Persons of Interest

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POI-001 | Historical Figure | Status: Missing

Sheriff Tomas Ortega served the Mesilla region during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and remains one of the most frequently referenced individuals within The Mesilla Files archive. Known for his calm demeanor, sharp instincts, and deep knowledge of the desert, Ortega investigated everything from outlaw activity and missing persons to unexplained reports that others dismissed as rumor and superstition.

Over the years, Ortega's journals reportedly documented strange symbols, forgotten trails, mysterious disappearances, and several encounters with individuals connected to ongoing TMF investigations, including Billy the Kid and Captain Voss. Many of his records have never been recovered.

In 1936, Ortega vanished under circumstances that remain unexplained. No confirmed trace of him was ever found.

Today, researchers continue to study the surviving Ortega documents, believing they may contain clues connecting multiple mysteries scattered throughout the Old Desert. Many consider him one of the earliest investigators of what would later become known as the Mesilla Veil phenomenon.

Notable Associations: Billy the Kid, Captain Voss, The Mesilla Veil, Symbols in the Sand, The Other Mesilla

Known Quote:

"Some stories are only stories because nobody believes the truth."

POI-002 | Explorer | Researcher | Status: Unknown

Captain Voss is one of the most important and mysterious figures within The Mesilla Files archive. Although references to him appear throughout numerous reports, journals, maps, and witness statements, very little verified information about his life has ever been confirmed.

Most records describe Voss as a disciplined explorer, investigator, and former military officer who spent decades traveling the deserts, mountains, and forgotten regions of the American Southwest in search of unusual locations, lost artifacts, and unexplained phenomena. His name appears in connection with several major TMF investigations, including the Red Tape Jar, the Symbols in the Sand, the Lost Trains of the Old Desert, and early reports concerning the Mesilla Veil.

Unlike many researchers of his era, Voss maintained detailed field notes and maps, many of which remain scattered throughout the archive. These documents often contain observations that were ignored or dismissed by others at the time.

At some point, Voss disappeared from the historical record. Whether he retired, vanished, or discovered something that changed the course of his life remains unknown.

Today, researchers consider Captain Voss one of the foundational figures of The Mesilla Files and believe many of the answers to the archive's greatest mysteries may still be hidden within his lost reports.

Notable Associations: Sheriff Tomas Ortega, TOX, The Red Tape Jar, The Mesilla Veil, The Lost Trains, Symbols in the Sand

Known Quote:

"The object itself is rarely the mystery. The mystery is always the people connected to it."

POI-003 | Source | Archivist | Status: Unknown

Few individuals are more important—or more mysterious—than the person known only as TOX.

Over many years, TOX assembled an extraordinary collection of documents, photographs, maps, reports, journals, recordings, artifacts, and unexplained items that would eventually become known as The Mesilla Files Archive. The true identity of TOX remains unknown. No verified photograph has ever been discovered, and no official records have confirmed who TOX was or where the collection originated.

What is known is that TOX possessed an unusual interest in forgotten history, unsolved mysteries, lost expeditions, strange symbols, unexplained events, and stories that had been dismissed or overlooked by others. Many of the archive's most significant discoveries—including the Red Tape Jar, Captain Voss field reports, and numerous research files—were preserved because of TOX's efforts.

Some researchers believe TOX was a collector.

Others believe he was an investigator.

A few suspect he may have been part of a much larger organization operating behind the scenes.

Before disappearing from public view, TOX left behind thousands of pages of material along with a simple instruction:

"Follow the evidence."

Today, Dylan and Spencer continue examining the archive, attempting to separate fact from fiction while uncovering the stories TOX spent a lifetime preserving.

Classification: Primary Source

Known Associations: Captain Voss, Sheriff Ortega, TRC Research Center, The Red Tape Jar, The Mesilla Veil, The Old Desert Archive

Known Quote:

"The truth is rarely hidden. Most people simply stop looking."

POI-004 | Historical Figure | Outlaw | Status: Deceased (Official Record)

Born Henry McCarty and later known as William H. Bonney, Billy the Kid remains one of the most famous figures of the American Southwest. During the late 1870s, his involvement in the Lincoln County War and numerous encounters with lawmen transformed him into one of the most enduring legends of the Old West.

Within The Mesilla Files archive, Billy appears in several reports that extend beyond his well-known historical exploits. Witness statements, journal entries, and Sheriff Ortega's notes suggest Billy possessed an unusual interest in forgotten trails, strange symbols, and locations that did not appear on official maps. Several accounts claim he traveled extensively through the remote deserts surrounding Mesilla and may have encountered mysteries that were never recorded in traditional history.

One particularly intriguing report describes Billy carrying a mysterious blue lantern while searching for a place referred to only as "The Other Mesilla." Whether this story is fact, folklore, or something in between remains unknown.

Although history records Billy's death in 1881, questions surrounding his final travels continue to appear throughout the archive. Researchers remain divided on whether he was merely an outlaw passing through the region or an unwitting participant in a much larger mystery.

