Status: Untraced - E5: Real Human

Transcript

Speaker 1 You're listening

Speaker 2 to a Tenderfoot TV podcast.

Speaker 3 Ready to level up? Chumba Casino is your playbook to fun. It's free to play with no purchase necessary.

Speaker 3 Enjoy hundreds of online social games like Blackjack, Slots, and Solitaire anytime, anywhere, with fresh releases every week.

Speaker 3 Whether you're at home or on the go, let Chumba Casino bring the excitement to you. Plus, get free daily login bonuses and a free welcome bonus.
Join now for your chance to redeem some serious prizes.

Speaker 3 Play Chumba Casino today. No purchase necessary, VGW Group, Voidwear Prohibited by Law 21 Plus, TNCs Apply.

Speaker 4 Hey, it's Payne. We have some incredible news to share.
Our latest podcast series, Wisecrack, was just named one of the best of 2025 by Apple Podcasts. It's an amazing honor.

Speaker 4 Not only was Wisecrack selected, But the first episode called Knock Knock was also chosen as one of the best episodes of the year.

Speaker 4 We're seriously beyond grateful, and I want to thank you for supporting Tenderfoot TV. And this is your sign, if you haven't already, to check out our podcast Wisecrack.

Speaker 4 I promise it's worth the listen. It's available now on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcasts.
And thanks again to Apple for showing this show some love.

Speaker 4 You can check out the entire season of Status Untraced right now by searching your podcast app and following the show. Or if that's too much, just stay right here and check out episode five.

Speaker 2 You're listening to Status Untraced, a production of Tenderfoot TV in association with Odyssey.

Speaker 2 The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are solely those of the individuals participating in the podcast. This podcast also contains subject matter, which may not be suitable for everyone.

Speaker 2 Listener discretion is advised.

Speaker 6 Hey, good morning.

Speaker 7 Hi, how are you?

Speaker 8 I am good.

Speaker 10 I have some pretty big news.

Speaker 7 You too?

Speaker 9 I got into Justin's iCloud.

Speaker 1 Oh my God.

Speaker 7 What'd you find?

Speaker 9 So not

Speaker 9 very much yet.

Speaker 9 I can see that there's more data, but I have 9,000 photos from him currently.

Speaker 6 Liam, God, you're amazing.

Speaker 7 Oh, my God. This has been the biggest thing, as you know, for five years.

Speaker 1 The phone.

Speaker 7 The freaking phone. And that phone is such a linchpin.

Speaker 7 You know what I mean? It's the key.

Speaker 7 So if you can recover any of that early stuff.

Speaker 1 Oh, my God.

Speaker 7 Maybe you can sell that to Netflix.

Speaker 11 I'm excited.

Speaker 8 Me too.

Speaker 9 I don't know how much was backed up, you know? So like, I don't want to, I don't want to to get you excited thinking like that I have a bunch of stuff because I don't know what that's okay.

Speaker 7 That's okay that you found that you're able to do something and maybe you can find something

Speaker 7 is just very cool. Whatever you get is cool.
This is just very, yeah,

Speaker 7 nobody's done this before.

Speaker 7 lost.

Speaker 7 Yes, hide, and it's never enough.

Speaker 7 Now I find that every mirror goes.

Speaker 7 Only once I saw the killer,

Speaker 7 once I saw the killer close.

Speaker 10 I'm Liam Luxon, and this is Status Untraced.

Speaker 10 Episode 5:

Speaker 10 Real Human.

Speaker 10 We've made a substantial break in the missing person case of Justin Alexander.

Speaker 10 There are files and data from Justin's iCloud, previously thought inaccessible, that we've recovered.

Speaker 10 After sharing the news with Susie Reeb, I take the rest of the week to inspect the files that are synced to iCloud.

Speaker 10 This is what we're able to access.

Speaker 10 9,229 photos and videos from Justin's camera roll.

Speaker 10 42 WhatsApp conversations between late December 2014 and August 20th, 2016.

Speaker 10 A list of Justin's 808 contacts.

Speaker 13 And an app called Day One Journals.

Speaker 10 It includes diary entries beginning in March 2014 and continues all the way to August 21st, 2016, the day before Justin left on the hike.

Speaker 10 But before we go any further, let's pause here for a moment.

Speaker 10 Justin shared so much of his life on Instagram and other platforms, but there are things in here that I feel he never meant for anyone to see.

Speaker 10 I want to be clear. My intention isn't to expose his private life.
It's to find out what happened to him.

Speaker 10 What we've uncovered is a significant step in our investigation, but I wrestle with what to reveal, if anything at all.

Speaker 10 I share the files with Susie Reed, Justin's mother.

Speaker 10 As you heard a minute ago, she was excited about the find,

Speaker 10 but later expressed concern about Justin's privacy and image.

Speaker 10 Understandably so.

Speaker 10 I also spoke with Justin's father, Terry Shettler.

Speaker 9 After reading, you know, his journal, what was your impression?

