5 Mysterious Disappearances of American Tourists Abroad

Sometimes it can be so fun and relaxing while away on vacation that you may think about never coming back home. But what you don’t think about is that maybe you won’t get to go back, and the decision isn’t yours to make. Whether it’s an accident, murder, or an ongoing mystery, here are five strange unsolved cases of American tourists gone missing.

Key Takeaways

• The allure of adventure can sometimes lead to unforeseen and tragic outcomes.
• Disappearances can occur in even the most seemingly safe and serene locations.
• Families often tirelessly pursue every lead, holding onto hope despite the odds.

Lost in the Himalayas

Aubrey Sacco was a vibrant and adventurous 23-year-old from Greeley, Colorado. She had a passion for travel, art, and yoga, and was known for her free spirit and zest for life. In April of 2010, she embarked on a solo journey to Nepal, drawn by the allure of its culture and the promise of adventure in the Himalayas. Her plan was to trek through Langtang National Park, a beautiful region known for its stunning landscapes and serene trails.

On April 20, 2010, Aubrey headed out into the Langtang Valley. She kept in touch with her family through emails and social media, sharing her excitement and the beauty of everything she was exploring. Her last known communication was an email sent on April 21, where she mentioned she was setting out on a longer hike and would be out of contact for a few days. She was last seen on April 22 at a small tea house in the village of Lama Hotel. She checked in, had a meal, and continued on her trek. This was the last confirmed sighting of Aubrey.

When days turned into weeks without any word from her, her family sounded the alarm. The entire Sacco family quickly flew to Nepal to help aid in the search. They were met with the daunting task of navigating the remote and rugged terrain of the valley. Local authorities, along with guides and volunteers, joined the efforts, but despite all this, they found nothing at all.

The Langtang Valley, while stunning, is also super dangerous. The trails can be treacherous, and the area is known for its steep cliffs and unpredictable weather. The search teams faced numerous challenges and, unfortunately, came up empty-handed.

Aubrey’s disappearance has led to several theories, each as mysterious as the next. One possibility is that she encountered an accident on the trail. The narrow paths could easily lead to a fatal fall or injury, especially for a solo hiker. Another theory suggests foul play. While Nepal is generally considered safe for tourists, there have been incidents of crime against trekkers in remote areas. The possibility that Aubrey encountered someone with ill intentions can’t be ruled out, although there’s been no concrete evidence to support this. Some also speculate that Aubrey might have chosen to disappear voluntarily, seeking a new life away from the pressures of her previous one. However, those who knew her well find this hard to believe, as she was deeply connected to her family and had plans for her future.

The Sacco family has never given up hope of finding Aubrey. They have tirelessly pursued every lead, reaching out to local authorities, international organizations, and even utilizing social media to spread awareness about her case. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the family believes that someone, somewhere, knows what happened. They continue to urge anyone with information to come forward, keeping her memory alive and their hope burning bright.

The Mystery Over Mali

Jerry Krause was a seasoned pilot with over 20,000 flight hours under his belt. Originally from Minnesota, Jerry had a passion for flying that spanned decades. In 2009, he and his wife Gina moved to Mali in West Africa, where Jerry worked as a missionary pilot for Mission Aviation Fellowship, an organization that provides air transportation for humanitarian aid.

Jerry was known for his meticulous nature and deep commitment to his work. His flights often took him over some of the most challenging and remote terrains in Africa, but his extensive experience made him well-prepared for whatever came his way. On April 7, 2013, he was on a routine flight from South Africa headed north to Mali. He was piloting a twin-engine, 17-seater Beechcraft 1900C aircraft, though no one else but him was on board. This flight was part of a ferrying mission to deliver the aircraft to its new owners in Mali, who were going to refurbish the plane.

His flight path took him over the Gulf of Guinea, where he planned to stop on a small island of São Tomé to refuel before embarking on the final leg of his journey. He communicated with air traffic control there, indicating that everything was proceeding as planned. However, Jerry or his plane never made it.

