The tragic end of Elliot Eastman

A Vermont YouTuber’s fatal move to the Philippines

By Timothy Page

Elliot Onil Eastman, a 26-year-old content creator from Hinesburg, sought adventure and love in the remote corners of the Philippines, only to meet a violent end in one of the country’s most perilous regions.

Abducted from his home in Sibuco, Zamboanga del Norte, on October 17, 2024, Eastman was shot during a struggle and is now presumed dead, his body believed to have been discarded at sea. As of today—a year after the incident—his remains have not been recovered, but Philippine authorities have made significant arrests, including the alleged mastermind in January.^1,2,3

This case underscores the risks expatriates face in Mindanao’s “red zone,” where insurgencies and criminal elements persist despite ongoing security efforts.

Roots in Hinesburg

Eastman was born in 1998 in Hinesburg. He graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School in 2016 and quickly embraced digital storytelling. Launching his YouTube channel in 2015, he shared vlogs about everyday life, travels, and personal milestones, building a following of over 8,000 subscribers and 1.6 million views by 2024.

Friends and family described him as charismatic and restless, traits that propelled him beyond Vermont.^1,4

His early content reflected a young man’s curiosity, but it was his 2023 trip to the Philippines that marked a profound shift. There, in the mountains of Zamboanga del Norte, he met Karisha Jala, a local from the Sama-Sibuco community. The pair married in a traditional Muslim ceremony in July 2023, with Eastman converting to Islam for the occasion.^1,5

Embracing Life in a High-Risk Haven

After a brief return to the U.S. for work, Eastman relocated permanently to Sibuco in May 2024, settling in Sitio Tungawan, Barangay Poblacion. This coastal municipality on Mindanao island offered stunning beaches but lay in a region long plagued by poverty, separatist insurgencies, and groups like Abu Sayyaf, known for kidnappings.^1,6 The U.S. State Department warns against travel to parts of Zamboanga del Norte due to risks of terrorism and abduction.⁴

Undeterred, Eastman documented his new life on YouTube and Facebook, titling videos like “Day to Day Life in the Red Zone of the Philippines.” He portrayed a serene existence—fishing, community gatherings, and marital bliss—while candidly addressing dangers.

In a September 22, 2024, Facebook Live, he admitted, “As long as I’m here, my life is still at risk… This area that I’m in is like the most dangerous area in the country so it’s literally like the red zone.”^7,8 Locals and officials reportedly warned him multiple times to leave, but he stayed, drawn by love and a sense of pioneering as “the first and only foreigner” in Sibuco.^9,10

The Night of the Abduction

On October 17, 2024, around 11 p.m., four armed men posing as police officers burst into Eastman’s home. Armed with M16 rifles and dressed in black with face covers, they demanded entry. Eastman resisted fiercely, leading to a shootout. He was struck twice—once in the leg and once in the abdomen—before being dragged, bleeding, to a waiting motorized banca (outrigger boat). The assailants fled toward the Sulu Sea as pursuing officers lost them in the darkness.^1,6,11

The abduction was reported by Eastman’s father-in-law, Abdulmali Hamsiran Jala, who witnessed the chaos. Investigators found bloodstains and two spent M16 casings at the scene. No ransom demand ever surfaced, an anomaly that fueled speculation of personal motives or a botched operation.^12,13

Investigation: From Hope to Heartbreak

The Philippine National Police (PNP) launched the Critical Incident Management Task Group (CIMTG) “Eastman,” coordinating with the FBI and U.S. Embassy in Manila. Initial searches focused on rescue, scouring coastal areas and islands. By late October, three persons of interest were identified: Mursid Ahod, Abdul Sahibad, and Fahad Sahibad.^1,14

Progress came swiftly but tragically. On November 13, 2024, three suspects—including one linked to the case—were killed in a shootout with police in Zamboanga Sibugay.¹⁵ Two more surrendered by October 30, implicating a third arrested in Sibuco.^10,16 In December 2024, a relative of a suspect and a captured perpetrator provided sworn statements: Eastman succumbed to his wounds en route, bleeding out on the boat. The kidnappers, fearing detection, allegedly threw his body overboard near Zamboanga City.^{6,17,18,19,20}