Speaker 1 That was, for me, it was like I was talking to Justin.

Speaker 1 That was really

Speaker 1 how he talked and what he talked to me about, what was going through his mind.

Speaker 5 So...

Speaker 9 What do you think is important

Speaker 9 to share from his journals to fairly present who he is and the investigation aspect of what happened to him?

Speaker 1 You know,

Speaker 1 he was very protective of his private life. Yes.
He did

Speaker 1 manage the narrative that was on Facebook and Instagram meticulously. You know, anyone who tries to live in this society has struggles.

Speaker 1 That is the

Speaker 1 real treasure of the story about Justin. You know, like he was

Speaker 1 so

Speaker 1 human.

Speaker 14 Yeah.

Speaker 1 And

Speaker 1 I feel that

Speaker 1 the journal was his

Speaker 1 thing for himself,

Speaker 1 but now it's different.

Speaker 10 After multiple conversations, the conclusion my team and I ultimately make is to share an accurate story and portray Justin's truth as a real human being.

Speaker 10 Acknowledging his parents' concerns and respecting Justin's privacy, we have carefully selected the pieces of his iCloud data that only pertain to his travels and state of mind, facts that further our investigation.

Speaker 10 For brevity, we've also condensed his journal entries.

Speaker 10 What follows paints a picture of his mental well-being and actions over the course of a three-year period.

Speaker 5 All of it

Speaker 10 leading up to the final days before his trek.

Speaker 4 I think everyone's had that what-if moment. What if I started my own business? What if I finally took that leap? But here's the thing: those what-ifs don't have to hold you back.

Speaker 4 Because with Shopify, turning your idea into something real has never been easier.

Speaker 4 Shopify is the commerce platform behind millions of businesses around the world, including 10% of all e-commerce in the US.

Speaker 4 From household names like Mattel and Gymshark to brands that are just getting started. Worried you don't have a big team? Shopify helps you do it all.

Speaker 4 Design your website, manage inventory, handle customer service, even global shipping. Tight marketing budget?

Speaker 4 Shopify's built-in email and social tools make it easy to reach new customers and keep them coming back. Want to sell in person too?

Speaker 4 Shopify's award-winning point of sale connects your online and in-store sales all in one place. And if you're dreaming big, you can sell in over 150 countries with Shopify's global tools.

Speaker 4 With 99.99% uptime and the best converting checkout on the planet, you'll never miss a sale. So stop asking what if and start saying why not.

Speaker 4 Turn those what ifs into wins and keep giving those big dreams the best shot. With Shopify, sign up for your $1 per month trial and start selling today at shopify.com slash up and vanished.

Speaker 4 That's shopify.com slash up and vanished.

Speaker 4 Home security shouldn't wait until it's too late. Personally, I've trusted SimplySafe for over five years, and it's the only system that actually gives me peace of mind.

Speaker 4 The old school systems only respond after a break-in. But SimplySafe's active guard, outdoor protection, can stop a crime before it even starts.

Speaker 4 With AI-powered cameras, they can detect threats outside your home and alert trained agents who can take action immediately. Talking to intruders, triggering alarms, and notifying the police.

Speaker 4 Even if you're not there, SimplySafe has you covered. They have no long-term contracts, no hidden fees, and a 60-day money-back guarantee.
It's no surprise that U.S.

Speaker 4 News and World Report has named SimplySafe the best home security system five years running. Don't miss out on SimplySafe's biggest sale of the year, 60% off.

Speaker 4 Right now, our listeners can save 60% off a SimplySafe home security system. Just go to simplysafe.com/slash UAV pod.
That's simplysafe.com slash UAV pod. There's no safe like SimplySafe.

Speaker 10 Before listening further, please be prepared that the following content deals with thoughts of suicide.

Speaker 10 I sincerely recommend that if you feel you struggle with your mental well-being, please reach out to someone you can trust, speak with a mental health professional, or call or text the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at pound 988.

Speaker 13 You are not alone.

Speaker 10 Help is available 24-7.

Speaker 10 We'll begin Justin's timeline in 2012.

Speaker 10 Justin and his girlfriend break up. He begins selling his possessions and retires from conventional life.

Speaker 10 In March 2014, Justin makes his first entry into the Day One journal and begins it with this.

Speaker 6 Today, with the Mentou Eye, we trekked most of the day through the jungle. I kept reminding myself that this was an amazing adventure, you know, to keep from being tired and annoyed.

Speaker 6 I mean, How often do you get a chance to cut your way through an Indonesian jungle swamp with some natives?

Speaker 10 Nearing the end of the year, after traveling through Thailand and Nepal, on December 3rd, Justin journals while in Miami, Florida.

Speaker 6 I think I'm a narcissist.

Speaker 6 I pretend that I'm an introvert, that I'm shy,

Speaker 6 but it's just that when people don't make me feel special, I shut them out.

Speaker 6 That is a big problem.

Speaker 6 It's probably why I'm a womanizer, why I fall in love instantly.

