In brief
The Philippine National Police announced that Elliot Eastman, who was kidnapped in October from Mindanao, is likely dead, based on information from a suspect. His body has not been recovered, and investigations continue.
Elliot Eastman, a 26-year-old American residing in the Philippines, is presumed dead following his abduction on the island of Mindanao, according to the police. The Philippine National Police stated on Thursday that evidence garnered from a suspect in custody has led them to believe that Eastman was killed on the day he was kidnapped, which occurred on October 17. Jean Fajardo, a police spokeswoman, revealed that four men have been arrested in connection with the abduction, while four other suspects remain at large. Eastman, originally from Vermont, was taken from his home in Sibuco by men posing as law enforcement officers, who forcibly transported him away on a boat.Reports indicate that Eastman sustained gunshot wounds, one to the leg and another to his abdominal area, during the incident. Although authorities have not located his body, they suspect it was discarded at sea after he succumbed to his injuries on the boat.Living in the Philippines since May, Eastman shared his experiences through social media platforms, particularly YouTube, chronicling his life as a foreigner in the area and speaking fondly about his relationships formed in the country. He had previously noted the dangers that foreign travelers might face in coastal Mindanao in some of his videos.Witness accounts describe how the abduction transpired; his father-in-law reported that a group of masked men entered Eastman's house, prompting him to flee. However, he was shot in the leg with a rifle before being taken away by the suspects.While abductions have declined in recent years, U.S. government advisories still caution citizens traveling to the region due to the history of militant groups orchestrating kidnappings targeting foreigners in the southern Philippines.
