Have you seen Jonathan Spollen? Missing in Rishikesh since February 3rd, 2012
Many thanks to all of you who keep contributing. I read the site daily, even though I do not respond every day. There has been a fair amount of speculation about the factual details, so I am going to update IM'ers with what we know so far. Long term watchers will note that there is more detail and a couple of more sightings. Although we have not confirmed sightings beyond mid February, we do have a clearer picture of Jonathan's movements over the period. I hope this additional information will help to jog some memories for you.
16/12/11- checked into Ganesh Inn Hotel
30/12/11-checked out of Ganesh Inn Hotel
30/12/11-31/12/11 – where did he stay?
1/01/11 checked into Rajshtan Hotel
10/1/12-checked out of Rajastan Hotel
10/1/12-talked with Sitigiri, a South African female Sadhu. She thought he didnt look well. Jonathan told her he had just been kicked out of his guest-house (for not eating?). He was shocked and incredulous that this was allowed to happen. He had a bowl of muesli with her. This would be the period that his kidney stone would be passing (causing severe pain, lack of appetite etc)
10th-13th - where did he stay?
13/1/12- checked into Ishan Hotel for one night.
13/1/12-last cash withdrawn in 2 transactions of IR10,000 and IR5,000 (location Swargashram ATM - in bank records, date of 17th)
20/1/12-rang Lynda on her birthday. Had said he had detoured (1.5hrs) to a road to get a signal. This signal came within the range of the Laxman Jhula tower.
28/1/12 texted to say was back
28th-30th - where did he stay?
30/1/12 checked into Dharm Yatri .
31/1/12-checked out to go on a guided trek but checked back in again on 31st as road was closed.
Between 31/1-2/2/12- he met Matt, an American guy. Jonathan started the conversation. He asked Matt if Shantimai gave meditation classes, but Matt said no and instead gave him the name Anand in Jaipur Gems instead. He said Jonathan was very skinny but seemed in good spirits.
Between 31/1-2/2/12- met Nandani, a Dutch nurse, in the German Bakery. He mentioned that he was in a lot of pain and she could see him ache when he moved. J spoke about having just done a 10 day fast with a friend.
2/2/12-checked out of Dharm Yatri for Dehli.
Between 1st and 6/2/12- met Terry, English guy, at the chai shop near Neelkanth bridge. Jonathan had AT LEAST 2 bags with him, a rucksack & a day bag. Terry thought this was strange and asked him if he was heading up the hills.. Jonathan said no, he was on his way down from the hills he had gone beyond Garur Chatti Waterfall. Been on a 10 day trek.
10th-14th/2/12- last confirmed sighting with Lauren in the German Bakery. Lauren started the conversation. They talked about the book, Shantaram, which they were both reading, and went on to discuss how the media (negatively?) affects society. He told her he was a writer and that he was coming from somewhere he didn't like.
Same period 12th or 13th – sighting on road to Joshimath. Not 100% confirmed.
Between 19-22/2/12-last suspected sighting, by Sudama on the Laxman Jhula side of the suspension bridge. Sudama recognised the long sweater Jonathan was wearing because he had sold it to him from his shop beneath the Oasis restaurant.
As you can see, there is more detail to this report than the previous one. Of particular interest is the comment by the English guy, Terry, who saw Jonathan around 2/2/12 at the chai shop at Neelkanth bridge. He said Jonathan had two bags with him, a daysack and a rucksack.
•Are there any IM'ers who were at the chai shop or on the track around this time?
•Has anyone seen the rucksack and if so, can you describe it? We only found the daysack, so we think he may still have the rucksack with him.
•Or he may have left it with somewhere for safekeeping in Laxman Jula – anyone any suggestions where people leave big bags if they are going trekking?
Secondly, Jonathan may have spent a couple of days in the bridge area around Laxman Jhula, in mid-February. There are no records of him staying in a guest house at that time.
•Does anyone have any ideas about where he could have been staying?
•Did anyone recall a tall, thin westerner, wearing a long, creamy sweater (Nepalese in origin, comes down to your trouser pockets, good quality, noticeable), possibly carrying a rucksack?
