Maine Hermit Faces Jail -- and Fame | The New York Times
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- čas přidán 11. 06. 2013
- Police believe a man who lived secluded in the Maine woods for 27 years is responsible for at least 1,000 burglaries, yet news of his story sparked an outpouring of public sympathy.
Read the story here: nyti.ms/12DXnsw
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Maine Hermit Faces Jail -- and Fame
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Hearing about the Kardashians would make anyone want to live as a hermit in the woods
Lol TRUE
Ken Long wow i just mentined i respect thia guy morr than the kardashians
Except that he decided to be one long before they were on the scene. He just didn't like people. Can't say I blame him, just let's be accurate about this. Sheesh.
muahaha, this is a good one.
LOL.
I saw footage of Christopher Knight in the courtroom. The sheer tiredness in his eyes from the absurdity of this world was an expression I won't forget. I wish him well.
@ladywharton Like what? paying tax and being debt slave to foreign zionist central banks and cultural marxism degeneracy? The world has not always been like that tho.
I almost hope this country falls so we can go back to horses and lanterns. Times back then we’re more difficult and physically strenuous, sure. But great suffering leads to great wisdom and strong spirituality.
@@swigityswooty7887 U was thinking the same thing things were more rougher back then but they were wayyyy.... wayyy... less complicated and fake. Nowadays it seems like you can barely trust anyone before they will stab you in the back or scam you. Then there is the complicity back when things were more rough people didn't have to go through school decades on end only to have to go to college and then get a degree which most of the time does not even help you and let's not even get started on the debt that comes with it. Back a while ago you went to school for a little while then you got an easy but usually rough job but it was simple at the same time and it was much easier to aquire the job without the need for a dumb degree..
Idiots
I wish I had the balls to escape ''the matrix'' like he did. I envy this man.
The irony of getting mad because he took some food and wanting to keep him in a place where everything (not just food) is paid by taxpayers. Funny people.
.. excellent post, ha!
Clever think
…he stole peace of mind from people who lived nearby.
@@sarahgleason8996 Who cares the government takes way more peace of mind from the locals than he does.
All those years of living alone gone to waste I think. He wanted to live his life alone, and his goal was never met. Hopefully he goes back doing what he loved.
They haven't gone to waste and he met his goal for 27 years. Learn to write better.
Jesus. Do you guys really buy that fame is what he wanted after that 27 years? "Hey come out you anti social master. Tell us every single piece of your story and let us make a movie for you so you can become more famous".
It's even crueler than killing him.
Fame was never the motive! Today he lives a very quiet life and still prefers to stay by himself.
There is a book about this. The stranger in the woods by Michael finkel
Just finished it
@@chickennugget6233 Is It good?
Chupacabra 0_0 it’s great
@@jillianmyers3899 Thanks for the feedback.
Chupacabra 0_0 great book, I just finished it too as it’s hard to put down.
Just read GQ article on him. This dude is amazing. Those winters, how?
Strong mentality and thick blankets I'd suppose. I give much respect to hermits because they're survivalists. Sometimes you got to do, what you got to do, and if stealing is an option to live your own way, then so be it.
+James Kennedy Any man can adapt if put in the condition long enough. Not that hard, really.
Einherjar no it's really easy to live alone for 27 years never seeing family friends and having nice things like hot showers, tv, internet, heat, a toilet and a real bed. I'm sure if I stuck u outside during autumn in New England you'd be begging to be rescued.... never mind freezing winters with no fires.
He wanted to be away from people.
SinteNørske extreme cold is one of the few things the human body cannot adapt to. That isn't to say the body doesn't make some physiological changes when exposed to constant cold, but there is no point at which the body can adapt and become fully attenuated or comfortable in extreme cold. Knight himself aknowledged the cold was extremely hard to deal with and caused him quite a lot of suffering. It is amazing that he was able to mentally and physically survive what he did in Maine winters. I am a lifelong Maine native and our winters are cold, wet, and long. The other things the body cannot attenuate to are extreme vibration, and loud noise.
I wish I had the guts to do this. Society sucks.
yh i want to be a hardcore loner aka hermit
@@abovethelaw4417 you don't have to be alone or a hermit to live in the woods tho.
Yeah but doing it like a true survivor and actually living off the land
@@abovethelaw4417 Hermits are not lonely, they just want to be alone.
