The Disappearance of Chris Giauque: A Father’s Search for His Son
This is part one of a two-part article on the life, disappearance, and search for justice for Chris Giauque – a skinny kid from the Bay Area who built a cannabis empire while fighting for legalization–and on the tenacity of his parent unwilling to let the legacy of his child fade into the night.
Building an Empire
We often believe that the death of a loved one is the worst possible outcome, and yet loved ones of the missing may tell you the unknown is excruciatingly worse; the space in between holding on and letting go, trapping those left behind to search for answers, encased in a never-ending grief.
Bob Giauque has lived in the space in between for the last twenty years since his son Chris went missing on August 9, 2003, after meeting up with a friend and business partner in a remote area of Mendocino County. Though Bob has long accepted that his son was likely murdered all those years ago, neither his body nor justice has been found. As the final years of Bob’s life tick by, his need for answers amplifies, wanting, needing to know what happened in the final moments of Chris’s life before his own life comes to an end.
In the face of this mystery, Chris’s father has spent the last twenty years and untold amounts of money searching for clues, employing a private investigator, and offering a staggering $400,000 reward for information that could lead to the discovery of his son’s remains and to long-awaited justice.
Bob believes his son’s involvement in the cannabis industry, and those he called friends, played a key role in his disappearance. Cannabis was illegal in 2003 when Chris left to collect money from a business partner and never returned. The illegal nature of their business led to a delay in reporting his disappearance, and a history of mistrust of law enforcement has silenced those who may hold a clue that could solve this twenty-year-old mystery.
When Bob and his wife Charlotte welcomed their first child, Chris Robert Giauque on February 2, 1967, they had no idea that their infant son would face adversity and overcome it, becoming the larger-than-life activist for the decriminalization of cannabis, building an empire only for it to come crashing down with his sudden disappearance.
As a child, Chris’s journey began against a backdrop of health challenges that would have deterred a lesser spirit. At an early age, the Chris was diagnosed with a heart condition that he underwent surgery for, leaving him with a vertical scar on his chest for the rest of his life. Due to his early health issues, Chris, by all accounts, tried to live life to the fullest, always uncertain of the time he had left on this earth. He embraced life as a fleeting gift, and in doing so, he exhibited a tenacious approach to life’s challenges. But it was this very sense of urgency that led him down a path where his ideals and the law collided.
During his teen years, Chris engaged in rambunctious fun that pitted him against the local authorities and caused his parents more than a few restless nights and a trip to Juvenile Hall. The youth pushed the envelope with pranks and late-night joy rides much to his parents’ exasperation, though his close relationship with his mom left Bob as the disciplinarian.
As a young man, with his rebellious, live-life-to-the-fullest attitude well entrenched, Chris suffered another monumental setback; An accident left Chris with a broken back and little chance of walking. However, after a risky surgery where a rod was placed in his spine, Chris’s dogged determination helped him not only walk, but recover fully, though he was plagued with pain.
In addition to his tenacious nature, Chris was incredibly intelligent. After high school he was accepted to U.C. Davis where he studied veterinary medicine. There, Chris became involved with NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, that was founded in 1970. Chris went on to serve as the chapter president of the Davis NORML group. According to several of Chris’s close friends, he was a champion of the medicinal properties of cannabis, using the plant as pain relief due to his injuries.
During his days in Davis, Chris’s relationship with cannabis grew as he became emmeshed in the culture and advocacy work to decriminalize the use of the plant. In addition to his personal use and advocacy, Chris was growing cannabis, an illegal endeavor regardless of the medicinal properties as the plant, having been classified as a Schedule 1 drug in 1970 along with drugs like heroin. Regardless of the federal classification, Chris grew and sold marijuana, while advocating for the decriminalization of the plant he believed in.
As with any clandestine operation, those that Chris allowed close to him became an extended family. By nature of the illegality of his actions, to allow someone into his inner circle was to allow them access to information that could lead not only to theft, but also the loss of his freedom, and even death.
Chris’s charm drew people in as the young man rejected societal pressures, bucking even his father, as he dived deeper into cannabis culture, growing dreadlocks and skirting the law.
Feeling heat from local law enforcement, Chris made the decision to move to Humboldt County, the cannabis capital of the United States, eventually building a cannabis empire in the rural regions of Southern Humboldt.
