Inquiry Randall Nash Hartdegen

[Kristi23]

I am starting this inquiry after seeing multiple things said online without any proof to back it up. I have quite a few screenshots to add after this initial post.

Randall "Nash" claims to be a herpetologist with a masters working on his phd. He posted this in a group on facebook and has used herpetologist more than once when typing. He also runs a rescue which is why I am posting this. I worry that one big lie can ruin that and it makes it hard to trust. I want people to be aware before they donate. He probably does rescue animals, but it's hard to say to what extent after seeing all of this.

There is also an article where he says he was going back and forth between army and navy? (not exacting sure which branches) for 6 years and was going to go back to school for jag law. This article was from 2015.

However, I have found (as have many others) a lot of articles online what show he was born in 1997 and is 19 years old now.

This isn't a bad guy post, but I want this out there so people can come to their own conclusions.

I'm going to add screenshots from his own facebook page to show his birthday (missing year) and his family members to show that it is the same person mentioned in all the other articles I found online.

 

[Kristi23]

screenshots

 

[Kristi23]

more screenshots

 

[Kristi23]

still more

One here mentions head of breeding operations (for a rescue)

 

[TOMMYTRADIX]

Is he rescuing and reselling?

 

[TOMMYTRADIX]

Also is he aware of this post?

 

[Kristi23]

screenshots from HS chess and cross country

 

[Kristi23]

from san diego news last year

 

[Kristi23]

forgot this one

second half of collector thing where he says his education and military info

 

[Kristi23]

Is he rescuing and reselling?

I do not know honestly. And I haven't notified him yet. I was still working on the post.

 

[Kristi23]

The main reason to post this was just to let others know and be careful. Something isn't right.

You have him saying he's got a masters in herpetology, almost done with phd and just asking basic questions about leopard gecko care, stating he was in the military for 6 years, and that he's 28. But all those things found online show that he's 19. He did go to a military school for some time (the school is for grades 7-12). That is also shown in the San Diego news story from last year that has him as 18 years old. Same school is listed.

 

[Kristi23]

Unless I'm missing info, I can see his old HS stuff from 2011-2012 in Idaho. It looks like he transferred to the military school from 2013-2015.

 

[Kristi23]

I also wanted to add these that says he has these iguanas in the US. Maybe he does, but I would like to see proof.

 

[Kristi23]

I thought I had this one on here, but must have messed up. Too many screenshots.

Another newspaper article. This one about his mom and she mentions her kids here. I'd have to find the link again, but I believe it was 2010. Says Nash is 13 here.

 

[Kristi23]

Two more and then I'm done for now.

This shows his HS (his home town per his facebook profile) and says that he was in 9th and 10th grade here.

 

[CliffsideExotics]

I've been in contact with him for a while now and I've had doubts from day one, but I'm actually hoping to clear up a lot of dust. I haven't really started working with him other than making plans and suggestions for our possible future. Just trying to clear up my doubts before I actually become a part of his work

 

[Kristi23]

I've been in contact with him for a while now and I've had doubts from day one, but I'm actually hoping to clear up a lot of dust. I haven't really started working with him other than making plans and suggestions for our possible future. Just trying to clear up my doubts before I actually become a part of his work

I noticed he said you were head of breeding. I was curious about this since it's a rescue.

I think the stuff posted above would give me enough doubt to stay clear, but that's just me. There are way too many stories that I've seen. I'm hoping others come forward with more because it's not mine to share.

 

[CliffsideExotics]

We were talking about breeding the lesser common species or commonly mass imported species like monitors. He's not planning to breed the rescues or anything that's already mass produced like ball pythons

 

[DavidBeard]

Looks like a major case of compulsive liar syndrome if you ask me. Wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him.

 

[tim brophy]

There is no such thing as a "Masters in Herpetology". The degree would be a masters in biology, zoology, maybe wildlife biology. Even major universities have very few courses in Herpetology beyond "Herpetology" itself and maybe a couple seminar type classes. This is likely just an example of a kid who started exaggerating, hoping the anonymity of FB would protect him.