A new documentary on Max delves into the mystery surrounding Vance John Rodriguez, known as "Mostly Harmless," whose emaciated body was found in the Florida wilderness in 2018, sparking a nearly three-year investigation. Director Patricia Gillespie sheds light on the case in "They Called Him Mostly Harmless," discussing the online mythmaking and community effort that surrounded the unknown hiker.

The documentary reveals how Rodriguez, also known as "Denim" for wearing jeans, crossed paths with fellow hiker Brandon Dowell eight months before his death at the age of 42. Despite forming a bond over shared experiences, Rodriguez declined to stay in touch, leaving Dowell puzzled by the abrupt end to their interaction.

Following Rodriguez's death, a yellow tent in the Florida wilderness became his final resting place. Investigators discovered $3,500 in cash, computer-coded notebooks, food supplies, and an 83-pound body with no identification. Despite the efforts of internet sleuths and a Virginia-based delivery woman, Christie Harris, it wasn't until 2021 that Rodriguez's true identity was confirmed as a loner with a troubled past.

The documentary explores Rodriguez's mental health struggles, isolation from family, and history of self-harm, shedding light on the complexity of his character. Gillespie emphasizes the importance of looking beyond online perceptions, highlighting the dichotomy between the positive impressions some had of Rodriguez and the darker aspects of his past.

The circumstances leading to Rodriguez's death remain shrouded in mystery, with speculations that he may have chosen to starve himself to death. Faced with the enigma of Rodriguez's final hours, Dowell penned a song with his band Bombadier as a means of coping with the revelations surrounding the hiker they had sought to identify.

As the documentary "They Called Him Mostly Harmless" unravels the layers of Vance Rodriguez's life and untimely demise, it invites viewers to contemplate the complexities of human nature and the repercussions of online speculation on real-life tragedies.