Those within Chris’s inner circle talk of a camaraderie that transcended the constraints of laws and social norms. As with his Davis crew, many of whom followed Chris to Humboldt, Chris soon built a circle of close confidants, not just workers, but friends that he helped elevate in return for their loyalty and hard work.
As state eradication efforts raged in the hills, law enforcement and outlaws kept upping their games. It wasn’t uncommon for sheriff deputies to hang from a rope beneath a helicopter in order to find carefully camouflaged marijuana “patches” sometimes even grown in the branches of trees. During this time, Chris was methodically expanding his operation. Meanwhile, he kept up his advocacy work, pushing against laws regulating the cultivation and use of a plant he believed should be available to all.
Chris’s crew had a code of ethics of their own, a social contract that they lived by. Naturally a leader, Chris would take those that broke the contract to task. Those closest to him said that though he could be radical and unbending with his ethics, Chris was not violent. His generosity and acceptance within the group was a deterrent for those that might have questioned or challenged him.
Chris employed many, often helping those in dire need to get a foothold, putting them to work growing or trimming the large quantities of marijuana he was producing. He had middlemen that sold his product for him, friends in Davis that he trusted on his properties and with his weed. Those that showed initiative, talent, and earned Chris’s trust, were elevated, some being given a remote property and an opportunity, their success in their own hands.
In exchange, Chris got a percentage of the profits from the properties until the agreed upon time/investment was met. Several people in Southern Humboldt and Northern Mendocino were able to own property with an established cannabis business through Chris’s generosity.
The arrangements allowed Chris to reward crew members that were loyal while expanding his revenue streams as he received portions of the proceeds from the illicit grows, while enlarging his network as well as avoiding putting properties in his name, which was quickly garnering heat in the Emerald Triangle as it did in Davis.
Though many people were growing illicitly throughout the famed hills of Humboldt County, most were trying to remain undetected, keeping a low profile to aid in concealing their operations, skirting the law. Privileges we enjoy today under California’s adult-use legalization laws – ordering cannabis at a legal dispensary, cultivating personal use plants in our backyards, smoking a joint in a public space, enjoying a cannabis-infused oil massage – people then were being arrested and incarcerated for. Regardless of the empire he had to lose, Chris continued to thumb his nose at the law and those that enforced it, remained loyal to the mission of legalization and decriminalization.
In spite of several stints behind bars for cannabis cultivation, and hundreds of plants being seized in busts, Chris remained radical in his activism. He smoked weed while sitting on the hood of a cop car and chased after sheriff’s deputies grabbing plants from the back of their truck as they drove off with the cut marijuana, to name just a few of his more notorious stunts. Many within the weed-growing community, even some within his own crew, did not like the attention Chris’s activism brought, though some enjoyed seeing the skinny guy with dreads from Salmon Creek thumbing his nose at the cops that threatened the livelihood of many within the Emerald Triangle.
Though it cost Chris money and freedom, he remained true to his beliefs, living by the code of ethics he set forth, no matter the cost. His tremendous success in illegal cannabis cultivation was, in large part, due to his beliefs and structure, but ultimately, it is believed those long-held practices resulted in his death.
After serving time for a marijuana charge, Chris returned to his empire in the Emerald Triangle which was kept running in his absence by his trusted crew. Happy to be free once more, Chris set to resuming operations of his businesses. He quickly married his fiancé, Rebecca Smiley; a move Chris’s father was not keen on. He then set out to collect owed debts from his absence.
>On the evening of August 9, 2003, Chris set out for a remote property in Northern Mendocino County, to collect $150K owed to him by his business partner, Ben Lomax. Chris had reportedly set Lomax, a friend and part of his crew, up with a grow in the rural, mountainous community near the Spyrock area. Due to Chris being on parole, the plan was for him to leave his truck along Iron Peak Road before riding with Lomax to the grow property.
Chris never returned from that meeting. His truck was found 50 miles north of the Spyrock area along the Avenue of the Giants on August 13, 2003, wiped clean.
Bob and Charlotte found out their son was missing two days after his disappearance when Chris’s new wife reported him missing, arriving at the Humboldt County Sheriff’s office in Garberville with Ben Lomax and a lawyer.
