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Hi listeners, I'm Michael David Axtel, and I have a story I want to tell you.

A story about a hiker turned hero who finds fortune and fame.

So gather round and listen.

Close.

The nickname came from you folks in the media.

They called me a vulture, so I leaned into it.

Shortened it to just vulture for simplicity.

I'd prefer to be called Thomas Langford, but sometimes you have to give in to nicknames.

It can feel like a forced label, but for me, I guess it's provided a level of notoriety.

Why do they call me the vulture?

Well, I find dead bodies, and I get paid to do so.

It's a little less morbid than it sounds.

While most people are satisfied with a mundane existence,

standard 9-5 house, a kid or two, I managed to find a way to co-mingle my only two passions in life,

true crime and backpacking.

After four years of college, an unpaid internship and an entry-level position

as a crime scene tech in a major metro area, I was already burnt out.

Too young to be fed up, my only escape from the daily grind was to pack up my camping gear and head to the woods.

I'd hike for miles, set up camp, and wake up to do it all over again.

Sleeping under the stars recharged my batteries.

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