Thirdly, we know that Jonathan saw a hospital doctor in mid December and was diagnosed with a kidney stone. This may have affected his desire to eat/drink and may have caused persistent physical discomfort. It sounds like it might have been upsetting him around the time he was last seen at the German Bakery.
•Does anyone recall seeing or talking to a European who was in physical discomfort, who may have been moving slowly?
I know some of these questions are similar to ones asked earlier, but it is helpful for us to cast our memories back and perhaps tease out something that could help the search move forward. Thanks once again to our regular contributors and our newbies, your kindness is amazing and strengthening.
16/12/11- checked into Ganesh Inn Hotel
30/12/11-checked out of Ganesh Inn Hotel
30/12/11-31/12/11 – where did he stay?
1/01/11 checked into Rajshtan Hotel
10/1/12-checked out of Rajastan Hotel
10/1/12-talked with Sitigiri, a South African female Sadhu. She thought he didnt look well. Jonathan told her he had just been kicked out of his guest-house (for not eating?). He was shocked and incredulous that this was allowed to happen. He had a bowl of muesli with her. This would be the period that his kidney stone would be passing (causing severe pain, lack of appetite etc)
10th-13th - where did he stay?
13/1/12- checked into Ishan Hotel for one night.
13/1/12-last cash withdrawn in 2 transactions of IR10,000 and IR5,000 (location Swargashram ATM - in bank records, date of 17th)
20/1/12-rang Lynda on her birthday. Had said he had detoured (1.5hrs) to a road to get a signal. This signal came within the range of the Laxman Jhula tower.
28/1/12 texted to say was back
28th-30th - where did he stay?
30/1/12 checked into Dharm Yatri .
31/1/12-checked out to go on a guided trek but checked back in again on 31st as road was closed.
Between 31/1-2/2/12- he met Matt, an American guy. Jonathan started the conversation. He asked Matt if Shantimai gave meditation classes, but Matt said no and instead gave him the name Anand in Jaipur Gems instead. He said Jonathan was very skinny but seemed in good spirits.
Between 31/1-2/2/12- met Nandani, a Dutch nurse, in the German Bakery. He mentioned that he was in a lot of pain and she could see him ache when he moved. J spoke about having just done a 10 day fast with a friend.
2/2/12-checked out of Dharm Yatri for Dehli.
Between 1st and 6/2/12- met Terry, English guy, at the chai shop near Neelkanth bridge. Jonathan had AT LEAST 2 bags with him, a rucksack & a day bag. Terry thought this was strange and asked him if he was heading up the hills.. Jonathan said no, he was on his way down from the hills he had gone beyond Garur Chatti Waterfall. Been on a 10 day trek.
10th-14th/2/12- last confirmed sighting with Lauren in the German Bakery. Lauren started the conversation. They talked about the book, Shantaram, which they were both reading, and went on to discuss how the media (negatively?) affects society. He told her he was a writer and that he was coming from somewhere he didn't like.
Same period 12th or 13th – sighting on road to Joshimath. Not 100% confirmed.
Between 19-22/2/12-last suspected sighting, by Sudama on the Laxman Jhula side of the suspension bridge. Sudama recognised the long sweater Jonathan was wearing because he had sold it to him from his shop beneath the Oasis restaurant.
As you can see, there is more detail to this report than the previous one. Of particular interest is the comment by the English guy, Terry, who saw Jonathan around 2/2/12 at the chai shop at Neelkanth bridge. He said Jonathan had two bags with him, a daysack and a rucksack.
•Are there any IM'ers who were at the chai shop or on the track around this time?
•Has anyone seen the rucksack and if so, can you describe it? We only found the daysack, so we think he may still have the rucksack with him.
•Or he may have left it with somewhere for safekeeping in Laxman Jula – anyone any suggestions where people leave big bags if they are going trekking?
Secondly, Jonathan may have spent a couple of days in the bridge area around Laxman Jhula, in mid-February. There are no records of him staying in a guest house at that time.
•Does anyone have any ideas about where he could have been staying?
