MARK NICHOLS AKA HOBO SHOESTRING HAS GONE MISSING

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wizehop

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Anyone seen ol' Shoestring??

https://www.shreveportnews.com/news...-gone-missing-from-shreveport-since-oct-18th/

MARK NICHOLS AKA HOBO SHOESTRING HAS GONE MISSING FROM SHREVEPORT SINCE OCT 18TH
Posted by Joseph Lafave | Oct 24, 2017 |


mark-nichols-shreveport-louisiana-hobo-shoestring-goes-missing-october-18th-2017.jpg

Mark Nichols prefers to go by the name “Hobo Shoestring” and he is freight train hopper. It means he rides around from place to place, stowing away on board trains. He has a modest social media following and regularly uploads videos to his YouTube channel as well as his Facebook.

All of that stopped on October 18th, and since then no one has heard from him. His closest friend, a man who wishes to be identified only as “John” says that this is completely unlike Shoestring.

“I met him when I was a train-rider back In New Orleans, in 1993. We’ve been in touch every few days since then,” John said.

People from all over have been looking for Shoestring since he disappeared. He has a community of followers and supporters from all over the country. Some are fellow hobos, others are just people who like watching his YouTube videos. All of them are concerned now for his well being. People in different cities who are inside the hobo community have been talking to each other, looking for any sign of Shoestring.

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Mark Nichols aka Shoestring Hobo – Missing from Shreveport Louisiana since October 18th, 2017

“It’s such a fascinating community, and they watch out for each other. They all talk to each other and look out for one another.” Said Wendy, who is a follower of Shoestring’s.


Shoestring was last known to be in Shreveport, under the Common St. overpass. He posted a picture from that location ay 5:50 pm Wednesday the 18th.

John said he fears the worst. According to him, Someone called him from Shoestring’s phone, and said they needed $50 to give Shoestring his phone back. The caller stated he had bought the phone from a person named “Dominic”. John asked the caller if he knew anything about Shoestring’s location, but the caller denied knowing who Shoestring was. The only thing the caller did confirm was that he was calling from somewhere in Shreveport.

Since then, no one has been able to contact Shoestring, although someone is checking his Facebook messages. John says that even if the phone was stolen, Shoestring knows how to go to public libraries and use the internet, so he can’t understand why his friend hasn’t reached out to him yet.

The only other clues are three YouTube videos that have been uploaded since Shoestring’s disappearance. The first video shows an unidentified male laying on a bed. You can hear the male saying “5 minutes brother and it’s over. Seven till ten and fifteen hours.”



No one knows what that means, but one thing his followers are sure of, the man in the video is not Shoestring. The second video is only a few seconds long and shows someone watching the television. The third video is the same as the first.

The community is searching for answers, but so far has come up empty. Several people on his YouTube channel have commented that they are coming to Shreveport to help look for Shoestring. No one is sure if a missing persons report has been filed with Shreveport Police or not.

Shoestring is a 47 year old Caucasian male. He has short greying hair and a very long grey beard. He has two tattoos, one on each arm. He is approximately six feet tall and weighs approximately 160 lbs. Shoestring’s friends ask if you see him to comment on his YouTube page.
 
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It is hard to imagine a legendary freight train rider going missing while a bunch of crackheads keep manipulating him like a dog by messing with his stuff - including his phone.
 

Tude

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Was just going to post this. Very cool. His being out of touch for this long of time is highly unlike him. There are two people on their way to Shreveport atm to try and find. It's also been spread across the media channels and I'm sure his family has been contacted. We are hoping for the best here.

<edit> there are several people there right now looking for him.
 
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Dmac

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Shoestring has had a lot of medical problems, maybe he is in a hospital? Hope they find him. he and I used to talk a lot.
 

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hospitals - especially the VA's where he frequents have been searched and alerted. Missing persons report filed 6:30 pm est also
 
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Tude

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Update: A reporter has been in touch with the John mentioned above. Detectives are also directed to call John as John has pics of his tats for identification, if it comes to that. FYI - Mark aka Shoestring was one of the people in the "King of the Rails" documentary that was shown at last year's STP Jamboree at the Slabs.
 

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@wizehop

UPDATE: FOUND!! He's in a hospital in Pittsburg, KS - hit by a train. No wonder home bums had his phone - his stuff must be strewn on the tracks.

https://www.newstalkkzrg.com/2017/10/25/man-recovering-after-hit-by-train/

UPDATE: Pittsburg Police have identified Mark Nichols, 47, as the man hit by the train. He was issued a summons for trespassing on Kansas City Southern property.

A man, whose name has not yet been released, is recovering after he was hit by a train early Wednesday morning in Pittsburg. Around 4 am, Pittsburg Police were called to a house on the 3100 block of Scotty Drive where a man was asking for help for injuries to his hand. The man was then transported to a Pittsburg hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. According to police, the man was trespassing on Kansas City Southern property when the accident happened. News Talk KZRG will bring you more information as details are released.
___________________________________

so he was jumping off - was wondering on or off.

http://www.fox14tv.com/story/36683358/man-injured-while-jumping-off-train#.WfEF-oJPL6E.facebook

Man Injured While Jumping Off Train
Updated: Oct 25, 2017 4:28 PM EDT

PITTSBURG, KANSAS -
On Wednesday Oct 25, 2017 at 4 AM Officers responded to a residence in the 3100 Block of Scotty Drive, for a report of an injured male seeking help from residents in that area. Mark Nicholas, 47, was determined to have been injured while jumping off of a moving Kansas City Southern Railroad train.

The residents and arriving officers rendered 1st aid to Nichols' severely injured hand, prior to EMS's arrival. He was transported to Via Christi Hospital for non life threatening injuries. Nichols was issued a summons for Trespassing on Kansas City Southern Railroad property.

The investigation into this incident is ongoing at this time. Anyone having information related to this incident, or other crimes please contact local authorities or Pittsburg Police Department 620-231-1700

__________________
 
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Tude

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@wizehop More updates:

Thought he was discharged but no. The hand injury is as it stated "severe".

Per John:

Mark Nichols shoestring is in Kansas City at a hospital. He slipped on ice hopping off a train and severely injured his left hand, resulting in the need for multiple surgeries. He lost 2 fingers they couldn't save and is scheduled for additional surgery on Friday to see if they can save the remaining 3 fingers. I spoke with him and he was so relieved that I could let everyone know that he's alive. He's going to need a lot of rest and his recovery will be lengthy.
 
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ntdxc1878

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WOW I am so glad he was found. Was really expecting the worst. Is it just me or is the story not quite adding up? Did he get off the train and then slip on ice and fall back into the train's path where it ran through his hand? Otherwise I'm not really understanding. Thank you @Tude for the updates!!!
 

Dmac

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Found in a hospital, Yea! Sounds like it could have easily been much worse, glad it wasn't. I do wonder where you could find ice to slip on, outside in Kansas right now?
 

Tude

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Found in a hospital, Yea! Sounds like it could have easily been much worse, glad it wasn't. I do wonder where you could find ice to slip on, outside in Kansas right now?

According to him - he was getting off moving train and the footing he used to get off had iced up
 
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