missing.[11]
Theories
editThe disappearance of Kenny Veach has given rise to a number of theories, ranging from an eventual suicide to him being killed by the U.S. military.
Suicide
editAccording to Kenny Veach's girlfriend, Sheryon, Veach had struggled with depression for many years, which had worsened in the months leading up to his disappearance. She has said that Veach had expressed thoughts of suicide and mentioned that if he ever decided to take his own life, "no one will ever find me". Sheryon believed that Kenny may have intentionally disappeared, possibly taking advantage of the many caves and mineshafts in the Nevada desert to ensure he would not be found.[10]
According to Sheryon, Veach had not taken his video camera with him on this final hike, suggesting he did not intend to document anything, unlike his previous excursions. She believes Veach left his cellphone near an abandoned mineshaft to avoid being tracked. In her comment, she emphasized Kenny’s love for the desert but also warned others about the dangers of searching for him or the “M Cave” without proper preparation, highlighting the challenges posed by the harsh environment.[10]
It is known that Veach took his 9mm handgun with him during his trip, but the weapon was never found.[8]
Accidental death
editThe most widely accepted theory is that Veach met with an accident while hiking in the treacherous and remote terrain. The harsh conditions of the Nevada desert, including extreme temperatures and rugged landscape, could easily lead to a fatal fall or dehydration, especially if Veach ventured into an unknown mine shaft or cave.[9]
Military action
editMore outlandish theories suggest that Veach may have encountered something he wasn't supposed to, with conspiracy theorists speculating about extraterrestrials or secret military experiments. Some believe that he might have been killed by the U.S. military to prevent him from revealing what he discovered.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Kenny Veach". Locations Unknown. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
- ^ a b c d e f Cachinero, Eric. "M Cave and the Unexplained Disappearance of Kenny Veach – Nevada Magazine". nevadamagazine.com. Archived from the original on 26 January 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "snakebitmgee". YouTube. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
- ^ Dr. Steven Greer (2013-12-03). Area 51 Technician's Son Discloses Secret Alternative Energy. Retrieved 2024-08-11 – via YouTube.
- ^ "M Cave Mystery Clues". Google Docs. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ Lyon, Rivy (2024-03-11). "Kenny Veach, The Hiker Who Vanished While Searching For A Mysterious Cave Near Area 51". All That's Interesting. Retrieved 2024-08-14.
- ^ a b c snakebitmgee (2014-10-17). M Cave Hike. Retrieved 2024-08-10 – via YouTube.
- ^ a b "The Eerily Bizarre Vanishing of Kenny Veach". mysteriousuniverse.org. Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ a b c d e "The mysterious M Cave and the strange disappearance of Kenny Veach". StrangeOutdoors.com. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
- ^ a b c d Cachinero, Eric. "Nevada Twilight: Local Lore & Mysterious Matters". Nevada Magazine. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ a b Jones, Steven (2023-11-29). "The Strange Disappearance of Kenny Veach". Historic Flix. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ "This Man Has Been Missing For Days, But That's Not The Strangest Part Of This Mystery". ViralNova. 2019-10-15. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
- ^ Group, Sinclair Broadcast (2014-11-22). "Cell phone of missing hiker found near abandoned mine shaft". KSNV. Retrieved 2024-08-10.
{{cite web}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ "Official M Cave Mystery Clue Crew - We "WILL" find Kenny Veach". 2021-12-08. Archived from the original on 2021-12-08. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ "Nothing to see here. - Kenny Veach's story is fake do not believe anyone who says he is real. 1787 W Lake Mead Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89106". 2021-12-30. Archived from the original on 2021-12-30. Retrieved 2024-08-11.
- ^ "Error 404". kennyveach.com. Archived from the original on 2022-03-02. Retrieved 11 August 2024.
- ^ "REAL LIFE NIGHTMARE – SEASON 3 OF THE HLN SERIES PREMIERES NOVEMBER 14". Retrieved 2024-08-10.