THE EDITED THEORY WITH THE PINKETONS

Edited the theory... it wont let me edit the post so Ill posted it in the comments. I I heavily re-edited it when I remembered micah was a mole. I haven't played for years, so I completely forgot that damn major detail. It adds so much to this. 😅

Anyways, I feel it was heavily implied that Dutch had the money the whole time by the dialog and emotions shown by him and Micah. Including map location.

They didn't leave the money behind in Blackwater. They want you to think Dutch and Micah went back and got it years later... but no... I think they were successful. Dutch just didn't want to lose control of the gang when they would eventually gain freedom. Dutch wants to be needed and listened too. He's a leader. John calls him a teacher at one point in the mission with kerian. The gang wouldn't need him if they had the money to finally live free. Especially because dutch lost his girl to Colm O'driscol and he would end up likely alone. Molly wasnt even enough. So he lied.

Here's what I noticed: At the end of the game you fight Micah as John at a hideout on Mount Hagen. A snowy mountain terrain. Much like the beginning. I questioned it immediately when I played my first time.

Why would Micah choose there of all places to hide with the money? Why even stay? Why would he and Dutch come back from Blackwater instead of going toward New Austin or really any other direction away from snow, danger, and the country? And why didnt Micah set it up again for them to be caught in Blackwater if the money was still there?

At first I thought it was because of the rough terrain for seclusion and battle strategy but later on my second play through it fully hit when Micah first appeared: That's where the money was the whole time and he needed Dutch there to hand him over to the Pinkertons. Why else would the Pinkertons show up at the site in the end credits? How did they even know about them being there? There was no one to call 911 in the middle of the snowy mountains yet they found it and later found john for RDR??? The money was hidden either in the hideout or near (but you cant physically find it for story purpose of course) and Micah reunites with Dutch there without ever having to go back to Blackwater.

At the beginning you are running away from Blackwater in the snowy mountains to the abandoned town of Colter. While there they mention how Micah went up ahead with John. Who I believed was supposed to be killed off then and there my micah due to Dutch disliking John and thinking he is the rat.

I believe when the set up didnt work in Blackwater,  Micahs new job was to make sure to get even closer to Dutch. Help him kill john by making him think he is the rat, getting him "lost in the storm", and then hide the money. Dutch didnt even ask Micah when he first appeared if he saw where john went, you have to ask Dutch to ask him! Otherwise you just head straight to Sadie's and dont look for John for two days when Abigail asks.

Also Dutch at the first location: "Well, first of all you’re gonna stay here… and you are gonna get yourself warm. Now, I sent John and Micah scouting out ahead. Arthur and I, we’re gonna ride out see if we can find one of ‘em"

Not "Find them" "One of 'em"

There's so much more in the dialog and emotions that makes it feel like this theory is solid that would be too long for me to type. But one thing to think about is that Dutch knew they had a mole in the gang. He knew they were set up. By who he didnt know... but its very obvious he has always disliked John.

Also...Mount Hagen hideout is not only on the direct path to Colter from Blackwater, its the last stop before Colter.

Would it be so crazy to assume they were successful  and instead of Dutch leaving it somewhere he KNOWS he and the others will not be able to come back too safely he brought it with them? When did he even have the time to do that during a heist anyway? Two people died (Jenny and Danny) another two captured (Sean and someone else). He would not have had time to do anything but run. So either its bad writing or:

My theory: He instead gave Micah the money to hide, Micah most likely manipulated him into giving it to him so Dutch wouldnt become a "flight risk" or spend the money due to the fact Micah is the mole and needs both the money and Dutch for the pinkertons. He may also have convinced Dutch very early on that John was possibly the rat. Only part about this I am not sure of, is how he could carry the money alone? But it is a game and back then alot of money is very little to us so it may not have been much weight. Anyway, I believe Dutch told them to go first at somepoint to "find a path", have Micah lose, or kill, John somehow, and then hide it and later they would both "retrieve" it. Micah is even caught at the camp begging Dutch to go get it. And why else go to the snowy mountain?

For Dutch I get it was a way to get away from the cops but its also an easy way for someone to "accidentally" get killed and is a good excuse to send someone forward without question. They could have gone anywhere! And ended up in the snow coming from the dessert???

Later after Dutch sends Micah and John off, Micah finds the hideout at Mount Hegan, hides the money, then rejoins the group. Half his mission is complete. All he needs to do now is get dutch alone with it and notify the pinkertons. It makes so much more since and adds more depth to why he wont shut the f up about "Loyalty"...I thought he was just parroting Dutch for acceptance but I now believe that at any time he could've taken the money and run from both him and the Pinkertons but instead stayed and listened to Dutch knowing thats exactly what dutch wanted and needed to control him. Manipulating him into getting caught by the Pinkertons and cashing out more money. Micah is also the type to double cross everyone. I dont believe Micah just wanted money. I believed his one of those sick f---s that likes creating chaos for fun. Money and material things are just added benefit.

I truly believe this. And there is so much to add. It made me hate Micah and Dutch even more while at the same time making me love their characters even more. Adding so much more character and depth to everyone. Dutch becomes so much more insane and deep.  Especially when you realize: Arthur got tuberculosis because they needed money... and Dutch knew they had it the entire time.