*lives with his parents*
0:13 Just look at the District Attorney's face and you see the constant need for attention and want to be something that is so toxic it makes any sane person want to avoid them. Honestly, I don't blame him. What this world has become is so incredibly fake that it may be possible the only authenticity is found in isolation.
Wasn’t that horrifying? That’s what I imagine the eyes of Satan looking like.
@@hodgeknobbler9848 Maine Justice folks. Tragic.
Why do we always lash out at people who do this, from hermits to bums its a part of their nature. Why should we punish them?
GOD BLESS YOU ALEXANDER.
Read "The Stranger in the Woods". He never had a chance in this so-called "civilized" world.
They want to “readjust” him to “normal” life....
They are afraid...
This story is absolutely incredible
30 years without an income, paying to spend it or paying for making an income. 30 years without paying for gas and rent like a tax. 30 years without so much carp that makes society stupider. 30 years in nature off the grid. No wonder why this guy is such a hero! If anything he should've been left alone and donated food boxes. His lifestyle is very commendable to people without a fogged up conscience
He's courageous but he lived by stealing so this ruins his hermitage
Haha guy wants him to go to jail over surviving by himself in maine wilderness for 27 yrs.. sorry bout your $10 cooler life must have been horrible after he took it... This story is movie worthy..
More importantly he robbed people of their peace of mind, like the woman who didn't feel comfortable enough to spend the night in her own place! That is larger wrong.
Here here! Well said.
He didn't survive by himself, he survived from stealing from others. Let's say they let him go free without any punishment then what, he goes back to his home in the woods and continue to steal from people because that's the only way he can survive and if people offer to give him food and other items he most likely wouldn't want them around his area because that would defeat the purpose of him living in the woods
Wiikid Blades Glorifying him
@@maryrecluse1839 Pretty sure they realize this wasnt a normal burglar after the first year. Some of them even started to leave food in front of the porch but he never took It because he tought It was a trap. Sure, he broke the peace of some residents but at the bottom they knew he was harmless.
Just watched a program about him on the Maine Public network. It was called "The Hermit: The True Story of the North Pond Hermit". Its was super interesting. As a Mainer it's cool to know there's at least a handful of interesting folks in this state, lol
I can't believe these people care about their coolers after so long. Man.. that seems so ridiculous to me.
That is the one person that can tell us wether or not Bigfoot is real I heard Maine has alot of sightings but I bet the guy that spent 27 years in the woods never even saw 1
He probably would not mention it. I would not either.
I can’t imagine living outside in the cold weather
Utterly ridiculous to even prosecute this man .. I feel so sorry for him such a pity he got caught ..Just leave him alone ... And those scabby people who are upset bout him taking their scabby items you all need to get a life a real one ... ... Pity his life is never going to be the same again ... IN the big picture it is such a trivial thing .... And the fact it has been happening for such a long time would tell you he is harmless ....Where has the word "understanding gone " ...
I love your comment.
Cheryl Carr why don't you finance him. Or does your compassion end where your money begins.
But it's ok if he steals other people's money.
Hypocrite.
Didn’t he steal from a summer camp for the mentally ill?
I think that he is quite remarkable and should be allowed to live alone in the wild but even though he didn't steal much he disturbed those peoples peace of mind. Either way i hope he's happy doing whatever he's doing now.
Well, technically i don't think he uses any tax payers money, what lot of people receive just because they spend days sitting in sofa. The items, he stole are not serious. I would not get crazy, because somebody stole my batterie and butter. Yes, its little bit dilemma, i agree, but if he would steal from me, and i would find out the case and reason, i would be in shame to complain front of camera and omg he need to go to prison. Im saying it also, because we NEVER, NEVER know the story for the person. Not much, but time to time there are people with special life stories or childhood traumas. And in several cases the outcome is what society would find acquard. I would concentrate more on people who commit bigger crimes. Just look around.
Wow, go claim your cooler and raincoat, that's valuable stuff. The hermit should go to jail for that? What rot.
i am crying after watching the people reaction wild world
GOD BLESS YOU Mam!
I would want it back just for memorabilia haha has a cool story behind it now!
Hey Christopher, Run back in the woods when you get a chance.
You were right 27 years ago. People are a whole lot worst now. All those cabins you broke into are possibly owned by people wanting to get away from society themselves. If you come across book deals, interviews, Get paid for it & build yourself a cabin and get out if Dodge.