Speaker 6 Any pretty girl who makes me feel special can have me. Everything I do is for public perception.

Speaker 6 It's sad.

Speaker 10 Three days later, he then journals with a more optimistic outlook.

Speaker 6 I don't need a quest.

Speaker 6 Being in the USA has put me back in a goal-oriented mindset.

Speaker 6 I don't need to be famous or recognized or appreciated. I am living the ideal life.
Just follow passion wherever it takes me. What else could be better?

Speaker 10 Fast forward to January 2015. In Alto Parizo de Goya, Brazil, Justin's navigating a turbulent relationship with a girlfriend.
One that's been rocky for the past year.

Speaker 10 Amidst this, they attend a psychedelic ceremony, and he turns to his journal at 3.16 a.m.

Speaker 6 I think about suicide.

Speaker 6 Not like I'm putting a knife on my wrist, and I won't do it today,

Speaker 6 but maybe someday.

Speaker 6 It's funny. Anything can be funny if you make it so.
I think about killing myself.

Speaker 6 I don't feel like I belong anywhere.

Speaker 1 I'm lonely.

Speaker 6 I don't like myself very much right now. And I don't think anyone else does either.

Speaker 6 It's funny that I make everything so serious. I mean, come on, dude.
Look back at your problems from your deathbed.

Speaker 10 This is all very silly.

Speaker 6 Just feeling disappointed and negative about all this.

Speaker 10 Justin bounces around Brazil for a month and then darts off to Bolivia and Peru before circling back to the States.

Speaker 10 April finds him motorcycling through Sedona to San Diego, winding up in Los Angeles as the month closes.

Speaker 10 He spends time with his friend Sterling Taylor, and on May 9th at 2.17 a.m., he journals.

Speaker 6 After two weeks with Sterling, I don't think I can handle being the less handsome and less charismatic one in a group. Every time we bring women or women home, he fucks, I sleep alone.

Speaker 6 I can't handle this.

Speaker 6 I've been thinking thinking a lot about killing myself.

Speaker 10 Throughout the summer and fall of 2015, Justin's on the move, motorcycling up and down the West Coast. Along the way, he meets the likes of Justin Chatwin, Jonathan Skeels, and Dr.
Christopher Ryan.

Speaker 6 Justin Alexander, who the hell are you? You're a travel blogger?

Speaker 5 Is that what you said earlier?

Speaker 10 As 2015 winds down, on December 28th, he makes a bold move. A one-way ticket to the Philippines.
He posts a rough itinerary of his plans for the upcoming year, culminating in India.

Speaker 10 On New Year's Eve, he reflects in his day one journal.

Speaker 6 Think I'm going to become a drug dealer in 2016. It's a nice resolution, right?

Speaker 6 I figure I can buy a bottle of acid and travel through Southeast Asia, dosing friends for free and selling some on the side.

Speaker 6 Seems pretty safe considering the extreme penalty of being caught. Odorless, colorless liquid in a peppermint oil bottle.

Speaker 13 Cake, right?

Speaker 6 I need to start making more money. Guess it's time to become an outlaw.
Be smart, Justin. Don't get arrested, killed, or have your life ruined.

Speaker 10 The entries here onward all take place in 2016, the year of Justin's disappearance.

Speaker 10 January 13th.

Speaker 10 Justin begins a 60-hour transit to Cebu, Philippines. Sunday, January 17th, he journals.

Speaker 6 I'm making my own way in this world.

Speaker 6 I have to create my own hero and follow him.

Speaker 10 This is the true hero's journey.

Speaker 6 To become.

Speaker 10 He immerses himself with an indigenous Palawan tribe, then jets off to Thailand by January's end to reunite with Dr. Christopher Ryan.

Speaker 10 March 18th, Justin departs for Nepal.

Speaker 10 He boards a bus to Gorkha, determined to help build a school post-earthquake.

Speaker 10 He organizes a GoFundMe, rallying others to contribute to the cause.

Speaker 10 April 7th. At 12.54 a.m., Justin WhatsApp messages iProof managing director Robert Gutierrez, his old boss.

Speaker 10 It appears they share access to a bank account, as Justin asks,

Speaker 6 Do you know what these online decrease things are? I haven't withdrawn money since March 22nd.

Speaker 15 It's me moving money around.

Speaker 5 Okay.

Speaker 6 I just wanted to make sure I wasn't getting robbed. Can you put 500 in? Because it's rare I get a functional ATM, and it's going to be a long time till I can get money again.

Speaker 10 It appears a $500 deposit is sent. But a little over a week later, Justin reaches out to Robert again.

Speaker 6 I need some more cash.

Speaker 15 $4.50 in the account.

Speaker 14 Thank you.

Speaker 10 Nearly a month later, on May 10th, He makes another request.

Speaker 6 My personal citibank card doesn't work, so they're mailing another to the office. I'll need it sent to Nepal.
That's where I had the donations going.

Speaker 6 Please message me with the pin on the biz debit when you can. I've been out of money for a long time and I'm freaking out.