Seven years after his disappearance, Chris Giauque was legally declared dead by the County of Humboldt on September 9, 2010.
The body of Chris Giauque has never been located and no arrests have been made.
Part two of this two-part article will focus on the investigation into Chris’s disappearance.
Bob Giauque has created a reward fund totaling $400K. According to the website set up by Bob, “The sum of $200,000 is being offered for information that leads to the recovery of Chris’ remains. An additional sum of $200,000 is offered for information that leads to the arrest and subsequent conviction of the individuals responsible for this homicide. The reward funds are at a Santa Rosa bank in a trust fund and they will remain available through calendar year 2024.”
>Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Bob Giauque at 707-865-0933 or Private Investigator Dawn King at 707-287-7603.
Sources can remain confidential.
Chris Robert Giauque
- Race: White
- Sex: Male
- DOB: 2/02/1967
- City of Residency:Salmon Creek, CA
- Age at time of disappearance: 36 years-old
- Height: 6 feet 0 inch
- Weight: 145 pounds
- Hair: Brown
- Eye color: Blue
Because Chris was reported missing in Humboldt County but last known to be seen in Mendocino County, both counties have conducted portions of the investigation. If you have any information about this case, you can contact the Mendocino Sheriff’s Office Tip-Line at 707-234-2100, MCSO Case#: 03-3247. Or contact the Humboldt County Sheriff’s Office at 707-268-2539 or email [email protected], HCSO Case #: 200305305
Additional details about the disappearance of Chris Giauque can be found at chrisreward.org.
This article is written by Lisa Music, a local freelance journalist. To reach Lisa about tips, questions or comments, email her at [email protected]
Earlier:
- Father Seeks Information on Chris Giauque, a Southern Humboldt Man Believed Murdered in 2003
- Chris Giauque, Humboldt’s Paul Bunyan
- Who’s Gone Missing in the Emerald Counties?
Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules
Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/
Cannabis was only illegal in 2003 if you were too lame to get a 215.
There is nothing remarkable about this story. There are thousands of guys just like this dude in the emerald triangle . Kind of a stretch to say he had an empire
You’re missing the part that until “legalization” it was illegal to grow or sell commercially. What Chris was doing (like so many others) was well outside of what 215 authorized.
Were you here?! Yeah yeah yeah but there were basically no criminal penalties. Just some legal words to scare off the meek…until Gallegos got in and just told everybody to go ahead and grow 100 plants. (So he could concentrate on “serious and violent” crimes which he didn’t do anyways)
Both can be true – medical or not it was illegal to grow commercially – but many did so with little fear of prosecution.
Correct. It was a law on the books with no teeth in it. Kind of like the permit pansy farms can’t legally sell to the black market….
There sure as heck were criminal penalties, i know quite a few people that did serious jail time during those years.
Some of these “chair croppers” never had to run through the brush with ‘copters and commandos in pursuit. Nice that Farce missed all the action. Good for him. Large commercial grows we’re still illegal under 215. Hey, Kym, how ‘bout Operation Greensweep?
That was a wild time. One of the few times in my life I ever had a gun pointed at me. The kid who did it was in the military and I was a wide eyed hippie girl walking barefoot down a “main” Salmon Creek Road. He looked scared as heck. And I sure was. But that was in 1989? 1990?
I had to go check. Apparently my encounter was from before Operation Greensweep. Because according to this Wiki https://military-history.fandom.com/wiki/Operation_Green_Sweep, the starting day was the birth of my oldest son. I was a little preoccupied with screaming in the Garberville Hospital then.
He did a lot of surfing though. Lol
Yeah, well I was dimed out by a creep evading a domestic violence warrant and I got processed and it was no fun. Try to be a peace-maker and find out about felonious activity. Lost my gun rights for 22 years. Like taking tomatoes away from Italians. so yeah, I was here. Blaming Gallegos for the violent crimes is not fair. Thing was, Chris (I did not know him) was flamboyant and expressive but apparently non-violent, so much was tolerated. Chris Chasing after the police after a raid was legendary in the community. Those were the days, my friend, they had to end.
Though many were growing, not many that I know of had the extensive network that Chris did, not only growing his own, but setting up multiple properties and having large crews that ran operations in different regions throughout Northern California. He wasn’t the only one that had that set up, though that type of operation is vastly different than the thousands of mom-and-pop operations prevalent here.
