[NittanyLion]

"He was wearing T-shirt, a pair of jeans and one tennis shoe. That was it,"

I have no idea what happened in this case, but often severely hypothermic people will become so disoriented / confused they'll strip off their clothing. That may have been the situation here.

[A_perfect_lady]

often severely hypothermic people will become so disoriented / confused they'll strip off their clothing.

Really?? Geez, I've never heard that before. Bizarre.

[Pontiac]

often severely hypothermic people will become so disoriented / confused they'll strip off their clothing.

I also thought of that when I read the about the one shoe. I also thought that a man in the mountains would likely have at least a jacket. But the younger generations consider it fashionable to go out in the cold with no coat, shorts (or pajama bottoms) and flip-flops. The young people today give no thought to what happens if things go bad while they are away from home. Going out like that can mean death or easily the loss of body parts to frost bite.

The shoe could have been lost early on when he was running away. If it was he should have surrendered then because it was a death sentence.