The Silent Key Grave Robber
Like most honorable traditions in civilized societies, they honor those that have passed. Amateur Radio (Ham Radio) is no different. A "Silent Key" is a Ham Operator that has passed away. Also keep in mind when a Ham passes away he/she usually leaves radio equipment that is auctioned to those that appreciate such a thing. Being the operator of a Silent Key's radio gear is highly sentimental.
STEVE MAPES was on channel 19 cb radio one day rambling about "going to a hauling job". Steve has a self proclaimed business called "Four Seasons Hauling" in Lincoln Nebraska. While driving to this "job", he was bragging about the person mentioning on the phone there was ham radio equipment involved. Steve Mapes is not a Ham. Turns out the person needing the work was an elderly woman that just had her Ham Operator husband pass away. Since the woman had little money, she agreed to let Steve Mapes take his ham radio equipment for the hauling job. When Steve's work was finished he returned to the cb radio to tell everyone "I cleaned the old bitch out of her dead husband's radio equipment". Everyone listening was shocked. He then described his "take" as he called it. A Kenwood TS-450, CW Key and other gear. Turns out the Silent Key was a CW only man. Someone who only did morse code.
This story gets worse. The old woman forgot to clean out the man's desk drawers where the man kept his Federal Amateur Radio Operator's License, Driver's License, Passport, Birth Certificate and other sensitive paperwork. Steve Mapes returned to the cb radio that night talking on the Kenwood TS-450 bragging about being in possession of this Silent Key's paperwork and how he intentionally took it. Steve boldly described how he had seen the "Passport" in the desk and quickly shoved the papers in the box with the radio gear. Steve Mapes Steve then instructed everyone on the cb radio he could talk on ham radio now he had the "dead man's license". People could not believe what they were hearing. Steve Mapes just kept laughing about his "big score" saying, "I sure took that dumb old bitch for a ride".
The next day I tuned in on the radio to listen to this maniac and heard more shameless activity. Steve Mapes was telling people to tune to ham radio frequencies to see if people could hear him. Next thing you know Steve Mapes is in the Advanced portion of the 20 meter Amateur Radio band. He whistles over and over chanting "Hello, Hello, Audio, Audio, Whistle, Can anyone hear me, whistle, hello, hello,audio,whistle". Steve Mapes then tunes the Kenwood TS-450 back up to channel 19 claiming he is going to use the previous owner's drivers license and ham radio license to renew the stolen Ham License when it expired. I could not believe what I was hearing. I have respected these mature elder ham operators since I started the short wave radio hobby back when I was 3-4 years old. Hearing Steve Mapes bragg about taking advantage of an old elderly woman and her dead ham operator husband was a great tragedy in my life. We all see some horrible atrocities in our lives, but Steve Mapes creates them out of nothing daily with no remorse. Look what this says about Steve Mapes's so called business "Four Seasons Hauling" out of Lincoln Nebraska. Would you want this guy hauling old junk from your Home? Helping himself to people's sensitive papers and then bragging about stealing their identity. Sounds like Conspiracy to commit a Felony to me. Worse than that is the way he takes advantage of the elderly and then rapes their graves and traditions. IT"S SICK! SICK! Steve Mapes of Lincoln Nebraska treats everyone this way. I wish my "Story" submission for setevemapes.com was just that, A Story. I am truly sad to say it's all true. Steve Mapes is the most disgusting "human being" I have ever seen. He is a monster.
