Tourist Vanished in Congaree Park — 10 Years Later, Found Under Oak With Map Nailed to Forehead

Spring, 2013. South Carolina.
After weeks of torrential rain, the swollen rivers of Congaree National Park finally receded. The forest floor was transformed—roots exposed, mud washed away, secrets unearthed. On a forgotten trail, two tourists from North Carolina stumbled upon something chilling: human bones tangled beneath the roots of an ancient oak. When police arrived, they found a skull with a rusty nail driven straight into the forehead. Pinned to the nail was a sodden, yellowed piece of paper—a map.

The bones had lain hidden for nearly a decade. Dental records soon revealed the victim’s identity: Roy Denver, 35 years old, missing since August 2003. He had vanished in this very park while searching for Civil War treasure.

The Ordinary Man With an Extraordinary Obsession

Roy Denver was a quiet office clerk in Columbia. His life was unremarkable—average salary, solitary apartment, few friends. His parents were gone; his only family was his sister, Jessica. But Roy harbored a secret passion: hunting for historical treasures.
It began five years before he disappeared, when he joined an online forum dedicated to Civil War legends. Stories of lost Confederate gold buried in Southern forests obsessed him. He poured over archives, maps, and old newspapers, spending weekends with his metal detector in fields and woods. He never found anything, but he never gave up.

In early 2003, Roy met Vic Lanes—a charismatic, older used car salesman from a nearby town. They connected on the treasure forum and began hunting together. Vic was the storyteller; Roy was the believer.

The Map That Changed Everything

That summer, Roy was electrified. At dinner with Jessica, he claimed to have bought a wartime map from an online collector for $300. It supposedly showed where Confederate soldiers hid gold bars during their retreat from Charleston in 1865. Jessica was skeptical, warning it was likely a fake. Roy was offended.

Vic saw the map in late July. It looked authentic—old roads, hand-drawn terrain, a cross marking a swampy forest south of Columbia. Vic compared it to modern maps: the location matched the wild, rarely visited western section of Congaree National Park.

But Roy made a crucial mistake. He bragged about the map on the forum. Soon, strangers messaged him, including one from Georgia named Ronald Becker. Roy sent him a photo of the map. Ronald wasn’t alone—two other men, Daryl Kaine and Marcus Hol, also contacted Roy. They formed a group, offering Roy $2,000 for expedition costs in exchange for 70% of any treasure found. Roy, deep in debt, agreed.

The Last Expedition

On August 19, 2003, Roy and Vic met at the park entrance. It was a sweltering weekday—chosen to avoid crowds. They registered their route with the ranger, packed heavy with gear, and trekked deep into the humid, mosquito-infested woods. By afternoon, they reached the spot marked on the map—a trio of ancient oaks by a muddy stream.

They circled the trees with a metal detector. The device beeped, but every dig revealed only trash: tin cans, nails, wire. By sunset, exhausted and disappointed, they returned to their cars. Roy told Jessica on the phone that night he’d try again tomorrow.

August 20th: Roy and Vic returned, searching deeper near the stream. Hours passed, mosquitoes swarmed, tempers flared. Finally, the detector signaled. They dug up an old flask—inside, only cheap tin, not gold. Vic cursed, furious at the wasted effort. Roy insisted the real treasure was still out there. They argued, then trudged back to the parking lot in silence.

Vic drove home. Roy stayed behind, sitting alone in his car.

The Vanishing

Roy didn’t come home that night. Jessica’s calls went unanswered. By August 21st, she called Vic, who claimed Roy had left the parking lot alone. Jessica reported Roy missing. Rangers found his car—locked, keys gone, belongings untouched. They traced Roy’s last registered trail to the oak trees. There, they found the flask, tin pieces, and fresh digging—but no Roy.

A massive search followed. Dogs, volunteers, rangers combed the swampy woods for days. Nothing. Roy’s metal detector, backpack, and phone were gone. The trail went cold.

Police focused on Vic—the last to see Roy alive. He claimed they’d argued and parted ways. He mentioned Roy’s deal with the men from Georgia. Investigators tracked down Ronald Becker, who denied involvement and provided a solid alibi. The other two men, Daryl and Marcus, were later killed in a 2009 gang shooting in Georgia. No one connected their deaths to Roy’s case.

Years passed. Jessica kept Roy’s belongings, hoping for answers. Vic moved to Florida, changed his name to Victor Lane, and faded from view. Roy Denver became just another missing person.

The Flood Reveals the Truth

Spring 2013: Floodwaters in Congaree Park exposed the land’s hidden history. On May 6th, tourists discovered Roy’s skeleton under the roots of an ancient oak. The skull bore a nail and a map—his obsession, and his doom.

Forensics confirmed the grisly details:

The nail had been hammered into Roy’s forehead, killing him instantly.

The map was a fake, aged with tea and ink, a cruel mockery.
Nearby, fragments of his gear and backpack.

Police called Jessica. Her brother had been murdered—executed, the map nailed to his skull as a symbol of betrayal.

The Investigation Reopens

Detectives tracked Vic to Jacksonville, Florida. He was arrested and interrogated. Faced with the evidence, Vic broke down. He confessed that after the failed expedition, Roy was desperate—he’d spent most of Ronald’s money, and now owed dangerous men. On August 20th, Roy called Ronald, who demanded a meeting the next evening in the park. Roy insisted on going alone.

Vic never saw Roy again. Days later, Ronald called Vic, threatening him to stay silent. Vic, terrified, kept quiet and later fled the state. He admitted he’d always suspected Roy was killed, but had no proof.

Vic was charged with obstruction of justice. In exchange for a reduced sentence, he testified against Ronald.

The Trial and Aftermath

Ronald Becker was arrested in Savannah and extradited to South Carolina. He denied everything, but phone records showed Roy had called him the night before the murder. The next day, Ronald called Daryl Kaine—one of the men who met Roy.

The prosecution painted a clear picture: Roy, desperate and in debt, failed to find treasure. Ronald and his men punished him, killed him, and nailed the fake map to his skull—a brutal warning to anyone who might try to deceive them.

The jury convicted Ronald of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life without parole. Vic received five years for withholding evidence and was released on parole after three.

Jessica cremated Roy’s remains and scattered his ashes in the mountains he loved. She told reporters, “He believed in legends. He paid for it with his life.” The map that promised riches became his grave marker.

A Legend Turned Nightmare

Roy Denver’s story ended ten years after it began—his body hidden by forest, revealed by flood, betrayed by greed and naivety. The murderer was punished, but the men who drove the nail were already dead. The map became a symbol of deception, nailed to the place where hope turned to horror.

In the heart of Congaree Park, under the roots of an ancient oak, the forest finally gave up its secret.

What do you think? Would you chase a legend into the wild? Do you believe in treasure, or in the dangers that come with obsession? Share your thoughts below.