Yes it was the head honcho w/ many minions model. Big Guy runs many scenes, collects tributes and while his minions love him all the other people around do not. It was exactly this model of growing that destroyed the mom n pop scene we had and ultimately destroyed the mom n pops. Not a hero. Maybe greedy and egotistical. Definitely destructive to the greater community. I don’t know anybody who was sad over his disappearance…Hope he enjoyed his big piles of cash and public notoriety while he had them
While I know the head honcho model you speak of, not many allowed people to own those properties outright after an initial investment period, keeping the workers under them. Chris, from those I spoke to, elevated those around him. I didn’t know him personally but know many that did that were very upset about his disappearance. Many others in the industry were glad he was gone because of his in-your-face activism. For those against the legalization movement, I can see how his actions won him no friends in that crowd. Regardless of whether people liked him or not, his parents loved him and there is likely a murderer(s) on the loose.
I was at Chris and Becca’s wedding. I disagreed with a lot of what Chris did but I loved how he helped his workers generously and I loved how he built loyalty by supporting the people who worked for him.
I cried when he disappeared and I am still sad at his death and there are many locals who feel the same.
I too was at his wedding and it was a beautiful display of his love not only for Becka but for his community as well.Ironically Ben was also there and just a week later he would be one of the last people to see Chris alive.
Apparently you know little to nothing about Chris, his contributions to the local community,his largest when came to helping friends or providing free cannabis to those in possession of a “215”.He was not instrumental in the downfall of the Mom and Pop grows. To the contrary he helped many a Mom and Pop get started and for many that were already started he gave them the knowledge and financial support to improve their grows productivity and quality. Some immediate neighbors in The Creek weren’t fond of the heat he sometimes brought to the Hill. But as he would say he was a lightening rod and he heat was directed at him and his scenes.His crews were local and he provided employment to many in the community. Usually I hear the negative comments about Chris from those that did not know him as the Man h he was and from people that allowed jealousy to guide their emotions and form their words. I didn’t always agree with his actions but I loved the Man for his integrity honesty and the fact that beyond the money his true North Star was the legalization of cannabis and improving the quality of life for those around him.all still question how things might have been different if I had said “yes” when he asked me if I wanted to join him for a quick trip to Spy Rock to see Ben and the guys that night?
In part 2, please see if you can use the word “empire” at least 150 times! What a joke!
Maybe they could upgrade to the more formal “criminal enterprise.” It sure reads like a racket. Wowza.
In to the sheriff office with Lomax? To say what? That he’s missing? Why would Lomax be there ?
There are people, very possibly including these two, who know exactly what happened. There are others who know the broad outlines of what happened. And there are plenty who think they know. With the collapse of the market the large reward might tempt someone to break their silence. At least reveal where the body can be found or what happened to it.
Sadly, the father is the standin for hundreds of families who lost a child to the not always so benign underground economy.
Not a hero. Just another guy who got to be here at a great time and had his ego drive him to announce as loud as he could to everybody what we had so more and more people could come jump on the bed until it broke. It’s a bummer he got killed but no surprise. People were disappearing up on Spy Rock since the 70’s and that was fairly well-known in Lville area….
Ben hung around and coached a lot of local youth soccer teams for a while. Thinking the people that were involved in the incident are probably passed away themselves. Many suffering from other ailments that took them out. Where’s the wife at these days what she got to say? How’s her mental health holding up? So much felonious under the table activity in cannabis land. Absolutely dog eat dog world and some sadly do not make it out. Inside jobs the ultimate price paid… KARMA is slow yet inevitable.
A sad epitaph for Chris. And others who came here looking for a better life and ended up missing.
Having a high profile in the media and being a member of a secretive criminal organization has historically been very dangerous.
His ex wife lives [edit] now Rebecca Lynn smiley. Age 52. A quick google search shows her old address as redway California. She is still around and knows dang well what happened to Chris. For Christ sakes she showed up with Ben lomax and they were both accompanied by a lawyer when she reported him missing. Nobody report they’re spouse missing with a lawyer unless they damn well know exactly what happened.
