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Investigation News
May 20, 2009
I've reached Inuvik today after flying for half the day in jetliner, with stops in Yellowknife and Norman
Wells. Looking at the physical distance has made the consideration of Sigvald travelling this far in the
years 1928-1931 seem preposterous. However as I look at the Richardson mountains on the
horizon and consider Albert Johnson escaping over them in the winter ; that too is preposterous.
Meanwhile I have a message from the lab that we will have to wait until May 23 for the mitochondrial
DNA results comparing Sigvald to Albert Johnson.
I've reached Inuvik today after flying for half the day in jetliner, with stops in Yellowknife and Norman
Wells. Looking at the physical distance has made the consideration of Sigvald travelling this far in the
years 1928-1931 seem preposterous. However as I look at the Richardson mountains on the
horizon and consider Albert Johnson escaping over them in the winter ; that too is preposterous.
Meanwhile I have a message from the lab that we will have to wait until May 23 for the mitochondrial
DNA results comparing Sigvald to Albert Johnson.
May 21, 2009
I spent the day in Aklavik. I found Albert Johnson's grave. The people there were very friendly. I met
the mayor as well. The grave is marked "Albert Johnson ?".
I spent the day in Aklavik. I found Albert Johnson's grave. The people there were very friendly. I met
the mayor as well. The grave is marked "Albert Johnson ?".
May 22, 2009
I viewed the TV documentary last night. It seemed pretty accurate about the amount of calories he
must have needed to be on the run in that cold, over 10,000 calories a day, quite amazing. I'll make
a few observations:
-They didn't mention the new technology that was used in 1932 to track the mad trapper. This
included extensive use of an airplane and two way radios.
-They didn't mention that the isotope map of Albert Johnson's roots also included Scandinavia.
-The exclusion of candidates was reported to be 100 percent. I still have a nagging doubt about the
percentage. This would mean we go into tomorrow to receive the Mitochondrial DNA results which
neither myself nor the film company has seen yet with about a zero percent chance of finding a
match. Obviously I have a doubt or I wouldn't have spent the 1100 dollars on this much more
definitive test. I should be able to close this case one way or the other tomorrow.
I viewed the TV documentary last night. It seemed pretty accurate about the amount of calories he
must have needed to be on the run in that cold, over 10,000 calories a day, quite amazing. I'll make
a few observations:
-They didn't mention the new technology that was used in 1932 to track the mad trapper. This
included extensive use of an airplane and two way radios.
-They didn't mention that the isotope map of Albert Johnson's roots also included Scandinavia.
-The exclusion of candidates was reported to be 100 percent. I still have a nagging doubt about the
percentage. This would mean we go into tomorrow to receive the Mitochondrial DNA results which
neither myself nor the film company has seen yet with about a zero percent chance of finding a
match. Obviously I have a doubt or I wouldn't have spent the 1100 dollars on this much more
definitive test. I should be able to close this case one way or the other tomorrow.
May 23, 2009
The Mitochondrial DNA result has now provided the final and surest death knell to the Sigvald theory.
It independently agrees what was reported in the documentary-not a match. I was a bit surprised
because I had become accustomed to finding only supporting evidence. We will probably never know
what became of Sigvald because I only had the one lead to follow. It has been followed to the very
end. For a video of the way I found Albert Johnson's grave a couple days ago click here.
The Mitochondrial DNA result has now provided the final and surest death knell to the Sigvald theory.
It independently agrees what was reported in the documentary-not a match. I was a bit surprised
because I had become accustomed to finding only supporting evidence. We will probably never know
what became of Sigvald because I only had the one lead to follow. It has been followed to the very
end. For a video of the way I found Albert Johnson's grave a couple days ago click here.
May 12, 2009
Prior to the release of DNA tests some of the isotope tests have been released. These show in which
geographic area Albert Johnson the mad trapper must have grown up. In an excerpt from Barbara
Smith's soon to be released unearthing a mystery Sigvald's "heritage even fit well within the portions
of Norway identified on Dr. Bell's isotope map." This is clearly an addition to the circumstantial
evidence for Sigvald being the fugitive in question.
Prior to the release of DNA tests some of the isotope tests have been released. These show in which
geographic area Albert Johnson the mad trapper must have grown up. In an excerpt from Barbara
Smith's soon to be released unearthing a mystery Sigvald's "heritage even fit well within the portions
of Norway identified on Dr. Bell's isotope map." This is clearly an addition to the circumstantial
evidence for Sigvald being the fugitive in question.
May 13, 2009
The Globe and Mail reports this morning that the identity of Albert Johnson the mad trapper is still a
mystery after DNA tests. This is clearly a major setback for the case concerning Sigvald, the first
setback I've encountered that clearly does not point to Sigvald. In spite of the cost over a thousand
dollars I have arranged for the much more definitive mitochondrial DNA test through Sigvald's
maternal line just to be sure. I hope the results are ready by the time I visit the grave site in Aklavik
on May 21. Also, I have made the book available for download here.