Notable Associations: Sheriff Tomas Ortega, The Blue Lantern, The Other Mesilla, Captain Voss, The Mesilla Veil

Known Quote:

"Some roads lead to places that were never meant to be found."
— Attributed to Billy the Kid in an unpublished Ortega journal

POI-005 | Historian | Research Specialist | Status: Active

Elena Vargas is a researcher, historian, and document specialist whose work has become essential to many investigations within The Mesilla Files archive. Raised in southern New Mexico, Elena developed an early fascination with local history, forgotten settlements, and the stories hidden within old journals, government records, church archives, and family collections.

Known for her ability to uncover overlooked details, Elena has helped identify connections between numerous TMF investigations, including the Mesilla Veil, the Symbols in the Sand, and several reports linked to Sheriff Tomas Ortega and Captain Voss. Her expertise in historical documents and translation has proven invaluable when examining damaged records, coded messages, and handwritten journals recovered from the archive.

Unlike many researchers, Elena believes that legends often contain fragments of truth hidden beneath generations of retelling. This philosophy has led her to pursue leads that others dismissed, resulting in several important discoveries.

Today, Elena continues to assist ongoing investigations while searching for records that may explain some of the archive's oldest mysteries.

Notable Associations: Captain Voss, Sheriff Tomas Ortega, TOX, The Mesilla Veil, The Red Tape Jar, TRC Research Center

Known Quote:

"History rarely disappears. It simply waits for someone willing to look a little deeper."

POI-006 | Informant | Keeper of Ancient Knowledge | Status: Unknown

Seraphina is one of the most enigmatic figures associated with The Mesilla Files archive. Little is known about her origins, though multiple communications place her on the Greek island of Hydra, where she reportedly maintains access to a private collection of ancient manuscripts, maps, journals, and historical records.

Over the years, Seraphina has provided information connected to several major investigations, including the Mesilla Veil, Captain Voss, and a number of unexplained symbols that appear throughout the archive. While many of her claims cannot be independently verified, researchers have noted that information supplied by Seraphina has repeatedly proven accurate.

Her extensive knowledge of ancient civilizations, forgotten languages, and obscure historical traditions has led some to believe she possesses access to sources unavailable to modern scholars. Others suspect she may be connected to a network of researchers operating across multiple countries.

Despite numerous attempts to learn more about her, Seraphina's true identity, background, and motivations remain unknown.

Whether historian, collector, researcher, or something else entirely, Seraphina continues to be one of the archive's most trusted—and mysterious—sources.

Notable Associations: Captain Voss, TOX, Elena Vargas, The Mesilla Veil, Ancient Manuscripts, Hydra, Greece

Known Quote:

"The past is not gone. It is simply waiting for those who can still listen."

POI-007 | Priest | Historian | Status: Deceased

Father Miguel Serrano served the Mesilla region during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries and was widely respected for his knowledge of local history, frontier settlements, and the cultural traditions of the Southwest. As pastor of a small church near Mesilla, he spent decades preserving journals, church records, personal letters, and historical accounts that might otherwise have been lost.

Within The Mesilla Files archive, Father Serrano is frequently referenced as a trusted observer of unusual events occurring throughout the Old Desert. His personal journals contain reports of unexplained symbols, strange lights, mysterious travelers, and locations that appeared repeatedly in stories passed down through generations of local families.

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Father Serrano believed that history and legend were often connected. He carefully documented stories others dismissed, believing that even the most unlikely accounts might contain fragments of truth.

Several surviving entries suggest that Serrano maintained correspondence with Sheriff Tomas Ortega and may have possessed knowledge concerning early reports of what later became known as the Mesilla Veil.

Today, his journals remain among the most valuable historical resources within the archive.

Notable Associations: Sheriff Tomas Ortega, Captain Voss, The Mesilla Veil, Symbols in the Sand, The Other Mesilla, Church Archives

Known Quote:

"The desert remembers what men choose to forget."

POI-008 | Researcher | Surveyor | Status: Deceased

Howard H. Hunter was a researcher, field surveyor, and amateur historian whose name appears throughout numerous TMF reports dating from the 1940s through the 1960s. Known for his methodical approach and meticulous record-keeping, Hunter spent years documenting unusual locations, abandoned settlements, forgotten trails, and unexplained reports throughout southern New Mexico and the surrounding Old Desert.

Unlike many investigators of his era, Hunter approached every mystery with skepticism. His journals reveal a man determined to separate fact from folklore, often revisiting locations multiple times to verify witness accounts and historical records. Yet despite his scientific outlook, several of Hunter's reports describe events and discoveries he could not explain.

Among his most significant contributions are a series of field notes connected to strange symbols, unexplained lights, and locations associated with the Mesilla Veil. Many of these records remain incomplete, leading some researchers to believe Hunter may have uncovered information he chose not to publish.

Today, Howard Hunter's journals, maps, and research notes remain valuable resources within the TMF archive and continue to influence modern investigations.

Notable Associations: Captain Voss, Sheriff Tomas Ortega, TRC Research Center, The Mesilla Veil, Symbols in the Sand, Lost Trains of the Old Desert

Known Quote:

"The evidence does not care what we believe. Our job is to follow it wherever it leads."