I have never heard of somebody reporting their spouse missing and bringing a lawyer along. That is heavily suspect. I can imagine the Mendo sheriff pointed it to the Humboldt Sheriff who pointed it back to Spy Rock and neither sheriff pursued much because ….weed disappearance. And MCSD never bothered w/ back of Spy Rock issues- it was like the Panther Gap of Mendo…
Most people reporting their spouse missing are not members of…what did Doug call it above?…a “criminal enterprise.” Literally she is going to have to speak of illegal activity to cops…remember she’s not even sure he’s dead at that point…By speaking wrong she may get herself or her husband in trouble with the law.
I have to say…are you sure you grew marijuana in the old days? Shouldn’t you know that?
“Chair croppers” don’t get it, Kym. They just can’t understand why someone involved in felonious activity would talk to a lawyer when their spouse or partner disappears. Farce means well, but just doesn’t get it, and, at this point, apparently never will. Sigh.
I’m pretty sure Farce is the real deal but, I was surprised he didn’t understand the lawyer part.
Those who know what happened are strongly disincentivised from saying where the body is cuz no body = no murder case. This means the victim’s father is extremely unlikely to ever find his son’s body or who killed him (at least until the actual perp dies, eliminating him/her as a threat to the informant).
I hope someone that was involved peripherally will come forward. Deals are made every day for people that are somewhat involved, even people that were there or participated but didn’t commit the crime themselves. They could clear their conscience AND get a reward if doing the right thing isn’t motivation on its own.
Is Rebecca married to Ben now. Lol
His ex wife lives in [edit] Rebecca Lynn smiley. And has previous address of Miranda redway salmon creek ect ect. She knows exactly what happened to Chris being that nobody shows up to report spouse missing with a friend of her murdered husband and a lawyer unless she is guilty or knows exactly what happened makes her part of the murder through recognition either way she’s a lying snake.
My heart goes out to you as a parent. You’ve done just about all you can do in your human ability. Maybe its time to cast all your cares upon Jesus Christ if you have not done so already. Why? Because He cares for you. He can expose the truth and or give you peace that passes all understanding.
Whenever anyone meets violence i think of these scriptures. I guarantee you your son’s blood cries out to God from the ground. And whoever did this is under heavy judgement still to this day if they are still alive. Death does not absolve them either. Nobody can hide from God the Father or Jesus Christ His Son.
King James Bible (Genesis 4:8-11)
8.Now Cain said to his brother Abel, “Let’s go out to the field.”[a] While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.
9 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is your brother Abel?”
“I don’t know,” he replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?”
10 The Lord said, “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground. 11 Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand.
Also, i know you said you accept that your beloved son is deceased, but have you been able to forgive the perpetrator?
Before you leave this life please ask Jesus to come into YOUR heart and forgive you and help you to truly forgive. ( If you have not done so already)
God bless and help you and your family today. You’re in this strangers prayers today. ??❤️
Yes, I’m sure that a fable from thousands of years ago will surely comfort a parent who has lost their child in a most gruesome and painful manner. I know that you probably don’t mean any harm in what you’re saying. But, consider that if the man is 80 years ish old he’s probably heard the spiel before, If I were looking for a lost and assumed murdered loved one and some rando started quoting from an old book that advocates slavery, incest, rape, child sex abuse and ultra violence, Oh, and genocide. Can’t forget the genocide, it probably wouldn’t give me very much peace. Some Jesus people are almost as annoying as a person who just started micro dosing, got an air fryer and started doing CrossFit.
There was an article recently about a 30ish year old woman who had to have her her limbs (all 4) amputated due to sepsis from infected kidney stone.
The picture showed a woman who was in a “Smile. Jesus Loves You” shirt.
Does anyone else see this as twisted?
I mean… If it helps them get through the day and be a better person, great! Jesus was a totally great person with a lot of beautiful things to say about how to treat people. Unfortunately, most of the people who claim to be Christians don’t have much use for any of that part. They just want to tell everyone else what to do while doing whatever they want to whenever they want. But, yea seeing people after going thru a complicated surgery using complex medical procedures and equipment and then claiming in Facebook that “Jesus healed them” does get pretty tiresome…So, yes! Absolutely! But, I did grow up (and live) in the Bible Belt. So, that may have some impact on my lack of patience for some of these things. I’m generally a fairly amicable person otherwise.