Yeah, society's way worse now than it was in 1986.
I admire this man.
Soon, i will almost do like him.
You're not alone...
Probably we same personality, and that's my dream either
I k I have true qualities of a hermit
Did you do it?
same
Life in prison!?!? Are you nuts. A fine is worthless. Give him 6 months
Maine Justice. We are not ok.
Harmless guy and kind of a hero. Hermit for president : -)
☝️That Hermit could really teach ALL of humanity a thing or two. 💞 I wish I could listen to him talk...for hours....I’m happy he had 27 years of escape from this crazy world! I wish he can live the rest of his life in peace. I wishing him the absolute best. 🤗💞🤗
You should read the book Stranger in the Woods. Very interesting! His one piece of offered wisdom - Don't take naps. Get all your sleep at the same time.
@@briantjepkema7758 - 👍Okay, thank you. I’ll check it out. 💝
Yeah, steal from your neighbors so everyone looks at you in awe and wonders how you made it alone in the woods. Being a thief because he couldn't support himself.
@@Sirharryflash82 🤔🤷🏻♀️Really?
@@lovingatlanta Yeah really. Confused?
Read the book Stranger in the Woods. The author interviewed him fairly extensively. Very interesting and answers most questions.
He's a hero! Give him a break...
Serious he should be enprisoned for life these people are NUTZ. Leave him alone, did he really take anything of value like your money jewlery did he go to a pawn shop and get money for the stuff are you nutz feeling like that for a friggin cooler. Let the guy go back to the woods he made you all famous.
Honestly Maine is the most corrupt justice system. Rouge lawyers cops and da everywhere. People are not saved from the wrath.
😡🤬You’re mad about a cooler and a raincoat....SRSLY!??!??😡🤬
why steal if you have work skills but if you meet all the wrong crazy people like i have i can empathise. society is crazy.
Pressing charges on a cheap ass cooler and a raincoat? Really? I'd say "Here, man. It's all yours". Now, if some thugs broke down my door (it's happened in the past) they'd be looking down a rifle barrel. But this guy, nah. Gotta pick your battles, and this guy wasn't your everyday, street thug needing a meth fix. He was just getting a can of peanut butter and some ice or w/e. In that case, I would of helped. I'm a giver, not materialistic. But, like before...if a gang of general thugs broke in....much different story. They arrive alive and leave dead.
Yeah...meanwhile Wall Street bankers are raping the word daily for trillions.
I pretty much feel the same way. However, I would not have stolen. It seems if he knew how to live off the land, he would not have stolen either. If he was very intelligent, I probably would not survive without stealing as well. Every day, I try to figure out how I could live in the wilderness and off the land but stupid society has pretty much made that impossible.If you think about it, we are not really free. We have to live off of society.
I love the song. And I think they should free the hermit! Let him live in peace, away from the hordes. Jail must be a form of torture for him. Free him now!
@Daniel Sherwood Much rather have this hermit living in my backyard instead of the methhead grown man living across the road in his wealthy parents’ backyard, who’ll steal anything he can get $10 for.
heard this story on npr snap judgement. truly fascinating
> Christopher McCandless
> Christopher Knight
"Christophers' " having hermit tendencies? I should have been named such. . .
Had a deli sanwhich named after him.. seriously thats real news
Forgiveness is key for all
Great journalism!
Yes and this man would not survive psychologically there.
I really recommend the documentary "A year in the taiga" for all the people that love this story. Very well made.
People so made he stole some food and rain coats and some gas bottle while living 27 years alone in woods, I wouldn't have cared if I knew he did 27 years like that! No jail!
that song is 🔥
"even has my name written on there" that's the brand name.
+Michael Magill His name is faded but still visible, to the viewer it's not there. That's what over 20 years will do to writing.
It looked like he was pointing to the coleman logo lol.
Stealing is wrong. If you want to survive on your own that's fine, but you provide for yourself. Imminent death is about the only reason to steal, but even then you have to repay what you take and make reparations for any damage, promptly! No one has the right to take what isn't theirs
And some people lack a deeper understanding of life and the bigger picture. This man does not belong in jail at all. Many can learn alot from him. He can live in the woods. Agree to share his story. Someone can write the book. He gets half the money and that money can go to pay the peopke back. Its called community service. Meanwhile he can stay in his life and not bother anyone. He is not like others in our culture being out there for 27 yrs.
