Kidnapped on the Pacific Crest Trail: Kira Moon’s tragic thru-hike and the arrest of James Parillo

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  • Опубликовано: 9 фев 2025
  • This is the tragic story of how would-be Pacific Crest Trail thru-hiker Kira Moon was allegedly kidnapped and abused while on the PCT, and how her alleged abuser, James Parillo, was finally caught.
    Learn more:
    Backpacker Magazine story: bit.ly/41NR1Gu
    The Trek story: thetrek.co/pac...
    Photo of James Parillo from the New Jersey Office of Attorney General.
    Photo of Kira Moon from her Instagram page.
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Комментарии • 31

  • @kathleenmarchington9096
    @kathleenmarchington9096 Месяц назад

    Hi Audrey, I’m Kira’s sister. My house was where she moved to in the aftermath and ultimately passed away in the fire. Thank you for keeping her story alive. Be safe.

    • @AudreyAdventures
      @AudreyAdventures  Месяц назад

      I hope I did her story justice. I was so moved and upset by it. I wish she could have had a happy ending. ❤

  • @Hikingforacure
    @Hikingforacure Год назад

    I am so ssd to hear of her passing. I hiked with them for a week and did not see any signes of this at that time. I knew he was a pos and full of crap and was obviously a con and liar!

    • @AudreyAdventures
      @AudreyAdventures  Год назад

      It sounds like he was pretty good at hiding it around other people. 😔

  • @richardross7219
    @richardross7219 Год назад +1

    I heard that he was suspected in the fire that killed Kira. In 2019 there were wanted posters for him on the CDT. NM police wanted to talk to him about some rapes. Good Luck, Rick

    • @AudreyAdventures
      @AudreyAdventures  Год назад +2

      I had not heard that he was suspected in the fire that killed her. That’s so awful. Yes apparently he has a long history of crimes/ abuse. I hope he’s locked away for life.

    • @richardross7219
      @richardross7219 Год назад +1

      ​@@AudreyAdventures Giving him life, gives him a chance to escape and repeat. Remember the three that escaped from a Tennessee Prison about 5 years ago. They were sentenced to life so, they figured that they had nothing to lose. As I recall, they killed 6 more people. I think that three of the dead were cops. If those three had been executed the 6 would not have been killed. Some people need to be treated like a rabid animal. What a miserable subject to start a weekend. Lets think about other things like the snow storm that we're having tonight and tomorrow. Did you see my poor camper on my IG? I probably won't get to use it this summer if ever again. BTW, if you ever are thinking about an RV, the motor homes have widespread problems and getting fixed is difficult. A truck camper has the reliability of a regular truck and the convenience of just leaving the camper. You could do well with just a minivan with some accessories. I hope that you have a good weekend. Good Luck, Rick

    • @janefreeman995
      @janefreeman995 Год назад +1

      I read somewhere that people close to her are convinced he started that fire.

  • @susietopspin
    @susietopspin Год назад

    Hey Audrey. Thanks for sharing this story. I had never heard this and am so sorry this poor lady had to loose her life. I know stories like this are rare on long trails but it is actually one of my concerns of backpacking in general. Coming across that one awful person on a trail. I know in the AT last year there were a few trail concerns, even here in NY there was a machete wielding crazy person at a shelter most of the summer. I know rare but so important to be smart and vigilant. Thanks for sharing and happy trails.🤘🏻🥾⛰️

    • @AudreyAdventures
      @AudreyAdventures  Год назад +1

      Stories like this are super rare, but I’m with you - if it’s happening, I want to know about it, to know what to look out for! I first heard about this back in 2019 when the Backpacker story came out and this guy was hanging around the PCT again. People were sharing it on social media trying to warn others. That’s one amazing thing about the trail community - word travels fast and people really try to look out for each other. Unfortunately, Kira slipped through the cracks and I thought her story was worth telling. I’m just glad they finally got the guy, even if it was after torturing another woman. ☹️ I heard about that guy with the machete in NY. Super scary after what happened on the AT in 2019! Luckily no one was hurt (that I know of).

    • @leowolf9258
      @leowolf9258 Год назад

      Hey Audrey
      Are you planning to do the AZT this year? The reason I ask Dixie is too.
      Thoughts y’all make a great team….
      Do you need any equipment or anything else?

    • @AudreyAdventures
      @AudreyAdventures  Год назад +1

      @@leowolf9258 I’m not planning the AZT this year - I’m planning for the Trans-Catalina Trail, JMT, and Patagonia. I’ll be excited to see what Dixie thinks of the AZT though! I think I just need to get a couple of new dry bags and I’m gonna have to finally cave and get a bear canister since they’re required in the Sierra. I’ve managed to get away with just an Ursack until now!

    • @leowolf9258
      @leowolf9258 Год назад

      @@AudreyAdventures
      What do you think about using a bear canister on the AT.

    • @AudreyAdventures
      @AudreyAdventures  Год назад +1

      @@leowolf9258 I think if you don’t mind carrying it, it’s not a bad idea because certainly there are bears on the AT and I’ve known people to get their food stolen. I hate carrying them though so I wouldn’t do it. If I did the AT again I would just bring an Ursack.

  • @kennethschaidle5995
    @kennethschaidle5995 Год назад +1

    So sad that it took that long to put such an evil person where he belongs. Especially after the Backpacker article! The forest you're hiking through looks more like eastern hardwoods than a Colorado forest. Hope you got back east for a visit.

    • @AudreyAdventures
      @AudreyAdventures  Год назад +1

      I agree - I’m surprised the publicity didn’t help get him behind bars sooner. Especially with that track record. But it’s good it finally happened. Good eye! Still can’t get back into my apartment so decided to visit the folks for a few days.

  • @ritamae2474
    @ritamae2474 Год назад

    Thank goodness she escaped and was able to get away from him. He was caught not far from me in the pine barrens

    • @AudreyAdventures
      @AudreyAdventures  11 месяцев назад

      Right!! How scary that there are people like that out in the world!

  • @janetbeckman7335
    @janetbeckman7335 Год назад

    Just reading your book Trail of the Lost...excellent read btw!! Scarey these types are out there!!

  • @aaronkidd9450
    @aaronkidd9450 Год назад

    That's a sad story. 😔

  • @HikingWithWhiskers
    @HikingWithWhiskers Год назад

    Wow!

  • @janetbeckman7335
    @janetbeckman7335 Год назад

    Also looks like your poor ankle is A-OK! Good 😊

    • @AudreyAdventures
      @AudreyAdventures  Год назад

      I think you are confusing me with Andrea Lankford! 😊 Kind of want to read her book though… worth it?

    • @janetbeckman7335
      @janetbeckman7335 Год назад

      @@AudreyAdventures oh...yes, it is a good read

  • @garylines5755
    @garylines5755 Год назад

    Sad but on disability and a thru hike makes no sense.At least they caught the guy he will not have an easy time in prison he will learn about karma.

    • @AudreyAdventures
      @AudreyAdventures  Год назад

      Yeah, I didn’t quite understand that part either. But perhaps she had turned a corner with her physical health and was doing better. Regardless, very sad/ tragic story.