Sad story. Makes you wonder about GPS and telecommunications. Of course there may have been other issues.

ESMERALDA COUNTY, Nev. (KLAS) — Family members of an Indiana couple who had been missing for more than a week are trying to figure out how they got lost in Nevada’s high desert.

Beverly Barker survived, but her husband, Ronnie Barker, didn’t.

Authorities say the 72-year-old was dead when a search team reached the couple Tuesday about 177 miles northwest of Las Vegas. They also say 69-year-old Beverley Barker was airlifted to a Reno hospital where she’s reportedly in good shape.

Missing Indiana couple found in Nevada, husband dead
The pair had been traveling from Oregon to Arizona. A nephew said Beverly Barker’s text message pleading for help was delayed and didn’t go through until Tuesday night after the Barkers had alread y been found.

A long social media post from Ronnie and Beverly Barker’s nephew Travis Peters tells the story of what happened and how his Uncle Ronnie died. The story was told to Peters by his aunt, who he said has been released from a Reno hospital.


Donnie and Beverly Barker (Photo: Jennifer Whaley and Lynn Bledsoe)
Peters said it was the couple’s GPS that told them to take a road that would eventually point them up a mountain west of Silver Peak, Nevada, about 30 miles west of Goldfield. Beverly said the “highway” option in the GPS setting was not selected, and that led it to point them to a county road.

“Bev recalls they … saw other cars, I believe she even mentioned another motorhome was seen,” Peters wrote. “The directions had them making turns and they knew they were going up a mountain, but I don’t think they ever had a fear that they were doing anything wrong. Bev said that the RV was doing just fine on the road other than the fact that they had to slow down because the trailer dolly that was bouncing around if they went too fast. Eventually the motorhome became stuck in the gravel and sand.”

Once they knew they were stuck, the couple decided to just sleep in the RV and go for help in the morning. Then on the morning of Monday, March 28, they unhooked the Kia Soul they were towing and began driving to get help. Beverly Barker said they took a wrong turn and quickly became stuck. That’s where they would spend the next week.



Beverly Barker told her family she and her husband remained in relatively good spirits, reading the Bible they had with them, watching planes fly overhead, marveling at the clear night sky, and melting snow for water. Eventually, Ronnie Barker began having breathing problems, according to his wife, and she was left to provide water.

Beverly Barker said she would balance against her walker and use an N-95 face mask to scoop snow to bring back to her husband. The pair were also taking turns honking the horn in an SOS pattern.

“Ronnie blamed himself for getting them into the situation, but I do not think that there was any blame for him to shoulder,” Peters wrote. “Eventually peace came upon the both of them and Ronnie Barker passed away at 3:12 p.m. on Monday April 4.”

Beverly Barker said she remained in the car with her husband for the next day and a half until they were found Tuesday afternoon.

Travis Parker also released a statement on behalf of the family:

“The family of Ronnie and Beverly Barker wish to thank those who participated in the search and rescue operations to locate our beloved family members. The outpouring of support was nothing short of incredible by the members of the local community. Our hearts are full because of the efforts that were put forth to help us bring Ron and Bev back home again to Indiana.

While the loss of Ronnie Barker is tragic, we are grateful that Beverly was found alive and can now begin her recovery from this tragic ordeal. We are grateful that Beverly will be able to fill in the blanks and give us the answers that we all so desperately seek.

Ronnie Barker loved his family and loved his country. He served our nation proud over his 26 year career in the United States Air Force. Ronnie was a believer in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He was proud of his faith and was always willing to give to others. He was funny, witty, and was the spark of energy that everyone gravitated toward. People just loved and wanted to be around Ron Barker.

Our family grieves over this news, and we question the roadblocks that seemed to stifle the search from the moment we were made aware of their disappearance. It’s our hope that Ronnie Barker’s legacy will be changing policy that will allow for a more expeditious approach to locating missing persons of all ages for both non-residents and residents of the state of Nevada. We call upon the citizens of Nevada to stand up and demand that changes be made at ALL levels of Public Safety to avoid the hurdles that our family faced as we attempted to bring resources into the search of our loved ones.

Fly high MSgt Ronnie E. Barker, you served us all well.

Ronnie Ercel Barker 11/21/1949 – 4/4/2022″

LINK: https://wgntv.com/news/missing...-died-other-rescued/

I have been following this on the news. Very sad that this happened to them. Our family travel cross-country every summer in our RV, pulling a car. We even crossed to Canada 3 times. Lots of things can happen while on the road. You can prepare the best you can. But sometimes, tragedy happen. We can only pray and hope for safe travel.

sad, but one has to wonder how many bad decisions can one or two people can make that would lead to their demise. It's a head scratcher with a motor home and a good awd suv in tow.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Some folks lack survival skills. In fact, most Americans. Add to that possible mild cognitive impairment and crappy GPS and poor cell service. One of them used a walker so that indicates some impairment right there.

I would not call it "survival skill". I would call it lacking common sense. There has to be so much fail in this scenario to have an ending like this.

I will not be surprised to hear that it was pre-planed to kill off the old man.

Guessing the Sheriff's office is doing a in depth investigation already.

Sad story. Definitely one of the reasons I prefer maps to GPS when I travel, especially out west where reception is spotty and I don't know the area. A paper map gives you an overview of the entire area and what you're dealing with. It also tends to show road classifications, which can get really sketchy really fast in the mountains. You also have to use good judgement...I've opted to drive hours around at times to avoid taking a route that I don't think my rig can handle. But the map lets me see those alternative routes very easily.