You could say this because you were not in his position. One steals basic necessities just to survive. And forgiving and letting it go when we pay tax for wars and misfortunes can never surpass more than his misery..god bless us all from human virus
There once was a hermit named Dave .😂😂😂😂Gene Tracy
i'd like the lyrics and chords to that song. the north pond hermit I guess that was stan and dan
the most interesting thing about this guy is that he is bald.... which proves you can be bald even when escaping the matrix.
Probably was already balding in his teens
The guy got his cooler back,surtanly did not interrupt him feeding his food baby.
What kind of life living 27 years in the woods ALONE?
there is another one further north , Canada. the legend of nomad, he is still out there in the woods.
Stan and Dan Band seems cool
Hes not bad after all.Maybe at that time he was suffering from depression but find solitude in the woods and cope with it.i wish him well though.
Why is the video from 2013 looks like a VCR from the mid 90s? LOL
I applaud him...yeah, robbing is wrong blah blah blah. I would of just left stuff out for him that he needed on a monthly basis...then gone full ghost, also. I'd have my rifle and knife for food, other than that, do what he did...minus the robbing. Ask, maybe, though.
yet not ONE person did. proving his point.
He can do his jail time .. I am incredibly curious about how he managed so long ? Wonder if he had any family that missed him , did he ever contact them ?
Let him do community service- alone, in the woods.
"I ran for my gitah " .....and I ran for my earplugs.
I wouldn't be surprised if he has Asperger's Syndrome.
+Melissa0774 I'm certain he has it, too, as I have Asperger's Syndrome and see a lot of myself in him. I've wanted to be a hermit since I was 12. (I'm 53 as of this posting.) He has problems articulating why he walked off, but I know why he did it: The world out there is painful. People especially are painful. It hurts being with them. People, Americans in particular, are often mean even when they think they're being nice. If I had a stronger constitution, I would have done what he's done.
Ocelot1962 I agree with you. People are very mean.
Melissa0774 He was diagnosed as being on the autistic spectrum in prison.
I can totally understand what he did also. I dont think it's wrong to "steal" food or survival things either from people who had vacation homes and home insurance. It was survival for him. All humans have the right to food, shelter, and clothing. These people and their things makes me kind of sick to see; they clearly know the man meant no harm and was trying to survive. Some people cannot survive in our sick culture; they should not be punished.
Wanted to live alone forever....and they still force him to have cell mate to fart in his mouth 🤨
If he could have found a way to produce his own food and heat without stealing, he could have achieved what he wanted.
whats the song in the beginning
It's amazing he survived the Maine winters in that tarp shelter - I guess he didn't think of building a substantial daub and wattle home. It's sad he was just out of high school and never experienced life outside that camp in the woods.
+P Hiser It's sad? how? Geez, I'm working on ghosting, now. By next spring, full ghost mode: activated.
@@BFagan you have not slept in N. Maine in winter outside.
I need to hear that opening song!!!!!!! Someone please link me.
it is called north pond hermit
here Is the link czcams.com/video/bDd_0rvKj_s/video.html
The books were playboys lol
Everyone is making a buck off him.
Props to Christopher Knight though, in all seriousness. I've always wanted to go off the grid. I'd be hunting rather than "borrowing" though lol
Thats a pretty good song, It should be on Itunes.
lots of Irish sounding accents up there. I'd live up there. sounds nice. and cold. the way I like it.
Why do they say he’s the “last hermit?” How do we know there aren’t ppl off the grid? More and more ppl are so unhappy with the world, with “things”, with technology.... I don’t understand how this claim could be made. He did something I could never survive. He’s not a hero like Christopher McCandless. He may have died bc of a mistake for not cooling his meat enough but he “survived on his own” and never stole.
Last hermit ever identified. Lol
Because Maine is a police state and they know where everyone is.
Does anyone know how much time he was sentence for?
Seven months, which was simply time served at the time of his sentencing.
@@nimblebimble why are people saying he got life? Ridiculous.
