Tragic Accident or Murder? Shocking Climbing Disaster on Aconcagua in 1973!

When climbers descended from Aconcagua, two were missing. Initially, it appeared as though they had died from a tragic accident. However, a subsequent investigation revealed the possibility of foul play. What truly happened on the summit of Aconcagua?

Chapters:
0:00 - Intro
0:31 - Aconcagua
1:22 - The Team
3:54 - The Climb
9:30 - Push to the Summit
13:30 - Investigation
16:22 - Camera

For educational, documentary, and entertainment purposes only. Based on actual events. The authoritative sources used for this story include interviews, newspaper articles, and TV news reporting meant to educate and memorialize notable cases in our history.

Music:
YouTube Library - Godmode - Blacksmith, Trudging Along
Storyblocks - Monsters SBA 300555148; SBA - 300554838.

References:

[true-tragedies]

Was it an accident or murder? What do you think happened?

[corey]

Leaving someone to descend alone is the pinnacle of mountain irresponsibility

[irishpsalteri]

Thanks for the graphics as I always like to see where climbers actually were.

[Strype]

I'd be willing to bet the murderer was the moron who left the construction truck at the summit. [10:32]

[sentimentalbloke]

Graphics were great, made it easier to understand than reading a written account.

[MakerInMotion]

It amazes me that the camera and film lasted 47 years outdoors. If you dropped an iphone on that mountain today, would anything be retrievable from it if it were found in 2071? I doubt it.

[FinnishLapphund]

I'm leaning more towards that neither Cooper nor Johnson was murdered. Johnson's body was found after 2 years, maybe snow melting moved her body, or maybe their fall simply wasn't as big as Zeller remembered. Small falls can also be lethal if you're unlucky.
I know of a case were a young woman for unknown reason fell indoors, in her own home, hit the clay pot to one of her plants, which broke, and cut her so badly she bled to death. They were at first convinced it must've been murder, due to her severe injuries, and thought the clay pot simply got damaged while she tried to fight her murderer, but eventually they concluded that no, she actually just had really bad luck.

Either way, if one or both of them actually did get murdered, whose to say it wasn't Johnson who killed Cooper, later fell, and the others don't really remember any of it due to their hallucinations?

[willo]

Interesting account and very well done. The graphics showing the climbers were a great touch since otherwise it’d be hard to visualize where everybody was.

[jayharr]

Not many stories about climbing Aconcagua. This is certainly an interesting one to say the least. Hypoxia, hypothermia & confusion, especially when combined with a huge lack of high altitude climbing experience, more than likely created conditions in which those climbers sadly died. On a different note, nice graphics especially the one showing the mountain/ climbing routes.

[efnissien]

I'd heard of this case a while back, in one of Nigel Blundell and Roger Boar's 'Worlds greatest' books - I think it was the 'Mysteries' book - but I've never heard of it since. Thanks!
When I did Kilimanjaro, several people said they could see 'faces in the rocks' watching them as we moved up the mountain in darkness. One guy didn't remember summitting, and later said he thought he'd stopped at a pub. (a group doing a charity hike from a pub unfurled a banner when they summited just after us - maybe he was influenced by that.)
It could be that under hypoxic conditions, one or more of the climbers attacked the others, but my guess is Johnson's facial injuries were as a result of her falling and also when her remains were moved by the wind (Aconcagua has a reputation for high winds.) Cooper possibly fell, landing on his ice axe and striking his head. It's also conceivable some were injured while others in the party tried to 'assist them' under the influence of hypoxia.

[roytetwart]

Why on earth would a group of climbers turn on each other during a climb?
It seems crazy to me. What could the motive possibly be?
Surely, someone suffering from hypoxia wouldn't have the strength to physically
attack and kill a fellow climber!

[gregatkinson]

Janet Johnson must have been the one who portrayed the bankers secretary in "The Beverly Hillbillies."

[Poopergambles]

Lowkey the guy probabaly was too tired or cold or oxygen deprived he didnt have time to self arrest and stabbed himself with his ice axe when falling. The scratches on his face maybe was just the snow cutting him up. THe lady idk

[myownprivateglasgow]

They were killed by the biggest serial killer there is: the ego. Alas! the humble hillside is the real mountain.

[wheresmyoldname]

Wow man! Great job 👏 where did you come from and where have you been all my YouTube life? 😩🥳✌️

[dt]

I woukd like this if I could, YT seems to have other ideas. This is a story I've never heard before. Thank you.

[maxpointt]

Wait, she requested to be buried at the mountain, before going up? Is that normal procedure?

[henningeide]

Pretty sure even the killers dont know who were the killers.

[AuthenticDarren]

A truly strange story whichever scenario is the truth.

[snakesghost]

Do people usually climb Aconcagua with supplemental oxygen ? Why didn't this team use supplemental oxygen ?