This is a very sad story, I have followed it for years. Like “Farce” points out below this can be attributable to Paul Gallegos and his “slap on the wrist” application of justice for all these mega growers. It is a tragic story to see what horrible crime and death Gallegos caused while he was in office, and the organized crime it brought. His disregard for the well being of County residents and pain for so many families, he was a horrible DA and the office he ran was pathetic. Lying to office workers that he was sick while going surfing with friends.
Blame the DA for a random death of a grower? Makes no sense. I’d say it’s either his wife or the guy he met. One or both know something as evidenced by their going to the sherif with a lawyer. Yeah everyone will say you never talk to the police without a lawyer but really if you have nothing to hide there would be no need. Otherwise every time you get stopped for a traffic violation you should keep your window closed, wait for your lawyer to arrive (maybe hours later) and spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars for something that might have only been a warning.
I usually think the same thing, however, growing up in the ET, the distrust between growers and cops was/is real. We will dive into that a bit in part-two.
When can we expect part two?
This whole thing was before my time. What makes this disappearance stand out above the thousands of others?
Was he just a local celebrity?
I hope his father gets some closure before his time here is up. That’s got to be difficult
We cover missing persons cases in real time and cold cases. We have been doing a cold case reporting series for a while though not as often as I’d like. We are going in chronological order with some highlighted out of order due to an anniversary or whatnot. This piece was supposed to come out on August 9th, the twenty-year anniversary of Chris’s disappearance. Unfortunately, my mother fell ill, and I was unable to get it finished in time for the anniversary. Additionally, Bob reached out to us about covering the disappearance and the upped reward hoping to get answers.
Though there are many unsolved cases in Humboldt County, each deserves their story told, each of the missing and/or murdered people with loved ones that desperately want answers. Sharing their stories is something we are passionate about.
That makes sense, I guess because I accessed it through the “cannabis cache” tab I grouped it there instead of with the larger body of cold case articles you all have done.
Hopefully you all are drumming up some memories and dusting off some consciences
He staged a medical Mj giveaway on the steps of the humboldt county courthouse, and was written about a lot in the Times Standard. Definitely in the cultural milieu during that time for all of humboldt.
I have to say that despite the millions and millions of dollars that changed hands in the backwoods of humboldt during those few decades (before everyone knew about it) there was little violence. There was a lot of trust. But, like the saying goes, the proud nail gets hammered so it was always a better policy to keep your head down, which wasn’t Chris’ style.
Sounds like quite the character. I can see why he drew love and hatred.
Just the sort of person who helped build the character of the triangle in that post 215 era
I am pretty sure his body is somewhere along the Bell Springs/ Dyerville road. His truck was found at the foot of Elk Creek road which is directly connected. That route has long been a conduit between Spy Rock and Salmon Creek for clandestine travel.
I didn’t know Chris well, but well enough to say hi, and have an occasional chat with him. His disappearance has disturbed me for years. He was ballsy when it came to the cops. He wouldn’t hesitate to get in their face. One of the last times I saw him was at the shell station in Garberville. The cops were harassing him purely for harassment’s sake, and he just went and lit up a big fat spliff right in front of them, and stood his ground. I’ve always thought there could have been a rogue cop involvement in his disappearance.
There are still many in this community that remember Chris and would like answers and justice.
Yes Sherriff Lewis hated him, and wasn’t shy about it.
So….finish the story! What happened to him after he ‘lit a big fat spliff and stood his ground”? Did the ‘cops’ scream and run away crying? Sounds more like the guy delighted in stirring shit. Usually that’s when karma kicks you in the nuts. I would venture to guess his nuts have been seriously kicked.
Chris actually won three cases against the County of Humboldt, even one judgement after his disappearance. Often those that fight against what they deem unjust, are labeled as shit-stirrers. Chris wasn’t just a grower for the money. He believed people should be allowed to grow and use marijuana freely and that the laws prohibiting that were unjust… laws that have now changed. During his time, he was perhaps the most active cannabis activist in the ET and definitely willing to put his freedom on the line for it. He was radical for sure, but those that truly wanted the legalization and decriminalization of marijuana felt that they had to be. As for karma, I’m not sure that radical advocation warrants death, or marijuana cultivation for that matter. He was no saint, and certainly broke the laws he deemed unjust, on plants the government now taxes, but from what those I’ve interviewed, he was a fair guy who helped those down on their luck, rewarded loyalty, who had a radical notion that the government should not regulate marijuana.
