Blood Trails – Ep. 6: What Happened to Aaron Hedges?

Podcast: Blood Trails
Host: Jordan Sillars (MeatEater)
Air Date: December 4, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Blood Trails investigates the mysterious disappearance and death of Aaron Hedges, an elk hunter who vanished in Montana's Crazy Mountains in 2014. Combining original reporting, law enforcement interviews, and expert insights, host Jordan Sillars delves into what really happened in the backcountry—covering the search for Aaron, theories about his fate, and the complex web of suspicion, guilt, and wilderness survival.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Disappearance (02:23–05:28)

• Initial Mystery:
  Aaron Hedges vanished during an elk hunt with friends Joe Depew and Greg Laitner. He was last known to be headed toward a gear cache near Sunlight Lake, but never returned.
  • “The searchers later found his boots neatly placed beside a fire ring. What happened next would baffle investigators and fuel a decade of theories.” (02:06, B)
• Found Items:
  Searchers eventually found Aaron’s boots, water bladder, fire attempts, but not Aaron.
  • “It was like he'd been sucked out of his boots and into the ether.” (03:10, B)
  • “What was found and where it was found and the condition it was found in is very odd.” (03:55, D: Det. Brian Greene)

2. Setting the Scene: The Crazy Mountains & The Hunt (06:00–09:54)

• Who Was There:
  Joe, Greg, and Aaron had planned a multi-day backcountry hunt, packing in with horses and a mule.
  • “Beautiful mountain range… stand out almost like an island mountain chain.” (07:38, F: Giannis Putelis)
• Early Troubles:
  The group faced issues with an inexperienced mule and lost Aaron’s sleeping bag, leading to frustrations and gear limitations—an event identified as the beginning of the downward spiral.
  • “We eventually just get so mad, fine, you know, whatever. Like I can't make you put all this stuff on.” (12:25, G: Greg Laitner)

3. Aaron’s Struggles & Group Tension (13:28–17:26)

• Aaron’s Behavior:
  Aaron appeared angry, listless, and disinterested—possibly due to alcohol use, medication, and physical discomfort.
• Conflict:
  Significant friction, including a near physical confrontation, as Aaron refused help and failed to prepare his bow.
  • “His face was pickled. He hadn't had a haircut in forever.” (14:40, G)
• Erratic Choices:
  Aaron drunkenly attempted to approach a black bear in slippers, further worrying Greg and Joe.
  • "That was the most pathetic excuse for a stalk on an animal I've ever seen." (15:12, G)

4. The Split & Aaron’s Solo Trek (17:26–18:32)

• Decision to Leave:
  After camping in poor spirits, Aaron announced he would leave to retrieve gear alone, a nine-mile hike. The group agreed on GPS check-ins—never to see him again.
  • “As far as we know, that's the last time anyone saw Aaron alive.” (18:14, B)

5. Aaron Hedges: The Man & His Demons (18:36–22:32)

• Personal Background:
  Aaron was a husband, father, and a known alcoholic. He may have been combining alcohol and prescription Librium (for withdrawal).
  • “Christine stated that...the negative side effects she had seen in her husband Aaron, which included short temperedness and physical unbalanced, she didn't want him to go on the hunting trip.” (20:42, E)
• Friends’ Perspectives:
  Joe and Greg believed Aaron was drinking heavily and mixing medications, though some details depend solely on their accounts.

6. Lost in the Wilderness: Where Did Aaron Go? (23:04–29:35)

• The Group Hunts Elk:
  While Aaron hiked, Greg and Joe kept hunting and succeeded in killing an elk—calling Aaron on GPS radio for help.
• Critical Radio Call:
  Aaron answered but was disoriented, not knowing his location and unwilling to retrace his steps.
  • "He just said, I don't think I'm going to make it back tonight. And that was the last thing he said." (28:18, G)
• Failure to Regroup:
  Despite missing check-ins, Greg and Joe continued their hunt, moved camp, and eventually left the mountain without contacting authorities for three days.
  • “Over 72 hours passed between the time they lost contact with their friend and when they finally called Christine.” (46:03, B)

7. The Search Effort (30:41–39:51)

• Massive Rescue Attempts:
  Search and rescue was hampered by a severe snowstorm (drop from 50°F to 10°F; 18–24 inches of snow).
  • “It flipping snow, the temp dropped...In the crazies, it snowed 18 to 24 inches in one storm.” (31:02, C: Sheriff Ronneberg)
• Hindered Search:
  Joe and Greg complicated searches by returning to the cache against law enforcement advice, leaving their tracks at the site.
• Findings:
  Rescuers found Aaron’s cut hip belt, campfires, and finally his boots and water bladder, but no sign of Aaron.