•Did anyone recall a tall, thin westerner, wearing a long, creamy sweater (Nepalese in origin, comes down to your trouser pockets, good quality, noticeable), possibly carrying a rucksack?
Thirdly, we know that Jonathan saw a hospital doctor in mid December and was diagnosed with a kidney stone. This may have affected his desire to eat/drink and may have caused persistent physical discomfort. It sounds like it might have been upsetting him around the time he was last seen at the German Bakery.
•Does anyone recall seeing or talking to a European who was in physical discomfort, who may have been moving slowly?
I know some of these questions are similar to ones asked earlier, but it is helpful for us to cast our memories back and perhaps tease out something that could help the search move forward. Thanks once again to our regular contributors and our newbies, your kindness is amazing and strengthening.
Quote:
Belated thanks, Captain, for taking the initiative. I can't believe how much information IM'ers have been able to come up with. It's a time consuming business trying to follow it up, especially now that there is just one person in Laxman Jhula at the moment, so your assistance is invaluable.
Originally Posted by capt_mahajan 
Have sent some emails from kullukid's last links- with a short enquiry and the poster attached.
Have sent some emails from kullukid's last links- with a short enquiry and the poster attached.
Quote:
As you say, Nick, he is only disappeared to those who know him. To you and everyone else, he is a fellow traveller you might bump into in a cafe or on a mountain trail. How many other young men and women are there in the foothills of the Himalayas who are lost to their families but not to themselves?
Originally Posted by Nick-H It's India. Everything Indian is relevant. Everything specifically pertaining to that area is relevant too. There are no bad ideas, and "thinking outside the box" is a damn good idea. But for every "people just don't..." suggestion, there is probably an answer, "yes, they do."
As long as forty years ago, I used to see, in a London magazine, a weekly strip of two or three photos of missing people. I didn't know or recognise any of them, so it passed without registering much, and without even accumulating the totals. To me it was just two or three missing people. I guess I must have read an article, or seen a tv program, that made me realise that is was tens, and even hundreds, of thousands of people that, with no known reason or expectation, vanish, sometimes for days, sometimes for longer. Unless it happened to someone close to us, we underestimate this phenomenon, and we never met anyone who disappeared, because, as one of the articles quotes, they may have disappeared to those left behind, but not to themselves --- except, maybe, in the rare cases of amnesia.
I think this thread must be followed by many of us that have not posted because we cannot do or say anything useful, whereas a core group of people are contributing local knowledge or doing stuff, or just coming up with good ideas.
Now, I think it might be useful to suggest that those who are already doing so much also get a wider viewpoint.
I knew this has been covered. I googled "why do people disappear." Here's one article from the BBC, another from UK's Independent newspaper. There are many more.
Sorry, if this is a "yeah, yeah: been there, read that, known all that for years." Just... for those who haven't, it might help to open up that thinking box a little more.
It's India. Everything Indian is relevant. Everything specifically pertaining to that area is relevant too. There are no bad ideas, and "thinking outside the box" is a damn good idea. But for every "people just don't..." suggestion, there is probably an answer, "yes, they do."As long as forty years ago, I used to see, in a London magazine, a weekly strip of two or three photos of missing people. I didn't know or recognise any of them, so it passed without registering much, and without even accumulating the totals. To me it was just two or three missing people. I guess I must have read an article, or seen a tv program, that made me realise that is was tens, and even hundreds, of thousands of people that, with no known reason or expectation, vanish, sometimes for days, sometimes for longer. Unless it happened to someone close to us, we underestimate this phenomenon, and we never met anyone who disappeared, because, as one of the articles quotes, they may have disappeared to those left behind, but not to themselves --- except, maybe, in the rare cases of amnesia.
I think this thread must be followed by many of us that have not posted because we cannot do or say anything useful, whereas a core group of people are contributing local knowledge or doing stuff, or just coming up with good ideas.
Now, I think it might be useful to suggest that those who are already doing so much also get a wider viewpoint.
I knew this has been covered. I googled "why do people disappear." Here's one article from the BBC, another from UK's Independent newspaper. There are many more.
