By Chivis Martinez for Borderland Beat
According to authorities, it was not on a foot patrol but an anonymous tip that led them to the vicinity of the town of La Union Township, Lagunillas Guerrero, where the discovery of couple of black bags of human remains, as well as a motorcycle with a sticker in the Globetrotters sticker on the tank, which was one of the identification signs authorities were aware of.
Harry and Ann in France where he was born
From Ann Devert to me just tonight with a subject line "It's Finished"According to authorities, it was not on a foot patrol but an anonymous tip that led them to the vicinity of the town of La Union Township, Lagunillas Guerrero, where the discovery of couple of black bags of human remains, as well as a motorcycle with a sticker in the Globetrotters sticker on the tank, which was one of the identification signs authorities were aware of.
They are saying it is a reburial, as the motorcycle and human remains were buried elsewhere, but were exhumed and dumped in Lagunillas.
This is a difficult story to write. Over the months since January 25, 2014, I have wanted to write a post about the disappearance of Harry, but decided not to for a few reasons. 
First, Harry's mother Ann, was doing a spectacular job of getting Harry's story out there. At first it was in the US press, where she and a group of Harry's friends were able to have articles released about their plight to find Harry. Their #HelpFindHarry campaign drew 25k followers.
And secondly, I was helping and advising behind the scenes and a friendship and admiration developed, and I wanted what was between us to stay there. I always knew the chances of Harry being alive were extremely remote. I felt the best second scenario, was to her to get answers and be able to bring her son home for a burial. It appears the second has happened....but my God, is it better? I suppose one day I will say "yes", but not today, today I cant get pass the horror.
I came to know Ann through a prompting of a mainstream newspaper reporter, who asked me to consider helping the family. Typically I do not get directly involved with kidnapping cases. But eventually I did. And Ann and I became friends. I was helping as much as I could behind the scenes. and I encouraged her to go to Michoacan, and to facilitate articles in Mexican papers, especially Michoacan.
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Remains partially buried in bags found with his bike |
I asked Dr Mireles for his assistance, he went one step better, offering to accompany her on her search and helping in the towns with autodefensas.
She did go but decided to concentrate in Guerrero first, as she heard rumors of possible sightings of Harry there in Zihuatanejo.
Harry had checked out of a bed and breakfast in Michoacan and planned to travel to a beach in Zihuatanejo on the Pacific coast, which was in the final scene of the film "The Shawshank Redemption,". But he then disappeared. The plan was to join friends in Brasil for the World Cup Games.
Ann had just returned to New York, but was planning to return to Mexico. One of her final acts was to leave a sample of her DNA....in case. Harry was her only child. I will write about his extraordinary life at a later date.
Harry's words from his blog:
"Have a dream and figure out a way to pursue it. I don’t think many other animal species are capable of that. I doubt there’s anyone who, on their deathbed ever lamented pursuing a passion, pursuing a dream, I imagine in fact it would be quite the opposite. “The saddest thing in life is wasted talent,” Sonny told Calogero in A Bronx Tale. We all have talents, we all have dreams, the amazing thing being that everyone’s talents and dreams are unique.
My dreams are undoubtedly different than yours, and that’s what makes us all interesting. It’s what makes us all beautiful. "
Harry's Bucket List
He lived as though he subconsciously was aware, that he had to hurry with life and pack in all humanly possible in 34 years. On his blog he posted a bucket list. Or "a chunk" of it, Number 3
describes what compelled him to make the journey with tragic, unforeseen, consequences;
#3 I was living in Spain during the summer of 2010, and was supposed to meet one of my best friends from NY in Capetown for the World Cup. Plans fell through and rather than go by myself, I figured since Spain had such a good team I’d take a shot and see how it was to be in a football-obsessed country itself while its team hopefully made its way into the finals.
My gamble paid off, although admittedly I should have thought through my location Barcelona, being Barcelona and full of Catalans (I love you Catalans…you know this…no offense), opted to root for whichever team was playing against the Spanish team the majority of the time. I had watched the first game of the World Cup in Paris (and we had an absolutely awful team) on a huge screen next to the Eiffel tower. The 2006 World Cup (which, let’s be serious, France should have won.) I watched on a huge screen that had been set up near my apartment in SoHo in the city. (Continues on next page)
The point is most large cities have similar large-screen setups. Even America, where football (or more aptly soccer) is a fifth level sport at best. There were no large screens set up in Barcelona in 2010 except for the actual final. Mind you I think something like 7 or 8 of the starting 11 ALL played for Barcelona, but hey, who am I to complain? We flooded Las Ramblas in our red t shirts after the game and sprayed each other with Cava. A good time had by all. All that to say that, having lived in Rio, and with my friends sending me pictures of the setups they had on the beach for World Cup 2010, heading there for the next World Cup is a no brainer. Barring any extended hospital visits (and even that I don’t think would stop me) I’ll be back in Rio after a 3- year hiatus for the World Cup 2014. Can’t wait..."
A finer lady does not walk this earth.
My dreams are undoubtedly different than yours, and that’s what makes us all interesting. It’s what makes us all beautiful. "
Harry's Bucket List
He lived as though he subconsciously was aware, that he had to hurry with life and pack in all humanly possible in 34 years. On his blog he posted a bucket list. Or "a chunk" of it, Number 3
describes what compelled him to make the journey with tragic, unforeseen, consequences;
#3 I was living in Spain during the summer of 2010, and was supposed to meet one of my best friends from NY in Capetown for the World Cup. Plans fell through and rather than go by myself, I figured since Spain had such a good team I’d take a shot and see how it was to be in a football-obsessed country itself while its team hopefully made its way into the finals.
