Episodes
Reny Jose: Panama City Beach, Florida
It was spring break on Florida’s Gulf Coast - sun, surf, and twenty-two college students crammed into a rental house along Panama City Beach. Among them was 21 year old Reny Jose, a student from Rice University with a bright future ahead o…
Giedre Vaskyte: Maldives
It was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime - a luxury island resort in the Maldives, white sand beaches, turquoise water stretching endlessly toward the horizon. For Giedre Vaskyte, a 33 year old Canadian woman, it was a last quiet getawa…
Mark Kilroy: Matamoros, Mexic
Mark Kilroy was a bright, athletic college student - a pre-med major with a promising future. Blowing off steam on a spring break getaway to the sun-drenched border town of Matamoros, Mexico. But somewhere between the neon-lit bars and cr…
Melvin Nadel: Elk Mountain, New Mexico
It was the start of a perfect weekend in September 2009 when 61-year-old Melvin Nadel - black belt, seasoned bowhunter, and respected gym owner - set out on a hunting trip near Pecos, New Mexico. While his friends ventured out, Mel stayed n…
Crishtian Hughes: San Francisco, California
In February 2013, 20 year old Crishtian Hughes flew to San Francisco to visit friends, he was excited for a weekend away. He told his mom he'd be home in a few days, but Crishtian never came back. The night before his flight home, he left h…
Leah Roberts: Whatcom County, Washington
In March 2000, 23-year-old Leah Roberts packed her Jeep Cherokee, grabbed her cat—and vanished. Not without a trace, but into the vast, mist-covered wilderness of the Pacific Northwest. Inspired by Jack Kerouac, Leah set off from North Car…
Monica Beresford-Redman: Cancun, Mexico
A dream vacation in Cancun. A luxury resort by the sea. A second chance at love.... that ended in murder. Monica Beresford-Redman was vibrant, successful, and the heart of L.A.'s salsa scene. When she vanished from the Moon Palace Resort, p…
Paul Carter: The English Channel
In the early hours of April 21st, 2007, 22-year-old Paul Carter vanished somewhere between Portsmouth, England, and St. Malo, France. He boarded the overnight ferry with his workmates - but by morning, Paul was gone. No one saw him leave. …
Judy Smith: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
We’re diving into one of the most perplexing travel mysteries in recent history — the disappearance and tragic death of Judy Smith. In April of 1997, Judy traveled to Philadelphia with her husband, a routine trip that took a bizarre turn wh…
Michael Rockefeller: Papua New Guinea
He was young, ambitious, and heir to one of the most powerful families in American history. But Michael Rockefeller wasn’t chasing money, politics, or prestige. He was chasing meaning… Art. Culture. A sense of connection that no trust fun…
Karen Denise Wells: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
A road trip gone wrong. A young mother driving alone. A motel room untouched — and a rental car abandoned, hazard lights still blinking on a desolate Pennsylvania highway. In April 1994, 23-year-old Karen Denise Wells left Oklahoma for Ne…
Tom & Eileen Lonergan: Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Tom and Eileen Lonergan set off for what should have been an unforgettable day diving the Great Barrier Reef - clear skies, calm waters, and a boat full of tourists just like them. But when the dive boat returned to the shore, no one notice…
Hostel Fires
When we talk about travel nightmares, we often picture what lurks outside - dark alleys, strangers with bad intentions, stories that begin with a missed train or a wrong run. But sometimes… the danger is already inside. Today, we’re opening…
Hostel Murders
When we pack our bags and check into a hostel, we’re chasing adventure. A new city, a bunk bed, the promise of strangers who might become friends - or at least someone to split a cab with. And honestly? I love staying in hostels. I’ve stay…
Bonus Episode: Dawn Barclay, "Vacations Can Be Murder"
Today on The Last Trip, we’re diving into the darker side of travel with someone who knows exactly where the bodies are buried - literally and figuratively. Dawn Barclay is an award - winning travel journalist with a knack for uncovering t…
David O'Sullivan: Idyllwild, CA
It was a quiet spring morning in Idyllwild, California - April 7, 2017 - when 25 year old David O’Sullivan put on his backpack, stepped onto the Pacific Crest Trail, and vanished. The Irish hiker had come to America chasing a dream: to wal…
Valerie De La Valdene: Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands
She was known as “Shark Girl” - a fearless underwater photographer who swam with predators most of us only dare to watch on TV. At 48, Valerie de la Valdene had it all: a career that earned her a spot in the Women Divers Hall of Fame, feat…