Speaker 10 Robert does not message back.

Speaker 10 In the middle of May, Justin spends time with Linda Barini traveling in Nepal.

Speaker 5 May 22nd in Bukhara, Nepal.

Speaker 10 Justin records a notable confession in his journal.

Speaker 6 Today I made my first drug sale in Pokhara. I sold 20 grams of hash for $40.

Speaker 10 On May 26th, Justin journals about buying around 400 grams of hashish.

Speaker 10 June 6th, he messages Robert.

Speaker 15 Can you put more in?

Speaker 6 I'm totally out. Tomorrow I go to the Indian Embassy and need $100 for that.

Speaker 15 I can put in like 200 more, more, but that may be it for a bit. Okay.

Speaker 6 I'll make it last as long as I can.

Speaker 13 June 7th.

Speaker 10 Justin journals that Linda is leaving Nepal.

Speaker 10 Three days later, his entry takes a daring turn.

Speaker 6 Yesterday I bought a kilo of Nepali hash. We passed four police checkpoints between Agra and Kathmandu.
They were looking for smugglers.

Speaker 6 I'm still hush on acid at 10 a.m.

Speaker 6 In a few hours, I'm boarding a bus to India with nearly one kilogram of Nepal hash.

Speaker 6 Looking long term, is being a grown man, smuggling drugs, really the future I want?

Speaker 6 Last night, I lost a bottle of acid.

Speaker 6 Maybe 85 drops. I was being stupid.
People were in my room. I showed it.
Was tripping. And it's gone.
Someone stole it. I'm sure of it.

Speaker 10 Justin messages Robert about the debit card.

Speaker 6 Can you quick ship to this address in India? It's in New Delhi and I'll be there in a week.

Speaker 10 Robert does not message back.

Speaker 10 The next day, June 20th, Justin reaches out once more.

Speaker 6 I need cash.

Speaker 13 Again,

Speaker 10 no reply.

Speaker 10 Whether they spoke over the phone any of these times is unclear.

Speaker 10 Meanwhile, Justin takes to Instagram, announcing his first day in India.

Speaker 10 He also meets an older German man and posts a snippet of their conversation.

Speaker 10 Justin captions that the German provided advice for his upcoming motorcycle trip through Leh.

Speaker 10 What Justin omits from social media is that they also spoke about how to smuggle hashish around the Parvati Valley.

Speaker 16 Kasola.

Speaker 17 So I can go around the checkpoint?

Speaker 16 Yes, you can trek, you know, in the mountain or for a trendy point, but don't do it alone because you don't know the way and you got completely lost in time.

Speaker 6 I bought a simple and beautiful bamboo bansuri in the key of E for 700 rupees.

Speaker 10 A friend from Veronasi, who we'll call Yuvi, texts Justin on WhatsApp.

Speaker 10 Yuvie introduces Justin to someone keen on buying Hashish.

Speaker 12 Okay,

Speaker 6 he can come to Mad Packers Hostel. Give him my WhatsApp.

Speaker 10 June 28th, 2.28 a.m.

Speaker 10 Buyer messages, and Justin replies.

Speaker 6 When do you want to stop by?

Speaker 6 ASAP.

Speaker 6 Just message me when you arrive. We can go in the roof and have a smoke.

Speaker 10 40 minutes later, Justin WhatsApp's the buyer.

Speaker 6 Hey man, I just went to get my stuff, and I think it's been stolen. Can't find it.

Speaker 12 What the fuck? I'll find it.

Speaker 5 Don't worry, sweetie.

Speaker 6 No, dude, I've looked through everything I own three times.

Speaker 13 Chill.

Speaker 12 I have the best of contacts. Let me come.
You know I need my tolls.

Speaker 6 Dude, I don't have it. There's no reason to come.

Speaker 5 I know you have more.

Speaker 12 On my way. Won't go back, sweetie.
Just give me 40.

Speaker 5 I haven't cut it or anything.

Speaker 6 I don't have a private room. I don't have.

Speaker 12 Don't worry.

Speaker 5 We have almost reached.

Speaker 6 The final answer is no.

Speaker 12 Can't go back without the hash.

Speaker 5 The buyer calls Justin.

Speaker 10 He does not answer.

Speaker 17 You want to be fucked?

Speaker 10 Sorry.

Speaker 6 I'm dealing with a worse problem than you.

Speaker 5 You stupid then.

Speaker 12 I'm coming. I'll fuck you.
You're in Delhi. Don't forget.
My place. I have reach.
Don't give me shit or you'll have to deal with a lot.

Speaker 10 The buyer's messages continue to flood in, claiming they're en route. They bombard Justin with calls until finally, Justin fires back a response.

Speaker 6 You've gone too far, my friend. I'm not doing business with you.

Speaker 5 Sorry, brother.

Speaker 12 I am myself fucked up.

Speaker 17 Some other guy was using my cell phone for navigation.

Speaker 12 He messaged all that shit.

