Folgen
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When we talk about travel nightmares, we often picture what lurks outside - dark alleys, strangers with bad intentions, stories that begin with a missed train or a wrong run. But sometimes… the danger is already inside.
Today, we’re opening the door on something even more haunting: fire.
Sudden. Consuming, Unforgiving.
Because for some travelers, the scariest part of their journey wasn’t a distant unknown - it was their bed. Their room. The place they thought they were safest.
In this episode, we’re telling the stories of four devastating hostel fires: The Childers Palace Backpackers Hostel in Australia, where young backpackers from around the world came chasing sunshine and freedom - and never made it home.
The Downunder Hostel fire in Sydney, Australia - where a broken alarm system and locked exits turned a simple stay into a fatal trap.
A fire in Riga, Latvia - swift and deadly - inside an illegal hostel that should never have been open at all.
And the Loafers Lodge fire in Wellington, New Zealand, where residents living in budget rooms were left scrambling for their lives in the early hours of the morning.
Each of these stories is different. But they all ask the same, terrifying question: What happens when your escape route disappears?This isn’t about fear. It’s about awareness. Because travel should feel like possibility, not risk.
Hostels should be spaces of laughter and late-night stories - not loss.So stay with me, as we retrace the final hours inside these hostels. We’ll ask what went wrong… and what we can learn from the people who never got the chance to check out.
Do you have a story to share? Send your email to [email protected]
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, A Scary State Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-scary-state/id1562755130
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://www.smh.com.au/national/childers-danger-known-say-families-20030620-gdgyl4.html
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/backpackers-unlawfully-killed-hostel-fire-2265489
https://thewest.com.au/news/australia/survivors-remember-childers-fire-a-decade-on-ng-ya-207764
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-02/childers-backpacker-hostel-killer-has-parole-bid-rejected/13114808
https://www.smh.com.au/national/childers-hostel-blaze-survivors-want-psychopath-killer-to-die-behind-bars-20200604-p54zj6.html
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2000/06/fire-j30.html
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/1387948/Loner-found-guilty-of-hostel-arson-murders.html
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1243&dat=19890917&id=yNE9AAAAIBAJ&sjid=B4cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4507,2248979
https://www.nsw.gov.au/departments-and-agencies/nsw-reconstruction-authority
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/a-tragic-toll-building-fires-in-australia/news-story/647ba30dc34a6d279f392a2f18bb2851
https://www.iklimnet.com/hotelfires/case19.html
https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/latvia-fire-riga-hostel-fire-kills-eight-people-b932170.html
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/fire-illegal-riga-tourist-hostel-kills-eight-injures-nine-2021-04-28/
https://www.baltictimes.com/eight_people_die_in_fire_in_downtown_riga_hostel/
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/wellington-hostel-fire-hearse-arrives-as-police-recover-first-body/P4WWETXKSVEHXCPGJEFHCQQT34/
https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/300879640/wellington-fatal-hostel-fire-what-is-loafers-lodge
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/16/wellington-hostel-fire-multiple-people-dead-in-new-zealand-blaze
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/490033/loafers-lodge-had-a-building-wof-but-what-exactly-does-that-mean
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/politics/why-loafers-lodge-didnt-have-sprinklers-and-wellington-firefighters-fears-over-ageing-trucks/UJ6L4RSWHBDIRKQ7OYDSFCZRSU/ -
When we pack our bags and check into a hostel, we’re chasing adventure. A new city, a bunk bed, the promise of strangers who might become friends - or at least someone to split a cab with.
And honestly? I love staying in hostels.
I’ve stayed in them all over - tiny ones in coastal towns to big ones in the heart of cities. They’re chaotic, friendly, weird, and wonderful. And for the most part, they feel safe.But behind the cheerful welcome signs and communal kitchens, something darker can hide.
A stolen passport. A missing girl. A body in a room.
From Australia to France to India, some travelers checked in… but never checked out. Today, I’m taking you around the world - one hostel at a time - to revisit the chilling true stories of backpackers who vanished, were attacked, or lost their lives in places meant to be safe havens for the wandering soul.
