Authorities have transitioned from a rescue mission to a recovery operation in the search for missing American YouTuber Elliot Eastman, with grim indications that the 26-year-old is no longer alive.
Eastman, a content creator from Vermont, USA, was forcibly taken by armed men on October 17 in Sitio Tungawan, Barangay Poblacion, Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte. Witnesses reported he was shot during the abduction while resisting the attackers, who dragged him from a house to a waiting boat.
Lieutenant Colonel Ramoncelio Sawan, spokesperson for PNP-Zamboanga Peninsula, shared chilling updates. An arrested suspect, he said, confessed in November that Eastman had died shortly after the abduction.
The suspect claimed Eastmanโs body was abandoned in the waters off Zamboanga. This account corroborates a witness statement from October.
Despite these revelations, Eastmanโs remains have not been recovered. Authorities, in cooperation with the Marines and local law enforcement, continue to pursue leads while notifying his family through the U.S. Embassy in Manila.
A Content Creatorโs Journey Cut Short
Eastman had been living in Mindanao for five months with his wife, Karisha Jala, a Sama native of Sibuco. Financial struggles marked their time together, but his vlogs documented his candid reflections on life, relationships, and challenges.
Through his YouTube channel, Eastman shared moments of tension with his father, heartfelt connections with his grandparents, and his mother’s absence from his narrative. He also hinted at an awareness of the risks he faced living in Zamboanga del Norte.
A Case Shrouded in Mystery
The motive behind Eastmanโs abduction remains unclear. Authorities note the lack of any ransom demand or claim of responsibility, leaving investigators puzzled.
On October 29, police filed kidnapping and serious illegal detention charges against six suspects, three of whom remain at large. Efforts to apprehend them continue.
Eastmanโs story resonates as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by individuals pursuing unconventional paths in unfamiliar territories.
Rappler originally published this report.
About The Author
