An American YouTuber that had been missing for weeks was reportedly shot dead in a botched kidnapping attempt in the Philippines, according to police.
Elliot Eastman, a 26-year-old vlogger from Vermont, was reportedly kidnapped by a group of men on Oct. 17, however police recently determined that Eastman died "on the night of his abduction," a police spokesperson told the Phillipine Star.
Officials said the YouTuber was shot twice while trying to break away from the four men, but died of his injuries. A suspect reportedly confessed to police that after Eastman died, the captors decided to throw his body overboard from the boat they had put him in, as reported by ABS-CBN.
"We are constrained to believe that he has died. All of the information that we have points to that," Lt. Col. Ramoncelio Sawan told CBS News. However, he added that "we're still leaving a little bit of hope" as the YouTuber's body has not been recovered.
Eastman moved to the Philippines more than a year ago where he met his wife, got married and settled in the town of Sibuco. The 26-year-old posted short vlogs of his daily life to his channel, amassing more than 4,400 subscribers.
A motive has not yet been determined for the attempted abduction. Six suspects have been charged in connection with the incident.
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