Monsters: Roperites

 

According to the Digger Indians, Roperites are the spirits of early Spanish ranchers. Its home is in the foothills of the Sierra's and the Pitt River in Nevada where lumbermen reported seeing them. They live in groups and are predators not to be messed with even if it's is the size of a small pony. Its nose is that of a long noose that it uses to drag prey like jackrabbits through thorny chaparral to its death. It also releases a terrifying noise from the rattles on its tail that vibrates while it's going for its prey. Its well-developed flapper-like legs allow it to move in a way like half running and half flying.

SOURCES:
Cryptid Wiki
Monster Wiki
A Book of Creatures
San Fransisco Examiner

UNIDENTIFIED: July 14, 1908 Goldfield, Nevada

On July 14, 1908, the body of a man was found the automobile garage in Goldfield, Nevada. Contrary to what his gravestone says he had died due to starvation. Before his death, he ate a jar of library paste. He had a letter with him addressed to Ross. It isn't stated whether or not they thought the letter was for him or written by him.

SOURCES:
Find a Grave
Reno Gazette-Journal July 20, 1908

Murder of James Harry Hartley

On March 13, 1954, the body of 33-year-old Union leader James Hartley was found in a shallow grave in the desert on Paradise Rd. near the old Los Angeles Highway in Sloan, Nevada. He had been killed with a gunshot wound to the head.

His car was also found in Los Angeles across from the sheet metal worker's union hall. The car was found to be shot through the windshield. Several leads were pursued related to Union activity. Including one man who was suspected at one point, but never arrested or charged with the crime.

SOURCES:
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department

Find a Grave

Reno Gazette-Journal March 25, 1954 

The Charlotte Observer April 6, 1954

Reno Gazette-Journal October 22, 1954

Unsolved Murder of Evelyn Grace Shank

On Feb. 4, 1959, 45-year-old Evelyn Shank was working at the Travelodge Motel in Las Vegas, Nevada. When her relief came for the night there was no sign of her and the police were called. When her coworker came there was a 1949-1950 Sedan possibly dark blue parked by the door. When the coworker looked back outside the vehicle was gone.

There was $174 stolen and Evelyn missing. It was obvious something bad had happened to Evelyn and she was abducted. An all point bulletin was posted and the roadblocks were set up in Henderson, Boulder City, and Las Vegas and Clark County. The police were hoping to catch her kidnapper.

On February 7, teens riding horses off of Moutain Springs Rd. Evelyn was alive for at least 24 hours. They had forced Evelyn to walk where they found her body and then shot her twice with 32-20 slugs. They had left her to die.

SOURCES:
Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department
Reno Gazette-Journal Feb. 9, 1959
Reno Gazette-Journal March 7, 1959

Missing: Noel Elijah Davis

On November 1, 1915, 16-year-old Noel Davis left his home in Reno, Nevada. He was supposed to visit his older sister, Irene, and her husband in the San Francisco Bay area in California. At the time the World Fair was in town which was between Feb. 20 to Dec. 4. Noel never arrived at his sisters and his whereabouts unknown.  

Noel is a white male and was 16-years-old at the time. He was 5'9" and around 150 lbs at the time. He had black hair and brown eyes. 

SOURCES:

NamUs
Track Missing