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Episode 108: The Disappearance of Ben McDaniel
30-year-old Ben McDaniel had been through a lot by the time he reached the age of 30; He had lost his brother, his business and his home. In 2010, Ben was in the middle of a year-long sabbatical when he went scuba diving in a dangerous underwater cave late one afternoon and was never heard from again. It was assumed that Ben had run into trouble and drowned in the cave, but despite numerous searches, Ben's body has never been found.
Did Ben really drown in Vortex Spring? Did he stage his own death so he could run away and start a new life, or was his death the result of foul play?
Sources:
Caterina, D. (2025, May 27). The Deeper You Go. . . - Dellantonio Caterina - medium. Medium. https://medium.com/@dellantonio.caterina/the-deeper-you-go-e5c2c94e85f7
Lovethesepicture. (2012, June 29). Adrenaline Junkies Cave Diving Vortex Spring [Pics, Videos]. lovethesepicture.com. https://lovethesepicture.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/adrenaline-junkies-cave-diving-vortex-spring-37-pics-5-videos/
Battison, J. (2024, September 12). Haunting theory about what happened to diver who jumped into Vortex Spring water and never came back. LADbible. https://www.ladbible.com/community/ben-mcdaniel-vortex-spring-missing-diver-133757-20240912
Join The Dark Oak Discussion:
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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep
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By Just Us Gals Productions
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30-year-old Ben McDaniel had been through a lot by the time he reached the age of 30; He had lost his brother, his business and his home. In 2010, Ben was in the middle of a year-long sabbatical when he went scuba diving in a dangerous underwater cave late one afternoon and was never heard from again. It was assumed that Ben had run into trouble and drowned in the cave, but despite numerous searches, Ben's body has never been found.
Did Ben really drown in Vortex Spring? Did he stage his own death so he could run away and start a new life, or was his death the result of foul play?
Sources:
Caterina, D. (2025, May 27). The Deeper You Go. . . - Dellantonio Caterina - medium. Medium. https://medium.com/@dellantonio.caterina/the-deeper-you-go-e5c2c94e85f7
Lovethesepicture. (2012, June 29). Adrenaline Junkies Cave Diving Vortex Spring [Pics, Videos]. lovethesepicture.com. https://lovethesepicture.wordpress.com/2012/06/28/adrenaline-junkies-cave-diving-vortex-spring-37-pics-5-videos/
Battison, J. (2024, September 12). Haunting theory about what happened to diver who jumped into Vortex Spring water and never came back. LADbible. https://www.ladbible.com/community/ben-mcdaniel-vortex-spring-missing-diver-133757-20240912
Join The Dark Oak Discussion:
Patreon
The Dark Oak Podcast Website
TikTok
Youtube
This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep
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