# Three men freeze to death in a friend's backyard and aren't found for three days **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 16, 2024, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151 "2024-01-16T06:01:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 17
**Author:** ![smithsb](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smithsb/32/12107_2.png) [@smithsb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smithsb)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/321 "2024-02-04T19:17:04Z")
We’re under time constraints here. We have 44 minutes to wrap things up or we’ll be impinging on commercials. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/322 "2024-02-04T20:17:35Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > I can’t imagine how it would unless you deliberately added an adulterant. Distillers throw away the head and tail of the distillation process, called the head and tail, and keep just the heart for drinking purposes. The head is contaminated with methanol, the tail with [fusel alcohol](https://homedistiller.org/wiki/index.php/Fusel_oils). > **[How do I separate the heads (foreshot), hearts (middle cut) and tails (feint)?](https://distillationsupplies.com/how-do-i-separate-the-heads-foreshot-hearts-middle-cut-and-tails-feint/)** > > Are you thinking about making your own liqueur, whisky or other moonshine? You have come to the right place. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/323 "2024-02-04T21:19:09Z")
**Moderator Note** > [@DesertDog](#): > > Distillers throw away the head and tail of the distillation process This doesn’t cross the line yet, but let’s all keep in mind that at the federal level, home distillation is illegal. However, just to muddy the legal waters, several states do permit it. Federal law is supposed to trump state law, but that doesn’t always happen in practice. There is no problem linking to a site that sells distillation equipment, but let’s not cross the line and do anything that advocates home distillation in states that do not allow it. No problem so far, but let’s keep everything on the legal side of things. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/324 "2024-02-04T21:22:59Z")
This requires: if you have to ask you probably shouldn’t be home distilling any who. Bad juju. ---
**Author:** ![DesertDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desertdog/32/11503_2.png) [@DesertDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DesertDog)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/325 "2024-02-04T22:12:01Z")
> [@engineer\_comp\_geek](#): > > This doesn’t cross the line yet, but let’s all keep in mind that at the federal level, home distillation is illegal. Oops. Living in one of the handful of states where [home distilling is lawful](https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/distilling-laws-by-state), the Feds never crossed my mind. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/326 "2024-02-04T22:32:34Z")
It’s legal in around 30 states for home use but not commercial. You are only allowed to take it out of your home to transport to a contest (like a county fair) to be judged so making it (and learning how to make it) in those states should be ok. You can see the list in the link above. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2024, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/327 "2024-02-04T23:56:40Z")
California - you can’t home distill at all, but it **is** legal to transport it to a contest. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/328 "2024-02-05T00:08:03Z")
Back years ago when I did the research, I read that you really actively have to be concentrating the heads and tails to potentially blind or kill yourself. All the reports I found at the time of severe methanol poisoning cases was where pure methanol was added as an adulterant. I couldn’t find anything about a bad home distillation killing anyone — just reports of the worst hangovers. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/329 "2024-02-05T00:25:47Z")
> [@DesertDog](#): > > The head is contaminated with methanol This is a dangerous myth because it suggests that a methanol-containing solution can be made safe in a home-distilling setup by discarding the heads. Methanol may be elevated in the heads or the tails depending on the ratio of water, ethanol, and water. But it will be found in all fractions. Ternary eutectics are complicated. And distillation does not separate by boiling point. The heads are discarded because they contain ketones and esters that taste horrible. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/330 "2024-02-05T00:38:40Z")
My Uncle home made his hooch for years. (He didn’t sell it, he wanted it all for himself) I’m not nearly gonna tell you how it’s done, at all. But I watched him many times. (I was interested in such as this because I made homemade wine and Persimmon beer) His hooch was specifically Apple-jack. And he was careless, nasty, inebriated most of the time he was cooking it. He was not real brainy, My Uncle Pete. He didn’t get any smarter thru the years. He died basically a cirrhosis infected drunk imbecile. Home distilleries are not safe to make human consumables. Stay far away. Buy your moonshine from a proper inspected distributor. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/331 "2024-02-05T01:05:05Z")
> [@crowmanyclouds](#): > > Assuming this went to trial, as it currently stands, the defense wouldn’t even have to argue for a [Rule 403](https://www.law.cornell.edu/rules/fre/rule_403) exception since there’s nothing even suggesting that this guy was manufacturing drugs. Yes. Where did this idea that he was a drug cook come from? Is there a cite for that or even a cite of any interested party speculating such a thing? If there was, I didn’t see it. It seems irresponsible to me for folks to pointlessly cast these aspersions. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/332 "2024-02-05T01:20:31Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > Yes. Where did this idea that he was a drug cook come from? Is there a cite for that or even a cite of any interested party speculating such a thing? From the NY Post article I linked above: > “A bunch of people reached out to Clayton’s sister and told her that Willis had been known as ‘The Chemist’ in high school,” Jim McGeeney told The Post. > > “They said he would go to parties and make people feel good with the drugs he enhanced. I don’t know if he concocted something or not that night. Now, this is definitely hearsay, and I haven’t seen any other ‘evidence’ about this, but the cite does exist. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/333 "2024-02-05T01:21:28Z")
> [@Railer13](#): > > Now, this is definitely hearsay, and I haven’t seen any other ‘evidence’ about this, but the cite does exis Thank you for the cite. > [@Magiver](#): > > All we know is that he’s in rehab so that suggests a drug habit and not a drug dealer It doesn’t suggest anything at all other than he’s in rehab. ---
**Author:** ![Stratocaster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stratocaster/32/16393_2.png) [@Stratocaster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stratocaster)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/334 "2024-02-05T01:24:48Z")
> [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](#): > > It doesn’t suggest anything at all other than he’s in rehab. Being in rehab doesn’t suggest a drug habit? Hmm. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/335 "2024-02-05T01:27:59Z")
> [@Stratocaster](#): > > Being in rehab doesn’t suggest a drug habit? Hmm I should have written that it doesn’t suggest anything about whether he’s a drug dealer or not. That’s what I was reacting to. It does suggest he may have a drug use problem, yes. ---
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/336 "2024-02-05T01:30:30Z")
Or maybe it’s an alcohol problem. Habitual drunks who want to quit need careful monitoring during the drying-out period; delirium tremens can kill. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/337 "2024-02-05T01:36:01Z")
Or maybe it’s a legal ploy. “But, your honor, he recognizes there’s an issue and he’s seeking help for his problem!” StG ---
**Author:** ![Johanna](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johanna/32/8318_2.png) [@Johanna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johanna)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 1:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/338 "2024-02-05T01:51:55Z")
There go my plans to sing “Copper Kettle” at the talent show! ---
**Author:** ![dougrb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/76d3ee/32.png) [@dougrb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dougrb)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/339 "2024-02-05T01:54:43Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > “But, your honor, he recognizes there’s an issue and he’s seeking help for his problem!” Probably just needs a tweak to the fentanyl/coke ratio. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2024, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151/340 "2024-02-05T02:08:39Z")
> [@Johanna](#): > > There go my plans to sing “Copper Kettle” at the talent show! - Lol! One of my early favorite Baez recordings. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151.md?page=16) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/three-men-freeze-to-death-in-a-friends-backyard-and-arent-found-for-three-days/996151.md?page=18)