So. Following this local hero’s example, because I dislike the fact that the law doesn’t allow me to carry a loaded sidearm in public, I should yank my Glock out in the presence of 2 cops and stand my ground?
If you truly believe it would help your cause then yes. And if you truly believe that open carry is a constitutional right you should coordinate with a skilled legal firm and set up circumstances to force legal cases that could challenge the laws that prevent that.
That’s how legal advocacy works
You’re comparing a weapon capable of killing many in mere seconds to a joint? Ah…ok…not sure you should be carrying bud…also biting dogs…sick.
You mean kinda like a drunk (or stoned) driver behind the wheel of a 3000 pound vehicle? Kill many people in mere seconds?
Junkies, boozers and doper drivers, stand your ground!
You mean like this protest in Albuquerque? https://www.abqjournal.com/news/local/crowd-gathers-in-old-town-plaza-for-second-amendment-rally/article_1bc04824-5027-11ee-bb71-8f3f5ef6c0aa.html
People blatantly push/break laws to protest that which they don’t agree with all the time. This country was founded on citizens refusing to pay taxes to the crown in direct opposition to British rule.
All of our choices have benefits and consequences. I don’t know that Chris was a local hero. He was a multifaceted man who led a life some hated & some respected. Chris refused to obey the laws regarding cannabis cultivation and use, and for that, he did several stints behind bars. Just as everyone that pushes against a system or law, there can be consequences but if you truly believe in the cause, many find the risks worth possibly succeeding.
No-he did not deserve to die. And I hope his killers are brought to justice. But yeah- collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars and he wasn’t into money?! He was into the money. It makes your head get big and his head was very big. Lots of people around here had all kinds of majestic “reasons” they were mega-growing. so many different wonderful reasons they told each other but all the time they were lining their pockets and building their “empires”. And everybody believed each other’s bullshit stories because they were all drinking each other’s kool-aid. So much glorification of big piles of money and buying multiple huge parcels like everybody was a spiritual master of enlightenment….this area sure was full of it. He blew up our scene and that was not appreciated by many- it was disrespectful to those already here.And now we have corporate “legalization” with so many abated and destroyed so yeah- Thanks A LOT, Chris- and other blow-up mega-growers for your wonderful “community service” to the mom n pop getting-by-on-the-land little people. Early greenrusher is what he was, advertising the way for other greenrushers to come and take…and represent themselves as spiritual or warriors or whatever
Lisa or kym was my comment scrubbed from this discussion? Maybe it’s held in some random ghost-post terminal moderation? – It wasn’t moderated on my end –
If my post was legitimately disappeared from this discussion, it broke some rule I’m not smart enough to figure out.
IMO my remarks were nothing that isn’t already discoverable public information, and in turn, logical suspicions. And evidenced by comments here, suspicions shared by others….
Anon, I was gone all day and not all comments were moderated until now. I’ve gone back through and removed any attempt to out someone’s home place. Doxing even in it’s mildest forms is deleted. In addition, the rules state, “If there is significant evidence (for instance, being charged by law enforcement) that a crime occurred, I allow accusations of wrongdoing. However, please don’t accuse someone by name of a crime when there is no evidence readily available to a reasonable reader.”
I didn’t accuse anyone. I posed logical suspicions and shared relevant publicly obtainable info.
You seem invested in protecting the most likely person of interest.
As I said elsewhere, Chris and Becca were my friends. I was at their wedding. Becca was my classroom aide when I was a teacher. I saw her grieving the loss of her husband. I do have my opinion on her innocence.
That said, in the comment section here, you gave information about Becca’s living area that was not necessary and could only be used to harm her. That’s doxing even if you didn’t give a specific address. I don’t allow that.
And if that comment wasn’t your idea of accusing someone, what exactly would be an accusation? On my site, that is an accusation and honestly, where isn’t it an accusation?
It’s good to support your honesty and integrity in reporting. I know I will get the facts as much as your site can report. Please carry on with what RHBB does.
