Harry and Ann in France where he was born
From Ann Devert to me just tonight with a subject line "It's Finished"
They are saying it is a reburial,
as the motorcycle and human remains were buried elsewhere, but were exhumed and
dumped in Lagunillas.
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.
 |
| 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.
"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
#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)
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
 |
| 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
Who what where lost frst time ive heard of this story
ReplyDeleteWhat a horrible final chapter to the story of Harry Devert.
ReplyDeleteWe can only hope that Anne will be able to find peace after these terribly tragic events.
And the American authorities will do nothing.
ReplyDelete1000s of kidnapped, missing and murdered Americans in Mexico and the only ones that matter are government employees.
This was evidenced by the massive investigation, political pressure after the murder of Kiki Camarena the Guadalajara Cartel, the ICE agents killed by Zetas, the embassy couple murdered by the Juarez cartel.
Los. Zetas didnt. Kill him it was caro quintero and his people. That tortured. Him and then killed. Him get your Facts straight
DeleteAwful. My heart really breaks for his mother......this whole story is just terrible.
ReplyDeleteI think if I had a dream I would leave Mexico out of it.I know you can get killed any where. But then country's that only have white people have the lowest murder rates.is that racest.
ReplyDeleteThat's a fact. There's a hierarchy in the world. White people, specifically those with blonde hair and blue eyes, sit atop that hierarchy. It is no coincidence. If you look at a nation like Mexico, the fairer skinned people are at the top at all levels of society and better off economically, while the darker skinned majority are at the bottom rung. I liken it to a worldwide caste system. If you don't believe me, just take a look at all the personalities on tv programming and you will notice the prevailing features of most TV personalities. Most White majority nations and communities the world over enjoy a superior economic situation and stability.
DeleteIt is American stupid obsession for drugs that kills everyone in the region. No drugs, no risk. As easy as that.
DeleteIt's the legality, not the drugs. It's the denial of a right or privilege as in prohibition, violence develops when you try to control what the masses consume.Drugs do kill but the most comon killers are those legal drugs like aspirin, alcohol, and tobacco are among the deadliest. Aspirin, by itself kills more people than all illegal drugs together combined. So this is not about health, or morals. It's clearly about money and power. Sometimes the people who want substances controlled stand to gain more than those who want legalization. El Chapo recently thanked the past US presidents for keeping drugs illegal. Otherwise, he could not have made his billions of Dollars. Even police departments get their funding from their seizures. Which it why they like to focus on the money coming south into México. And that's why rapist and serial killers are not caught as often as people smoking grass. It's easier to sniff out pot, than it is to figure out a murder. White people have fear. That fear explains their behavior. People try to take control when they fear, and this helps rationalize their actions. I've seen plenty of blue eyed devils sucking on a crack pipe, and other things to get a hit of that dope. They just love meth and heroin, and they'll live in the gutter so long as they can keep up the lifestyle. I don't see whites in power. They lost the presidency to the greatest nation on earth. Africans created the first city and gold based economy in Timbuktu. An economy in which you consider yourself successful, was actually created by black people, some of them have blue eyes also. Because you share a common ancestors. We are all the same the only inferiority is believing you are better than another human being.
DeleteFn animals..To kill for no reason.Some day you will get yours.
ReplyDeleteThere some extremely sick people in Michoacan!
ReplyDeleteI've traveled all over the US, Canadian, and Mexican rural, remote and wilderness areas. I stopped traveling Mexico thirty years ago because it got to damned hairy. I compare this type of travel in Mexico to nights and days in US and Canadian grizzly bear country on a 24/7 heightened sense of alert - absolutely exhausting - and that's how travel in Mexico became for me in human country. In Mexico, if you're hiking down a trail or gravel road and you look up and see a few men walking your way it triggers the same flight or fight instinct one feels while standing in a fly stream in British Columbia and looking up and spotting a female grizzly with two cubs twenty yards away on the shore. Nowdays, traveling around Mexico on a dirt bike is a death wish and the grizzlys are more predictable than the humans.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Stay the Hell out of Mexico. also checkout these sites
ReplyDeletehttp://missingamericans.ning.com/
http://www.mexicovacationawareness.com/
I feel very sad for the family and friend's of Harry. I, too, feel despair for all my friends and the good people of Mexico.
ReplyDeleteMexican mothers go through this and worse every single day as chivis well knows..Its a shame there isn't this interest in Mexican kids and young girls who go missing
ReplyDelete^^^^
Delete@8:24 a.m there is this kind of interest among some of us in the u.s.we do all that is humanly possible to get the word out here on social media and everyone we know.some of our funds are limited but we do what we can.we cant help what the gvt does but if we can vote the ones out that arent willing to help! Ppl finally made enough noise about nazi germany until the world finally listened!!!