Sounds Like a Plan
The polar opposite of Ted Kaczynski, at least in the reclusive hermit world, lol!
snap judgement
This guy was such a hardy individual, he could have lived in Alaska. I also happen to know that less than 20 miles from where he was living is the Sandy river in new Sharon Maine which has tons of wild ground nuts growing on the banks. Ground nuts are the most nutritious wild plant in North America. These were a major part of the native American diet and considered to be like a wild potato. It’s too bad someone like Chris knight couldn’t have learned some foraging skills or found a better spot to live without stealing. He was very hardy and I am sure some people would have helped him to live out in the woods someplace without having to break into cabins but he apparently wanted to live in complete solitude. Depending on cabins for food however breaks the cycle a little
The old guy at the end says "probly he'll make money on this". This shows just how clueless people are.
Nice music
Some people say "Oh, give him a break, all he stole was some food and batteries". No, what he stole was the peace of mind from all these people.
Yes but now they know. So leave the guy alone. Its a big hard world for many. Get some insight and compassion. He can teach many, much. Give him an award-amazing!
bottom line.
whole book summarized
A personal view, but I could have done without the music. Interesting though.
the music made it like 400 times better lol, your buggin
Well in jail he has 3 hots and a cot.
I wonder if he ever felt Love & Belonging from his parents & siblings? Very Sad!!! You would at least "Think" someone in his family would have filed a missing persons report (like his brother.. who consigned for his car)!! I'm thinking "His Family" must be very cold hearted!! & Uncaring!! I feel sorry for him.
It's not that easy, to understand him you have to try to put your mind into his. When you don't like to be with other humans or like to talk at all. Then it doesn't matter how nice the people around you are because you just want to be left alone. It is a personal choice, that develops quite early in life.
Uncaring like the rest of the greedy thieving human waste/race.
@Daniel Sherwood wagie wagie get in the cagie
I thought they'd hired a detective to look for him. His family wasn't cold-hearted or uncaring. In fact, I'd say he was for never getting in contact and letting them know he was alive. Imagine 27years of not knowing if your son/brother is alive.
Sword and Scale brought me her.
If he was "really" smart he would've dressed up like a Sasquatch when he went and broke into those cabins and camp sites. At least that way he would have concealed his identity and the authorities would've been looking for a small "Bigfoot" instead of a human, lol.
Has it ever been proferred that this guy has Aspergers ? Because I'm reading a lot of "Aspie" into this super-solitary adventure of his...
Michael Finkel, a journalist who wrote a book about this case, interviewed several psychologists about this.
And while all of them said they couldn't make a definitive statement without meeting him,
though one is quoted saying "For every autistic trait he has, he has traits that are the antithesis. Autistic people don't steal. They're not criminals."
There are other conditions, or simply differnt personalities, that lack a need for social interaction.
Or maybe he wanted to be left alone.
Sorry lady, Stephen King is the most famous person in Maine.
He wouldn't have ever been a hermit had he contracted type 1 diabetes
(Then again we will hear stories about the great insulin thief )
because he does'nt eat processed foods and high fructose corn syrup.
Yeah I think that`s undiagnosed Schizoid Personality disorder.
"That`s no asshamburgers? however you spell it?"
The money was given to the victims -_- 🤑
Jail is naturtally kind of punishment as he have to be close to other people, but 7 months of free food and a warm bed is more of a gift. Ah!..couldn't they just but up a trap 20 years ago and put an end to it.
never been in jail.
NYT, annotations are quite annoying.
Yeah, it was a joke.
At the end of the day, the guy did commit something like a 1,000 burglaries to sustain his lifestyle. I have absolutely nothing against his decision to go live by himself in the woods, I'd just have suggested he learned a bit about how to hunt or gather before doing so. Had he done this, he could well still be living in the woods now.
I wonder, how he upgrade his eyeglasses? He seems have eyesight problems that require atleast yearly doctor check up.. His optical frame wont last more than 2 yrs in the woods. Those lenses may have scratched or maybe broke…
You may think by building a your cabin, you can lay claim to god's gifts but I tell you this there are more like knight still out there and they would give there life to keeping the back country free for all. Raise my glass to you knight!
I wouldn't think he's the most famous person in Maine, the Maine governor is probably more well known than he is
teeth?
How is a jail sentence any worse than living isolated from the world in the freezing cold of central maine? Is this really a punishment?
did he get Lyme disease from deer ticks?
No, though it was a concern of his.
I really wish you didn't pick up the guitar.
His found
My god that song is so AWFUL !!!!
The only mistake he made was to steal other people's goods. That's not a hermit's way, he's a thief not a hermit. And a creep too.