8. Investigation & Suspicion (41:29–53:53)

• Why Wait to Report?
  Detectives pressed Greg and Joe on their delay in reporting, lack of search effort, and inconsistencies.
  • “Almost everything they talked was a lie. They were trying to hide what they were doing up there.” (43:32, C: Sheriff Ronneberg)
• Private Land & Poaching:
  Greg and Joe may have been hunting illegally on private land, possibly explaining deceptive behavior.
  • “The illegally harvested elk helped explain why Greg and Joe had been deceptive. But by itself, it wasn't enough to exonerate them.” (52:55, B)
• Rumors & Alibis:
  Rumors of a relationship between Joe and Aaron’s wife surfaced, but there was no evidence. Photos and GPS data ultimately matched Greg and Joe's timeline and location, making a staged disappearance or murder highly unlikely.

9. Discovery of the Body (53:58–60:48)

• Remains Found:
  In 2016, Aaron’s body (skull, mandible, bones) was found six miles east of where his boots were found, buried under brush with scattered clothes and gear.
  • “You could see the buildings of a residence two miles in front of him from that rock.” (55:14, C: Sheriff Ronneberg)
  • Cause of Death:
    Likely hypothermia. Evidence suggests paradoxical undressing; he was only a quarter mile from a road.
    • “After he passes away...a bear comes in and buries him, pushes the bank over to the top of him...” (58:42, C: Ronneberg)

10. Unanswered Questions (61:23–70:57)

• Why Leave Boots?
  Theories include drying wet boots, making a fire, paradoxical undressing from hypothermia, or switching shoes to stalk elk.
  • “I just bet you he was sitting there and some elk ran by him and he decided to go after, start stalking elk. So he changes out of his boots...puts on tennis shoes to go make a stalk…” (62:51, C)
• Role of Joe & Greg:
  Their guilt and regret resurfaced in interviews. They felt they shouldn’t have taken Aaron; Greg believed Aaron intended to detox at the gear cache.
  • “Now, I. My theory is that I think that Aaron was about to go through severe withdrawals. I know for a fact that he was running out of alcohol, and I feel like he was abusing those pills and taking way more than he should have.” (72:35, G)
  • “You know, right then should have left that elk and gone down there and looked for his ass.” (75:52, G)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “What was found and where it was found and the condition it was found in is very odd. And what wasn't found is very odd.”
  — Det. Brian Greene (03:55, D)

• “We thought maybe that was best...he was coming up here to clear his head and get healthy. In my mind, that would mean go through detox, come out off the alcohol, and hopefully try and stay off of it.”
  — Greg Laitner (72:35, G)

• "He was actually probably within a quarter mile of the road...he would have hit that within a quarter mile."
  — Sheriff Ronneberg (60:55, C)

• "That really, really haunts me a lot...should have left that elk and gone down there and looked for his ass."
  — Greg Laitner (75:52, G)

• "If it was one of my friends that was out there missing, I'd be right out front...We had to go find Joe and Greg. We had to go find them guys to get more information out of them. They didn't want to have anything to do with this. And that just threw all kinds of red flags."
  — Sheriff Ronneberg (44:25, C)

• "It's honestly, it's unfathomable, it really is, that you would go into the mountains as a group and that you would have a member of your party not check in even at...a few hours...Once it's been 12 hours, it's like the worry should have changed to real concern."
  — Giannis Putelis (46:42, F)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Disappearance & Search: 02:23–05:28
• Mule incident & gear loss: 08:44–10:37
• Behavioral red flags & group conflict: 13:28–17:26
• Aaron’s last sighting/departure: 17:26–18:32
• Aaron’s substance issues: 18:36–22:32
• The group’s response after losing Aaron: 23:04–29:35
• Search & rescue deployment: 30:41–39:51
• Suspicion and investigation: 41:29–53:53
• Body found, aftermath: 53:58–60:48
• Unanswered questions & concluding reflections: 61:23–76:38

Final Reflection

Jordan Sillars' investigation does not offer easy answers, but underscores the unpredictability and harshness of the wild, human frailty under stress, and how guilt and speculation thrive in tragic ambiguity. Despite extensive search efforts, logical theories, and forensic investigation, Aaron Hedges' death remains a haunting and cautionary tale for anyone venturing into the wilderness: "You never know what might happen up in those mountains and you better be prepared." (05:28, B)