DeleteThank-you, Chivis; your heartfelt story moved me this morning. God bless you!
ReplyDeleteI was hoping he would be found although I knew that chances were slim...
ReplyDeleteMakes me extremely sad to read this, my heart aches for his mother.
Curious killed the cat, I knew a guy that was curious about going to oakland california for a raider game he never came back got shot after the game
ReplyDeleteYou are comparing a raider game to traveling through the entire length of Mexico from north to south on a bicycle. You are a dumbass.
Delete8:42 at the same time, same day as Harry disappeared another American named James Stacy disappeared in Tamps. You don't hear about him or the stories of thousands of people "missing" in Mexico.
ReplyDeleteThis story was heard loud and wide because of Harry's mother. She went to Mexico, was there for almost two months, stomped the streets, chased down leads, contacted every agency in Mexico, and US in Mexico and spoke to any press that would listen and write a story. So as many people as possible would know Harrry.
It is my firm belief because of those actions, a wide audience was formed including the soldiers who found his remains and the green bike so widely publicized. It was because of Ann the connection was made. Otherwise Harry's remains would have been treated in the same way as countless of bodies found in Narco fosas. No ID, just reburial.
there was no good reason to kill him....fucking savages down there. I know there are good people in Mexico, yet it gets harder and harder to not wish the whole country/cesspool gets turned to glass (nuked)
ReplyDeleteAll you need to do is nuke the bad people,AND the locals ALL know who they are.throughout mexico
DeleteWhy kill the guy? Was he uncooperative? Doubtful. Did he pose a threat? Doubtful. Some cold-blooded people there man. Sad state of affairs.
ReplyDeletechivis you will get shitty comments from people saying he should have known better, or is he more important and so forth. don't even post them. you of all people have been ultra compassionate of the dead in Mexico. One doesn't negate the other, this story is about a mothers love and I believe that love and diligence is why she has remains to take back to NY for a proper burial. Great job as always Chivis, how you have so many direct sources is a mystery, but we all benefit.
ReplyDeletecondolences to the Devert family
His bike was there also?..I thought they had seen a man driving it..so it means that when the sighting occurred, maybe he was still alive somewhere, with respect to the family.
ReplyDeleteReally sad to hear such a terrible end for Harry, this adventurous young man that just wanted to experience life by visiting places and meeting people, my prayers are with his family and friends
ReplyDeleteAdvice to anyone traveling is to play it safe and do not push it.
July 11 4:31
ReplyDeleteThe border patrol kills people at the border without any reason I think those "officers" are worse than narcos and animals together and I don't remember have read any comment against them when they kill innocent people for "throwing stones"???
A thrown stone can kill
DeleteThrowing stones could be dangerous especially if the person it hits has a more deadly weapon! Who's right or wrong doesn't matter when the stone throwers family finds out their son is dead! I would just say don't give the B.P. any reasons to shoot, even if their wrong!
DeleteThen they can throw stones back instead of bullets right????
DeleteI guess someone never heard that sticks and stones can break my bones... Lol
DeleteI competely agree with you! The Border Patrol officers are much worse! In the San Ysidro Border a few years ago a border patrol agent shot and killed two kids that were on the Mexican side for throwing a rock at the officer. The kids were about 9. The rock didn't hit the Border Patrol agent, & the BP casually shot back. If some white kids had thrown a rock at a lets say Police Officer and the Police officer shot back believe me YOU WOULD VIEW THAT AS UNJUST AND EXCESSIVE. Now imagine shooting at kids from one side of the border to the other and killing them. On top of that you're a BP agent you should be an example and an adult who understands little boys often make mistakes. Unfortunately it was a brown boy who tossed the rock so he deserved to get shot. As for a biker going down through the state of Michoacan during a time of war, it really isn't a smart move. I'm sure the people of Michoacan love tourist but in a time of conflict theres so much confusion mistrust and violence in the region. I wouldn't travel through Iraq or syria during right now. No one has any business in Michoacan right now unless you have family there ( that know the region and the current conflict ) or you're in Michoacan to fight on whichever side you support.
DeleteA Mexican American, Armando Torres, went missing in Tamaulipas in May 13. He father owned a ranch on a key narco route in La Barranca and the tenants, the cartel, stopped paying. He evicted them and then months later when his son, who had not seen in years, came to visit, he, his son and an uncle were all three taken. Any updates on that case? The FBI was investigating. I heard they had interviewed and released 3 people. Reportedly one of the ones interviewed left the interview and went home and shot himself. Can you confirm?