Following GPS blindly is a recipe for disaster, but people do it all the time. We have truckers get stuck under one of our viaducts in town all the time, which is clearly marked for it's max height, and the excuse is always "I was just following my GPS." OK, well, next time watch the signs, here's your ticket!

It sounds like both of these folks were elderly, and based on the fact that she was using a walker, not fully mobile, which puts them at a huge disadvantage to start with. Were I in their shoes, I'd have at least transferred a good supply of food and water from the RV to the SUV before driving off, just in case. When we go camping, we have enough food and water along to support 6 people for at least 2 weeks, and that's without rationing or scavenging (plus firearms, fishing equipment, and other survival gear).

Not making light of the situation at all, but all in all there are way worse ways to go out. I'd personally take a peaceful week in the woods over wasting away in a hospital bed for months with cancer or some other ailment. We've all gotta go sometime, and I imagine I'll be doing good to make it to 72.

Just one "elderly traveler" incident of a similar number I handled:
I was on a divided highway late at night when I noticed a semi about a half mile in front of me suddenly swerve onto the shoulder to avoid a car traveling the wrong way. I slammed on the brakes, activated my overhead lights, blocked both lanes and braced for impact. The wrong way driver got stopped without hitting me and I anticipated a drunk driver. Nope. 82 year old dude and his wife had left their home that morning to go to a doctors appointment. In a town that was 75 miles from where I had them stopped. When I asked why they had driven so far and for such a long time, the man told he believed that he would find his way home if he just kept on driving. They had no idea they were in the wrong lane of travel and could not tell me how long they had been going the wrong way. Light late night traffic kept them safe. I had the OSP set up an escort to get them back home.
Sometimes older drivers can travel long distances without realizing they are lost.

quote:

Originally posted by old rugged cross:
I will not be surprised to hear that it was pre-planed to kill off the old man.

Man, cool it.

Sad story. Makes me wonder if some degree of cognitive decline didn't play a factor.

Reminds me of this story back in 2006. Wrong turns, bad decisions.

That's a super remote and desolate area. I've ridden my bike out that way and rode past three closed gas stations. I was 30 miles away from Beatty when I coasted into a trailer park and a guy sold me a five gallon jug of gas for $40. That was 160 miles with no open gas stations. I went out that way again last August and there's now a new gas station out there that wasn't showing on Google Maps. On the first trip, I had to use a pay phone at the visitor center in Death Valley, as there was no cell reception for a very long way. That was the last time I used a pay phone - 2009.

If I'm at that age, I'm not driving an RV, and I sure as hell wouldn't be driving an RV towing a car. To have a wife who has a physical disability, I definitely wouldn't be doing that. As a young man, that's hard enough, I can't imagine doing it at 72. You really have to know your limitations and come to terms with them as you age.

What a terrible tragedy.

quote:

The pair had been traveling from Oregon to Arizona.

Whatever any GPS might have said, there's no reason to leave a main highway, in this case probably US 95. I have traveled through that general area, and once you leave a US-numbered or state highway (so-called "county roads" may or, more probably, may not be paved), you're out in the real middle of nowhere. Because of the high elevation, it is quite cold and snowy this time of year. Even in the summer it can be subfreezing at night.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
If I'm at that age, I'm not driving an RV, and I sure as hell wouldn't be driving an RV towing a car. To have a wife who has a physical disability, I definitely wouldn't be doing that. As a young man, that's hard enough, I can't imagine doing it at 72. You really have to know your limitations and come to terms with them as you age.

I think I'm with you. I've long since talked with my wife that we hope we know when we need to stop driving even.

I agree. That is why we are doing all of travelling now with our RV, pulling a vehicle. Once I get to the age (or physical condition) where I think it is UNSAFE for all of us, the we will stop travelling with the RV. Maybe it will be time to start flying. As far as GPS is concerned. we travel with at least 3 different GPS running all at the same time. Plus, we have an old school map to fall back on.

quote:

Originally posted by Edmond:
If I'm at that age, I'm not driving an RV, and I sure as hell wouldn't be driving an RV towing a car. To have a wife who has a physical disability, I definitely wouldn't be doing that. As a young man, that's hard enough, I can't imagine doing it at 72. You really have to know your limitations and come to terms with them as you age.

Lots of folks don’t realize that much of the country still lacks cell service. Natives usually have sat phones/communicators

When we sail in the ocean making a passage, it's multiple GPS AND charts AND a sextant. Call it belt and suspenders. But, I like to know where on the planet I am.

Two critical issues: Cell texts didn't go thru - I've experienced that with local service thru ATT and switched because of it. It's a dead zone out west.

Second: Depending on a GPS is a mistake. People are constantly backing and turning in my driveway because they are directed a block out of the way to a non existent left turn. These folks were old enough to know how to use an atlas and stick to a known planned route, but he died depending on a voice telling him it was an acceptable route. No, it's the American West, and its wilderness.

In the day when Rt 66 crossed the desert it was no joke to see a sign that said "last gas 50 miles." It might sound like a bit of hype until you get halfway thru.

They choose poorly.

There was a German couple lost near Death Valley, their car got stuck in sand and they may have attempted to hike to a nearby military reservation with the idea it would be like Europe - big fence and manned guard towers. Nope, American West is a broken down barb wire fence nobody has fixed in 20 years. The last humans there installed it. Their bones weren't found for over a decade - little is really known why they did what they did. What is known is they died and their children with them.

It's almost spring thaw in the mountain passes out west, every year there is a vehicle found in a ravine with occupants inadequately dressed who were out joy riding in the snow. Their family already knows they are lost, just not where.