Sorry, if this is a "yeah, yeah: been there, read that, known all that for years." Just... for those who haven't, it might help to open up that thinking box a little more.
This is why I always say to travellers on the road - text or call your family! You have no idea how much it means to them. You may think, because you are on the road, among friends, discovering a different way of life, that it is enough for your family to hear from you every few weeks. Maybe it's enough for you, but for them, you are in a strange world they can never hope to understand unless they have been to India themselves. It's also for your own safety, so that someone knows where you are, or where you can be found. This information can be amazingly important, and it only takes a couple of minutes of your time. If you haven't been in touch in the last week, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, go on, GO ON!!!
Thanks for the detailed update David,this gives us a much clearer picture of some of J's movements & where is head was at during this period. We know you must be very busy, but keep adding any new info as soon as you can to keep us all in the picture,it may just make something click with one of us. KK
Quote:
Good point federica,i was in a rush when i saw this yesterday
Originally Posted by federica This was written in January 2008 
This was written in January 2008 
but i still think it would be worth contacting this guy to find out more about Atma Kutir where westerners seem to hangout with Sadhu's & with the Osho woman with the Zen Temple??Ideally someone or R'kesh police should be visiting this place, since it's fairly close to where J's belongings were found & it sounds like the sort of place someone into Spiritual stuff would find interesting & may want to hangout,could this be where J was on the missing days listed above? he told the English guy he'd just come from the hills???
KK
Quote:
Thanks for your comprehensive information, Daniela. You have correctly ascertained that our search was made with the best resources we could get at the time. We obtained the use of a police alpinist team, we recruited local trekking guides and we had one sniffer dog for a day. I do not know what skills this dog possessed, but it would have been at least a week after the belongings were left on the ground, because there was mould on Jonathan's book and papers. The mountain area is sizeable - I would guess about 12 sq km of densely vegetated forest. We have followed the most commonly used trails leading to the ridge, from both ends of the mountain, and the waterfall trail which follows a stream to the summit, about midway across the mountain. We did not have the resources or the knowledge to search it in the manner you recommend. I would be interested to hear what you would recommend at this point, as you are an expert in this area. I have also e-mailed the Dutch company you mentioned.
Originally Posted by Snifferdog Hi,
yes this is the link I posted in trekkingforum.com and it was crossposted here, also. I don´t know how they work but it´s worth to ask them for help. But I know that this dutch search dog group is searching for individuals getting lost worldwide and not only after disasters.
Yes, I´ve read it also and I´m sure they´ve done their very best. But same time, I know very well how difficult it is to search heavy areas exactly. I have no idea how experienced the search party is in search missions, tacticals and so on. I´ve read also that David was worried if one of the volunteers would have an accident by this difficult terrain while searching. If searching without well-trained air scenting dogs, you need a really big team and strict discipline and must be very fit in navigation and keeping search grids.
As I understood, the police brought 1 police dog. One dog in a large, heavy area is not much at all and what I ask me, what was the training skills of this dog? If he was a common tracking dog (working on leash???), he would not have had little change to find a trace of Jonathan. This does not mean the dog was a bad trained one, it depends on the methods you teach your dog. I know excellent Mantrailer dogs but after 4 weeks they can not do anything - it´s simply nature of this method! And for worst case, your dog must be trained for dead scent. I don´t know if this police dog was.
Best regards, Daniela
Hi,yes this is the link I posted in trekkingforum.com and it was crossposted here, also. I don´t know how they work but it´s worth to ask them for help. But I know that this dutch search dog group is searching for individuals getting lost worldwide and not only after disasters.
Yes, I´ve read it also and I´m sure they´ve done their very best. But same time, I know very well how difficult it is to search heavy areas exactly. I have no idea how experienced the search party is in search missions, tacticals and so on. I´ve read also that David was worried if one of the volunteers would have an accident by this difficult terrain while searching. If searching without well-trained air scenting dogs, you need a really big team and strict discipline and must be very fit in navigation and keeping search grids.
