Elliot Eastman, a Youtuber, was reportedly shot dead by abductors posing as police officers on October 17, 2024, with his body later discarded at sea.

Eastman’s father-in-law, AbdulMali Hamsiran Jala, reported the kidnapping to the police, stating that four men wearing black pants, shirts, and face coverings forcibly entered the Youtuber’s home in Sibuco in the Zamboanga del Norte Province.

Around 10 p.m., the men, who pretended to be police officers, confronted Eastman and his Muslim Filipina wife, Karisha Jala Eastman. They attempted to abduct him, but when he tried to flee, they allegedly shot him in the leg with a rifle. According to police reports, they then forced him onto a white boat and sailed away.

Images from the scene show bloodstains along the ground where Eastman was dragged after being shot. When police arrived around 11 p.m., they discovered an empty M16 rifle cartridge, as well as normal items like a hat, handbag, and food.

In response, law enforcement agencies initiated a rapid response operation to locate the kidnappers. Later in October, Lieutenant Colonel Ramoncelio Sawan, the acting spokesman for the Police Regional Office (PRO)-Zamboanga Peninsula, shared that a witness came forward, stating that Eastman had been shot during the abduction.

Sawan and other investigators initially treated the information as speculation until they apprehended a suspect reportedly involved in the kidnapping, who confirmed the witness’s account. “On their way to escape by sea, the abductors noticed that Elliot Eastman was already dead. They threw his body into the water,” said Sawan.

The suspect later provided an extrajudicial confession, which was submitted to the Prosecutor’s Office. The complaint was accepted by the prosecutors following the submission. On November 12, three other suspects were killed in a gunfight with police.

However, police who had been searching for the Youtuber and hoped to find him alive, are yet to find his body. The investigating officers have also not expounded on the motive behind Eastman’s abduction.

However, Former Sibuco Mayor Norbideiri Edding suggested that the kidnappers may have targeted Eastman because he was an American, resenting the fact that a wealthy foreigner was living with a local Muslim woman. Edding also mentioned that Eastman had been experiencing financial troubles after allegedly being deceived by his former girlfriend, whom he had planned to marry.

Additionally, police noted that just weeks before he was abducted, Eastman was on a Facebook livestream. While livestreaming on September 22, he said that he was afraid of living in the area, where he had been staying for close to five months. “As long as I’m here, my life is still at risk, you know,” admitted Eastman.

“That’s the reality,” Eastman added. The YouTuber was aware that it wasn’t just the Philippines that posed a risk, but also the area where he lived—Zamboanga del Norte, one of the most dangerous regions of the country known for its high crime rates.

There were times when Eastman was afraid and times when he wasn’t. However, he noted that on some days he struggled to sleep. The US Department of State’s travel advisory advises travelers to exercise increased caution in the Philippines due to risks related to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, and kidnapping. Certain areas are considered to have an elevated risk.

The southern region of the Philippines, where Eastman stayed, has long struggled with separatist violence. It is home to a significant Muslim population in an otherwise predominantly Catholic country.

However, this southern region has become a focal point for extremist groups like the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) and the Abu Sayyaf group, which is linked to the Islamic State.

Peace efforts, including a 2014 peace agreement and the establishment of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in 2019, have failed to establish peace. Sporadic violence from extremist factions and persistent poverty remain major obstacles to achieving lasting stability in the area.

Eastman shared his experience living in Zamboanga del Norte on his YouTube channel “Elliot Eastman.” The account’s information reads, “Hello everyone I’m Elliot Eastman, I am 26 years old and I came to the Philippines about a year and half ago where I met the love of my life deep in the mountains of the red zone of the Philippines.”

Eastman and his wife got married in July 2023. The Youtuber was excited about his unique experience in Zamboanga del Norte, a recently developed area of the Philippines that was once only accessible by boat.

He shared his enthusiasm with his audience, expressing his intention to showcase his day-to-day life there. Tragically, Eastman was reportedly killed before he could continue sharing his journey.