Cow defaced

[Gary]

Due to dive distances and complexities I think the memorials and the writing in clay issues are probably separate. Also the person with the memorials are probably as over concerned about the cave as the writer(s) are under concerned.

I see this then as a competent but relatively new diver with limited equipment - probably rented and probably rented from up near Peacock. Since Peacock is a state park and no solo diving it is likely a pair of out of town divers (because anyone seeing a stranger doing this would hopefully turned him in).

So it seems likely that the shops up there probably have the name of the renter(s). There are only so many tanks for rent and a short enough time period to look at.

It may be a relative newcomer with so much money they bought everything and then went out to vandalize the caves but that seems unlikely. I don't think we are looking at someone investing in equipment and looking at a lifetime commitment to cave diving or a old cave diver with a grudge.

It could be any of the shops in N FL but considering the location where the diving was found it was most likely rentals (or at least fills) from either of the shops up near Peacock.

Two shops, a dozen or so sets of rental tanks, and a pair of divers. Probably intro or at least fairly new. Nov 2nd-Nov 4th. Also likely younger.

Seems like a small pool of names to look at. The shops would probably pick the pair out with little problem. Maybe from memory.


If not we could be talking about a renegade, lock cutting, sneak diving, old timer with a major grudge willing to sneak into Peacock solo and write in the cave figuring no one would note his missing dive buddy. That sounds too insane and anyone with that kind of grudge would be making it known already. Unless connected to the missing memorials I can't think of anything I've heard of and I don't see it as at all likely.

[Line Squirrel]

Well at least we have some sort of timeline now. Nov 2 - Nov 7

For sure the writing was there Last Sunday afternoon in P1 11-04-07. Did anyone notice it prior to 11-04-07? that would narrow it down some. My son took alot of pictures last weekend, so if it happened Sunday, we may have the guy on film/digital pic. I know that this is the COW discussion, but since we mentioned a timeline, I'm trying to narrow it down.

ARY said he saw it on OCt. 30th

[DeWayne]

If not we could be talking about a renegade, lock cutting, sneak diving, old timer with a major grudge willing to sneak into Peacock solo and write in the cave figuring no one would note his missing dive buddy. That sounds too insane and anyone with that kind of grudge would be making it known already. Unless connected to the missing memorials I can't think of anything I've heard of and I don't see it as at all likely.

As crazy as this idea sounds Gary, it is the first thought that keeps popping into my head after some of the discussions I have found myself involved in this past year. For some reason, when I read Ary's post that proposes the vandal most likely cut the chain going in, DIC became Doing It Criminally in my mind. The up side is that the meanies who do this sort of thing usually find themselves to brag to someone about it later; the down side is they don't always do their bragging around the community they violated. I don't think the vandal is the same individual that removed the memorials, but it may well be. I think the memorial snatching was more of an impetus for this new poopiehead to think he had to out do someone in his own special way. I don't have much, but I am willing to contribute to a reward fund (or bail fund for anyone who may get lucky enough to catch these bastards) if the interest develops.

Moderator's note: if you people can't lay off the profanities, I'll continue to edit them using the childish euphemisms - Russell

[Angie Reim]

If not we could be talking about a renegade, lock cutting, sneak diving, old timer with a major grudge willing to sneak into Peacock solo and write in the cave figuring no one would note his missing dive buddy. That sounds too insane and anyone with that kind of grudge would be making it known already. Unless connected to the missing memorials I can't think of anything I've heard of and I don't see it as at all likely.

As crazy as this idea sounds Gary, it is the first thought that keeps popping into my head after some of the discussions I have found myself involved in this past year. For some reason, when I read Ary's post that proposes the vandal most likely cut the chain going in, DIC became Doing It Criminally in my mind. The up side is that the meanies who do this sort of thing usually find themselves to brag to someone about it later; the down side is they don't always do their bragging around the community they violated. I don't think the vandal is the same individual that removed the memorials, but it may well be. I think the memorial snatching was more of an impetus for this new poopiehead to think he had to out do someone in his own special way. I don't have much, but I am willing to contribute to a reward fund (or bail fund for anyone who may get lucky enough to catch these bastards) if the interest develops.

Moderator's note: if you people can't lay off the profanities, I'll continue to edit them using the childish euphemisms - Russell

That just tickles my Almighty & omnipresent-cursed funny bone. I don't like profanity too much either and childish euphemisms can sometimes be more descriptive and surprisingly imaginative. I love it. Makes for more pleasant reading. Sludge....you're gonna be busy.

Thanks for the tame-TV reminder. We needed it. Okay...I needed it! 8)

[Moonfuzzy]

I think we all would love to find out who damaged Cow. Most of us have nothing to add and have to sit on the sidelines.

Thoughts for tracking this person down -

What groups rented doubles for at least 2 days during the proper time?
Does peacock get the license plate numbers of people paying to dive for a day? Have they started a search based on those?
What dates are we actually looking at? Who was diving cow on that day - did you see anything?


Most of us can only wonder how to keep this from happening again, or debate what level of contact is OK.

We assume that the person who did this didn't sign in. Ok, so let's think of how to keep sneak divers out of cow.

# If you see an abandoned car on the road near cow, or outside the defined parking area, call the cops and report it - mention possible trespassing and cave vandalism.

# When you check in at Cow ask who else has checked in before you. If there is someone else at the site call the organizer, and call the cops if they are not verified. They are trespassing and possibly a vandal.

I am going to start doing this - divers beware! If you are caught sneak diving Cow you will be reported to the police.