A yoga retreat in paradise turned into a chilling mystery when Taylor Casey, 41, vanished from the Sivananda Ashram on Paradise Island on June 19, 2024. Last seen that evening, she was gone by morning—leaving behind only one clue: her phone, later found in the ocean.

In this follow-up to Episode 45, we speak with Taylor’s mother, Colette Seymore, and her close friend, Emily, who are still searching for answers. They share who Taylor was, their concerns about the investigation, and why they don’t believe the official story.

What really happened to Taylor Casey? And why has the truth remained out of reach?

Listen as we dive into the Bahamas, the case of Taylor Casey, and how to stay alive on vacation.

If you have any information about Taylor Casey or were at the Sivananda Retreat in June 2024, please reach out to Taylor's mother, Colette at (708) 906-9953

 

For more information go to https://www.findtaylorcasey.com/

We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast

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Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter

One moment, 66 year old Raymond Ashcroft was walking through the legendary ruins of Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site deep in the Guatemalan rainforest. 

The next? He was gone. 

No struggle. No witnesses. Just… silence.

Authorities launched a desperate search within a half hour of his disappearance. 

But Raymond? He had disappeared into the shadows of history, just like the ancient Maya who once ruled these lands.

Was it an accident? Did he wander off and couldn’t find his way back? Was it foul play? Or something far stranger?

Listen as we dive into Guatemala, the case of Raymond Ashcroft, and how to stay alive on vacation.

Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/

And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast

Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter

Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/raymond-vincent-ashcroft-american-tourist-disappears-while-visiting-ancient-mayan-city/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11900307/Bird-watching-American-tourist-mysteriously-disappears-visiting-Mayan-ruins-Guatemala.html

https://adnamerica.com/en/guatemala/american-tourist-who-disappeared-ancient-mayan-city-remains-missing

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/tourist-missing-mayan-city-guatemala-b2306189.html

https://www.express.co.uk/news/us/1750065/guatemala-tourist-mayan-city-Interpol-alert-dxus

https://www.abdpost.com/bird-watching-us-tourist-disappears-visiting-mayan-ruins-in-guatemala/192566/

https://www.prensalibre.com/guatemala/comunitario/turista-perdido-en-tikal-problemas-de-memoria-y-otros-detalles-que-revela-la-esposa-de-estadounidense-extraviado-en-el-parque-nacional/#google_vignette

In early 1959, nine hikers set out on a skiing expedition across the northern Ural Mountains—Igor Dyatlov, Yuri Doroshenko, Lyudmila Dubinina, Georgiy Krivonishenko, Alexander Kolevatov, Zinaida Kolmogorova, Rustem Slobodin, Nikolai Thibeaux-Brignolles, and Semyon Zolotaryov. Their journey would end in one of the most chilling and perplexing mysteries in modern history.

On the night of February 1st, something terrifying forced them to flee their tent into the freezing wilderness—half-dressed and unprepared. Their bodies were discovered weeks later, scattered across the snow, with injuries that defied explanation.

Decades later, diaries, photographs, and investigations have offered theories, ranging from natural disasters to the supernatural. But one question remains:

What really happened to the Dyatlov 9?

Listen as we dive into The Ural Mountains in Russia, the case of the Nine Hikers, and how to stay alive on vacation.

Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/

And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast

Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter

Sources:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9249247/Dyatlov-Pass-Eight-tourists-missing-Russia-nine-people-mysteriously-died-1959.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident#:~:text=After%20the%20group's%20bodies%20were,small%20crack%20in%20his%20skull.

https://dyatlovpass.com/

https://www.facebook.com/notes/353524819051976/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dyatlov_Pass_incident

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/01/world/europe/dyatlov-pass-avalanche-russia.html

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/has-science-solved-history-greatest-adventure-mystery-dyatlov

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/05/17/has-an-old-soviet-mystery-at-last-been-solved

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/scientists-may-have-finally-unraveled-mystery-dyatlov-pass-incident-180976886/

https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7vwg8/the-dyatlov-pass-mystery-may-have-just-been-solved-by-new-video-evidence

In Episode 56, we walked through the timeline of Skye Budnick’s disappearance, sharing the details made public by investigators and her family. If you haven’t listened to that episode yet, or need a refresher, we recommend going back before diving into this one.

In this episode, I’m joined by Skye’s sister, Megan Lebron, for a deeper look into who Skye was, the challenges her family has faced in the years since she vanished, and any new developments in the case.

On April 1, 2008, Skye boarded a one-way flight to Japan without telling anyone. She was last seen at an inn in Northern Japan before her trail suddenly went cold. No one knows why she left, what happened after she arrived, or where she is now.

For nearly 17 years, Skye’s family has navigated a foreign country, language, and culture in their search for answers—but they are still searching.

Join us as we explore Skye’s story through her family’s eyes.

Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/

And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast

Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Surviving Skye

https://www.survivingskye.com/

Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter

In November 2024, what started as a fun night out in the party town of Vang Vieng turned into a horrifying nightmare.  Six tourists from around the world never woke up. Others barely escaped with their lives. 