Sounds like a dateline episode or something
I sure hope his father gets some closure. I just want his father to know that many people cared about Chris and miss his presence on this earth.
Did MCSO ever conduct a search of the so called partner’s property? Curious!
The property was very large, more than 440 acres. 17 days after Chris was reported missing, there was a search of part of the property by multiple law enforcement agencies. The MCSO has been really short on staff for a number of years.
Glad you too are not giving up the fight. Sounds like your son was cut from the same cloth. Hoping you find resolution and answers. You deserve at least that. We, as a community, deserve to know who the murderers and shady( possibly murderous)cops are among us. Sending love, light, and big hugs to sustain you until someone does the right thing?
Thank you for your kind words. Law enforcement was not responsible for what happened to Chris. My PI and I have a tremendous amount of information on the case. I personally know a lot about what transpired, including who some of the individuals were that were responsible for Chris’ demise. Unfortunately, we have not had the necessary co-operation or interest from law enforcement required to seek justice for my son. Part of this is a result of Chris’ conflict with law enforcement in Humboldt County. There are some individual(s) who want me off the map. Nevertheless, it is great that there are still so many people that remember Chris and also want justice to prevail. There is a 24 x 12 ft billboard regarding the reward funds up in Laytonville. It has stirred up a hornet’s nest. A number of individuals know what transpired. I sincerely wish that one of them had the guts to come forward with information that would force law enforcement to take action. I would like to distribute the reward funds. A number of people in the marijuana culture have more respect for money and territory than they do for life. One should ask these people how they would feel if their child, sibling, or significant relative who was murdered. I thank Lisa Music, Kym Kemp and other publications in the past for exposing this situation. Unfortunately, a number of other families have also under gone similar situations. Chris’ father will NEVER give up until he pass on or is taken out. JUSTICE FOR CHRIS!!!!
That sign sure caught my attention the other day. I can only image how the guilty parties are feeling about it. The more media attention the better. Someone will roll on somebody, someday. I’m sorry for your loss Bob, Chris was a good dude and he definitely helped me out way back when.
I sincerely hope, as a reward for your tenacity, that you’ll soon be able to distribute the reward funds.
And thank you for saying law enforcement had nothing to do with your son’s demise (although you justifiably believe they’ve not investigated as they should).
Only an idiot could believe law enforcement would select Spyrock as the venue for a planned assasination!
But do you have any thoughts you’d be willing to share on his widow cutting off contact (if it’s true she did so)? Or on her possible involvement or knowledge of what happened?
According to his wife, the action was taken upon advice from her lawyer. We both were in a number of court cases but never spoke to each other again. I will leave commenting regarding my ideas on that matter alone at the present time.
Weird how the “bereaved widow was so sad” but cut contact with her beloved inlaws…..just saying, ghosting the victim’s family is textbook. And here you are compelled to withhold comment because if you give even a niggling of a nod toward the obvious possibility, your remarks would be promptly scrubbed from this forum. I among others who are well aware of the cunning super-powered charm of self-absorbed , greedy narcissists support you in your silence, and can read easily between the lines. I’ve followed this horrific case from the beginning and hope that soon the gross veil of secrecy and lies is lifted and the truth is known. Don’t give up hope.
As we gone over before, accusing people of crimes that law enforcement hasn’t, is libel. It is against the rules of this website. You can say that you find some action suspicious such as “ghosting the victim’s family” but you cannot say that x person killed someone.
This is the only guy I’ve ever known to chase after the cops that had just cut down his weed and yank it out of their trucks as they were driving. Naked! I was there.
Shawn! I didn’t know you were there! I’ve only heard this story from one of the officers there (he is a great story teller!). I’d love to hear your version. Heck you were just a little kid!
One other person did that. Crazy Eddy Lepp when the feds cut down his field next to highway 20 in Upper Lake in 2005. He chased the trucks down grabbing what he can and throwing it behind for the workers to scoop up.
I fondly remember visiting with Rasta Steve and Sharon in the early 2000’s at the straw bale house by the waterfall. Picking up weight. Their stories about Chris were like tales of Paul Bunyan. Many already mentioned here in the comment section. Chris was a larger then life character. Responsible for some of the old strains we all loved and grew. I hope his father Bob gets closure before the end of his life. Any parent deserves this. Rest in peace Chris.