5 ms·

Ask HN: My friend is missing in Mexico and I need help to find him

20 points by ninetax 12y ago

My friend went for a hike three days ago and never returned. Search efforts are underway but no luck yet. We really want to get the gps data from his last text message, but it's been extremely difficult getting this from the cell phone company. If you can help in any way with getting that gps data, or with anything else please email me at satshabad.music@gmail.com. Here is a live update site where more details can be found findharisimran.com Here is the phone number the text came from: (917) 293-6456

msie 12y ago
Drones can help?
- ninetax 12y ago
  Possibly, yes. I would think that it would have to be a coordinated effort and with a lot of them.
  - emic 12y ago
    You'd be surprised. Someone went missing in a forest once. They looked for them for 4 days the normal way. A single drone flown by a hobbyist found them in 2 hours.
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
mattkrea 12y ago
I wonder if anyone on HN has access to the SS7 network. Using only the phone number you could attempt to locate his phone.
- ninetax 12y ago
  I can provide his phone number to anyone who may be able to help
  - ninetax 12y ago
    I edited it into the post
greenyoda 12y ago
"We really want to get the gps data from his last text message, but it's been extremely difficult getting this from the cell phone company." The phone company is unlikely to give that information to anyone except the police or other government agency - if a random person asks for it, they have no way of knowing whether their intentions are good or bad. Have you filed a missing person report with the local police? If so, you could tell the police about the last text you received from your friend, and they might be able to get information from the phone company that they could forward to the Mexican authorities who are conducting the search. I hope your friend is OK.
- ninetax 12y ago
  Thank you. All the normal procedures are being followed, but it has been slow moving. I was hoping someone knew someone that could do us a favor or help in some way. I hope he is OK too.
sakabaro 12y ago
I don't want to be this guy but is 3 days missing a bit too early to start worrying for a grown man? :/
- dllthomas 12y ago
  It's not just generically "missing" without context, like they might have ducked out to visit some friends - it's "went out for hike scheduled [I assume] for substantially less than three days and did not return." If they need help, they need it quickly.
christistruth 12y ago
Haris Imran..? Sounds like a white Muslim convert, they aren't usually the brightest bulbs and are depressed.. won't be surprised if he jumped off a cliff.
- trcollinson 12y ago
  Obviously you've been down voted for your blatant rudeness and racism. But, for anyone interested, his name actually is Sikh name I believe. Which is not muslim and comes from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. Being that the news says he was from Brooklyn, I would imagine he was a convert. But not only was your comment in poor taste it was also flat out wrong.
  - christistruth 12y ago
    Turns out I wasn't wrong about the cliff thing though.. RIP :'(
stevetjoa 12y ago
I'm sorry to report that, according to the Associated Press, Hari Simran Singh Khalsa has been found dead "in one of the narrow gorges or ravines that crisscross the rugged mountains in the colonial town of Tepoztlan." http://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/American-missing-for-4-days-in-Mexican-wilderness-5990136.php http://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/American-missing... http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/01/hari-simran-sterling-man-missing-in-mountainous-region-of-mexico-110255.html http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/01/hari-simran-sterling-ma...
- ninetax 12y ago
  Yes, we are all profoundly sad. Thanks for the suggestions and help everyone.

20 points by ninetax 12y ago

msie 12y ago

Drones can help?

ninetax 12y ago
Possibly, yes. I would think that it would have to be a coordinated effort and with a lot of them.
- emic 12y ago
  You'd be surprised. Someone went missing in a forest once. They looked for them for 4 days the normal way. A single drone flown by a hobbyist found them in 2 hours.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]

mattkrea 12y ago

I wonder if anyone on HN has access to the SS7 network. Using only the phone number you could attempt to locate his phone.

ninetax 12y ago
I can provide his phone number to anyone who may be able to help
- ninetax 12y ago
  I edited it into the post

greenyoda 12y ago

"We really want to get the gps data from his last text message, but it's been extremely difficult getting this from the cell phone company." The phone company is unlikely to give that information to anyone except the police or other government agency - if a random person asks for it, they have no way of knowing whether their intentions are good or bad. Have you filed a missing person report with the local police? If so, you could tell the police about the last text you received from your friend, and they might be able to get information from the phone company that they could forward to the Mexican authorities who are conducting the search. I hope your friend is OK.

ninetax 12y ago
Thank you. All the normal procedures are being followed, but it has been slow moving. I was hoping someone knew someone that could do us a favor or help in some way. I hope he is OK too.

sakabaro 12y ago

I don't want to be this guy but is 3 days missing a bit too early to start worrying for a grown man? :/

dllthomas 12y ago
It's not just generically "missing" without context, like they might have ducked out to visit some friends - it's "went out for hike scheduled [I assume] for substantially less than three days and did not return." If they need help, they need it quickly.

christistruth 12y ago

Haris Imran..? Sounds like a white Muslim convert, they aren't usually the brightest bulbs and are depressed.. won't be surprised if he jumped off a cliff.

trcollinson 12y ago
Obviously you've been down voted for your blatant rudeness and racism. But, for anyone interested, his name actually is Sikh name I believe. Which is not muslim and comes from the Punjab region of India and Pakistan. Being that the news says he was from Brooklyn, I would imagine he was a convert. But not only was your comment in poor taste it was also flat out wrong.
- christistruth 12y ago
  Turns out I wasn't wrong about the cliff thing though.. RIP :'(

stevetjoa 12y ago

I'm sorry to report that, according to the Associated Press, Hari Simran Singh Khalsa has been found dead "in one of the narrow gorges or ravines that crisscross the rugged mountains in the colonial town of Tepoztlan." http://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/American-missing-for-4-days-in-Mexican-wilderness-5990136.php http://www.seattlepi.com/news/world/article/American-missing... http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/01/hari-simran-sterling-man-missing-in-mountainous-region-of-mexico-110255.html http://www.wjla.com/articles/2015/01/hari-simran-sterling-ma...

ninetax 12y ago
Yes, we are all profoundly sad. Thanks for the suggestions and help everyone.