Supposedly, there was no black box in the plane, and no distress signal was sent. On the day he went missing, there were thunderstorms, but nothing Jerry hadn’t dealt with before. The search effort specifically concentrated around the island of São Tomé included aerial surveys, satellite imagery, and ground searches. But despite these extensive measures, no wreckage, debris, or any other sign of the aircraft was ever found.

Search and rescue teams from several countries, including the US, South Africa, and Mali, joined forces. After finding nothing, Jerry was eventually declared legally deceased. However, around four years later, the Krauses, who have ties to the CIA and higher-ups in the government, claimed to have received an email from a friend and credible source that Jerry’s plane may not have gone down in the Gulf that day at all and that Jerry could possibly still be alive. They went on to explain that they believe there was a possibility that Jerry landed on the island and that he and his plane were then hijacked by drug traffickers who are now using him to transport their products.

Of course, there’s no hard evidence to support this, but it is curious that the South African government has removed their official report from their files that stated Jerry crashed and died that day. There have been people coming forward over the years claiming to have seen this man in various countries, and so something doesn’t seem to sit right in this case. Could Jerry have been hijacked? Certainly a possibility. With no evidence either way as to whether that happened or he actually crashed, maybe only time will tell, and someday Jerry will show up again and be reunited with his family.

The Firefighter Who Vanished in Mexico

Francisco Aguilar was a beloved 48-year-old veteran of the Los Angeles Fire Department with over 20 years of service. Dedicated and brave, he had earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues and those he served in the community. Outside of his demanding job, Francisco was a regular family man.

In August of 2020, he decided to take a trip to his condo in Rosarito, a coastal town in Baja California, Mexico, for some rest and relaxation by the ocean. On August 20, Francisco spoke with his family, sharing his excitement about the trip and his plans to return soon. But that was the last communication anyone had with him.

Days passed, and still no word. His daughters, Bella and Emma, knew something was wrong when their father, who was always in regular contact, suddenly went silent. They reported his disappearance to both Mexican and US authorities, sparking an urgent search.

Around two months later, a 32-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman, both Mexican nationals, were pulled over on a highway and arrested on drug charges. Going through their belongings, authorities found some of Aguilar’s belongings, including his credit cards. Further investigations then revealed the truth behind what exactly happened to the firefighter, and it was a pretty tragic and devastating end.

Aguilar had been told by someone he thought was a friend to meet her out. When he went to the designated spot, a van quickly rolled up, and the people inside tried to kidnap him. It was all a setup. He was going to be held for ransom, but Aguilar wasn’t having any part of it. He took off running, at which point they shot him and then drove his body out to the desert and lit him on fire. As part of a plea deal, the perpetrators would lead police to the spot where the man’s cremated remains would be found.

This case is still going through the court system as new players in the scheme have been revealed. Our hearts go out to his family and friends, and a lot of respect to Aguilar, who wasn’t going to let them pull off their plan at all costs.

Unsolved Mystery in Costa Rica

David Gimelfarb was a 28-year-old psychology student from Chicago pursuing a doctoral degree at the Adler School of Professional Psychology. He was intelligent and known for his love of the outdoors. In August of 2009, he decided to take a much-needed break from his studies and travel to Costa Rica.

He arrived there with plans to explore the beautiful national parks. One he was particularly excited about was visiting Rincón de la Vieja National Park, a sprawling reserve in the northwestern part of the country known for its volcanic activity, waterfalls, and diverse wildlife. On August 11, he set out for a solo hike at the park. He left his belongings at the hotel, taking only a small backpack with the essentials, like his camera and some water. It was a clear day, with witnesses seeing the student enter the park around 10:00 a.m. He even signed the guest book at the entrance and exchanged a few words with the park ranger, who would later describe him as being in good spirits. And then, just like that, this was the last time anyone saw David.