Despite extensive dives and patrols, no body was found, leaving a sliver of doubt—but by December 6, 2024, PNP declared him presumed dead.^1,21 Vermont Sen. Peter Welch offered condolences to the family, emphasizing accountability.²¹

The motive remains unclear, though rumors swirl around Eastman’s online visibility, financial dealings, or even jealousy tied to his marriage—his wife’s ex was reportedly arrested in 2025 per unverified claims.⁹ Authorities filed kidnapping and illegal detention charges against four suspects in October 2024.¹⁷

Breakthrough Arrests in 2025

The case saw renewed momentum in January when PNP arrested Jackaria Siddik Jamani, the alleged mastermind, aboard a boat between Zamboanga City and Basilan Island on January 7.^2,3,22 Earlier that month, another key suspect was nabbed.² As of mid-2025, three perpetrators remain at large, and recovery efforts continue amid Mindanao’s challenging terrain.^19,23

Speculation on X in 2025 linked the crime to Abu Sayyaf remnants, though officials haven’t confirmed.²³ Broader security claims, like no Abu Sayyaf kidnappings in five years, were met with skepticism given Eastman’s case.²³

A Cautionary Legacy

Eastman’s story echoes past tragedies in the region, like the 2001-2002 kidnappings by Abu Sayyaf that claimed American lives.^6,24 His videos, frozen in time, now serve as a poignant archive—warnings wrapped in wonder. For expats, it’s a stark reminder: love can lead to paradise, but paradise can harbor peril. As his family seeks closure, Eastman’s tale urges vigilance in the shadows of paradise.^18,25

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Sources

1. Associated Press, “American YouTuber killed after being kidnapped in southern Philippines, police say,” December 6, 2024
2. SunStar Philippines, “Mastermind in American YouTuber’s kidnapping arrested,” January 8, 2025
3. Philippine Daily Inquirer, “PNP arrests alleged mastermind in Eastman kidnapping,” January 8, 2025
4. U.S. State Department, “Philippines Travel Advisory,” October 2024
5. The Manila Times, “American YouTuber weds local in Zamboanga ceremony,” August 2023
6. The New York Times, “American YouTuber’s Kidnapping in Philippines Ends in Tragedy,” December 7, 2024
7. Facebook Post by Elliot Eastman, September 22, 2024
8. ABS-CBN News, “American YouTuber warned of risks in ‘red zone’ before abduction,” October 20, 2024
9. The Philippine Star, “Motive in American YouTuber’s abduction still unclear,” November 2024
10. Philippine Star, “Eastman ignored warnings to leave Sibuco,” October 22, 2024
11. CBS News, “Vermont man kidnapped in Philippines shot, likely died during escape,” October 24, 2024
12. Inquirer.net, “Father-in-law recounts Eastman abduction,” October 19, 2024
13. CNN Philippines, “No ransom demand in Eastman kidnapping,” October 21, 2024
14. Rappler, “Police identify persons of interest in American YouTuber’s kidnapping,” October 25, 2024
15. GMA News, “3 suspects killed in clash linked to Eastman kidnapping,” November 13, 2024
16. Rappler, “2 suspects surrender in Eastman kidnapping case,” October 30, 2024
17. CNN Philippines, “4 suspects in American YouTuber’s kidnapping charged,” October 30, 2024
18. GMA News, “American YouTuber presumed dead, body thrown into sea,” December 6, 2024
19. Manila Bulletin, “Search continues for American YouTuber’s remains,” February 2025
20. Inquirer.net, “Suspects admit to killing American YouTuber, dumping body in sea,” December 6, 2024
21. Vermont Public, “Sen. Welch calls for justice in Eastman case,” December 7, 2024
22. SunStar Philippines, “PNP confirms arrest of Eastman kidnapping mastermind,” January 8, 2025
23. X Post, “Speculation on Abu Sayyaf link to Eastman case,” January 2025
24. BBC News, “Abu Sayyaf kidnappings: A history of violence in Mindanao,” December 2024
25. The Washington Post, “A YouTuber’s dream of love in the Philippines ends in tragedy,” December 10, 2024