As I understood, the police brought 1 police dog. One dog in a large, heavy area is not much at all and what I ask me, what was the training skills of this dog? If he was a common tracking dog (working on leash???), he would not have had little change to find a trace of Jonathan. This does not mean the dog was a bad trained one, it depends on the methods you teach your dog. I know excellent Mantrailer dogs but after 4 weeks they can not do anything - it´s simply nature of this method! And for worst case, your dog must be trained for dead scent. I don´t know if this police dog was.
Best regards, Daniela
Quote:
Thanks, New Traveller,
Originally Posted by new_traveller That is what we have heard from Lynda. I was referring to the records from the mobile company.
Someone should have done this - maybe the police. but still if it is not done then getting a detailed call record for the mobile number. Trying to analyze whom he called and what he spoke in case some of the numbers are unknown or local.
That is what we have heard from Lynda. I was referring to the records from the mobile company. Someone should have done this - maybe the police. but still if it is not done then getting a detailed call record for the mobile number. Trying to analyze whom he called and what he spoke in case some of the numbers are unknown or local.
We have Jonathan's phone records and the details from where each call was made. This information has helped us to build a picture of his last known movements
Hey,
sent missing posters on 25. March to:
- http://campgangariviera.com/pages/raftingroutes.html (Rafting Camp close to Neelkanth Bridge)
no answer until now
- http://www.jumpinheights.com/ (bungee Jumping center Neelkanth area)
no answer until now
- http://www.aspencamp.in/howtoreach.htm (Raftng Camp close to Neelkanth Bridge)
no answer until now
- http://www.mastweekend.com/
are not operating anymore in Rishikesh
- http://www.treksnrapids.com/
not answered until now.
Capt. maybe you can call them? Told them they should contact Lynda and David if any information and not me, so that infos are kept in one hand - but maybe it was not a good idea as they just ignored it??
sent missing posters on 25. March to:
- http://campgangariviera.com/pages/raftingroutes.html (Rafting Camp close to Neelkanth Bridge)
no answer until now
- http://www.jumpinheights.com/ (bungee Jumping center Neelkanth area)
no answer until now
- http://www.aspencamp.in/howtoreach.htm (Raftng Camp close to Neelkanth Bridge)
no answer until now
- http://www.mastweekend.com/
are not operating anymore in Rishikesh
- http://www.treksnrapids.com/
not answered until now.
Capt. maybe you can call them? Told them they should contact Lynda and David if any information and not me, so that infos are kept in one hand - but maybe it was not a good idea as they just ignored it??
Hey David,
thanks for updating and good to hear that you are still keeping up!
Think everyone here is hoping for some good news soon.
thanks for updating and good to hear that you are still keeping up!
Think everyone here is hoping for some good news soon.
Captain:
Sorry, don´t find your Ashram contact list at the moment.
Did you contact Sacha Dham Ashram? (is it closed or what is going on there after their guru expired9
As he was interested in Shantimai who ist in the line of this baba.
there is also a list of other Babas in this line on their homepage
http://www.hansraj-maharajji.org/links.html
Ps: Just checked the links out: Seems that all of the babas of this line are westeners!
Only this Shantimayi is in Rishikesh, all others have their ashrams outside of India.
For me it seems like he was more interested in "Mainstream spiritual teachings" popular with backpacker tourists.
Also his fast moving from guesthouse to guesthouse ?!?!Speaking for myself: As long as i feel comfortable in one guesthouse I´m really lazy to move somewhere else.
For me it seems like, he was searching for company and friends - otherwise I don´t understand why he was changing so fast. Sometimes life of a backpacker can be kind of lonely and sometimes especially in this time we are kind of vunerable to ideas we normally would not spent one second to think about, or we make friends with people we normally wouldn´t...
Sorry, don´t find your Ashram contact list at the moment.
Did you contact Sacha Dham Ashram? (is it closed or what is going on there after their guru expired9
As he was interested in Shantimai who ist in the line of this baba.
there is also a list of other Babas in this line on their homepage
http://www.hansraj-maharajji.org/links.html
Ps: Just checked the links out: Seems that all of the babas of this line are westeners!
Only this Shantimayi is in Rishikesh, all others have their ashrams outside of India.
