A hiker claims to have stumbled across a ‘missing persons shrine’ in woods in Long Island (Picture: James Rankin)

A man hiking through a woods in Long Island claims to have stumbled across a ‘shrine’ featuring dozens of posters of real missing people.

A video of the incredibly creepy scene was posted online by James Rankin, who said he had found it in some woodland near private properties in Berkeley Jackson County Park.

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In the footage, the hiker claims to have uncovered a camp, large tent, bedding, opened cans of food and a fire pit, arranged in a circle in a woods.

But far more creepily around 25 missing persons posters are taped to trees close to the camp.


Many of those posters appear to be of real missing people – the first is of Jennifer Kesse who has not been seen since she went missing on January 24 2006.

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Others paint a fairly incomplete picture – Brenda Heist who reappeared 11 years after disappearing, or Tim Bosma, whose body was later found.



Rankin explained on his Facebook page that he passed the information to Suffolk County Police.

The footage appeared to show pictures of real missing people (Picture: James Rankin)

He said he was later informed by officers that an adjacent property had set up the area for a Halloween Party and the matter would not be investigated further.

But Rankin said it looked as if the stuff had been there for a while adding: ‘Also gotta wonder just what sort of person thinks it’s OK to use real missing persons posters of people’s lost loved ones as party decor.’

UPDATE.As of 9AM Oct. 4th, the police have told me that the homeowner of the adjacent property is claiming this was set… Posted by James Tiberius Rankin on Tuesday, October 4, 2016

His claims have been treated with skepticism by some who say it was a ‘hoax’ but others have said he did the right thing by reporting it to police.

The Huntington Patch said it had contact the police department who confirmed the case was active.

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