In a revelation that ended months of speculation and intrigue, Jonathan “Jack” Stuef, a 32-year-old medical student from Michigan, has come forward as the triumphant hunter who located Forrest Fenn’s elusive buried treasure.

Fenn, a retired New Mexico art dealer, initiated the decade-long quest by hiding a chest, rumored to be worth $2 million, filled with gold, gemstones, and other precious artifacts.

Stuef, who initially opted for anonymity due to concerns about potential harassment from Fenn’s fervent followers, decided to disclose his identity in response to an ongoing lawsuit from Barbara Anderson, a Chicago lawyer.

Anderson claimed she had solved the puzzle, alleging that Stuef had stolen her discovery, leading to a court ruling requiring Fenn’s family to reveal the finder’s identity.

Having spent two years on the quest and successfully retrieving the treasure on June 6 in Wyoming, Stuef shared his journey on Medium. He described the exhaustive process of searching and the emotional toll it took on him, including moments of frustration and exhaustion deep in the woods.

The revelation of Stuef’s identity has brought closure to Fenn’s legacy and dispelled doubts about the authenticity of the treasure hunt. Fenn, who passed away in September, left the secret hunter’s identity unrevealed.

Stuef’s decision to go public aims to counter a lawsuit filed by Anderson, whom he referred to as “a woman I do not know” and accused of bringing a baseless legal claim against him.

Shiloh Forrest Old, Fenn’s grandson, confirmed Stuef’s identity, providing a photograph of Fenn and Stuef together on the official hunt website. This revelation aims to put to rest any suspicions surrounding the existence of the treasure or speculations that Fenn terminated the hunt himself.

Despite the joy of finding the treasure, Stuef acknowledged the weight of ending a pursuit that held deep significance for countless enthusiasts. Approximately 350,000 people participated in the treasure hunt over the years, with some investing their life savings or even losing their lives in the process.

Stuef’s plan for the treasure is to sell it eventually to pay off his student loans. The chest, weighing 42 pounds and filled with gold coins, gemstones, and antique jewelry, now resides in a vault in New Mexico.

Stuef recognized the mixed emotions associated with his discovery, acknowledging that he ended something that meant so much to many people. The unveiling of the treasure hunter’s identity marks the conclusion of a captivating chapter in the history of Forrest Fenn’s hidden treasure.