Have you seen Jonathan Spollen? Missing in Rishikesh since February 3rd, 2012

"I'm thinking a new recap here would be helpful. It's many pages to follow for a newcomer." machadinha

Hi Lynda here, Thanks machadinha for prompt on where we are at. This the story so far…

The story so far…

Jonathan Spollen DOB:20.4.83 Age 28

Height: 6”1
Appearance: Long dark hair, beard, moustache, thin, quite pale, possible limp, blue eyes
Irish national, lived most recently in Hong Kong, prior to that in Abu Dhabi, Cairo & London. He was a Journalist, writer and Editor. He has a degree in Philosophy & Politics and a Masters in Near & Middle Eastern Studies (SOAS).

• Trip: Went to Nepal in Oct – 23rd Nov
• Got robbed in Nepal October 25th.
• Flew from Kathmandu to Dehli. 3 month visa – expired 21st Feb 2012.
• In India 23rd Nov. Travelled South to Kerala & Varanassi for a short period and then he went up to Rishikesh/Laxman Jhula.
• Bus ticket 3/12/11 shows Haridwar to Rishikesh
• 17th Dec had an ultrasound. Showed Kidney stone 5.5mm close to passing. Explains pain feeling in Dec and potentially loss of appetite & weight. (medical info found in backpack)
• 14 – 28 Jan On a trek?
• 31/Jan/12 to 2/Feb/12 Dharm Yatri Hotel laxman Jula. Checked out at 9:30am to head to Dehli. Bought train ticket – 23.10 train to Dehli from Haridwar on 2/feb 12
• 2/Feb/12-3/Feb/12 we don’t know where stayed that night
• 3/Feb/12 – calls his Mother at 9:18am to tell of change of plan as his friend in Dehli was not going to be there – would go trekking 2-3 weeks will be out of contact and not to worry. Was not taking a guide.
• 3/Feb/12-10th/13th presumed on a trek??
• Sometime between 10-14th February he was in Laxman Jula where he met another traveller & discussed a book (Shantaram). Last 100% sighting.
• Rucksack (larger than a daypack but not a full size rucksack) found by small waterfall 11th March 5kms from Laxman Jula. Wet. under a rock. Passport, money etc in bag. Sleeping bag & book laid out. Evidence camping in spot. The valley of the Garrachatti (Garud Chatti) waterfall, east of the Garrachatti Bridge, walking up into the mountains from the Neelkhant road, heading toward Bhadsi. Place is quite inaccessible but also not far from a village - 15mins. Phone was not in bag.
• Cards & documents (E1-11 Health form etc) discovered 1km away further up the trail in a small hollow on 12th March. In good condition. In two piles about 1m from each other. They were balled up and discarded as you would do with rubbish in your pocket. Query – Theft from wallet? Wallet not found.
• Since the bag was found, the Police have led searches with dogs, experienced climbers and volunteers who have carried out an extensive search of the riverside area.
• Re-enforcements have arrived yesterday in terms of professional trackers who are working closely with the Police and our team on the ground. Search of surrounding area continues. The team now comprises Robbie, Jack, Liz, Richard, Mark & Pete. My brother, Jonathan’s Uncle Gene arrives in the next couple of days to lead the search on our behalf.

We are leaving no stone unturned. We are doing our best to stay focused it is so hard not to speculate but we know we must stick to the facts and take it from there. At the moment the first priority is to widen the search area from where the bag was found given the evidence that he has been ill, there is the possibility that he is being looked after by some kind people. In tandem, we are also extending the search along the four main pilgrimage routes. Note however he has no passport or money.

Apologies this is so long a post but I hope it covers all the key information we have.

Thank you to you all and for your continuing support and advice.

Lynda

Sorry Lynda here, yet again. I meant to add just in relation to the reward that our main reason for holding off on this course of action for the moment is that of safety - we do not want people, perhaps even children, putting themselves in danger particularly when the search site is focused around dangerous terrain such as the waterfall area. We would never forgive ourselves if someone had an accident in those circumstances.

Lynda, his wallet was not among the found items, but some money, stored seperately in his backpack? And his phone was also not there?

Could still be robbery/theft and that robber/thief had to leave fast

Hi guys,

Saidhbh here again, we had to make one more small change so here is the latest poster! Thank you for putting the last one to the front of the thread, if you could replace it with this one i'd be very grateful.
Thanks for the advice, yes I think just a translation to Hindi would be extremely helpful then if any of you indiamikers could assist with it? Thank you so much again.

Warm regards from Dublin,

Saidhbh



Mod note: The poster attachments have been removed from this post and added to the first post in this thread.

A new photo from Lynda's Facebook page.

they were the trousers he was wearing on the 1st/ 2nd feb

hope and prayers for his well being. Strange but I think he is still ok but that is what one says when they meet one of life's good people. He is a nice person. All of us (Stef, dermot, who met him and ruth who didnt but has been following it all) really hope he is ok.

Lynda, thank you very much for your update.

Can you or David tell us what is the local police's take (or that of other involved authorities) on the story by now?

Hi Everyone,
I just joined IM but have been following this thread since early on.
Just wondering about the packs Jonathan was carrying while travelling. Lynda, you mentioned that the pack found by the waterfall was larger than a day pack. I noticed in some photos of Jonathan on facebook that he is carrying a smaller day / hike style pack. Maybe Jonathan was carrying more than first thought from his camp if he had this smaller pack with him.
IMO it seems he was only planning a day trip somewhere considering he left his sleeping bag laid out and book ready to go. With the cold wet weather we have been experiencing until recently I would imagine he would store the sleeping bag somewhere out of the weather if he did not plan to return that day.
Regards,

Tom

hi Tom, your link (from a Facebook photo I think) has not worked. Maybe try again?

Thanks theyyamdancer,
New to all this... hope this works

Actually this is a much better photo of the day pack

i hope you will get him as soon as possible. we all will try our best to get him back. i will prey for his safety

Have been reading through this thread and just wanted to add that my thoughts are with all of Jonathan's family and friends.

I cannot be of any real use at all, but I will say one thing. Since his visa was so near to running out when he disappeared, it may be that his intention was to "disappear" in some remote area and quietly make a life for himself in India. This kind of dream is not uncommon amongst travlers to India, though very very few attempt it. The good news is he may be healthy and safe, but if he has come to his senses he may be embarassed and scared of the consequences of overstaying his visa.

I suggest you talk to the authorities about this and try to get some sort of reassuring statement out. If he has any contact withocals or tourists, he may hear the message.

He is wearing different clothes from the photos taken with the same holy man in this post. He was sufficiently interested in this man and/or spirituality generally to make more than one visit.

Just an observation, sorry I don't have anything constructive to offer.

The holy man in the picture is Baba Prahlad Jani also known as "Mata Ji" because he dresses up like a female devotee of the goddess Amba. He lives in Gujarat (the Indian state adjoining Rajasthan)

The baba ji claims to have not taken water or food since last six decades i.e. 60 years.

Jonathan seems to be impressed with this Babaji as he went to meet him twice. So does this gives a hint about his future plans??

In one of my previous posts, I raised this issue

"It is relatively easy to do away with materialistic possesions; however, one requires regular intake (even if after elongated periods) of food for sustenance. For which, one needs to be living closer to the source of food."

PS: I believe in logical reasoning and despise speculations like any rational person would; however, at times wild theories can show us the way forward.
Secondly, though psychology is one of my favorite subjects, I consider it almost defamatory to discuss a person's behaviour with out knowning him personally. But at times we need to resort to it, if it does not causes anguish and helps someway or the other.