Obsession, Death, and the Allure of Forrest Fenn's Poisoned Treasure

Resources

Resources & Recommendations

Books

• "The Thrill of the Chase" by Forrest Fenn - This memoir contained a six-stanza poem with nine clues to the location of a hidden treasure.
• "Chasing the Thrill: Obsession, Death, and Glory in America's Most Extraordinary Treasure Hunt" by Daniel Barbarisi - This book, published in 2021, provided source material for the episode.

Articles & Papers

• "A Deadly Hunt for Hidden Treasure Spawns an Online Mystery" by David Kushner (Wired) - This 2018 article was a source for the episode.
• Anonymous Eulogy (Medium) - An article appearing on Medium after Forrest Fenn's death, claiming to be written by the successful treasure hunter, Jack Stuef.
• "My Name is Jack Stuef, I Now Own the Treasure Chest" (Medium) - An article by Jack Stuef revealing his identity as the treasure finder.

People Mentioned

• Forrest Fenn - An eccentric art dealer who hid a treasure chest in the Rocky Mountains and published a cryptic poem with clues to its location, sparking a decade-long treasure hunt.
• Randy Bilyeu - A former salesman who disappeared and later died while searching for the treasure by rafting down the Rio Grande.
• Cynthia Meacham - A former engineer and experienced treasure searcher who developed a friendship with Forrest Fenn.
• Jack Stuef - A medical student and the person who ultimately found Forrest Fenn's treasure. He also published a YouTube essay about cognitive biases in the treasure hunt.
• Eric Ashby - A 31-year-old who became addicted to oxycodone and found purpose in the treasure hunt, eventually moving to Colorado Springs to search for it, and later drowned during an expedition.
• Chris Hurst (father) and Christopher Hurst (son) - A father and son from Wyoming who were deeply invested in the treasure hunt, hoping it would improve their lives.
• Francisco Chavez - A man who stalked Forrest Fenn, believing the treasure was Fenn's granddaughter.
• Robert Miller - A man who broke into Forrest Fenn's property, believing the poem directed him there, and attempted to steal a wooden chest.
• David Hansen - A searcher who sued Forrest Fenn for 1.5 million dollars, accusing him of making fraudulent statements about the treasure.
• Barbara Anderson - An attorney who filed a lawsuit against the treasure finder, Jack Stuef, alleging hacking and theft of her solve.
• John Collins Black - An adventure lover who announced his own treasure hunt after the Fenn hunt concluded, hiding five boxes across the United States.

Websites & Online Resources

• timharford.com - The website for Tim Harford, where a full list of sources for the episode can be found.