Do you have a story to share? Send your email to [email protected]
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, A Scary State Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-scary-state/id1562755130
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/apr/03/facing-my-daughters-killer-and-finding-forgiveness-its-what-mia-would-have-wanted
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-08/home-hill-backpacker-murders-smail-ayad-ayliffe-chung-jackson/100522990
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Home_Hill_stabbings
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sophie_Collombet
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-26/benjamin-james-milward-sentenced-life-sophie-collombet-murder/7962676
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/26/sophie-collombet-killer-jailed-for-at-least-20-years-for-and-of-student
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-01/police-confirm-bashed-woman-was-french-exchange-student/5360002
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Arce_Montes
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2004/jun/13/schooltrips.uk
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/jun/21/france.uk
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2004-06-15/spaniard-jailed-for-30-years-over-dickinson-murder/1992942
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/14/goa-india-vikat-bhagat-guilty-rape-murder-danielle-mclaughlin
https://apnews.com/article/india-goa-rape-irish-backpacker-danielle-mclaughlin-c510687dd25e7202d2fb85edd9ae0a94
https://www.thesun.ie/news/14732164/man-sentenced-rape-murder-irish-backpacker-india-danielle-mclaughlin/
https://www.thesun.ie/news/14735720/danielle-mclaughlin-murder-family-nightmare-over-killer-life-sentence/
https://people.com/irish-backpacker-india-beaches-found-dead-raped-murdered-paradise-11681002 -
Fehlende Folgen?
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Today on The Last Trip, we’re diving into the darker side of travel with someone who knows exactly where the bodies are buried - literally and figuratively.
Dawn Barclay is an award - winning travel journalist with a knack for uncovering the truth behind paradise. You might know her from her groundbreaking guide Traveling Different, which helps neurodiverse families navigate the chaos of vacationing with grace and strategy.
But under the name DM Barr, she’s also a thriller writer who crafts suspense like a seasoned detective.
And now? She’s fusing those worlds together in her series Vacations Can Be Murder: A True Crime Lover’s Travel Guide - a multi-volume passport to the most chilling destinations across the globe.
She’s part Nancy Drew, part Rick Steves, and she’s here with us to share the stories, the secrets, and maybe even a few travel warnings you won’t find in the brochures.
So buckle up. We’re going on a trip where the souvenirs come with stories you’ll never forget.
Do you have a story to share? Send your email to [email protected]
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Follow Dawn Barclay & pick up your copy of "Vacations Can Be Murder"
Amazon - https://a.co/d/d3TjUo6
https://www.dawnbarclayink.com/
https://dawnbarclay.com/
http://www.dmbarr.com/
https://vacationscanbemurder.weebly.com/
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter -
It was a quiet spring morning in Idyllwild, California - April 7, 2017 - when 25 year old David O’Sullivan put on his backpack, stepped onto the Pacific Crest Trail, and vanished.
The Irish hiker had come to America chasing a dream: to walk from Mexico to Canada, alone, through some of the country’s wildest landscapes. The day before, he’d sent a brief email from the town’s small library - his last known communication.
Since then, there’s been nothing. No calls. No confirmed sightings. No trace of him.
How does someone disappear on one of the most traveled trails in the US?
What happened to David O’Sullivan? And where is he now?
Listen as we dive into the Pacific Crest Trail, the case of David O'Sullivan, and how to stay alive on vacation.
Do you have a story to share? Send your email to [email protected]
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, A Scary State Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a-scary-state/id1562755130
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://fofound.org/2021/06/19/david-osullivan-missing/
https://www.pctmissing.org/david-osullivan
https://www.pressenterprise.com/2021/05/26/the-mysterious-disappearance-of-pacific-crest-trail-hiker-david-osullivan/
https://www.pressenterprise.com/2021/05/26/whos-looking-for-david-osullivan-at-first-almost-no-one/
https://www.pressenterprise.com/2021/05/26/4-years-later-searchers-seek-an-answer-what-was-david-osullivans-fate/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/140662906657636/
https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2022/04/16/its-been-five-years-since-hiker-david-osullivan-disappeared/
https://www.dailynews.com/2021/05/26/the-mysterious-disappearance-of-pacific-crest-trail-hiker-david-osullivan/
https://medium.com/the-mystery-box/vanished-on-the-pct-where-is-david-osullivan-5d185b2c8f71
https://oag.ca.gov/missing/person/david-lawrence-osullivan
https://fofound.org/ -
She was known as “Shark Girl” - a fearless underwater photographer who swam with predators most of us only dare to watch on TV.