My gamble paid off, although admittedly I should have thought through my location Barcelona, being Barcelona and full of Catalans (I love you Catalans…you know this…no offense), opted to root for whichever team was playing against the Spanish team the majority of the time. I had watched the first game of the World Cup in Paris (and we had an absolutely awful team) on a huge screen next to the Eiffel tower. The 2006 World Cup (which, let’s be serious, France should have won.) I watched on a huge screen that had been set up near my apartment in SoHo in the city. (Continues on next page)
The point is most large cities have similar large-screen setups. Even America, where football (or more aptly soccer) is a fifth level sport at best. There were no large screens set up in Barcelona in 2010 except for the actual final. Mind you I think something like 7 or 8 of the starting 11 ALL played for Barcelona, but hey, who am I to complain? We flooded Las Ramblas in our red t shirts after the game and sprayed each other with Cava. A good time had by all. All that to say that, having lived in Rio, and with my friends sending me pictures of the setups they had on the beach for World Cup 2010, heading there for the next World Cup is a no brainer. Barring any extended hospital visits (and even that I don’t think would stop me) I’ll be back in Rio after a 3- year hiatus for the World Cup 2014. Can’t wait..."
Ann writes in her email: "Thank you, Chivis, for being courageous in the face of horror and evil and for being my friend.."
I turn Ann's words back to her, she the courageous one, in the face of horror and evil, and for being my friend.
I turn Ann's words back to her, she the courageous one, in the face of horror and evil, and for being my friend.
She is the mother I hope I am and that all mothers should inspire to be.
Ann posted this letter today from one of Harry's friends from Spain
Harry Story from Pau Balaguer,
Harry is a person who has a highly developed karma, who always has a smile on his face and who knows how to connect with people regardless of religion, culture, race or age. Personally I had the good fortune to know him, travel with him for 3 months and most importantly, to learn from it. I remember one day we were traveling with our bikes ,leased inside Laos, not knowing that it would become one of the best days of my life.
We left early, on roads that were barely paved. Halfway, we crossed a bridge where you could see there were many children playing in the river and decided to stop there for a while to rest. What was to be a 10 minute stop turned into three hours! It was amazing how not speaking the same language, nor having the same culture, we could understand each other and play with them. I taught the children how to juggle stones, while as many as 10 children at a time tried to push Harry under the water. It really was fun.
After a well deserved rest, we continued our journey. A few miles from the bridge we found some men who were in the middle of the road asking us to stop and one of them explained in English that he was celebrating his wedding and wished wanted us to participate. We politely accepted and shared the banquet and we took pictures with all participants of at the wedding at their request. It turned out to be a unique experience.
Later after eating ox eyes, undercooked eggs with chicks inside and drinking rice wine, we come to a school where the students were having recess. Seeing us all children kept at a distance of 5 meters, as they surely had never seen two people of our race. Harry started playing with them, and the children moved the same distance as Harry had approached and the same distance as Harry had advanced. They stayed like that for 15 minutes until Harry finally entered the school yard chasing the group that had formed at the entrance. The children started running like crazy all around the yard and Harry ran after them, but suddenly the game changed and the children were chasing Harry! It was amazing to see how easily Harry formed connections like that with people. Best of all is the energy and confidence he transmits to the people who are around him.
Harry waved at people everywhere all during our motorcycle trip, and I kept joking that he was running for President of Laos.
Posted by
Ann, Harry's Mom
| Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.  |
| Harry and friends in Barcelona |
Ann posted this letter today from one of Harry's friends from Spain
Harry Story from Pau Balaguer,
Harry is a person who has a highly developed karma, who always has a smile on his face and who knows how to connect with people regardless of religion, culture, race or age. Personally I had the good fortune to know him, travel with him for 3 months and most importantly, to learn from it. I remember one day we were traveling with our bikes ,leased inside Laos, not knowing that it would become one of the best days of my life.
We left early, on roads that were barely paved. Halfway, we crossed a bridge where you could see there were many children playing in the river and decided to stop there for a while to rest. What was to be a 10 minute stop turned into three hours! It was amazing how not speaking the same language, nor having the same culture, we could understand each other and play with them. I taught the children how to juggle stones, while as many as 10 children at a time tried to push Harry under the water. It really was fun.
After a well deserved rest, we continued our journey. A few miles from the bridge we found some men who were in the middle of the road asking us to stop and one of them explained in English that he was celebrating his wedding and wished wanted us to participate. We politely accepted and shared the banquet and we took pictures with all participants of at the wedding at their request. It turned out to be a unique experience.
Later after eating ox eyes, undercooked eggs with chicks inside and drinking rice wine, we come to a school where the students were having recess. Seeing us all children kept at a distance of 5 meters, as they surely had never seen two people of our race. Harry started playing with them, and the children moved the same distance as Harry had approached and the same distance as Harry had advanced. They stayed like that for 15 minutes until Harry finally entered the school yard chasing the group that had formed at the entrance. The children started running like crazy all around the yard and Harry ran after them, but suddenly the game changed and the children were chasing Harry! It was amazing to see how easily Harry formed connections like that with people. Best of all is the energy and confidence he transmits to the people who are around him.
Harry waved at people everywhere all during our motorcycle trip, and I kept joking that he was running for President of Laos.
Posted by
Ann, Harry's Mom