ReplyDeleteShot himself? Hmm....
Delete@11:58AM
ReplyDeleteI posted 2 posts on the Torres case. here is the last http://www.borderlandbeat.com/2013/07/new-focus-on-marine-kidnapped-in-tamps.html
What I heard, and mind you this is only from people on the grounds, but multiple persons say they were killed in a land dispute, and the bodies were dismembered and thrown in one of the thousands of wells that dot the landscape. they were not involved with organized crime
@11"14
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU!!!
sadly, one can't stop the self righteous from stating the obvious. They can't help themselves.
But I know Ann reads BB and will read this story, I will be damned if I allow anyone to cause her more pain.
So far only 3 comments such as that have come in.
RIP fellow ADVrider. Our (my wife and I) condolences to his family and friends.
ReplyDeletePeople....Harry was not wealthy, he worked, saved money and traveled with the money he earned. The family is middle America, mom is a teacher. If he was wealthy he sure as hell would not being riding a second hand motor bike. He stayed with friends along the way and utilized inexpensive boarding otherwise.
ReplyDeleteRight, this is NOT the day of reproach, it is the day of compassion and condolences. This mother will suffer for the remainder of her days.
ReplyDeleteI send my heartfelt sympathy to Ann and the family
Chivis, there is a facebook group called https://www.facebook.com/groups/167187996679894/ that is full of ignorant people who are make comments of the type you (and I) abhor about Harry or anyone else who is a victim of violence. For whatever reasons, this bola de pendejos loves to put down posters who try to inform folks of the dangers that might be encountered while traveling in Mexico. It would help if more people joined that group and flooded them with the truth. Folks there think these things are made up by the US press just to scare people away from Mexico.
ReplyDelete"innocent people for "throwing stones" Stones can hurt / blind and cause death . Nothing innocent about throwing stones.
ReplyDeleteNo doubt a horrible end for this guy. Mexico has turned into an incredible sewer, inhabited by animals. Poor Harry picked the wrong place for an adventure.
ReplyDeleteThere's been groups on websites of "ADV Riders " that have financial gain in mexico and do not warn people of the dangers or the missing & practically rolling out the red carpet by bragging how safe mexico is. Failure to at minimum to post your country's Travel advisories is negligent. I wonder if Harry was convinced by these ADV people that Mexico was safe ?
ReplyDeleteThanks July 11, 2014 at 8:24 AM Mexican mothers go through this and worse every single day as chivis well knows..Its a shame there isn't this interest in Mexican kids and young girls who go missing
Carl Wiegand
ReplyDeletehttp://www.valleycentral.com/news/story.aspx?id=734000
Zane Plemmons
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/A-year-later-S-A-man-still-missing-4536557.php
Marc Menard
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/family-of-quebec-man-missing-in-mexico-still-hope-for-his-return-1.2497257
David Hartley
http://www.bringdavidhome.com/
Pass BB along to your friends and family Peace & Thank you Chivis
Terrible news. My heart goes out to his mom as well as to all of those who knew and loved Harry, and also to the many who had only enjoyed his presence briefly.
ReplyDeleteGREAT JOB MEXICO!
ReplyDeleteANOTHER SHINING EXAMPLE OF DECENCY AND HUMANITY!
this also makes me sad. On my longest trip around I did 7000 miles driving through Mexico and Guatemala, tourist spots and super remote sketchy places all the same. I was even stabbed on a beach in Tapachula (Puerto Chiapas) and I still kept coming back.
ReplyDeleteI think that my love affair with Mexico is slowly ending, one news story at a time.
He had no reason to be killed and it was probably for sport.
Mexico has always been a place of grand freedom to me. The culture is much older than here in the US and is more full of traditions, especially ones of the family. I have never experienced the warmth and friendliness of people until I was traveling around Mexico without a destination in mind and a tent in the back of my suv. Invited to strangers weddings, beers bought for us, places to camp and people always looking out for us.
I think it is becoming time that I write Mexico off my list of places I want to retire and live out my days.
I'm sorry that you feel that way, but I am also ashamed of this new generation that is poisoning the Mexican culture! God willing we pray that this beautiful land goes back to what it once was before the last ten years! The Virgin Mary appeared to Juan Diego over 500 years ago and now these fake evil Narco Saints are slowly starting to creep in and bring in Devil worshipping Satanists
DeleteSo sad seeing his instagram account. Seeing his pics and his plans and his life taken just like that.