At first it seemed like a tragic accident, a case of tainted alcohol, poisoning unsuspecting travelers in the party town of Vang Vieng, Laos. But as the details emerged, the story took a darker turn. 

Why were only tourists affected? Why did local authorities move so quickly to shut down the investigation? And could this have been something far more sinister than a simple mistake?

Was this mass poisoning the result of greed, negligence… or something more deliberate?

We’re diving into the chilling case of the Laos Methanol Poisonings - where a fun night out turned fatal, and the truth might still be buried.

We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast

Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/

And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast

Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Like Mother Like Murder

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/like-mother-like-murder/id1632348616

 

Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter

Sources:

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g612363-d13540456-Reviews-Nana_Backpacker_Hostel-Vang_Vieng_Vientiane_Province.html

https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/unanswered-questions-remain-about-laos-mass-methanol-poisoning/news-story/7e45d576a088ade129646206eb4bdf1f?

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/33149356/laos-poisoning-vodka-tourists-survivor/?utm_

https://thethaiger.com/news/laos-govt-speaks-on-mass-methanol-poisoning-that-left-six-dead?utm_

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-11-29/methanol-poisoning-broader-impact-south-east-asia/104652326?utm_

https://people.com/methanol-poisoning-laos-american-tourist-identified-8752046

https://www.bbcworldinfo.com/2024/11/the-rise-and-fall-of-vang-vieng-laos.html?utm_

https://www.9news.com.au/world/what-to-know-about-the-laos-backpacker-town-at-centre-of-suspected-methanol-poisonings/f771ed85-a03c-41e6-b030-e50f9ec4466c

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/simone-white-laos-alcohol-poisoning-b2651852.html

https://www.touristsecrets.com/trip-planning/safety-insurance/vang-vieng-tubing-deaths-and-dangers/

https://www.pedestrian.tv/news/nana-backpackers-hostel-laos-reportedly-being-deleted/

https://scandasia.com/belgian-friend-to-danish-girls-that-died-in-laos-shares-his-story/

On August 21st, 2024, we released Episode 41, the case of Ryan Roth. In that episode, I walked you through the timeline of events and shared the details investigators made to the public. 

In this episode, I’m joined by Ryan’s uncle, Sean Flynn, as we take a deeper look at who Ryan was before his alleged suicide, why Sean is searching for him, any new updates in the case - and where Ryan might be now.

If you haven’t listened to Episode 41 yet, or need a refresher, I encourage you to revisit it before continuing.

Ryan Roth, born Ryan Flynn, vanished on January 20, 2020 from a cliff in Bali, Indonesia.  The 39 year old, originally from England left behind a passport, driver’s license, a suicide note, and other personal belongings.But he also left behind a legacy of deception, dishonesty, and schemes. 

Many people, including Indonesian authorities, suspect Ryan staged his disappearance to mimic a suicide and is instead in hiding… taking with him millions of dollars he swindled from friends and family through fraudulent business schemes.

To learn more about Ryan Roth, please watch "The Faking Dead. Ryan Roth. Global con man and scammer. True crime Documentary" on Youtube:  https://youtu.be/BHJfWKMVmxc?si=6VKsZOeBMUXsEpJw

If you have ANY information, please email Sean Flynn at [email protected]

The Last Trip is on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast

Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/

And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast

Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Ye Olde Crime Podcast

https://www.yeoldecrimepodcast.com/

 

Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter

Sarah Papenheim was young, talented, and full of life - a gifted blues drummer from Minnesota with dreams of making a difference. 

She traveled halfway across the world to study psychology in the Netherlands, never imagining that the person she shared an apartment with would become her worst nightmare.

It was a quiet December afternoon in 2018 when everything changed. There was a brutal attack, a desperate attempt to escape, and a crime so shocking that it left 2 countries searching for answers.

What really happened behind the closed doors of that Dutch apartment? 

Was there a warning sign no one saw? 

And who was the man Sarah trusted enough to live with - only for him to betray her in the worst way possible?

Listen as we dive into Rotterdam, the case of Sarah Papenheim, and how to stay alive on vacation.

We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast

Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/

And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast

Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Murder Coaster Podcast

https://murdercoasterpodcast.com/

 

Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter

Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/JoshandSarahScholarship/

https://www.instagram.com/happy_paps/

https://abcnews.go.com/US/american-student-21-stabbed-death-netherlands-officials/story?id=59805502

https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/en/2019/12/11/six-years-of-jail-and-treatment-for-the-killing-of-sarah-papenheim/

https://www.eur.nl/en/essb/news/memoriam-sarah-papenheim

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/mn-student-killed-in-netherlands/89-9f86d060-c4e4-4cee-8acb-bcbd583abc9d

https://www.redding.com/story/news/local/2018/12/26/sarah-papenheim-american-student-killed-netherlands-vigils-foothill-high-school-redding/2417654002/

https://www.gofundme.com/f/sarah-papenheim-memorial-fund

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/american-student-in-netherlands-stabbed-by-roommate

https://www.twincities.com/2018/12/15/minnesota-student-killed-in-netherlands-texted-friend-about-roommates-threat/

https://www.startribune.com/suspect-in-fatal-stabbing-of-twin-cities-musician-is-id-d-appears-in-dutch-court/502688662

https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/man-gets-6-years-prison-for-killing-of-mn-student-in-the-netherlands

https://www.erasmusmagazine.nl/en/2019/11/28/joel-s-doesnt-remember-anything-about-stabbing-student-sarah-papenheim/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6496833/Shocking-moment-police-arrest-smiling-Dutch-musician-23-charged-murdering-American-student.html

Antoine Herran was 28 years old when he left France for what was meant to be a 3 week vacation in Australia in April of 1998.  On the day he was supposed to return home,he reportedly jumped off The Gap, a series of towering cliffs near Sydney.