Ray Gricar: Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
On April 15, 2005, District Attorney Ray Gricar took the day off, got in his car, and set out on a quiet road trip—just a short drive to clear his head. But he never came home. His car was later found abandoned, his wallet and phone missing…
Lucy Schuhmann: St John, USVI
In September 2019, a yellow Jeep Wrangler was found abandoned at a remote trailhead on St. John in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Everything inside looked normal—except the woman who rented it, Lucy Schuhmann, was missing. The 48-year-old travele…
Robert Cantrell: Cancun, Mexico
A 62-year-old man boards a plane—but his travel path makes no sense. Charlotte. Austin. Dallas. And finally… Cancun. When Robert Cantrell lands in Mexico, he clears customs—but never makes it to baggage claim. Days later, he reappears—shoel…
Larry Hillblom: Saipan
Money, power, and mystery—three ingredients for a disappearance that still haunts the Pacific. Larry Hillblom, co-founder of DHL, built a shipping empire and amassed a fortune. Yet, he chose to live in secrecy on a remote Pacific island, su…
Annie & Robin Korkki: Mahé Island, Seychelles
Annie and Robin Korkki set out on the trip of a lifetime - a luxurious island getaway in paradise. But on the morning of September 22, 2016, their dream vacation came to a chilling end. After a day of drinking and laughter at an exclusive …
Taylor Casey Update: An Interview with Colette and Emily
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…
Raymond Ashcroft: Tikal National Park, Guatemala
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 launch…
The Dyatlov 9: Dyatlov Pass, Russia
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 Thibeau…
Skye Budnick Update: An Interview with Megan Lebron
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…
Poisonings in Paradise: Vang Vieng, Laos
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 trag…
Ryan Roth Update: An Interview with Sean Flynn
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 Fl…
Sarah Papenheim: Rotterdam, Netherlands
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…
Antoine Herran: The Gap, Sydney, Australia
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 Sydn…
Jason Cortez Update: An Interview with Candelario Cortez
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…
Travis Joseph Sackett: Imbabura Volcano, Ecuador
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, j…
Michal Krówczyński: San Diego, CA
Michal Krowczynski was a math teacher and Polish tourist who set out to explore Arizona and California during his winter break. Tragically, he vanished under mysterious circumstances on January 17th, 2019, while in San Diego, California. S…
The Last Trip: Updates & More!
Hello fellow travelers and true crime enthusiasts! I wanted to share a quick update to keep you all in the loop on what’s been happening behind the scenes with The Last Trip Podcast.  Looking ahead, I’m really excited about what’s coming i…
Barbara Jean Monaco: Virginia Beach, VA
The case of Barbara Jean Monaco is a mystery that time cannot erase. On August 20th, 1978, Barbara Jean hit the road with her sister and 2 friends. Their destination? Virginia Beach - a sunny getaway to celebrate Barbara’s milestone 18th…
Ryan Borgwardt: Green Lake, Wisconsin
This week’s episode takes a wild turn into the unbelievable. Our missing person didn’t just vanish - he faked his own death, traveled halfway around the globe, and ultimately got caught. It all started when Ryan Borgwardt told his family h…
Skye Budnick: Hokkaido, Japan
In 2008, 21-year-old Skye Budnick boarded a one-way flight from Connecticut to Japan without informing anyone of her plans. Upon arriving, she was last seen at an inn in northern Japan. After that, her trail vanished, leaving behind a growi…
Island Serial Killer: Tenerife, Spain
Why are so many people disappearing and turning up murdered on Tenerife, the popular vacation island? Could a serial killer be responsible? Since the start of 2024, at least 12 people have vanished from Tenerife and the nearby island of La …
Justin Booska: Laguna de Ayarza, Guatemala
Justin Booska was 27 years old when he traveled to Guatemala for a vacation with his college roommate’s family in early 2018. On January 6th, they stopped at Laguna de Ayarza. It was here that Justin, who was an experienced athlete, decid…
Dana Rishpy: Tulum, Mexico
Dana Rishpy, only 24 years old, was last seen on March 30, 2007, at a beach party in Tulum, Mexico. She had arrived in Tulum a few days earlier and met an American man who offered her a place to stay at his hotel. Later, he was named a pers…