At 48, Valerie de la Valdene had it all: a career that earned her a spot in the Women Divers Hall of Fame, features on Shark Week, a culinary education under a world-renowned chef, and the kind of wealth that came with a prestigious family name.
But in June 2014, Valerie was found dead in the Galapagos Islands - a single gunshot wound to the left temple.
Authorities called it a suicide. But the scene? It told a different story.
And when you follow the trail of strange details and unanswered questions, it begins to look a lot less like self-destruction… and a lot more like murder.
Listen as we dive into the Galápagos Islands, the case of Valerie de la Valdene, and how to stay alive on vacation.
Do you have a story to share? Send your email to [email protected]
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Weird True Crime
https://weirdtruecrime.com/
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4679860/American-woman-s-family-goes-Galapagos-probe-death.html
https://www.bradenton.com/news/state/article160395929.html
https://www.wdhof.org/members/valerie-valdene
https://www.sharks.org/blog/blogs/ocean-log/valerie-elaine-de-la-valdene-1966-2014
https://wetpixel.com/articles/rip-valerie-de-la-valdene
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article4827450.html
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tallahassee/name/valerie-valdene-obituary?id=17009121
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/in-galapagos-a-case-of-su_b_6529550
https://www.change.org/p/rafael-correa-government-of-ecuador-who-killed-of-countess-valerie-elaine-de-la-valdene-an-american-with-usa-passport-no-442549467-and-msc-doctor-in-criminology-cameraman-submarine-aficionada-volunteer-and-philanthropist-domiciled-for-25-years-in-the
https://shootingsportsman.com/guy-de-la-valdene-1944-2023/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuyKbZh5USQ -
On April 15, 2005, District Attorney Ray Gricar took the day off, got in his car, and set out on a quiet road trip—just a short drive to clear his head. But he never came home. His car was later found abandoned, his wallet and phone missing, and his laptop destroyed and dumped in a river. And then... nothing.
In this episode, we explore the mysterious disappearance of Ray Gricar—a seasoned prosecutor who had spent decades putting criminals behind bars. Did he walk away from his life? Was he targeted? Or did he uncover something so dangerous it made him disappear?
Listen as we dive into Pennsylvania, the case of Ray Gricar, and how to stay alive on vacation.
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Tragedy With A View
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tragedy-with-a-view/id1689392628
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=in4xAAAAIBAJ&pg=5789,304024&dq=ray+gricar
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=jH4xAAAAIBAJ&pg=3826,3070043&dq=ray+gricar+car
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/missing-da-is-it-foul-play-or-did-he-commit-suicide/
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/missing-da-is-it-foul-play-or-did-he-commit-suicide/
https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iZYNAAAAIBAJ&pg=5334,210533&dq=ray+gricar+laptop
https://web.archive.org/web/20110709151400/http://www.centredaily.com/2011/07/06/2818532/family-seeks-closure.html
https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2015/04/ten_years_later_ray_gricars_di.html
https://www.pennlive.com/midstate/2015/04/ten_years_later_ray_gricars_di.html -
In September 2019, a yellow Jeep Wrangler was found abandoned at a remote trailhead on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Everything inside looked normal—except the woman who rented it, Lucy Schuhmann, was missing.
The 48-year-old traveler from Louisville, Kentucky, had come to the island alone, seeking peace and nature. She checked into a rental near Coral Bay, unpacked, and then vanished.
Her belongings were left behind. Her ID was found in her daypack at the end of a trail. Despite extensive searches, Lucy has never been seen again.
Was it a tragic accident, a planned disappearance—or is something darker hiding beneath the island’s serene surface?
Listen as we dive into St John, the case of Lucy Schuhmann, and how to stay alive on vacation.
