Couple Vanished in Grand Teton – 2 years Later They Were Found In Cave, Acting Insane..
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The Disappearance in the Teton Wilderness
In August of 2016, Daniel Brener and his wife, Clare, set out on what was supposed to be a memorable four-day backpacking trip into the stunning backcountry of Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming. At 31 and 32 years old, respectively, they were experienced hikers from Boulder, Colorado, who had carefully planned their route along the Death Canyon Trail. Both had been looking forward to this adventure, with Clare celebrating the completion of a major project as a freelance graphic designer and Daniel taking a break from his job as a software engineer.
On August 15th, they checked in at the Moose Visitors Center, where a park ranger reviewed their itinerary and issued them a backcountry permit. The couple appeared in good spirits, properly equipped for their journey, and even carried a two-way radio—a precaution that was not required but strongly recommended for hikers venturing into isolated areas.
The couple’s vehicle, a silver Subaru Outback, was parked at the Death Canyon trailhead, and security footage captured them starting their hike at approximately 9:30 AM. They were last seen by other hikers around 2:00 PM, about five miles into the trail, moving steadily toward the upper canyon areas. The weather that day was ideal for hiking—clear skies and temperatures in the low 70s—offering perfect conditions for their planned trek.
However, when August 18th came and went without any sign of Daniel and Clare, concern began to grow. It wasn’t unusual for hikers to extend their trips, especially if they found a scenic campsite or decided to explore an unplanned side route. But by the evening of August 19th, when their car remained in the parking lot and neither had contacted anyone, alarm bells began to ring.
Clare’s sister, who lived nearby in Jackson, Wyoming, was expecting a call from Clare upon their return. When she didn’t hear from her sister by the afternoon of the 19th, she drove to the trailhead and confirmed that the Subaru was still parked in the same spot. Immediately, she contacted the park rangers and filed a missing persons report.
The search operation began early on the morning of August 20th. A team of 12 rangers, supported by volunteer search and rescue personnel from Teton County, started combing the Death Canyon Trail and surrounding areas. Their initial focus was on the marked campsites along the couple’s planned route, checking each site methodically for signs of recent occupation or abandoned gear. They found nothing—no tent, no food wrappers, no trace of human presence.
On the second day of the search, a helicopter was deployed to survey the broader area from above, but despite several hours of flight time, the crew reported no sightings. Ground teams expanded their search radius, moving into areas not part of the couple’s original itinerary. They checked side trails, off-path creek beds, and known wildlife corridors, but the dogs brought in on the third day only showed interest in certain areas without sustaining a track long enough to lead searchers to a specific location.
By the end of the first week, more than 50 people had participated in the search, covering over 100 square miles of wilderness, but not a single piece of physical evidence had been recovered. It was as if Daniel and Clare had simply vanished into the mountains. As days passed without results, the operation was gradually scaled back, and by early September, active searching had stopped. The couple’s families issued public statements pleading for information and offering rewards for credible leads.
Theories circulated widely. Some speculated that they had fallen victim to a sudden accident, perhaps a rockfall or a fall from a cliff edge. Others suggested they might have encountered a dangerous animal, though no evidence of bear or mountain lion activity was found. The most persistent theory was that they had simply become disoriented, wandered off their planned route, and succumbed to exposure or injury in a location that searchers had not yet reached.
As autumn turned to winter, hope faded. The Brener family held a small memorial service in Boulder. Though they did not declare Daniel and Clare legally dead, they continued to believe that answers would eventually emerge. The case file was moved to the inactive section of the Teton County Sheriff’s Database, joining dozens of other unsolved disappearances in the national parks.
For two years, nothing changed. The mountains kept their secrets, and the Brener family lived in a state of painful uncertainty. Then, in late July of 2018, a solo backpacker named Trevor Dawson was hiking in a remote area of the park several miles northwest of the Death Canyon Trail. Dawson was an experienced wilderness traveler who often ventured into less traveled areas to find solitude.
While exploring a series of narrow ravines, he noticed a faint but distinct smell of smoke. Curious, he followed the scent uphill, moving carefully through loose scree and scattered boulders. After about 20 minutes, he reached the base of a steep rock face and discovered a dark opening partially obscured by juniper branches. It was a cave, and from within it, he could hear faint sounds—low murmurs, irregular and indistinct.
Dawson called out, identifying himself as a fellow hiker, but the response he received was alarming. Instead of a clear reply, there was a sudden rustling noise followed by a high-pitched, almost animal-like shriek. Alarmed but concerned, Dawson approached the cave entrance slowly, pulling out a flashlight. What he saw stopped him cold—two figures crouched near the back of the cave, filthy and disheveled, with matted hair and torn clothing.
One of them, a man with a thick, unkempt beard, lunged forward, shouting something unintelligible. Dawson took a step back, realizing that these were not ordinary lost hikers. The woman beside him began rocking back and forth, muttering in a rhythmic, repetitive pattern. Dawson, alarmed but unable to ignore the possibility that someone was injured, backed out of the cave and activated the emergency beacon on his satellite communication device.
Within minutes, a rescue team was mobilized. A helicopter carrying park rangers and paramedics was dispatched to the site, and they arrived shortly after. When they approached the cave, Dawson briefed them on what he had seen. The lead ranger, Patricia Langford, announced her presence, explaining that they were there to help. The couple inside, Daniel and Clare, were clearly in distress.
As the team worked to establish communication, it became evident that Daniel and Clare were suffering from severe psychological trauma. They had been living in isolation for two years, and their mental states had deteriorated significantly. Clare was initially non-verbal, while Daniel exhibited signs of paranoia and confusion. They both spoke of being watched and feeling trapped, unable to leave the cave due to an overwhelming sense of dread.
The rescue team was faced with the challenge of extracting them safely while addressing their psychological needs. After several hours of careful communication and reassurance, Daniel and Clare were finally coaxed out of the cave and into the open air. They were immediately taken to St. John’s Medical Center for evaluation and treatment.
The medical team found both Daniel and Clare severely malnourished and dehydrated, suffering from exposure-related injuries. Their psychological evaluations revealed symptoms consistent with post-traumatic stress disorder and shared psychotic disorder, likely exacerbated by their prolonged isolation and consumption of toxic plants.
As the investigation unfolded, it became clear that Daniel and Clare had become disoriented early in their hike, leading them to take shelter in the cave. Their subsequent experiences of fear, hallucinations, and delusions were a direct result of their deteriorating mental state. The case drew significant media attention, sparking discussions about the dangers of backcountry hiking and the psychological impact of extreme isolation.
Despite the challenges they faced, both Daniel and Clare began the slow process of recovery. Clare found purpose in advocating for mental health awareness, while Daniel struggled to reintegrate into normal life. Their story served as a reminder of the fragility of the human mind under extreme conditions and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
As they worked to rebuild their lives, the bond they shared from their harrowing experience remained a testament to their resilience. The wilderness had tested them in unimaginable ways, but it had also shown them the depths of their strength and the importance of kindness in the face of adversity.