That night, his parents, Svetlana and Yan, called the hotel because they hadn’t heard from their son, which was out of the ordinary. The front desk explained that he had not returned, which was not the plan. The hike that day was only about three miles long, and so 12 hours later with no sign of him was certainly cause for concern. His folks immediately flew to Costa Rica to join the search efforts. Local authorities, along with volunteers and experienced search and rescue teams, combed the dense rainforest, but there was no sign of David at all.

David was a normal young man with no past issues of mental health problems or drug or alcohol abuse. So something happened to him out there in the rainforest, and it wasn’t good. It’s possible he suffered an accident, falling into one of the park’s deep ravines, which would have made it next to impossible to find him. He could have even fallen into and been swept away by a river. While Costa Rica is generally safe for tourists, incidents of crime, including robbery and kidnapping, do occur. However, there’s been no evidence to support this theory.

He also could have become disoriented and lost his way in the vast park. The dense jungle can be disorienting, especially for someone unfamiliar with the terrain. But even if this were the case, the extensive search effort should have turned up some trace of him. As a result, the official classification is that he was lost and/or injured, and it’s likely he met his fate out there in Costa Rica in one way or another.

David’s parents have tirelessly pursued every lead, hired private investigators, and even sought the help of psychics in their desperate search for answers. Svetlana and Yan have returned to Costa Rica multiple times, each visit renewing their hope of finding their son.

Lost in the Valley of Death

Justin Shetler was not just your average traveler. This young man loved to explore; he saw it as the reason for being alive. Justin never thought twice about going out on solo journeys to some of the most remote places around the world. He documented his travels on his popular blog and social media, where he shared his experiences and the people he met along the way.

2016 would bring Justin to India, more specifically to the Parvati Valley, a region in the northern state of Himachal Pradesh known for its stunning landscapes and spiritual significance. However, the valley is also notorious for its treacherous terrain and mysterious disappearances, earning it the ominous nickname “Valley of Death.” Over the past 25 years, at least 25 tourists have either died or disappeared while hiking there.

In early September, Justin headed out on what would be a three-day hike to reach Mantalai Lake, a remote and sacred spot in the upper reaches of the Parvati Valley. He was accompanied by a local sadhu, or holy man, who offered to guide him there as he planned to practice yoga and meditate. Justin then sent out a social media post saying, “I should return mid-month or so. If I’m not back by then, don’t look for me.” This was a little ominous, given that it was the last time anyone would hear from him ever again.

According to reports, Justin and the sadhu reached Mantalai Lake, but Justin decided to continue further into the mountains. This decision marked the last confirmed sighting of Justin Alexander Shetler. His disappearance triggered a massive search operation. Local authorities, along with volunteers and trekkers, scoured the rugged landscape. Despite the extensive search efforts, which included aerial surveys and ground teams, no trace of Justin was ever found.

The sadhu who accompanied Justin was questioned extensively. He said that the young man had insisted on going further alone and that eventually, he lost sight of him behind the mountains. With so many people gone missing here, some could be attributed to accidents and even bad weather, but all of them? A lot of people don’t think that adds up.

Friends of Justin would go on to confront the sadhu, and under pressure, he eventually proclaimed that Justin was crazy and insisted on leaving on his own, even though he warned him not to. Though his friends didn’t buy this, their intuitions may have been correct. A few days later, three Indian hikers would come forward saying they encountered Justin and the sadhu at the lake. When they approached, they could hear the two arguing, and Justin would then tell those three that he was hungry and wanted to head back. This, of course, contradicts what the holy guide had explained had gone down.

As to what really happened, well, that’s still a mystery to this day. Without any sign of the adventurer Justin, no one can say for sure if he met his fate up there in one way or another—accident, foul play, or he just left his life behind to start fresh and begin an entirely different journey.

So there you have it, five strange unsolved cases of American tourists gone missing. If you enjoyed this, please remember to subscribe and hit the bell so you know when we’re putting out our new content. It’s three new episodes every single week. Thanks so much for stopping by. You guys stay safe out there. I’ll see you soon.