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Twisted and Uncorked
https://www.twistedanduncorked.com/
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/402880693755219/
https://www.wlky.com/article/authorities-searching-for-louisville-woman-missing-in-virgin-islands/29180145
https://nypost.com/2019/09/23/kentucky-woman-lucy-schuhmann-missing-for-four-days-in-us-virgin-islands/
https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/25/us/virgin-islands-missing-woman/index.html
https://charleyproject.org/case/lucy-evalyne-schuhmann
https://www.nps.gov/orgs/1563/isb-viis-missing.htm
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/local/2019/09/22/louisville-woman-missing-since-thursday-virgin-islands/2413233001/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rescuers-focus-virgin-islands-cliffs-where-missing-american-s-backpack-n1059316
https://stjohnsource.com/2019/10/02/nps-downscales-search-for-missing-kentucky-woman/
https://stjohnsource.com/2019/09/20/240057/
https://nypost.com/2019/09/23/kentucky-woman-lucy-schuhmann-missing-for-four-days-in-us-virgin-islands/
https://people.com/human-interest/kentucky-woman-missing-5-days-vanished-airbnb-virgin-islands/
https://websleuths.com/threads/usvi-lucy-schuhmann-48-tourist-from-ky-st-john-us-virgin-islands-19-sep-2019.475106/ -
A 62-year-old man boards a plane—but his travel path makes no sense. Charlotte. Austin. Dallas. And finally… Cancun. When Robert Cantrell lands in Mexico, he clears customs—but never makes it to baggage claim.
Days later, he reappears—shoeless, confused, and unable to remember his own name. A journalist finds him. Then he disappears again.
Was he lost, drugged, or targeted? A voicemail, a detention center, and a suitcase returned without him—all raise more questions than answers.
This week, we unravel the chilling mystery of Robert Cantrell, a man who vanished not once, but twice.
Listen as we dive into Cancun, the case of Robert Cantrell, and how to stay alive on vacation.
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Pod of Terror
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pod-of-terror/id1719369658
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://theguadalajarareporter.net/index.php/news/news/lake-chapala/61412-ajijic-homeowner-s-puzzling-mystery-disappearance
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/local/friends-say-missing-jacksonville-man-last-seen-cancun/77-970d7c68-e202-4b2f-9311-9e70c3f05f2a
https://ojo.chapala.com/articles-2023/september-2023/ajijic-man-still-missing/
https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2023/08/04/as-familys-fears-grow-sen-rubio-now-aiding-in-search-for-jacksonville-man-missing-in-mexico/
https://texasequusearch.org/cases/robert-cantrell-62-cancun-mexico-6-20-2023/
https://www.instagram.com/robcan/
https://theguadalajarareporter.net/index.php/news/news/lake-chapala/60278-reward-offered-for-location-of-missing-ajijic-resident
https://www.tiktok.com/@hurricanechristy/video/7279992530979032363
https://www.gofundme.com/f/find-rob-cantrell-and-bring-him-to-safety
https://websleuths.com/threads/mexico-robert-cantrell-62-american-retired-psychologist-wanted-to-see-a-property-in-cancun-20-jun-2023.683495/page-2
https://www.facebook.com/RobCan2
https://mexicodailypost.com/2023/09/02/new-clues-emerge-regarding-an-american-based-in-ajijic-that-disappeared-in-cancun/ -
Money, power, and mystery—three ingredients for a disappearance that still haunts the Pacific.
Larry Hillblom, co-founder of DHL, built a shipping empire and amassed a fortune. Yet, he chose to live in secrecy on a remote Pacific island, surrounded by scandal and whispers of something darker.
In 1995, his small plane crashed near Saipan. Wreckage was found. Bodies recovered. But Hillblom? Gone. No body. No trace. Just questions.
Did he perish in the ocean—or stage the ultimate escape? With mounting paternity lawsuits, a cryptic will, and a fortune at stake, his disappearance ignited one of history’s most bizarre legal battles.
Accident? Cover-up? Murder? Vanishing act?
Today, we unravel the strange, tangled mystery of Larry Hillblom—an empire-builder whose fate remains unknown.
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Book of the Dead Pod
https://www.botdpod.com/
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://tiaca.org/larry-hillblom/
https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/documents/areas/fac/dotm/bio/pdf_KM09.pdf
https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/business/king-larry-the-bizarre-road-of-a-billionaire-review.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1998/08/23/millionaires-dna-may-solve-inheritance-flap/b6db40f3-741d-4ec0-ba7e-a03e377af96c/
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-05-24-mn-5506-story.html
https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/23/us/larry-l-hillblom-52-founder-of-dhl-worldwide-express.html
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-jan-11-mn-7237-story.html
https://www.joc.com/article/dhl-co-founder-larry-hillblom-dies-in-plane-crash-5403850
https://nypost.com/2012/01/15/one-man-is-an-island/
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/2c3du0/larry_hillblom_billionaire_and_founder_of_dhl/
https://fortune.com/2012/02/03/king-larry-the-story-of-a-business-monster/
https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB832124296163216000
https://www.dannydutch.com/post/the-evil-story-of-larry-hillblom-the-h-from-dhl -
Annie and Robin Korkki set out on the trip of a lifetime - a luxurious island getaway in paradise. But on the morning of September 22, 2016, their dream vacation came to a chilling end.
