YouTuber Elliot Eastman shot dead and dumped at sea after speedboat kidnapping by fake cops, says police
YOUTUBE star Elliott Eastman has been shot dead and dumped at sea, police in the Philippines have said.
The 26-year-old was kidnapped in a speedboat by gunmen in pretending to be cops after shooting him in the leg.
Three people have been arrested in the frantic search for the American since he was dragged away from Sibuco town on October 17.
The Vermont native was abducted just months after marrying a local woman.
And the Philippine National Police believes that Eastman is already dead based on statements from witnesses and a suspect in his abduction.
A spokesperson for the Police Regional Office IX confirmed on Thursday that a suspect had confessed that Eastman was dead and his body was thrown into the sea.
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A witness previously stated that Eastman died from a gunshot wound to the leg and abdomen, Filipino outlet reports.
Police Lt.Col Ramoncelio Sawan said: "Late October, during our investigation, we encountered one witness who told us that someone told him that on the night Elliott Eastman was taken, he was shot.
"And when those who abducted him were upset, Eastman was later killed.
"What they did was throw Eastman's body in the water."
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He added: “Some time in November, we caught one of those involved in the abduction of Elliott Eastman.
"He himself said and testified to what the first witness we got said."
The YouTuber's body, however, has not been found yet and cops are still to determine the motive behind his kidnapping.
The police official said: "We have not seen his body yet, although we tried to search for any signs on the shores and neighboring islands.
"We haven't really found anything yet."
According to Sawan, Elliott Eastman's family has already been informed of the latest updates in his case.
“We are in constant coordination with the stakeholders from the US Embassy,” he added.
Philippine National Police spokesperson Colonel Jean Fajardo previously said they had activated all available resources to find Eastman.
He said: "Based on their statements, the three in custody were directly involved in the abduction of the American national."
FBI agents were flown into the Philippines and were working with local police searching for the missing American.
The US officers spoke to Eastman's wife with whom he lived in a run-down concrete shack belonging to his father-in-law.
He was staying at the father-in-law's home when he was reportedly attacked by four armed men.
The attackers falsely claimed they were police and reportedly shot him in the leg when he tried to resist, officials said.
He was then bundled away in the speedboat off the coast of Zamboanga del Norte - one of the most dangerous parts of the country.
When police arrived at the home to investigate they found a blood smear across the vinyl floor and an empty bullet cartridge from an M16 rifle.
Cops previously said: ";We confirm that there was a report of the alleged abduction of an American national.
"We want to assure the public, particularly the community of Sibuco, that we are doing everything in our power to secure the safe recovery of the victim."
Filipino news site previously cited reports saying the abduction may be tied to personal conflicts involving his wife.
Her former partner is now a person of interest in the case with residents claiming he may have wanted to rekindle the relationship.
Eastman's YouTube bio reads: "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."
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