A missing American vlogger was shot dead and his body dumped into the sea during a botched kidnapping in the Philippines, police said.
Elliot Eastman, 26, reportedly died the night of his abduction from his home in the poverty-stricken town of Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte on October 17.
He is believed to have been shot in the leg while trying to resist the gunmen, who posed as police officers, but died while being taken away on a boat.
Images from the scene show blood splattered on the ground where he was dragged after being shot. Three suspects were later shot dead by police in a shootout on November 12.
Speaking today, Lt. Col. Ramoncelio Sawan, acting spokesperson of the Police Regional Office (PRO) in Zamboanga Peninsula, said: “Sometime in late October, during our investigation, we came across a witness who claimed that Eastman He had been shot during the kidnapping.
‘On the way to escape by sea, the kidnappers noticed that Elliot Eastman was already dead. They threw his body into the water.
He said officials had treated the testimony as speculation, before it was verified this week by a suspect allegedly involved in the kidnapping.
He continued: ‘But later, sometime in November, we caught a suspect linked to the kidnapping. He himself confirmed what happened. He confirmed that Elliot had been shot and that the man was thrown overboard.
Elliot Eastman, 26, (pictured) reportedly died the night of his abduction from his home in the poverty-stricken town of Sibuco in Zamboanga del Norte on October 17.
American YouTuber Elliot Eastman was kidnapped in a remote Philippine village just months after marrying a local woman (left)
‘This suspect managed to make an extrajudicial confession and then we presented it to the Prosecutor’s Office where we filed the complaint. The prosecutors accepted it.
Eastman’s family has been informed through the US embassy, the police spokesman added.
Authorities have hoped for weeks that Eastman was alive and have been frantically searching for the missing expatriate.
The operation sparked clashes with armed groups of kidnappers on the conflict-torn island of Mindanao.
Police said they have not yet found Eastman’s body and have not clarified the motive behind the kidnapping.
The American YouTuber was reportedly in the house with his Filipino Muslim wife Karisha Jala when four armed men allegedly burst through the door around 10pm on October 17.
The attackers falsely claimed to be police officers and reportedly shot the expatriate in the leg when he tried to resist.
He was then put into a speedboat off the coast of Zamboanga del Norte, one of the most dangerous areas of this notoriously crime-ridden country.
Eastman had recently married a local woman, Karisha Jala, who lived with him in a concrete shack that belonged to her father-in-law.
In the photo: FBI agents investigate the kidnapping of Elliot Eastman in the Philippines
Police arrived around 11 p.m. and took photographs of the alleged crime scene. Blood believed to have come from Elliot’s gunshot wound was smeared on a piece of vinyl flooring.
An empty shell casing from an M16 rifle could also be seen along with everyday items such as a hat, bag and food.
Former Sibuco mayor Norbideiri Edding said the kidnappers may have attacked the American because they thought he was a rich foreigner and were upset that he was living with a local Muslim woman.
He also claimed that Elliot had been facing financial difficulties after allegedly being scammed by his previous girlfriend whom he had planned to marry.
Just weeks before he was kidnapped, Eastman posted on a Facebook livestream that he was afraid to live in the area, where he had been for about five months, according to police.
“As long as I’m here, my life will continue to be at risk,” Eastman said on Sept. 22.
‘That’s the reality. Especially in the area I’m in… It’s not even just about the Philippines.
“This area I’m in is one of the most dangerous areas in the country, so it’s literally like the red zone.”
Just weeks before he was kidnapped, Eastman posted on a Facebook livestream that he was afraid to live in the area. Pictured: FBI agents join the search.
The southern region of the Philippines has been dealing with constant separatist attacks for decades.
A Muslim enclave in a predominantly Catholic country, it is also a notorious hub of violent extremist groups such as the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and Abu Sayyaf, linked to the Islamic State.
Peace efforts have seen progress, with a peace agreement in 2014 and the creation of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in 2019. However, sporadic clashes with extremist factions and persistent poverty continue to challenge long-term stability.