Speaker 10 Frustrated, Justin reaches out to Yuvi and shares screenshots of the exchange.

Speaker 6 This is the kind of person you send to me? My stuff was stolen, so I told him not to come because I can't find it. That was his reply.

Speaker 6 Don't send me any more contacts. I don't like your friends.

Speaker 10 The incident leaves such an impact that Justin records it in his journal.

Speaker 6 They threatened me, so I got my machete and flute and waited.

Speaker 6 They never came. I did find my stash.
Thank God.

Speaker 10 Over the next two days, Uvie sends a string of apologies. Justin responds on June 30th.

Speaker 6 I found a guy who wants a bunch for 3,000. So I'm going to go with him instead.

Speaker 10 This same day, Justin also messages Robert, inquiring about his request for cash.

Speaker 6 Please respond.

Speaker 10 There is no response.

Speaker 10 Five days tick by. And on July 5th, Justin reaches out once more.

Speaker 6 There's still no card. You think FedEx actually lost it?

Speaker 5 July 8th.

Speaker 10 Justin buys a new Royal Enfield motorcycle in New Delhi. July 9th.
This marks the final date photos and videos are saved to Justin's iCloud. The closing snapshots are of his motorcycle.

Speaker 10 July 16th.

Speaker 10 Justin journals about traveling with an Israeli woman he met in late June. We changed her name to Emma.

Speaker 6 Today we went to Dharam Salah on the motorbike. Every little thing seemed to go wrong, constantly misplacing things and feeling like a fool.
I'm not very sharp these days.

Speaker 6 Emma says it's the hash, and I keep getting so aggravated at everything.

Speaker 6 I'm angry all the time, and I don't know why.

Speaker 10 July 21st, around noon, Justin writes in his day one journal while in Kulu, entitles it, So What Does a Man Truly Need?

Speaker 6 I'm going on a solo trek into Upper Parvati Valley in the Indian Himalaya. Some caves are inhabited by sadhus.

Speaker 6 They meditate in caves caves for months and renounce the world in search of enlightenment. I plan on doing my own version of that, and it's something I've been called to do for years now.

Speaker 10 Later that night, at 11.29 p.m.,

Speaker 10 he makes another entry.

Speaker 6 Feeling pretty negative about myself.

Speaker 6 Money for my proof seems to be slowly closing tap.

Speaker 6 I'm smuggling and selling drugs to get by.

Speaker 6 I'm having all kinds of relationship problems, wanting for amazing and beautiful women to love me, to be their hero, yet not prevent me from traveling alone and loving other women.

Speaker 6 And I feel slightly jealous and immature when these women find other men.

Speaker 6 It's childish. At my worst, I am very childish.

Speaker 6 I wonder if all I'm doing on this adventure is just a selfish child who doesn't want anyone to tell tell him what to do, yet wants to feel special and unique somehow.

Speaker 6 It's a harsh take on an otherwise heroic endeavor. The hero's journey itself.

Speaker 10 July 22nd, he announces on social media that he's headed to Kirganga.

Speaker 10 Nearing 1 a.m., he reflects upon his upcoming trip.

Speaker 6 I think India is about healing for me.

Speaker 6 I need to take care of my health. My back is fucked.
My immune system isn't great.

Speaker 12 My mind?

Speaker 1 I don't know.

Speaker 10 July 24th at 8.07 a.m.

Speaker 6 I've begun my adventure. It's been a long time since I set out into the wilderness alone.
But this time is special. I have no place to be.

Speaker 6 No end date. Nothing to do.

Speaker 6 Just be present for what feels like a very important time in my life.

Speaker 10 The next morning, one month before the Baba trek.

Speaker 6 I'm considering a solo trek to Montalay Lake. I've been warned about doing the trek solo.
I might find nomadic shepherds high up there. If so,

Speaker 6 I can trade hash for Kurd.

Speaker 10 On Friday, July 29th, Justin journals about his financial situation.

Speaker 6 This morning, I'm down to my last 200 rupees. A young Indian from Corral asked where he could find hash.
I sold him a Tola for 1500 rupees.

Speaker 10 August 1st, mere weeks before the trek to Montalai Lake, Justin returns to Kasol.

Speaker 10 That night, at 10.33 p.m., he fantasizes in his journal.

Speaker 6 I dream of meeting a beautiful Indian village girl. She wants a family and a simple life.
I learn Hindi and we raise our children bilingual. I travel from time to time.

Speaker 6 I provide for our family so she can live the life she wants.

Speaker 5 I will have a home.

Speaker 6 I will have my freedom when needed.

Speaker 10 August 4th and 5th.

Speaker 10 Justin exchanges messages with someone he met in Kalga about a potential job in Israel come October. He inquires if it's difficult to obtain a work visa there, but the contact is unsure.

Speaker 10 August 7th, Justin hikes back to Kirganga and concludes his journal entry that day, musing on his smoking habits.

Speaker 13 I'm in terrible shape.

Speaker 6 The hike today was hard, and my pack was light. My heart is in no condition at all.