After a day of drinking and laughter at an exclusive resort in Seychelles, the sisters were escorted back to their villa by their personal butler. But they never stepped outside again.
When hotel staff finally entered the room, they found an eerie scene - both women, fully clothed, lying side by side in bed. No signs of struggle. No disturbance. Just an untouched room and two lifeless bodies.
The autopsy tells us how they died. But the question that still lingers is - why? What really happened to Annie and Robin Korkki? And what secrets does their final night hold?
Listen as we dive into Seychelles, the case of Annie & Robin Korkki, and how to stay alive on vacation.
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, The Red Treehouse
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-red-treehouse-scary-stories-to-keep-you-up-at-night/id1705518954
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://people.com/crime/american-sisters-dead-in-seychelles-autopsy-shows-cause-of-death/
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/seychelles-police-release-cause-death-annie-robin-korkki-n657306
https://www.wltx.com/article/news/vacationing-sisters-died-of-water-in-lungs/328016750
https://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=d9d98e4d-73a3-49c6-a30a-530bf23aa850
https://digitaledition.chicagotribune.com/tribune/article_popover.aspx?guid=d9d98e4d-73a3-49c6-a30a-530bf23aa850
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-37525883
https://www.denverpost.com/2016/09/30/annie-korkki-robin-korkki-autospy/
https://lauthmissingpersons.com/strange-circumstances-in-the-seychelles-the-sombre-story-of-annie-and-robin-korkki/
https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/pkwjpu/mysterious_deaths_of_the_korkki_sisters_in_the/
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/sisters-dead-seychelles-vacation-robin-annie-korkki/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3817194/Ashes-Minnesota-sisters-dead-Seychelles-given-family.html
http://www.seychellesnewsagency.com/articles/6375/Combined+drug+intoxication+blamed+in+deaths+of+American+sisters%2C+tests+reveal
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100007122645283 -
A yoga retreat in paradise turned into a chilling mystery when Taylor Casey, 41, vanished from the Sivananda Ashram on Paradise Island on June 19, 2024. Last seen that evening, she was gone by morning—leaving behind only one clue: her phone, later found in the ocean.
In this follow-up to Episode 45, we speak with Taylor’s mother, Colette Seymore, and her close friend, Emily, who are still searching for answers. They share who Taylor was, their concerns about the investigation, and why they don’t believe the official story.
What really happened to Taylor Casey? And why has the truth remained out of reach?
Listen as we dive into the Bahamas, the case of Taylor Casey, and how to stay alive on vacation.
If you have any information about Taylor Casey or were at the Sivananda Retreat in June 2024, please reach out to Taylor's mother, Colette at (708) 906-9953
For more information go to https://www.findtaylorcasey.com/
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
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Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter -
One moment, 66 year old Raymond Ashcroft was walking through the legendary ruins of Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site deep in the Guatemalan rainforest.
The next? He was gone.
No struggle. No witnesses. Just… silence.
Authorities launched a desperate search within a half hour of his disappearance.
But Raymond? He had disappeared into the shadows of history, just like the ancient Maya who once ruled these lands.
Was it an accident? Did he wander off and couldn’t find his way back? Was it foul play? Or something far stranger?
Listen as we dive into Guatemala, the case of Raymond Ashcroft, and how to stay alive on vacation.
