Elliot Eastman, a 26-year-old American from Vermont, is presumed dead following an abduction incident in the Philippines, according to the Philippine National Police. The police provided this information on Thursday, indicating that Eastman was likely killed during the kidnapping that occurred on October 17 in the town of Sibuco, Mindanao.
Authorities have arrested four men related to the case, with statements from one suspect leading to the belief that Eastman perished on the same day he was taken. Despite ongoing investigations, four other alleged accomplices remain unapprehended.
Eastman, who had been residing in the Philippines since May, was reportedly taken from his residence by individuals posing as law enforcement officers. Witnesses say he sustained two gunshot wounds—one in the leg during the initial attack and another in his abdomen afterwards.
While his body has not been recovered, officials suspect the kidnappers disposed of it in the ocean after he died aboard their vessel. Eastman frequently shared glimpses of his life in the Philippines through social media, where he openly expressed his affection for his new home and his experiences in Sibuco.
The kidnapping was first reported by Eastman's father-in-law, AbdulMali Hamsiran Jala, who described how masked assailants stormed their home. Despite his efforts to evade capture, Eastman was shot and subsequently taken away.
While the number of abductions in the region has decreased over the last decade due to the weakening of militant groups, the U.S. government continues to advise caution when traveling to the area. Philippine military officials attribute some kidnappings of foreigners to insurgent organizations operating in the southern part of the country.