Speaker 6 Smoking one to three grams of hash a day, over five to eight joints, isn't helping at all.

Speaker 10 August 10th, at 2.48 a.m.

Speaker 6 I've sat two days with Baba, and he has invited me to go on a holy pilgrimage to Montalai Lake at the end of the month. If I do this, I won't be able to ride to Lay.

Speaker 6 This was my intention for coming to India.

Speaker 6 But my real intention for living is to experience the strange things in life.

Speaker 5 I'd be a fool to pass up this invitation.

Speaker 6 So I will go to the mountain with him, to Mantalai.

Speaker 5 August 12th.

Speaker 10 Justin posts an Instagram photo of a small cave he's been living in.

Speaker 10 Lit by three candles, his personal items are scattered around the rock floor.

Speaker 10 Three days later, Justin makes another post. It's the black and white image of Baba Rawat.
Justin captions it.

Speaker 6 I've heard stories about the magical powers of these Babas. They can see into your soul and know your past and future.
They can bless or curse.

Speaker 12 They're holy men, but wild, and are even above the law in India.

Speaker 6 Police won't arrest him, even for murder, which happens, I'm told.

Speaker 6 He says most Babas are fake, but he assures me that he is the real thing.

Speaker 6 He even cut his penis off.

Speaker 10 August 18th, Justin posts a video to Instagram, captioning that he plans to trek a pilgrimage with the Baba and ends it with the infamous message.

Speaker 6 I should return mid-September or so. If I'm not back by then,

Speaker 6 don't look for me.

Speaker 10 At 11.41 a.m., he receives his last known incoming WhatsApp message. It's from Robert Gutierrez, and it's sent after they appear to have a phone call.

Speaker 6 Nice talking to you.

Speaker 14 Same, be safe.

Speaker 10 Friday, August 19th.

Speaker 10 Justin writes in his day one journal in anticipation of the Baba trek.

Speaker 6 I might take acid.

Speaker 6 Maybe half a dose.

Speaker 6 I'm nervous that he might be able to do black magic stuff, but this feels like the perfect situation for some...

Speaker 6 something spiritual maybe.

Speaker 6 The thing about sharing what I'm doing on social media is that there's some kind of expectation for me to come down from the mountain with some kind of wisdom.

Speaker 6 No pressure.

Speaker 10 Two days later, on August 20th, Justin makes his final post to Instagram.

Speaker 6 I leave tomorrow and should be back to the internet world by mid to late September.

Speaker 10 On this same day, Justin FaceTimes Linda Barini and makes what will be his final call to his mother, Susie Reeb, and his father, Terry Shetler.

Speaker 10 He leaves his motorcycle in a backpack at a guest house and sends his last known WhatsApp text to an unknown Indian number.

Speaker 10 From their exchange, it's evident this is the person Justin bought his motorcycle from.

Speaker 10 He calls her Auntie and asks her about a starter she mailed for him.

Speaker 6 The package never arrived in America. Is there a tracking number?

Speaker 10 August 21st, four days before the trek, Justin writes a journal entry. and includes a photo of everything he's packed.

Speaker 6 I'm excited about this trip. I'm going to step into my hero's shoes and give it my all.

Speaker 6 I won't complain when I'm suffering from cold or hunger.

Speaker 6 I will devote myself to yoga and meditation or whatever the Baba asks of me.

Speaker 6 I'm going to drop some acid at some point if I'm not freezing to death.

Speaker 6 I want to do these ancient practices under an influence that may allow me to see the magic, if it exists at all.

Speaker 19 Y'all, the holidays are approaching.

Speaker 20 The air is crisp and cozy. Polished layers have never felt more essential.

Speaker 21 That's why I'm loving Quints this season.

Speaker 20 Their sweaters, outerwear, and everyday essentials feel luxurious, look timeless, and make holiday dressing and gifting so effortless.

Speaker 19 I've been living in their silk slip dress and cashmere layers. They've become my go-to for holiday gatherings, errands, and everything in between.

Speaker 21 The layered look is the best. Step into the holiday season with layers made to feel good, look polished, and last from Quince.
Perfect for gifting or keeping for yourself.

Speaker 20 Go to quince.com/slash vanishedweekly for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada too.

Speaker 21 That's q-u-in-ce-e.com/slash vanishedweekly to get free shipping and 365-day day returns. Quince.com slash vanished weekly.

Speaker 4 Cold mornings, holiday to-dos, and all the hustle. I just want my wardrobe to be simple.
Pieces that look sharp, feel amazing, and that I'll actually reach for every day. That's why I turn to Quince.

Speaker 4 And the bonus, their pieces make gifting completely effortless. This season, Quince keeps it smart and simple.

Speaker 4 $50 Mongolian cashmere sweaters that feel like a little everyday luxury and wool coats that are both stylish and durable.

Speaker 4 Their denim fits perfectly and is insanely comfortable and all without the high-end price.