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/raymond-vincent-ashcroft-american-tourist-disappears-while-visiting-ancient-mayan-city/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11900307/Bird-watching-American-tourist-mysteriously-disappears-visiting-Mayan-ruins-Guatemala.html
https://adnamerica.com/en/guatemala/american-tourist-who-disappeared-ancient-mayan-city-remains-missing
https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/tourist-missing-mayan-city-guatemala-b2306189.html
https://www.express.co.uk/news/us/1750065/guatemala-tourist-mayan-city-Interpol-alert-dxus
https://www.abdpost.com/bird-watching-us-tourist-disappears-visiting-mayan-ruins-in-guatemala/192566/
https://www.prensalibre.com/guatemala/comunitario/turista-perdido-en-tikal-problemas-de-memoria-y-otros-detalles-que-revela-la-esposa-de-estadounidense-extraviado-en-el-parque-nacional/#google_vignette -
In early 1959, nine hikers set out on a skiing expedition across the northern Ural Mountains—Igor Dyatlov, Yuri Doroshenko, Lyudmila Dubinina, Georgiy Krivonishenko, Alexander Kolevatov, Zinaida Kolmogorova, Rustem Slobodin, Nikolai Thibeaux-Brignolles, and Semyon Zolotaryov. Their journey would end in one of the most chilling and perplexing mysteries in modern history.
On the night of February 1st, something terrifying forced them to flee their tent into the freezing wilderness—half-dressed and unprepared. Their bodies were discovered weeks later, scattered across the snow, with injuries that defied explanation.
Decades later, diaries, photographs, and investigations have offered theories, ranging from natural disasters to the supernatural. But one question remains:
What really happened to the Dyatlov 9?
Listen as we dive into The Ural Mountains in Russia, the case of the Nine Hikers, and how to stay alive on vacation.
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9249247/Dyatlov-Pass-Eight-tourists-missing-Russia-nine-people-mysteriously-died-1959.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident#:~:text=After%20the%20group's%20bodies%20were,small%20crack%20in%20his%20skull.
https://dyatlovpass.com/
https://www.facebook.com/notes/353524819051976/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/01/world/europe/dyatlov-pass-avalanche-russia.html
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/has-science-solved-history-greatest-adventure-mystery-dyatlov
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/17/has-an-old-soviet-mystery-at-last-been-solved
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-may-have-finally-unraveled-mystery-dyatlov-pass-incident-180976886/
https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7vwg8/the-dyatlov-pass-mystery-may-have-just-been-solved-by-new-video-evidence -
In Episode 56, we walked through the timeline of Skye Budnick’s disappearance, sharing the details made public by investigators and her family. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, or need a refresher, we recommend going back before diving into this one.
In this episode, I’m joined by Skye’s sister, Megan Lebron, for a deeper look into who Skye was, the challenges her family has faced in the years since she vanished, and any new developments in the case.
On April 1, 2008, Skye boarded a one-way flight to Japan without telling anyone. She was last seen at an inn in Northern Japan before her trail suddenly went cold. No one knows why she left, what happened after she arrived, or where she is now.
For nearly 17 years, Skye’s family has navigated a foreign country, language, and culture in their search for answers—but they are still searching.
Join us as we explore Skye’s story through her family’s eyes.
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Surviving Skye
https://www.survivingskye.com/
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter -
In November 2024, what started as a fun night out in the party town of Vang Vieng turned into a horrifying nightmare. Six tourists from around the world never woke up. Others barely escaped with their lives.
At first it seemed like a tragic accident, a case of tainted alcohol, poisoning unsuspecting travelers in the party town of Vang Vieng, Laos. But as the details emerged, the story took a darker turn.
Why were only tourists affected? Why did local authorities move so quickly to shut down the investigation? And could this have been something far more sinister than a simple mistake?
Was this mass poisoning the result of greed, negligence… or something more deliberate?
We’re diving into the chilling case of the Laos Methanol Poisonings - where a fun night out turned fatal, and the truth might still be buried.
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Like Mother Like Murder
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/like-mother-like-murder/id1632348616
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g612363-d13540456-Reviews-Nana_Backpacker_Hostel-Vang_Vieng_Vientiane_Province.html
https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/unanswered-questions-remain-about-laos-mass-methanol-poisoning/news-story/7e45d576a088ade129646206eb4bdf1f?