For me it seems like he was more interested in "Mainstream spiritual teachings" popular with backpacker tourists.
Also his fast moving from guesthouse to guesthouse ?!?!Speaking for myself: As long as i feel comfortable in one guesthouse I´m really lazy to move somewhere else.
For me it seems like, he was searching for company and friends - otherwise I don´t understand why he was changing so fast. Sometimes life of a backpacker can be kind of lonely and sometimes especially in this time we are kind of vunerable to ideas we normally would not spent one second to think about, or we make friends with people we normally wouldn´t...
Good points, Paleface
Quote:
Now that you mention it, Paleface, I was surprised by the number of people on the waterfall track - mostly locals carrying leaf and firewood. It is hard to imagine, if he were still there, that he would not be found.
Originally Posted by Paleface Engaging anyone seriously via the phone or expecting a follow up from people busy working a pill shop/clinic is generally a hiding to nothing Capt. And imo rather pointless.
Agreed that we’ve just about run out of steam and straw clutching is where we arrived at days ago. David Green hasn’t updated in a while, hardly surprising given the suffering and there’s probably little to inform anyway.
As David also agreed that local terrain is surely steep sided, and walking up or down off pathway is tricky, often more of a scrabble. But it’s not dense forest, or ravine ridden. Trees are there obviously and consequently people are always searching for fuel wood.
What i’m trying to convey is that one way or another the whole land has someone foraging, goat herding etc through it at some stage and probably more so recently because of the investigation. Yet Snifferdog’s expertise and points have been received by us all loud and clear. It’s an outside chance that the bush might be camouflaging a clue, but who’s in Rishi now to organise anything, which isn't easy at the best of times?
Engaging anyone seriously via the phone or expecting a follow up from people busy working a pill shop/clinic is generally a hiding to nothing Capt. And imo rather pointless.Agreed that we’ve just about run out of steam and straw clutching is where we arrived at days ago. David Green hasn’t updated in a while, hardly surprising given the suffering and there’s probably little to inform anyway.
As David also agreed that local terrain is surely steep sided, and walking up or down off pathway is tricky, often more of a scrabble. But it’s not dense forest, or ravine ridden. Trees are there obviously and consequently people are always searching for fuel wood.
What i’m trying to convey is that one way or another the whole land has someone foraging, goat herding etc through it at some stage and probably more so recently because of the investigation. Yet Snifferdog’s expertise and points have been received by us all loud and clear. It’s an outside chance that the bush might be camouflaging a clue, but who’s in Rishi now to organise anything, which isn't easy at the best of times?
two more things:
1. Would a guesthouse owner in India really kick somebody out for not eating?!? I don´t think so. If it is a really nice owner, maybe owned by a indian family as I met really many - then they would do their best to make him eat, call a doctor, care for him - but would never kick him out!!!
If the owner is a real business man then he would not care at all if J. was eating or not - why should it bother him?!
Reason for kicking J. out must be something else.
2. Jaipur Gem This is a jewellery emporium - nothing to do with medition.
There is one cafe Ananda close by this emporium - maybe he was talking about thishttp://www.cosmotourist.de/reisetipp...-laxman-jhula/
1. Would a guesthouse owner in India really kick somebody out for not eating?!? I don´t think so. If it is a really nice owner, maybe owned by a indian family as I met really many - then they would do their best to make him eat, call a doctor, care for him - but would never kick him out!!!
If the owner is a real business man then he would not care at all if J. was eating or not - why should it bother him?!
Reason for kicking J. out must be something else.
2. Jaipur Gem
This is a jewellery emporium - nothing to do with medition. There is one cafe Ananda close by this emporium - maybe he was talking about this
http://www.cosmotourist.de/reisetipp...-laxman-jhula/ 
Quote:
Agree, this just sounds bizarre, I don't know what to make of it.
Originally Posted by cassiopeia 1. Would a guesthouse owner in India really kick somebody out for not eating?!? I don´t think so.
1. Would a guesthouse owner in India really kick somebody out for not eating?!? I don´t think so. Similar Threads
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