The first episode of Netflix's "Unsolved Mysteries" features Ray Rivera, a writer who disappeared (opens in new tab) after receiving a mysterious phone call and was found dead in a famous Baltimore hotel. (Opens in new tab) One of the most compelling, bizarre, and puzzling aspects of the case is a long, rambling note taped to the back of his computer that his wife, Allison Rivera, found behind his desk. According to Rivera's brother, it may have been a "red herring" and may have a deeper meaning behind what happened to him. In particular, it contains references to Freemasonry.

His wife, Allison, says she knows he wrote the note the day he disappeared. The font was reduced in size, and the entire note was contained on a single sheet of paper about 7 inches long, folded and taped in a hard-to-reach place.

The note begins thus. 'Brothers and sisters, volcanoes are erupting all over the world right now. What a wonderful sight, Whom virtue unites, death will not separate", this last phrase is clearly a Masonic phrase (the letter seems to end with a Masonic phrase as well).

Not covered in this episode, but in the local news (opens in new tab): shortly before his death, Rivera had expressed interest in joining the local chapter of Freemasonry and had even bought "Freemasons for Dummies. According to his wife, he was interested in secret societies and in being a movie scriptwriter.

Other excerpts from the memo are from Newsweek magazine (opens in new tab):

Rivera listed people he knew (his wife said he missed some important people, which seems odd), with a request to be "five years younger" and then a list of movies, books, and music that "[he] found very inspirational and compelling," such as "Meet Joe Black," "Minority Report," "The Bourne Identity," and "The Lord of the Rings." He also mentions filmmakers Stanley Kubrick, M. Night Shyamalan, and star Christopher Reeve.

He also wrote: "It was a well played game. Congratulations to everyone who participated. But it's time to wake up. So here I am" - what game are we talking about' - 'I stand before you as a man who understands the purpose and value of our secret. That is why I value secrets as secrets," he writes. And, "Life is a test to see if you can control your spirit. Take care and enjoy the festivities."

At this point, no one really knows. The full text of the note does not seem to be online, and even the closest family members are scratching their heads as to what it represents. The episode suggests that it may be some sort of code, but if that is true, so far no one has been able to decipher it.

However, since the episode aired, several interesting theories have emerged from viewers, one of which has been spread on Reddit and reported in Newsweek (opens in new tab), comparing the way Ray died to the movie he described in his notes. User/zumalightblue writes: (opens in new tab)

Anyone with information about Rivera's disappearance should visit unsolved.com.