Speaker 4 By working with ethical factories and top artisans, Quince delivers premium quality while cutting out the middlemen. So you get luxury pieces without the luxury markup.

Speaker 4 I'll be honest, I've been living in their cashmere sweaters. They're so soft, they look good, they hold up beautifully, even through all the holiday chaos.

Speaker 4 Quince also has amazing options for home, bath, kitchen, and travel. If you're looking for a great one-stop shop for gifting, I'm telling you, Quince is where it's at.

Speaker 4 Give and get timeless holiday staples that last this season with Quince. Go to quince.com/slash up and vanished for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.
Now available in Canada, too.

Speaker 4 That's quinceq.com/slash up and vanished. Free shipping and 365-day returns.
Quince.com/slash up up and vanished.

Speaker 3 Ready to level up? Chumba Casino is your playbook to fun. It's free to play with no purchase necessary.

Speaker 3 Enjoy hundreds of online social games like Blackjack, Slots, and Solitaire anytime, anywhere, with fresh releases every week.

Speaker 3 Whether you're at home or on the go, let Chumba Casino bring the excitement to you. Plus, get free daily login bonuses and a free welcome bonus.
Join now for your chance to redeem some serious prizes.

Speaker 3 Play Chumba Casino today. No purchase necessary, VGW group voidware prohibited by law 21 plus TNCs apply.

Speaker 10 Continuing to piece together key moments, we know that on August 22nd, three days before the trek, Justin met a Ukrainian traveler named Andrei Gapone who gave him the red butane lighter.

Speaker 10 We also know that during his descent from Montalay Lake, Justin passed a group of hikers.

Speaker 10 Among them is Nirmal Patel,

Speaker 10 the man in the last photo with Justin.

Speaker 9 Fortunately, I was able to get a hold of Nermal.

Speaker 11 I never knew like Justin was like so famous on internet and stuff like that when I met him.

Speaker 11 He was quite humble.

Speaker 11 We never went through any argument or stuff like that. We were good friends.

Speaker 10 Nirmal Patel recalls meeting Justin five days before he left.

Speaker 11 So the thing was, like, I was also gonna do the same track what Justin was, but I was going to cross it and go to Speeti on the other side.

Speaker 11 So when I started the track, I already knew that Justin Mandy and Manthelay or maybe might be coming back. And there were like four or five people with me also.

Speaker 10 It's written on the GoFundMe that Nirmal and his group cross paths with Justin on September 3rd. So I ask if he can confirm that date.

Speaker 12 I don't know, man.

Speaker 11 I can can't tell you exact days because it it meant like ages

Speaker 11 he does however remember where they crossed we met on the second last spot called chotamandalai and then we had a conversation i also offered him like travel with me and go to that side and come back

Speaker 1 but he denied

Speaker 10 before they departed nirmal shared food with justin smoked and took the picture together When Justin and you guys separated, what happened?

Speaker 11 Nothing happened. He left and I left on my way.

Speaker 9 Nothing out of the ordinary, just a thank you for the food and goodbye kind of thing.

Speaker 10 Nermal and his group then continued up the mountain and descended on the opposite side to Spitti.

Speaker 10 Other than the Baba and Porter, they are the last known people to have seen Justin.

Speaker 9 And when you saw him, he wasn't with the Baba at that point in time.

Speaker 11 No, the Baba was before, and then Justin was coming from behind.

Speaker 9 Did Justin mention the Baba at all?

Speaker 11 No, man. He like just told me that he had some small fight with Baba, but it's okay.
Nothing else he told about Baba.

Speaker 9 No details on that fight at all.

Speaker 15 No, no, no, no.

Speaker 10 In spite of the lack of detail about this fight, it's the first indication we've heard that there was tension between Justin and the Baba.

Speaker 9 Was the porter with the Baba when he passed you?

Speaker 11 I don't know about the porter and stuff like that.

Speaker 9 Did you pass any other characters at all when you were on your way up?

Speaker 11 They were like the locals and stuff. There were few people.

Speaker 9 Nobody nefarious, like sketchy, dangerous kind of seeming?

Speaker 1 No, no, no, no, no, no.

Speaker 9 And as far as Justin's mood goes, would you say that that changed at all?

Speaker 11 Of course, man, that he was a bit happy that he got good footages and stuff like that. So a bit of excited but tired and planning to go back and relax.

Speaker 10 This is everything we know.

Speaker 10 It's a lot to digest.

Speaker 10 But we can now confirm, Justin was putting himself in potentially dangerous situations like drug deals and smuggling.

Speaker 10 He was struggling in more ways than one. Frail health, getting lost in hash and LSD.

Speaker 10 and suicidal thoughts.

Speaker 13 The Baba?

Speaker 10 Justin didn't trust him. He sensed he practiced black magic.
And supposedly, they had a fight on the mountain. The details are murky.

Speaker 10 But here's what hits me the most:

Speaker 10 the cost Justin paid for his lifestyle?

Speaker 10 It was heavier than I thought.

