A deadly mystery hunt for a millionaire's hidden treasure looks to have come to an abrupt end - after the millionaire in question died before revealing its whereabouts.
Art dealer and author Forest Fenn passed away aged 90 last week in his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The millionaire had become famous for the Fenn Treasure - a $2 million (£1.6m) booty that he was said to have hidden in the Rocky Mountains in 2009, causing an estimated 350,000 treasure hunters attempt to track it down with wild and varying consequences.
The wily Fenn had left clues as to the whereabouts of his stash in a 24-line poem and his autobiography The Thrill of the Chase - and the prospect of the reward inspired tens of thousands of people to try and capture it.
Advert
Unbelievable, five men died during the decade-long search, while others found themselves arrested for various offences, including digging beneath a roadside memorial, needing to be rescued after repelling 850 feet into the Grand Canyon, and even breaking into Fenn's own home in order to nab a Spanish-style treasure chest.
Fenn did claim in June that someone had in fact claimed the prize. Writing on his blog, he said: 'a guy who doesn't want his name mentioned from back East' had found it 'under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it'.
However, he didn't confirm the exact location.
He did later release pictures of a treasure chest, which he said had been found in Wyoming, but this hasn't convinced many of those interested in the hunt. Some say it hasn't been found still, while others think the treasure may never have existed.
Advert
Conspiracy theories abound, with some even questioning the validity of Fenn's recent passing. A Chicago attorney named Barbara Andersen has even previously attempted to sue the millionaire, having spent thousands on trying to track down the reward.
She now thinks information is being withheld, telling The New York Post: "I think this smells beyond belief."
Florida massage therapist Miriam de Fronzo, meanwhile, also believes the treasure may still be out there. Having spent four years travelling to New Mexico on four occasions, she said: "It's not resolved. Ninety percent of the treasure seekers don't believe that this mystery has been solved."
Many hope that more clues will be revealed even in his death, although none of the hunters are expected to be allowed to attend his memorial service. His family have requested 'extreme confidentiality' and his wife, Peggy, has reportedly told a friend she is 'sick of the whole thing'.
Featured Image Credit: PA