https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/33149356/laos-poisoning-vodka-tourists-survivor/?utm_
https://thethaiger.com/news/laos-govt-speaks-on-mass-methanol-poisoning-that-left-six-dead?utm_
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-29/methanol-poisoning-broader-impact-south-east-asia/104652326?utm_
https://people.com/methanol-poisoning-laos-american-tourist-identified-8752046
https://www.bbcworldinfo.com/2024/11/the-rise-and-fall-of-vang-vieng-laos.html?utm_
https://www.9news.com.au/world/what-to-know-about-the-laos-backpacker-town-at-centre-of-suspected-methanol-poisonings/f771ed85-a03c-41e6-b030-e50f9ec4466c
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/simone-white-laos-alcohol-poisoning-b2651852.html
https://www.touristsecrets.com/trip-planning/safety-insurance/vang-vieng-tubing-deaths-and-dangers/
https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/nana-backpackers-hostel-laos-reportedly-being-deleted/
https://scandasia.com/belgian-friend-to-danish-girls-that-died-in-laos-shares-his-story/ -
On August 21st, 2024, we released Episode 41, the case of Ryan Roth. In that episode, I walked you through the timeline of events and shared the details investigators made to the public.
In this episode, I’m joined by Ryan’s uncle, Sean Flynn, as we take a deeper look at who Ryan was before his alleged suicide, why Sean is searching for him, any new updates in the case - and where Ryan might be now.
If you haven’t listened to Episode 41 yet, or need a refresher, I encourage you to revisit it before continuing.
Ryan Roth, born Ryan Flynn, vanished on January 20, 2020 from a cliff in Bali, Indonesia. The 39 year old, originally from England left behind a passport, driver’s license, a suicide note, and other personal belongings.But he also left behind a legacy of deception, dishonesty, and schemes.
Many people, including Indonesian authorities, suspect Ryan staged his disappearance to mimic a suicide and is instead in hiding… taking with him millions of dollars he swindled from friends and family through fraudulent business schemes.
To learn more about Ryan Roth, please watch "The Faking Dead. Ryan Roth. Global con man and scammer. True crime Documentary" on Youtube: https://youtu.be/BHJfWKMVmxc?si=6VKsZOeBMUXsEpJw
If you have ANY information, please email Sean Flynn at [email protected]
The Last Trip is on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Ye Olde Crime Podcast
https://www.yeoldecrimepodcast.com/
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter -
Sarah Papenheim was young, talented, and full of life - a gifted blues drummer from Minnesota with dreams of making a difference.
She traveled halfway across the world to study psychology in the Netherlands, never imagining that the person she shared an apartment with would become her worst nightmare.
It was a quiet December afternoon in 2018 when everything changed. There was a brutal attack, a desperate attempt to escape, and a crime so shocking that it left 2 countries searching for answers.
What really happened behind the closed doors of that Dutch apartment?
Was there a warning sign no one saw?
And who was the man Sarah trusted enough to live with - only for him to betray her in the worst way possible?
Listen as we dive into Rotterdam, the case of Sarah Papenheim, and how to stay alive on vacation.
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Murder Coaster Podcast
https://murdercoasterpodcast.com/
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://www.facebook.com/JoshandSarahScholarship/
https://www.instagram.com/happy_paps/
https://abcnews.go.com/US/american-student-21-stabbed-death-netherlands-officials/story?id=59805502
https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/en/2019/12/11/six-years-of-jail-and-treatment-for-the-killing-of-sarah-papenheim/
https://www.eur.nl/en/essb/news/memoriam-sarah-papenheim
https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/mn-student-killed-in-netherlands/89-9f86d060-c4e4-4cee-8acb-bcbd583abc9d
https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2018/12/26/sarah-papenheim-american-student-killed-netherlands-vigils-foothill-high-school-redding/2417654002/
https://www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-papenheim-memorial-fund
https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/american-student-in-netherlands-stabbed-by-roommate
https://www.twincities.com/2018/12/15/minnesota-student-killed-in-netherlands-texted-friend-about-roommates-threat/
https://www.startribune.com/suspect-in-fatal-stabbing-of-twin-cities-musician-is-id-d-appears-in-dutch-court/502688662
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/man-gets-6-years-prison-for-killing-of-mn-student-in-the-netherlands
https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/en/2019/11/28/joel-s-doesnt-remember-anything-about-stabbing-student-sarah-papenheim/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6496833/Shocking-moment-police-arrest-smiling-Dutch-musician-23-charged-murdering-American-student.html -
Antoine Herran was 28 years old when he left France for what was meant to be a 3 week vacation in Australia in April of 1998. On the day he was supposed to return home,he reportedly jumped off The Gap, a series of towering cliffs near Sydney.