ReplyDeleteRIP Harry.
what if the templars or viagras got a hold of him, but were extremely paranoid of CIA, DEA infiltration and happened to see this American guy casually riding through what is currently a WAR ZONE and decided to inquire why he was in the area. They might have not believed his story...It's absurd to believe that somewhere in Michoacan there isn't at least one CIA or DEA agent lurking, spying especially since the Templars deal directly with China. They might not call shots for the cartel, because some cartel members are too crazy and non loyal especially to gringo, but I believe they know as we know that they must somewhere within all the commotion informing America on it's neighbors current events.
ReplyDeleteMarc Ménard ?
ReplyDeleteIs this what's going to change Mexico, a white boy getting dismembered? My heart goes out to his family but there has been more than 100,000 victims of cartel violence in Mexico without nobody caring or doing anything about it! !! Free dr. Mireles! !!
ReplyDelete@5:51 p.m this wont change mexico but god will one day!! I dont care what color u are or where youre from no one deserves to be murdered like this!!! Mexico needs a revolution and ppl on drugs need to get the hell off that shit!!! My sympathies to her and her family!!!
Deletechivas why do you think he was killed so violently?
ReplyDeleteOne of my friends rode solo through Mexico on a motorcycle when his two companions backed out. His trip was cut short by an auto accident. He had the doctors stabilize his wounds just enough to fly home for stitches. I respect Harry for being a man of convictiion. It is rare to find a person in this day and age who can set a path and persue it.
ReplyDeleteSuch incredibly sad news... Condolences from the bottom of my heart to Harry's family and friends...
ReplyDeleteMore people go missing in the usa than mexico try to watch the cable channel first 24, criminal I'd, and about 20 diffrent channels all about missing people I go to mexico every month never heard of missing people and my family in mexico is all there, here in the usa I have 5 murdered friends and one murdered brother I don't find usa any safer
ReplyDelete1:24 there is even less innocence there when the rock throwers have been paid to provoke fatal incidents, which prove that the government can't take care of business, and that the job rightfully belongs to the private security contractors aching for control of the border, with all the inherent opportunities for other "businesses", i bet they are causing this perfect storm to privatize some more billons of dollars from the US government as usual...
ReplyDeleteMy heart hurts. Harry was my friend and I worked with him. He was such a kind, generous, fun, loving person and he will be greatly missed.
ReplyDeleteChivis : I think few here would care whether Harry was rich or not ,or which his background was .The important thing here was his essence ,the great human being he was. The way he gave himself to others ,the way he shared , the way in which he enjoyed life . And as you mentioned in a post here ,I also sensd his chances of being alive were slim ( there were public posts from various criminal gangs on facebook talking about his death )That was apart from the banners But the other aspect to remark here is Ann,s strength , courage ,devotion and faith The way in which she involved others in this journey is another lesson of love ,friendship and solidarity. Life will never be the same for her mother , but she can be sure thather life and her maternal love will outlive her May God bless Ann and Harry
ReplyDeleteIs he the guy that was on the phone with a friend as he came upon a police checkpoint?
ReplyDeleteSad ending. RIP
My heart goes out to the friends and family of Harry; especially his mother. Those of us who follow this site knows what befalls victims that end up in the hands of the bad guys. Yet, I tried to remain hopeful that he would be found alive. Now during these hard and trying times for Harry's mother, I ask that you all lift her up in your prayers. Ask God to comfort her and those who loved Harry so deeply. I hope and pray that the person who called in the tip which lead to the discovery, also share the information of those responsible for this.
ReplyDeleteTruly terrible. RIP Harry Devert.
ReplyDeleteWe will miss you Harry, everything about you was amazing. Pelham will never forget a person and great friend like you. .Many memories together, You will never to be forgotten.
ReplyDeleteR.I.P. Harry may your dream live on,death to those bastards that did this to you most likely the wachos...
ReplyDeleteA terrible tragedy. Rest in peace, Harry Devert.
ReplyDeleteMay god bless your son ann... His beautiful spirit is now free to travel anywhere. Love and peace and hope to everyone in a bad situation.... God bless.
ReplyDeleteTo Friends of Harry posting comments, I am truly sorry
ReplyDeleteTo the Q about the phone, The kidnapped person on the phone was James Stacy, he was in Tamps and kidnapped on Jan 25th the same day as Harry. His kidnappers drained his bank account, and actually spoke to the GF. Another sad case.
and with respect to the Q of why IMO was Harry brutally killed in this manner. I have thought of this all day, I strongly feel the kidnappers were under the impression Harry was DEA. If you think back to Jan and Michoacan, it fits. And even though he was found in Gro, I am not so sure that is really where he was kidnapped. The remains and motorbike was taken from another burial spot and left in Lagunillas. Which is not all that far from Mich.
