‘White/Filipino’ pastor dies searching for treasure in New Mexico

Pastor Paris Wallace, described as “White/Filipino,” died while looking for treasure in Northern New Mexico. FACEBOOK

SAN FRANCISCO — Police in northern New Mexico reported finding a Filipino American pastor from Colorado, who disappeared last week while searching for buried treasure.

Paris Wallace, of Grand Junction, Colorado, described as “White/Filipino male” in missing person alerts, is possibly the second person to die looking for treasure that was buried by a millionaire in 2010.

The remains of 54-year-old treasure hunter Randy Bilyeu were found in July last year along the Rio Grande.

The fortune, hidden by millionaire Forrest Fenn somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, has lured many treasure hunters.

Millionaire Forest Fenn said he buried a treasure chest for adventurers to find. FACEBOOK

Two years ago, on CBS’ “Sunday Morning,” Fenn read a poem that he says holds clues to the location of a chest containing treasure — gold coins, precious metals and other artifacts. He warned that it wasn’t hidden in an abandoned mine, out of concern for searchers’ safety.

Police say Wallace told family members he was looking for a buried treasure nearly 50 miles north of Santa Fe, New Mexico.

His car was found near the Taos Junction Bridge in New Mexico. Police told “CBS This Morning” they found receipts in his vehicle indicating he’d purchased a rope and supplies at a local store.

A torn rope was located a short distance from his car. It had been stretched across a tributary of the Rio Grande. A body was recovered five to seven miles downstream from Wallace’s car.