Authorities later recovered a body they believed to be his. However, when Antoine’s family arrived in Australia, they were stunned to find out the body did not belong to him.
This sparked a lot of speculation that Antoine orchestrated an elaborate plan
to fake his own death. Despite no confirmed sightings or evidence of his whereabouts, his family continues to hold out hope that advances in DNA testing might one day uncover the truth they’ve been searching for.
Listen as we dive into Australia, the case of Antoine Herran, and how to stay alive on vacation.
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Perplexed Podcasts
https://www.buzzsprout.com/2115848
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://www.facebook.com/p/Where-is-Antoine-Herran-61557994267485/
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8829143/French-tourist-Antoine-Herran-faked-death-stay-Australia-detective-claims.html
https://www.doenetwork.org/cases-int/3430dmnsw.html
https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/new-south-wales-news/strip-could-unlock-mystery/6184
https://www.reddit.com/r/brisbane/comments/1gholjl/what_happened_to_antoine_herran/
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/did-a-french-backpacker-fake-his-death-and-move-to-queensland-20241016-p5kixl.html
https://australianmissingpersonsregister.com/ampr/Herran.htm -
On March 20, 2024, we released Episode 19, which covered the tragic case of Jason Cortez. In that episode, I guided you through the timeline of events and shared the publicly available details from investigators.
In this episode, I’m joined by Jason’s father, Candelario Cortez, to delve deeper into Jason’s life, the challenges his family has endured since his heartbreaking murder, and any new developments in the case.
If you haven’t listened to Episode 19 yet, or need a refresher, I encourage you to revisit it before continuing.
Jason’s case began in September 2021, when he left his new wife in Virginia to travel to Los Angeles. He had planned to help a friend with photography for a creative project—a trip meant to be brief and enjoyable. However, on September 10, everything took a devastating turn.
While visiting Ernest E. Debs Regional Park for a photo session, Jason and his friend were leaving the park when a single gunshot rang out. Jason collapsed to the ground. Despite his friend’s efforts to perform CPR, Jason’s life was tragically cut short.
This senseless act of random violence remains unresolved, and the shooter has yet to be identified.
To learn more about Jason Cortez, please visit https://www.celebratingjasoncortez.com/
If you have ANY information, now is the time to come forward.
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter -
Travis Sackett was an experienced traveler with a passion for service. He dedicated years to volunteering with AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, working in Peru and Guatemala, and most recently, lending a hand in Ecuador.
In February 2021, just two months into his stay in Ecuador, Travis set out on what should have been a routine hike. The trail wasn’t particularly challenging, and witnesses reported seeing him during the day.
But he never returned.
Was it a tragic accident along the path? Or could something more sinister have occurred?
Despite extensive searches, no trace of Travis has ever been found. To this day, his disappearance remains a mystery.
What really happened to Travis Sackett?
Listen as we dive into Ecuador, the case of Travis Sackett, and how to stay alive on vacation.
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://www.facebook.com/FindTrav/
https://www.reddit.com/r/ecuador/comments/lw1i6m/missing_travis_sackett/
https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/public-safety/2021/03/06/family--friends-ask-for-help-in-finding-batavia-man-who-went-missing-in-ecuador
https://www.einpresswire.com/article/539580852/lauth-investigations-international-joins-the-search-for-missing-person-travis-sackett-who-disappeared-from-ecuador
https://havanatimes.org/diaries/alfe/ecuadors-missing-persons/
https://www.thelcn.com/news/local/batavia-native-missing-in-ecuador/article_fab9130b-2522-5d7a-ac4a-585102724707.html
https://www.thedailynewsonline.com/top_story/batavia-native-missing-in-ecuador/article_cc3c0a16-d8a8-5cb4-be4b-e135f5d5c5fc.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VONdmH-v4dc
https://www.lahora.com.ec/etiquetas/travis-joseph-sackett/#google_vignette
https://missingamericans.ning.com/m?id=4224332:MobilePage:32028
https://www.facebook.com/turismopimampiro.imbabura/
https://insightcrime.org/news/ecuadors-kidnapping-epidemic-told-by-a-survivor/
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/ecuador-travel-advisory.html - Mehr anzeigen