I believe that Ann became an "inconvenient" person, with her billboards, posters, ground stomping, interviews, and her inclusion of agencies. They wanted the focus to go away. So they move the remains and bike, called in the anonymous tip, did not try to claim the reward, just wanted the story of Harry and Ann to go away.
To the reader who did not want his comment posted. I have thought of that. the what if. I think a separate DNA testing should be done. To be sure. In Mexico things are not always as they seem and for sure not as expected.
ReplyDeleteWhy was there no ransom demand? Is the motorcycle not worth turning around for a profit?
ReplyDelete-Mike Haggar
Cause he wasn't kidnapped.They thought he was,and were hopeful he was cause they hadn't found his body.But most likely he was killed right away,and buried.
DeleteAs a fellow motorcycle rider and American who lives in Mexico, I have followed this story and feared the worst had happened to Harry.
ReplyDeleteThere are evil people spread among all of the good people throughout in the world. For evil to triumph, it only takes good people to do nothing. Sadly in Mexico that is exactly what is happening. We are seeing some people, including the auto-defense groups, who want to put a stop to the rampant violence but it is only a small portion of the populace. Most are just too scared to say or do anything. It is truly a sad condition for such a beautiful country full of wonderful people.
Thanks to Chivis for having the courage to risk her safety to be sure that the truth is reported so that the country and world can know what is actually happening here in Mexico.
We can only hope that Harry did not suffer before his passing and that Ann can find some peace by his finding. My heart goes out to Ann and all of Harry's friends. May he rest in peace.
I did not have the pleasure of knowing Harry but by what his friends say, he was a free spirit and compassionate person. It is beyond comprehension how animalistic humans can be. I pray his mother somehow finds peace and only remembers the love he spread with so any people, regardless of their background. I also hope karma intervenes and pay it back tenfold to the scum that did this. Rotting in hell is to kind for these animals. ..
ReplyDeleteChivis: I moved out to Mexico, about a two years ago. To michoacan and I actually met Harry while he passed through michoacan. I live at the border between Jalisco and michoacan so I'm not too deep in michoacan to personally experience the hell that is going on over there. It's a lot more calm here, of course you hear of things here and there but thank god life is still a bit calm here. We we're at a baseball game in a small ranch in the municipity of La Barca,Jalisco, when to guys on bikes came through. They stopped to rest and were watching the baseball game. A lot of curious little kids approached them (my two nephews were some of them) and came back saying they were Americans and spoke little spanish. Some of the people around urged me to go ask them if they were lost or needed help, since it's odd to see Americans just strolling through a place like this. I mean it's no tourist attraction or anything you know? So I went over there and they were taking a few pictures with the kids and I asked them where they were from and where they were headed to? They both were real nice and they chatted a bit about how they were planning to ride through Mexico towards other parts of South America. I then asked if they were planning on passing through Michoacan because at that time and to this day it's one of the most dangerous places to travel through. He said yes, and I warned them about what was going on there with the cartels and community police. He said they would only pass through a part of michoacan for a short time and would head towards Guanajuato after that. I told him that it would be safest to take as little time as possible in michoacan and he pulled out his map and showed me the route they were planning to take, he said they would just brefly pass through and thanked me for giving him a heads up. They were there for a while and said they were planning on spending the night here and heading out early in the morning. They asked me if it was okay to stay on the baseball field, and I said no, just because at night you don't know who could surprise you in your sleep and especially in a dark field with no one around. Some of the people there offered to have them spend the night at their homes. At the end they decided to take the offer and stay at someone's house. Everyone was glad they accepted since we all know from living here that some people are evil enough to try and rob them or maybe hurt them if they they would have stayed out Ina field in the middle of no where. This story makes me so sad because I experience how nice both of those guys were and how humble and just truly good people they were. It makes me sick to know people are capable of such brutal horror and ashamed of our government that does nothing. That there is no justice no peace for the people or anyone who steps in this place. I guess the only justice we count on is Gods Justice, where no one can escape. I believe the murderers of Harry will pay for what they did maybe not here on earth but they will burn in hell for it. My heart goes out to Harry's family and friends. Rest in peace Harry.
ReplyDeleteI am deeply saddened by the news of Harry's (possible) demise. I have been following this story since the beginning of this year while doing research on doing my own motorcycle Latin America trip. I would like to express my deepest condolences to the Devert family and especially to his amazing mom Ann.
