John Blevins Cogdell III — Vanished From Upper Pines, Yosemite National Park
We have limited verified information about the disappearance and death of John Blevins Cogdell III. If you can contribute factual updates — especially the location where he was found or the cause of death — please email: 348"at"vanished.us
John Cogdell, 5'10", 200 lbs, with blond/grey hair and blue eyes, was an off‑duty National Park Service employee when he disappeared from Upper Pines Campground in Yosemite Valley on August 15, 2018. He was last seen around midday at campsite Upper Pines #182.
Within 24 hours, he would be found dead — and officials have refused to release almost any details.
The Disappearance
Cogdell was off duty and staying in the campground when he vanished. He was last seen around noon on August 15th. When he didn’t return, a search began. Yosemite rangers, NPS staff, and other personnel were involved.
On August 16th, just one day later, John’s body was located. The National Park Service declined to release:
- Where he was found
- How far from the campsite
- The cause of death
- Whether foul play was suspected
- Whether environmental factors were involved
Nothing.
Ranger Mary Woods Speaks Out
One of the few insights into the case came from a Facebook post by Ranger Mary Woods, who worked with John:
“John Cogdell, my fellow Yosemite campground ranger, never returned to his campsite Thursday afternoon. After 24 hours of searching, after a gut‑wrenching day at work Friday hearing BOLOs, radio traffic, and helicopters and knowing exactly who it was all for… he was found deceased Friday evening. I’m not at liberty (or shouldn’t be, until more press releases) to give more details than that.”
Her post confirms:
- John never returned to his campsite
- The search was intense
- Staff knew who the search was for
- She was explicitly not allowed to share details
That silence has continued for years.
A Second Death — Scott Tenczar
Adding to the strangeness, another man — Scott Tenczar — was found dead in Yosemite within 24 hours of Cogdell’s discovery. Officials also refused to release:
- Where Tenczar was found
- How he died
Two deaths. One park. One day apart. Zero transparency.
Vanished.us Says
This is yet another unexplained death in Yosemite National Park — and another case where officials refuse to release even the most basic information. No location. No cause of death. No circumstances. Nothing.
And with two bodies found within 24 hours, the silence becomes even harder to understand.
Three years later, the public still knows almost nothing.
If you have factual information — especially the recovery location or confirmed cause of death — please reach out.