POI-009 | Investigator | Analyst | Research Writer | Status: Active

T. J. Clayton is an investigator, researcher, and field analyst whose reports have become an important part of modern TMF investigations. Known for his methodical approach and attention to detail, Clayton specializes in connecting seemingly unrelated documents, witness statements, historical records, and field observations into coherent investigative theories.

With a background in historical research and case analysis, Clayton has contributed extensively to studies involving the Mesilla Veil, the Lost Trains of the Old Desert, the Symbols in the Sand, and numerous archive recovery projects. His reports are widely respected for their thorough documentation and willingness to examine evidence from multiple perspectives.

Unlike some researchers who focus on legends or folklore, Clayton is primarily interested in facts, timelines, and verifiable connections. Yet even he has encountered mysteries that resist conventional explanation.

Today, Clayton continues to assist ongoing investigations while searching for new evidence hidden within the expanding TMF archive.

Notable Associations: Dylan Carrillo, Spencer Clifton, Elena Vargas, TRC Research Center, The Mesilla Veil, Captain Voss Archive

Known Quote:

"Facts don't solve mysteries. People do."

POI-010 | Filmmaker | Publisher | Collector | Status: Deceased

L. Jackson was a filmmaker, publisher, and entrepreneur whose name appears throughout numerous entertainment properties connected to The Mesilla Files archive. Best known as the founder of L. Jackson Pictures and an early supporter of Desert Sun Comics, Jackson spent decades producing films, publishing stories, and collecting unusual historical records from across the American Southwest.

To the public, Jackson was viewed as a creative businessman with a fascination for western adventures, desert legends, and unexplained mysteries. However, documents discovered within the archive suggest his interests extended far beyond entertainment.

Several reports indicate that Jackson actively acquired maps, journals, photographs, and artifacts connected to forgotten expeditions, lost settlements, and unexplained events throughout the Old Desert. Researchers have noted that many of his films and publications appear to contain references to actual locations, symbols, and individuals that later surfaced in independent investigations.

Whether these connections were intentional or coincidental remains unknown.

Today, many researchers believe Jackson used stories, films, and comic books to preserve information that might otherwise have been forgotten, disguising historical clues as entertainment.

Notable Associations: B. Jackson, Captain Voss, Desert Sun Comics, L. Jackson Pictures, The Lost Trains of the Old Desert, The Mesilla Veil

Known Quote:

"People will ignore a report. They'll remember a story."

POI-011 | Publisher | Editor | Archivist | Status: Deceased

B. Jackson was a publisher, editor, and collector whose work helped preserve many of the stories, legends, and historical records that would later become part of The Mesilla Files archive. Working closely with L. Jackson, he played a significant role in the development of Desert Sun Comics, numerous historical publications, and a variety of projects focused on the mysteries of the American Southwest.

While L. Jackson was often the public face of their ventures, B. Jackson preferred working behind the scenes. He spent years collecting rare books, journals, maps, photographs, and firsthand accounts connected to forgotten expeditions, abandoned settlements, and unexplained events throughout the Old Desert.

Archive records suggest that B. Jackson believed stories served a greater purpose than entertainment. He often argued that legends, comic books, films, and adventure tales could preserve important information long after official records had disappeared.

Many researchers believe that clues hidden throughout Desert Sun Comics and other Jackson publications may have been intentionally placed there to preserve knowledge that was considered too unusual, controversial, or easily forgotten.

Today, B. Jackson's collected records continue to provide valuable leads for ongoing investigations throughout the TMF archive.

Notable Associations: L. Jackson, Desert Sun Comics, Captain Voss, Howard H. Hunter, The Lost Trains of the Old Desert, The Mesilla Veil

Known Quote:

"A report may gather dust on a shelf. A good story can survive for generations."

POI-012 | Legendary Figure | Ruler of the Old Desert | Status: Unknown

The Scorpion King is one of the oldest and most mysterious figures referenced within The Mesilla Files archive. Stories describing the Scorpion King appear in legends, journals, expedition reports, tribal accounts, and scattered historical records spanning generations. Despite numerous references, no verified evidence confirming his existence has ever been discovered.

According to the most common accounts, the Scorpion King ruled a forgotten region known only as the Old Desert, a place said to exist beyond the boundaries of ordinary maps and history. Witness descriptions vary widely, portraying him as everything from a powerful tribal leader to a supernatural guardian of hidden knowledge.

Several reports suggest the Scorpion King possessed unusual abilities, including an apparent connection to desert creatures, ancient symbols, and locations associated with the Mesilla Veil. Some stories claim he protected secrets that were never meant to be revealed, while others portray him as a warning passed down through generations.

Researchers remain divided on whether the Scorpion King was a real historical figure, a collection of legends merged into a single character, or something far more difficult to explain.

Regardless of the truth, his influence continues to appear throughout the archive, often where the oldest mysteries of the Old Desert are concerned.

Notable Associations: The Old Desert, Captain Voss, The Mesilla Veil, Desert Legends, Symbols in the Sand, The Dune Lurker

Known Quote:

"The desert belongs to no man. We merely pass through its shadows."