ReplyDelete@9:54
ReplyDeleteI am not sure it was Harry you met up with. I don't know if he was with anyone else, or through La Barca, Although La Barca would be off the hwy to Morelia and the BB at the Monarch reserve.
Did anyone in La Barca take photos?
The Daily News is reporting drugs found at the scene of the remains.
ReplyDeleteAnn told me yesterday this was what she was told.
I did nt pay attention to the drugs, people that know Harry would not either. Since when do narcos leave behind drugs? and transplant them from one place to the other with an exhumed body?
Don't feed into the ruse by narcos attempting to portray Harry as something less than honorable, as if doing so means he was no innocent.
I went to High school with him, he was a very nice guy, such an awful end to this story. RIP Harry.
ReplyDeleteThe Drugs are just a ploy for whomever killed him. Some half brained Mexican thought process, that seems to be credible in that country even in courts.
ReplyDeleteImagine if Israel was Mexico's neighbor and Harry was Israeli. There would be an all out assault. I think that's what Mexico needs.
ReplyDelete8:17
ReplyDeleteyou must not know organized crime in Mexico especially Michoacan.
First of all, the first narco president was in the 1930s, Drugs including alcohol have always been trafficked and without much violence. Especially to innocents. In 2002 the dynamic changed dramatically. if you follow the autodefensas news you will see they refer to 12 years of hell and no one came to help. extorition is a huge part of the cartel business, kidnapping also and piso was implemented in the early 2000s as a new way towards huge revenues.
gas thefts, knock off goods, sex trade, human trafficking etc. for some cartels it is 50% of the business, I suspect for CT it is even higher.
If you carefully notice citizens groups, including self defense do not speak of clearing the states or nation of drug trafficking. that is a goal that can never be attained. anywhere. but it is the crimes against innocents, and the corruption and its affect on social structure, rule of law and justice system, that citizens are fighting.
I remember an argument between two friends of mine recently. One said "if it wasn't for the US drug users, Mexico wouldn't have the problems they do.
to which my second friend said "if it wasn't for the total disregard for US citizens, while Mexico looks the other way allowing narcos traffic drugs through the plazas, into the US we wouldn't have so many drug users"
Say what you will about either of those two arguments, neither gets you anywhere. The real argument is that el PRI needs to stay in power long enough to restore the natural order of corruption that has plagued Mexico since the 30's but with no violence to the innocent and uninvolved; dope and contraband were sold for decades under el pri's control without harm to anyone, except those involved and few mistaken disputes. And then some idiot had to go and fucking stir up the hornets nest, trying to be a fucking hero and made the situation the total shit storm it is today, nationwide... Mexico is forever fucked with the cancer that is corruption, at least let it be a peaceful corruption, the way it was before with dope and contraband being sold but peacefully, along with when white boys could roam the entire country without ending up like this poor fella, and the native citizenry could enjoy their beautiful country without fear of personal safety. Not to sound defeatist but that's the only argument that should be made concerning my Mexico and it's current state of affairs.
Deleteann did her job, she found her son, but i am sure she would like to prevent other women's children from meeting the same end her son did.
ReplyDelete--regarding who is to blame, not all americans are addicted or benefit from drug trafficking, just like not all mexicans are drug addicted traffickers or murderous narco-sicarios.
--if you pay attention, you can see who gets all the money all the time, rich multibillionaire american and european entrepreneurs, with chinese connections, and all kinds of corrupt corporations, always privatizing another chunk of a billion dollars' worth of contracts from the US government, obama is demanding 4 billion dollars to work on the problem of the minor foreigners immigrating into the US, about 50 000, which will bring about $80 000.00 per child to the pockets of the businesses, (because it's all gotta be business) handing the privatization of the above mentioned money, thereby making money ontop of money, because the border patrol and US vigilantes are too busy chasing children into and inside the shelters to chase drug traffickers, who may be armed and shoot back...
--before this latest attempt at swindling and bamboozling the american public, they were gotten with the mayan jaguar operation, american planes connected to the CIA were caught or crash landed on the yucatn peninsula, with tons of cocaine, which was promptly expropriated by genaro barcia luna and who got on top of it a billion dollars and a half to shut the fuck up, "for mexico", "to help mexico", "to fight drug trafficking", and other mamadas like that, money that ended up in the pockets of genaro garcia luna and his friends and other american middlemen, money some BB commenters still cry about and talking about the ungrateful mexicans...