Authorities later recovered a body they believed to be his. However, when Antoine’s family arrived in Australia, they were stunned to find out the body did not belong to him.

This sparked a lot of speculation that Antoine orchestrated an elaborate plan 

to fake his own death. Despite no confirmed sightings or evidence of his whereabouts, his family continues to hold out hope that advances in DNA testing  might one day uncover the truth they’ve been searching for.

Listen as we dive into Australia, the case of Antoine Herran, and how to stay alive on vacation.

Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/

And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast

Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Perplexed Podcasts

https://www.buzzsprout.com/2115848

Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter

Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/p/Where-is-Antoine-Herran-61557994267485/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8829143/French-tourist-Antoine-Herran-faked-death-stay-Australia-detective-claims.html

https://www.doenetwork.org/cases-int/3430dmnsw.html

https://www.starobserver.com.au/news/national-news/new-south-wales-news/strip-could-unlock-mystery/6184

https://www.reddit.com/r/brisbane/comments/1gholjl/what_happened_to_antoine_herran/

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/did-a-french-backpacker-fake-his-death-and-move-to-queensland-20241016-p5kixl.html

https://australianmissingpersonsregister.com/ampr/Herran.htm

On March 20, 2024, we released Episode 19, which covered the tragic case of Jason Cortez. In that episode, I guided you through the timeline of events and shared the publicly available details from investigators.

In this episode, I’m joined by Jason’s father, Candelario Cortez, to delve deeper into Jason’s life, the challenges his family has endured since his heartbreaking murder, and any new developments in the case.

If you haven’t listened to Episode 19 yet, or need a refresher, I encourage you to revisit it before continuing.

Jason’s case began in September 2021, when he left his new wife in Virginia to travel to Los Angeles. He had planned to help a friend with photography for a creative project—a trip meant to be brief and enjoyable. However, on September 10, everything took a devastating turn.

While visiting Ernest E. Debs Regional Park for a photo session, Jason and his friend were leaving the park when a single gunshot rang out. Jason collapsed to the ground. Despite his friend’s efforts to perform CPR, Jason’s life was tragically cut short.

This senseless act of random violence remains unresolved, and the shooter has yet to be identified.

To learn more about Jason Cortez, please visit https://www.celebratingjasoncortez.com/

If you have ANY information, now is the time to come forward.

We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast

Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/

And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast

 

Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter

Travis Sackett was an experienced traveler with a passion for service.  He dedicated years to volunteering with AmeriCorps and the Peace Corps, working in Peru and Guatemala, and most recently, lending a hand in Ecuador.

In February 2021, just two months into his stay in Ecuador, Travis set out on what should have been a routine hike. The trail wasn’t particularly challenging, and witnesses reported seeing him during the day.

But he never returned.

Was it a tragic accident along the path? Or could something more sinister have occurred?

Despite extensive searches, no trace of Travis has ever been found. To this day, his disappearance remains a mystery. 

What really happened to Travis Sackett?

Listen as we dive into Ecuador, the case of Travis Sackett, and how to stay alive on vacation.

We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast

Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/

And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast

 

Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter

Sources:

https://www.facebook.com/FindTrav/

https://www.reddit.com/r/ecuador/comments/lw1i6m/missing_travis_sackett/

https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nys/rochester/public-safety/2021/03/06/family--friends-ask-for-help-in-finding-batavia-man-who-went-missing-in-ecuador

https://www.einpresswire.com/article/539580852/lauth-investigations-international-joins-the-search-for-missing-person-travis-sackett-who-disappeared-from-ecuador

https://havanatimes.org/diaries/alfe/ecuadors-missing-persons/

https://www.thelcn.com/news/local/batavia-native-missing-in-ecuador/article_fab9130b-2522-5d7a-ac4a-585102724707.html

https://www.thedailynewsonline.com/top_story/batavia-native-missing-in-ecuador/article_cc3c0a16-d8a8-5cb4-be4b-e135f5d5c5fc.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VONdmH-v4dc

https://www.lahora.com.ec/etiquetas/travis-joseph-sackett/#google_vignette

https://missingamericans.ning.com/m?id=4224332:MobilePage:32028

https://www.facebook.com/turismopimampiro.imbabura/

https://insightcrime.org/news/ecuadors-kidnapping-epidemic-told-by-a-survivor/

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/ecuador-travel-advisory.html