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A treasure hunter who illegally dug in Yellowstone National Park while searching for a hidden chest was sentenced to six months in prison on Wednesday, officials said.
Rodrick Dow Craythorn has not found the treasure of Forrest Fenn, named after the New Mexico art dealer who hid the chest that was rumored to be worth millions a decade ago and left clues about its location in a poem.
The 52-year-old Utah man damaged Fort Yellowstone cemetery, including a historic grave, the Wyoming District Attorney’s Office said.
Craythorn was sentenced to six months in prison, six months of house arrest and ordered to pay $ 31,566 in restitution, the office said.
He pleaded guilty in January to excavating or trafficking archaeological resources and injuring or destroying property in the United States.
Through his attorney, Craythorn has apologized to the National Park Service and the people of the United States. He is due in May to begin his sentence.
“To the National Park Service, the people of the United States and my family, I am very sorry. I was motivated by the pleasure of finding treasure, and my obsession clouded my judgment,” Craythorn said in the statement.
“After my stay in prison, I intend to do a full restitution. I can only hope that my case will serve as a reminder to people that we must respect national parks and the laws that have been enacted to protect them, ”he said.
The search for Forrest Fenn’s treasure has captivated thousands of people. Fenn hid the chest of gold and jewelry between 2009 and 2010, and he left nine clues for researchers in a poem in his book, “The Thrill of the Chase.”
The treasure was discovered in June in Wyoming but the person who found it, identified as a Michigan medical student, did not say exactly where. Fenn passed away in September.
Craythorn dug in the cemetery at Fort Yellowstone National Historic Landmark between October 2019 and May 24, 2020, according to an indictment.
Rangers have found 17 dig sites, including damage to a historic grave, the US prosecutor’s office said.
“A national park is not a place to have a greed-motivated adult scavenger hunt,” said Bob Murray, Acting United States Attorney for Wyoming, in a statement. “Mr. Craythorn’s damaging actions, for whatever reason or intention, have destroyed valuable archaeological resources which cannot be undone.
Fort Yellowstone was built in the park after the military was dispatched in response to poaching, souvenir hunting and other damaging acts after the national park was established by Congress in 1872, according to the Department’s Department. Park.
The military remained in the park until 1918, when functions were transferred to the National Park Service, established by Congress two years earlier.
At least 54 people, mostly civilians who worked for the military or military families, were buried in this cemetery between 1888 and 1916.
Sarah Davis, Chief Ranger of Yellowstone National Park, called the violation “very egregious” and said Craythorn’s conviction “sends a clear message that these types of transgressions will be investigated and prosecuted. aggressive “.
Before the discovery of Forrest Fenn’s treasure, several people died looking for it. In 2017, the New Mexico state police chief discouraged people from looking for him, citing the dangers involved.
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