--the main thing to take care about is the economic incentive too many people have to cause problems for the US that only they can solve, previous approvall of the necessary "funds", saying "gimme all the money, or i"ll be back"...
--my apologies to the bleeding heart apostles of private enterprise, i am all for private enterprise, but i am all against corporate welfare, do not join the protest bus of corporate welfare parasites, who take 90% more money than the clients of the US welfare system out of the loans the US government takes from china to capitalize their way of life...
--maaan, i feel like i own the US corporate welfare capitalistas just by talking about them thanks BB!!! i hope you can post this...
“Peace is not the product of terror or fear.
ReplyDeletePeace is not the silence of cemeteries.
Peace is not the silent result of violent repression.
Peace is the generous,
tranquil contribution of all
to the good of all.
Peace is dynamism.
Peace is generosity.
It is right and it is duty.
”
― Oscar A. Romero
the world is a dangerous place and especially big government--I found that if one needs help in Mexico ask the Canadian embassy---the Americans are worthless---!!!!
ReplyDeleteA lot of folks have just disappeared in Mexico because of the high paranoia of the narcos -- it they don´t know you, and you show up unexpectedly in their terrtiory, you are a goner. Harry was found in an área only a stone´s throw from La Unión, a mafia rats nest I once read was La Tuta´s home town.
ReplyDeleteThe link to the aca news link did not get everything right, but seems to be a typical scenario on both sides the border but especially Mex.
ReplyDeleteI haven't wanted to write about Ann until I know she is further along in the process of Identification.
She is in Mexico. the remains were sent to DF. at least that was the plan this AM. they "were ready" also the bike was going.
I have much to say, but I want Ann to be safe and done with her work.
I continue to be amazed at her drive. As a parent we think we would be and do likewise, but I have heard from more families than I care to remember when love ones have disappeared. None have gone to the lengths that Ann has, and continues to do. All children should be blessed with an extraordinary mother like Ann.
Yes, it is her wish to see the remains.
Chivis, what happened?!
ReplyDelete7:57
ReplyDeleteBe patient, I need to wait to write about it....It will self explain later....
Paz
chivís
I'm patiently waiting for you to write further on this. I always look forward to reading you informative blogs. Keep up the good work.
DeleteMy condolences to Ann and the entire family. My condolences to all who have lost innocent loved ones to this senseless violence. I can not blame Harry for wanting to ride through Mexico, it calls to me also. I am so sad for the Mexican people that this is happening to their beautiful country.
ReplyDeleteSo so sorry for Anne, this is not what she was hoping for in the end. I am sure she had kept an open-mind about the worst thing that could have happened to him, yet hoping always for the very best...that's what moms do.Some of the messages posted on the links, people can be so cruel and mean.Harry, for whatever his reasoning was...was determined to make this trip, like so many others before.That was his right, that was his passion! We don't always understand why some people do the things they do..that's just life in a nutshell.Harry seemed to have loved traveling and meeting others of different cultures, it took real balls to do what he done.Instead of being welcomed to an unfamiliar place, he was killed and buried along with his bike! being a stranger in a strange land, doesn't mean you're there to cause trouble or harm to the peoples.I am quit sure, he would have welcomed those same people who killed him, had they visited his town in USA.For those who say he had no damn business in Mexico, i say to them...that was his choice, his call.we all make bad choices in life, sometimes we can't always go back and "fix' them.His decision to travel, see things only a traveler could see, is a dream of many, but accomplished by very few.I am glad that fear didn't hold him back from his dream of traveling.it does show, however the very importance of using good judgment.there are many many places in the good ol USA that i would never go to.I do wish Harry had maybe chosen another path.Sometimes we get a little over confident,laid back with our reasoning and assume nothing bad will happen, but that wasn't the case here.Harry needing an 'escort' to the town he was headed shows the significance of the crisis where he was.Now, we can only hope that his life will be a learning experience for those who love to travel as he did. Making tracks through Mexico sounds wonderful, the people, places and the food of course...we cannot forget the violence.Maybe Harrys eyes were full of such wonderful things, he couldn't see the ugly for the beauty.RIP ... and hoping those who done this are found very soon!
ReplyDeleteThis message is to Ann Harry's mother may God bless you and continue to give you strength you might ask why was your only son taken from you I might ask that seeing that I too am an only child I'm in my 40's with my mother in my life as well. My father passed my grand parents passed my mother is the only immediate member left I don't mean to bring you more grief I just know that my mom would do the same for me as well as I would do for her to great lengths not caring about our own safety just remember Harry loved to travel and traveled thru different cultures who would have ever thought the worst would occur. In life we have so many questions as to why things occur and we will not always have the answers . I personally will continue to pray for you Ann and all the parents in Mexico and around the world that have gone thru or continue to go thru these tragedies and not finding their loved ones who go missing for years and not found. Bring Harry home and once again may God bless you and may peace with you and your family.
