The remains of an American tourist, who went missing while diving in Indonesia last month, were reportedly discovered inside a shark caught in Timor-Leste. The diver, identified as 68-year-old Colleen Monfore, was swept away by strong currents on September 26 during an expedition near Pulau Reong island.
After an extensive eight-day search was called off, a fisherman in Timor-Leste, located approximately 120 kilometers from where Monfore disappeared, caught a shark in poor condition. Upon cutting it open, the fisherman discovered human remains, including a wetsuit and a bathing suit identified as Monfore’s.
“The shark was caught but it was not in normal health. I thought it had swallowed plastic or a fishing net,” the fisherman told local media. “It was cut open to find the problem, and inside there were the remains of a woman.”
Authorities are still working to confirm whether the remains belong to Monfore or another missing person. Meanwhile, Timor-Leste officials have contacted the Indonesian coast guard for further investigation. Muhammad Saleh Goro, Head of the Regional Technical Implementation Unit for the Management of the Alor Islands Marine Park, noted that the discovery was made in Timor-Leste’s waters and not in Indonesian territory.
“The body of the woman was found in a shark in Timor-Leste. We are now investigating the case further to confirm if they are the remains of anyone reported missing in Indonesia,” Goro said.
In a statement, a U.S. State Department spokesperson expressed their condolences to Monfore’s family, stating, “We offer our sincerest condolences to the family on their loss, and are providing all appropriate consular assistance.”
However, Monfore’s friends have raised doubts about claims that she was killed by the shark. Kim Sass, a close friend, took to Facebook to dispute the theory, explaining that sharks’ digestive systems are designed to rapidly break down food. According to Sass, Monfore’s remains would not be identifiable if the shark had attacked her weeks ago.
“She was an excellent diver, and I don’t believe it was the environment or a shark that ended her life,” Sass said, adding that dive computer data and testimonies from others in the diving group suggest Monfore may have died from a medical issue.
Sass also emphasized that Monfore would have been devastated to know a shark died because of her, expressing concern over the narrative casting sharks in a negative light. “Her death is giving sharks, once again, a bad name,” she added.