The Globe and Mail reports this morning that the identity of Albert Johnson the mad trapper is still a
mystery after DNA tests. This is clearly a major setback for the case concerning Sigvald, the first
setback I've encountered that clearly does not point to Sigvald. In spite of the cost over a thousand
dollars I have arranged for the much more definitive mitochondrial DNA test through Sigvald's
maternal line just to be sure. I hope the results are ready by the time I visit the grave site in Aklavik
on May 21. Also, I have made the book available for download here.
May 19, 2009
Schedule for journey's end :
May 20 Flight Edmonton to Inuvik
May 21 Flight from Inuvik to Aklavik to Albert Johnson gravesite
May 21 Discovery Channel airs Hunt for Mad Trapper
May 21-22 Receive results for Mitochondrial DNA to finalize Sigvald's possible relation to Albert
Johnson the Mad Trapper. These are not part of the Discovery Channel program aired
May 21.
May 22 Return to Edmonton with closure, finally.
Schedule for journey's end :
May 20 Flight Edmonton to Inuvik
May 21 Flight from Inuvik to Aklavik to Albert Johnson gravesite
May 21 Discovery Channel airs Hunt for Mad Trapper
May 21-22 Receive results for Mitochondrial DNA to finalize Sigvald's possible relation to Albert
Johnson the Mad Trapper. These are not part of the Discovery Channel program aired
May 21.
May 22 Return to Edmonton with closure, finally.
May 27, 2009
It's hard to suggest Albert Johnson, the mad trapper was a cold blooded killer. We only have the police version of the
first shooting incident when four policeman came to the cabin with a search warrant. If they leaned on him too heavily,
they may have ensured their story was put forth in a manner that would justify their actions.
One only has to consider the death of an immigrant, at the Vancouver airport recently involving taser equipped
policeman to realize the possibilities.
With no video we may never know what really transpired when Johnson wounded King. One of the policeman in his
report clearly stated that Johnson could have slaughtered them all. Instead he waited 2 weeks for them to return with
reinforcements and dynamite.
In the 15 hour seige of the cabin that followed he fired a bullet through the center of their flashlight lens after they
blew up his cabin and were closing in. Possibly he didn't want to shoot to kill.
In the gunfight in which Millen was killed, Millen was down in firing position and got off two shots at Albert Johnson
before Johnson fired back killing him.
After that Inspector Eames ordered "every available man as soon as possible from all districts fully equipped. And
that Johnson is to be shot on sight."
In the final battle weeks later sharpshooter Hershey claims to have hit Johnson three times in the backpack as
Johnson was running away before Johnson wheeled around and fired back wounding Hershey with his deadly aim.
I'm just not convinced Albert Johnson was a cold blooded killer but who really knows who he was or why he wanted to
be left alone.
It's hard to suggest Albert Johnson, the mad trapper was a cold blooded killer. We only have the police version of the
first shooting incident when four policeman came to the cabin with a search warrant. If they leaned on him too heavily,
they may have ensured their story was put forth in a manner that would justify their actions.
One only has to consider the death of an immigrant, at the Vancouver airport recently involving taser equipped
policeman to realize the possibilities.
With no video we may never know what really transpired when Johnson wounded King. One of the policeman in his
report clearly stated that Johnson could have slaughtered them all. Instead he waited 2 weeks for them to return with
reinforcements and dynamite.
In the 15 hour seige of the cabin that followed he fired a bullet through the center of their flashlight lens after they
blew up his cabin and were closing in. Possibly he didn't want to shoot to kill.
In the gunfight in which Millen was killed, Millen was down in firing position and got off two shots at Albert Johnson
before Johnson fired back killing him.
After that Inspector Eames ordered "every available man as soon as possible from all districts fully equipped. And
that Johnson is to be shot on sight."
In the final battle weeks later sharpshooter Hershey claims to have hit Johnson three times in the backpack as
Johnson was running away before Johnson wheeled around and fired back wounding Hershey with his deadly aim.
I'm just not convinced Albert Johnson was a cold blooded killer but who really knows who he was or why he wanted to
be left alone.
May 30, 2009
Someone E-mailed in a picture of Owen Albert Johnson. No DNA tests yet. Is he the mad trapper?
Someone E-mailed in a picture of Owen Albert Johnson. No DNA tests yet. Is he the mad trapper?
June 18, 2009
I have been waiting three weeks now for the DNA reports to verify whether Sigvald has really been ruled out.
Unfortunately the only lab report I have received so far indicates an inappropriate chain of custody of the bone
evidence transported from Albert Johnson's grave to the lab. I will report as soon as this I can get the matter resolved.
Till then I can't actually be 100 percent sure that Sigvald was not the mad trapper.
I have been waiting three weeks now for the DNA reports to verify whether Sigvald has really been ruled out.
Unfortunately the only lab report I have received so far indicates an inappropriate chain of custody of the bone
evidence transported from Albert Johnson's grave to the lab. I will report as soon as this I can get the matter resolved.
Till then I can't actually be 100 percent sure that Sigvald was not the mad trapper.