ReplyDeleteChivis , I'm kind of confused .Though the Mexican press gave the official announcment referring to the identification of Harry,s remains through DNA studies , in his page there are some persons saying the studies are not done and that it will take minimum 2 weeks to get the results. Even though ,I understand that the all the possibilities of finding him alive , were few , I don,t understand the difference between the given information . I shouldn't be surprised because this is Mexico , but I am.
ReplyDeleteThe remains were sent to DF as well as the case for testing that PGR said would take one month. Don't believe Mexico BS press.
ReplyDeleteThe remains only arrived 2 days ago.
But US is also testing and they said it would take only 1 week so it should be soon.
There is much to write about, but I have elected not to until Ann is out of Mexico. It should not be long.
Keep her in your thoughts, this is a horrible time for her as one can imagine. and I will only say the authorities are rotten to the core, and heartless.
Paz
C
The Authorities are able to say its him without knowing the DNA results because the KNOW its him....
ReplyDeleteI spent lots of time in the 1990’s travelling the rural roads of northern Mexico on a motorcycle with friends from Monterrey. The key to returning safely from out of the way places was then and still is to establish contacts in advance with like minded locals. Go where they go. Do what they do. Stay where they stay. However, many of the American adventure travelers I encountered in Mexico were loners who seemed to prize spontaneity and personal autonomy above all else. Most of my Mexican friends who travel to remote places take a contrary approach for reasons clearly illustrated by Mr Dement’s unfortunate experience.
ReplyDeleteMexico is a weird and wonderful place, alternately savage and sublime which is probably why it has always attracted risk takers and adventure seekers bored by more pedestrian climes. There is a feeling among intrepid travelers that anything can happen in Mexico and not surprisingly “anything” does happen to a few of them.
The Sierra Madre Occidental has been a refuge for revolutionaries and reprobates for time out of mind. More or less unmolested travel in rural Guerrero and Michoacan in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s was an interlude enforced by the national government in support of tourist development along the coast and not the normal state of things. The pendulum has swung back toward governmental fragmentation and rule by local strongmen. Safe travel in these areas is again at the sufferance of local bosses be they narcotraficantes or anti-narcotraficante vigilantes or local paramilitary police.
Harry Devert and others before him are likely to have been betrayed by the very characteristics the American public admire most in adventure travelers and extreme athletes; individualism, self reliance, single mindedness and the ability to communicate an inspiring story. Travelling alone and driven by an unjustified confidence in their ability to master any situation and win over any doubter they occasionally ride straight into the maw of a routine, almost indifferent malevolence. Whether Mr Devert’s killers work for a narcotraficante, a vigilante group, a local police commander or a small time crime boss the calculation is the same: better to routinely dispose of a mysterious trespasser whose reasons for appearing on our turf are unclear than to later explain to our boss why we let an interloper pass through thereby putting ourselves and our own families at risk. Mr Devert’s demise may be as simply and sadly explained as that.
July 20, 6:17 AM. I couldn't agree more with your point of view. Chivis ,please keep us informed on the topic as soon as you can , because Mexican press is misleading. I admire your courage , your inquisitive mind and your solidarity.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. I'm patiently waiting for Chivas to cover this. We also have to keep in mind that he or she has formed a friendship with Harry's mother. I believe Chivis will have to find a balance when writing on this when that time comes.
DeleteThis is tragic on many levels. Harry was (apparently) a victim, and what (apparently) happened to him is despicable and unjustifiable. There is, however, another victim in this - Ann and Harry's close family. How so? NOONE - not a citizen or the criminals or the government or the law enforcement agencies - has been forthright. That is a second sin, a second crime. I propose to all Americans - do not go to Mexico. Doing so funds the tourism trade and the cartels and the corruption that exists. Vacation and enjoy God's beauty elsewhere. To Chivis: keep reporting, please!
ReplyDeleteHi Chivis, do you have anything else to report about Harry's case? I've read everyone's comment here and am just not at peace and I want to hear everything about it. It's have been thinking about Harry and Ann everyday. I know you mentioned that you want to wait for Ann to get back to the States first before you write anymore, just wondering when that will be? Will be patiently waiting.
ReplyDeleteRIP Harry. God gives his hardest battles to his strongest soldiers.
14 reveals which states offer anonymous HIV testing.
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