Climber Found Crucified on Cliff Face — 4 Years After Vanishing in Yosemite

In October 2018, two young climbers ascending the sheer wall of Indian Canyon in Yosemite noticed a strange silhouette on a narrow ledge, more than 400 meters above the ground. At first, they thought it was a mannequin, perhaps placed as an art installation. But as they got closer, their hearts stopped: it was the body of a man, crucified to the rock with metal rods and climbing carabiners. On the skeleton’s chest, a chilling message was scratched: “He lied to us all.” Two days later, DNA analysis confirmed the impossible: this was Thomas Roland, who had vanished four years earlier.

From Summit to Downfall

Thomas Roland was born in Denver, Colorado in the late 1970s and grew up exploring the Rocky Mountains with his father, a forest ranger. By age 20, Tom had conquered over 100 peaks, earned a professional guide certificate, and worked at Ascent Peak Adventures, guiding wealthy clients seeking adventure. He was known for his skills, his dedication, and his solo ascent of Denali in Alaska. He wrote for climbing magazines and dreamed of hosting his own adventure show.

But behind the success was a deep ambition. Tom always wanted to stand out, to be famous. In 2011, he met a group of investors in Los Angeles, including Mark Delano—a former marine turned businessman. Tom told them about a legendary Civil War treasure supposedly hidden in the Colorado mountains. Delano immediately invested $50,000 for Tom to investigate and organize expeditions.

The Fatal Lie

After three failed expeditions, the pressure mounted. Tom had spent nearly all the money but found nothing. In desperation, he bought antiques, aged them artificially, and presented them as “discoveries.” Delano’s expert quickly exposed the fraud—the items were not Civil War relics. Trust shattered, the investors demanded repayment or threatened to sue. Tom promised to return the money within six months but couldn’t raise enough, and his career was on the brink.

Tensions escalated. Delano repeatedly visited Denver, threatening Tom. Tom sold his apartment but still couldn’t pay off his debts. In September 2014, Tom announced he was going to Yosemite for a solo climb to “clear his head.” He chose Arrowhead Spur—a difficult, remote route. On September 19, Tom registered at the park entrance with his climbing gear.

Vanishing Without a Trace

By September 22, Tom didn’t appear at the checkpoint as planned. Rescuers found his backpack, unused rope, and no signs of a struggle. The search lasted a week but yielded nothing. Theories ranged from accident, suicide, animal attack, or an unreported departure. After three weeks, the case was listed as a “disappearance under unclear circumstances.”

Four years passed. Family, friends, and private investigators found no trace. Tom was memorialized, and Delano and the investors were questioned but had alibis.

The Mystery on the Cliff

In October 2018, two climbers discovered the skeleton crucified on Indian Canyon’s cliff face, arms and legs fixed with climbing gear. In the jacket pocket were Thomas Roland’s driver’s license and credit card. On the chest, the message: “He lied to us all.” Forensic analysis revealed the victim died from blood loss, dehydration, and shock after being restrained, veins cut, and fixed to the rock—a slow, agonizing death over 2 to 4 days.

Evidence showed the killer was skilled in climbing, used professional equipment, and spent hours on the ledge. A strand of hair found nearby did not match any criminal record.

Digging Up the Past

Detectives focused on Tom’s conflict with the investors, especially Mark Delano. Investigation revealed Delano was in California during Tom’s disappearance, staying at a motel near Yosemite under the name Mark D. DNA from the hair matched Delano’s sample.

Delano was arrested in December 2018. Police found climbing gear identical to that used in the murder and notebooks detailing financial disputes with Tom: “He thinks he can fool everyone” and “We’ll have to solve the problem another way.”

Initially, Delano denied everything, but confronted with overwhelming evidence, he confessed to tracking Tom in Yosemite, confronting him, breaking his ribs, and then tying him to the cliff as punishment. Delano carved the message on Tom’s chest so “everyone would know he was a liar.”

Justice on the Rock

The court concluded the murder was meticulously planned and cruel. In June 2019, Mark Delano was sentenced to life in prison without parole. Thomas Roland’s family finally laid his ashes to rest on the mountains of Colorado—where he had lived his best years.

Tom’s story became a warning about ambition, revenge, and the price of lies. The memorial plaque at Ascent Peak Adventures honors him as a lover of mountains, but also reminds us that the greatest tragedies sometimes come not from nature, but from human hearts.

Indian Canyon’s cliff is now not just a challenge for climbers, but a symbol of a dark mystery—a reminder of the thin line between glory and tragedy.