Police in Zamboanga del Norte now suspect that American vlogger Elliot Eastman died following his abduction in October, though his body remains missing.
Eastman, a YouTube creator from Vermont, USA, was kidnapped by four armed men impersonating officers in Sibuco town on October 17. He was reportedly shot in the leg while resisting, according to authorities.
“We believe Elliot Eastman is dead based on testimonies from a witness and one of the suspects,” said Lt. Col. Ramoncelio Sawan, acting spokesperson for Police Regional Office 9, during a phone interview on Thursday.
One suspect, in an extrajudicial confession last month, admitted Eastman died and claimed his body was dumped in the waters near Zamboanga City. This was corroborated by a witness account in October. However, extensive searches of coastal and island areas have yet to locate his remains, Sawan confirmed.
Eastman’s family has been informed through coordination with the U.S. Embassy. The Philippine National Police is working closely with agencies equipped with sea search assets in the Zamboanga Peninsula.
The motive for the abduction remains unclear. Police filed complaints against six suspects for kidnapping and serious illegal detention in late October. Three suspects were arrested, while the others remain at large.
Additionally, three individuals linked to a kidnap-for-ransom group tied to the case were killed in a clash with authorities in Zamboanga Sibugay on November 12.
Eastman had been living in the Philippines for five months after marrying a Filipina from Sibuco. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation joined the investigation shortly after his disappearance.