Speaker 10 The loneliness. The feeling out of place.

Speaker 10 The fact that he was reckoning with these thoughts.

Speaker 13 For some reason, it's a hard pill to swallow.

Speaker 10 For days and for nights on end, I think about what Justin was going through and call Alex to keep steady.

Speaker 9 I don't know, man. Like, I'm looking at all of this and I see he would be on these highs of, I love life.

Speaker 9 this is the hero's journey this is what i've lived for and then it would flip to i i think about suicide or like i have all these dark things in my past it was just it was it was a roller coaster man

Speaker 10 we think the grass is greener we envy the lives that aren't our own

Speaker 10 but every life no matter how adventurous has its own struggles and complexities.

Speaker 1 I think we need to take in consideration his multiple nods to, you know, coming home.

Speaker 12 It's funny now.

Speaker 1 We're able to open all this new information,

Speaker 1 review clues and insights and other things.

Speaker 9 It feels like we know more, but we know less because somehow there's evidence for every single one of the scenarios that were there before. Yeah.

Speaker 9 It's almost maddening.

Speaker 10 The most frustrating part?

Speaker 10 We've got solid leads to pursue. Investigating Babara Watt's untimely death and locating the elusive porter, Anil Kumar.

Speaker 10 But here's the thing. It's 2021, and we're prohibited to enter India as tourists due to COVID-19.

Speaker 10 So Alex and I attempt Hail Marys.

Speaker 10 We try to snag journalism visas, even though I have no background to show for it. We pull every favor within our network to try to connect with someone inside the Indian government.

Speaker 10 Hell, Alex even gets us on a guest list for an Indian wedding, hoping it'll get us around the travel ban.

Speaker 10 All our endeavors fail, and we're stuck feeling defeated.

Speaker 10 Until out of a blue, an announcement drops on October 8th.

Speaker 22 India has reopened its borders to foreign tourists and has ended a 20-month clampdown due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaker 6 Alright, I'm recording it now.

Speaker 1 I got some information. I was almost in disbelief,

Speaker 11 but our thesis have been approved.

Speaker 10 Next time, on status, I'm traced.

Speaker 23 Did you talk to somebody here?

Speaker 9 No, we emailed them, but they never responded.

Speaker 23 He gave me a call only on that time, and after that, he never gave me any call.

Speaker 9 The only people we're missing right now is the family of the missing persons case right now.

Speaker 18 We believe

Speaker 18 from our research and things

Speaker 18 that he could be the culprit, the people going missing.

Speaker 9 You think he's like robbing them and then taking the stuff?

Speaker 9 He's basically murdering them.

Speaker 10 If you have tips or information on the individuals in this podcast that you'd you'd like to share, please email us at statusuntraced at gmail.com or leave us a message at 507-407-2833.

Speaker 10 Status Untraced is a production of Tenderfoot TV in association with Odyssey. I'm your host, Liam Luxon.
Executive producers are Alex Vespested, Donald Albright, and Payne Lindsay.

Speaker 10 Producers are Meredith Stedman and myself. Supervising producer is Tracy Kaplan.
Consulting producer, Jonathan Skeels.

Speaker 10 Associate editors are David Bash and Charles Rosen of GetUp Productions, with additional editing by Sidney Evans.

Speaker 5 Artwork by Trevor Eiler.

Speaker 10 Original music by Makeup and Vanity Set. Our theme song is Colder Heavens by Blanco White.
NYX by Cooper Skinner. Voice acting provided by Johnny Lavale.
Joshua Luxon and Drew Schroer.

Speaker 10 Thank you to Oren Rosenbaum and the team at UTA, Beck Media and Marketing, and the Nord Group.

Speaker 10 For more podcasts like Status Untraced, search Tenderfoot TV on your favorite podcast app or visit us at tenderfoot.tv.

Speaker 10 Once more, I want to bring awareness that we touched on the topic of suicide in this episode. Remember to check in on those you love.

Speaker 10 And if you're experiencing similar thoughts, please reach out to a friend or family member or dial the suicide hotline at 988.

Speaker 10 People do care.

Speaker 24 If you're a maintenance supervisor at a manufacturing facility and your machinery isn't working right, Granger knows you need to understand what's wrong as soon as possible.

Speaker 24 So, when a conveyor motor falters, Granger offers diagnostic tools like calibration kits and multimeters to help you identify and fix the problem.

Speaker 24 With Granger, you can be confident you have everything you need to keep your facility running smoothly. Call 1-800-GRANGER, clickgranger.com, or just stop by.
Granger for the ones who get it done.

Speaker 17 Every story has layers, and sometimes the truth hides in plain sight. I'm Josh Dean, host of Chameleon, the podcast about people who transform, deceive, and survive.

Speaker 4 From con artists to unbelievable yet true occurrences, we dive into stories where nothing is ever quite as it seems.

Speaker 17 Because to understand the world, you sometimes have to change the way you see it.

Speaker 6 Listen to Chameleon wherever you get your podcasts.