Status: Untraced - E6: He Looks Guilty

But this isn't his story, it's a human story, one that I've become entangled with. I saw as soon as I turned the corner, basically someone bleeding out. The victims of these brutal attacks were left to pick up the pieces, forced to explore the gray areas between right and wrong, life and death, their once ordinary lives, and mine changed forever.

It kind of gave me a feeling of pending doom. And all the while, our country found itself facing down a long and ugly reckoning with a growing threat far-right, homegrown religious terrorism. Listen to Flashpoint starting July 25th on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts up in Advantage Presents.

Status untraced. Episode 6 starts now.

You're listening to Status Untraced, a production of Tenderfoot TV, in association with Odyssey. 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. Listener discretion is advised.

India has reopened its borders to foreign tourists and has ended a 20-month clampdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. The reopening of international borders comes at a time we purchase tickets scheduled to land in New Delhi November 17th, 2021, two days after travel restrictions lift. In preparation for the trip, I dig deeper into the Parvati Valley.

What I find is chilling, a dark pattern stretching back decades. The earliest I find it begins is in the summer of 91..

Odette Houghton, 24, from Australia, was living her travel dream in India, regularly writing to her family and sharing her adventures. Suddenly, the letter sent to Odette began to return and she was reported missing. She was last seen in Manali, but since there has been no trace of her.

August 1996.

Ian Mugford, a 21-year-old from the UK, was exploring the Himalayan village of Manikaran.

There, he befriended a baba, and soon after Ian disappeared, to date, there's been no sign of him.

September 1997.

Edov Mincer, 26, an Israeli soldier, went missing in the Parvati Valley. Four years later. His passport was discovered being offered for sale in Manali markets, and his remains were found wrapped up in a sleeping bag.

July 2000.

Two young German travelers, Jorge Weyrich and Adrian Mayer-Tesch, were camping in the valley when they were ambushed in their sleep. Adrian escaped with four shotgun wounds to the leg, but Jorge was killed at point-blank range.

A month later, UK resident Martin Young was camping in the valley with his fiancée Maria and her 14-year-old son Christobal. When they were also attacked, no one was arrested, no witnesses ever came forward. Martin is the only one who survived.

July 2007.

Five Israelis and a tour guide set out from Kyrgyzstan on a Sunday morning. Dror Shek, 23, started to lag behind. One of his friends, went back to look for him and found Dror lying near the path, bleeding beside him a knife stained with blood.

The hikers carried Dror back to Kyrgyzstan. He didn't make it.

August 2015.

A year before Justin's disappearance, Bruno Muszalik, a 24-year-old Polish traveler, went missing in the Parvati. Bruno's father, Pieter, was suspicious of the police's efforts and has filed a report with the High Court of Himachal Pradesh demanding an independent agency investigate law enforcement.

June 2016.

Just two months before Justin began his trek, 27-year-old Japanese backpacker Shota Sakai shared a photo on Facebook of an Indian man in a dhoti. He captioned it My guru. It's believed Shota was headed to the Parvati for a music festival, but two weeks after the guru post, all his communications went cold.

Records hint that over 57 foreign travelers died in the region between 1998 to 2009 alone, but the true number of disappearances is likely more harrowing.

I've remained hesitant to jump to conclusions about foul play within Justin's case, after all, motives are murky. Reasons unclear. Why target him?

But now, looking at this list, my skepticism is giving way. And what I find out next leaves chills running down my spine. Just past midnight, 21 hours before our flight, The Times of India publishes breaking news.

A tourist last seen on the trail leading to Kyrgyzstan has just gone missing.

I'm Liam Luxon and this is status Untraced episode 6. He looks guilty.

It's nearing 7 p.

M.

When Alex and I check in at Lax.

Our itinerary Paris first, then onward to New Delhi.

The trip is long, in fact, it's the longest flight I've ever been on, but for the majority, I'm awake.

Gazing out over an endless ocean, the weight of reality begins to sink in. In a few hours, we'll be landing in India, a place I've never been before. And though I've been working on this case for months, this next step feels different.

It's been five years and two months since Justin Alexander was last seen. If we're going to unravel this mystery, we will have to venture into the paths untaken. We'll have to face the same dangers that Justin did.

We emerge from the New Delhi terminal under a moonlit sky and are immediately hit with the heat and thick smog of the city. A type of air that sours my eyes and scrapes my lungs.

Our driver, a weathered local, leads us to a beat-up minivan.

As we navigate the foggy highways, colorful lights from street vendors wagons pass by in a blur. They wave their wares at us, everything from exotic snacks and trinkets. The roadside is dotted with little fires. I watch as flames cast shadows over the faces of the homeless, the deletes, wanderers and families alike. They huddle together and alone, curled up on the dirt ground.

An hour passes.

We arrive at our accommodations somewhere in a neighborhood called Lajpat Nagar and enter a four-story building squeezed in among countless others. I'm disoriented, I need to sleep, but I'm stressed about the days to come.

Day one, day one.

When I was stateside, I reached out to people in New Delhi to schedule interviews. Essentially no one responded, except one guy.

Kabir How are you say hello to Kabir? Part guide, part enigma. Though his frame is small, Kabir's network is vast.

He offered to help with our investigation, but anticipated in New Delhi and India in general, it'd be difficult to schedule interviews.

Bicycle carts and three-wheel buggies dash around corners. Motorcycles and mopeds, sometimes seated with three to four people, weave through throngs of pedestrians. Wild dogs and cows that roam the streets. And the scents—aromas of ginger and spice and dusty air—are inescapable.

I find an intercom for P.

I sleuths and ring the call button.

Got you? She confirms that she mailed the Royal Enfield Motorcycle part—the starter—to the U..S for Justin, while to me it indicates he intended to return home. This is where Delhi's trail goes cold. Not many answers here.

With every rebuffed interview, my thoughts keep drifting back to the other disappearances in the Parvati Valley. Are there clues in their stories, any parallels that might shed light on what happened to Justin in particular? I think about the story that just broke. —Jharuv Agarwal. And it feels obvious, almost inevitable.

We need to look into it.

I'm Dan Taberski. In 2011, something strange began to happen at the high school in Leroy, New York. I was like, at my locker and she came up to me and she was like, stuttering, super bad. I'm like, stop around, She's like, I can't.

A mystery illness, bizarre symptoms and spreading fast, like doubling and tripling. And it's all these girls with a diagnosis. The state tried to keep on the down-low. Everybody thought I was holding something back.

Well, you were holding something back intentionally. Yeah, well, yeah, it's hysteria, it's all in your head, it's not physical.

Oh my gosh, you're exaggerating. Is this the largest mass hysteria since the Witches of Salem, or is it something else entirely? Something's wrong here, something's not right.

Leroy was the new dateline, and everyone was trying to solve the murder. A new limited series from Wondery and Pineapple Street Studios. Hysterical Follow Hysterical on the Wondery app, or wherever you get your podcasts. You can binge all episodes of Hysterical early and ad-free right now by joining Wondery Plus.

The only people we're missing right now is the family of the missing persons case. Right now, that would be the only thing we want to do here, for sure. You said the brother is up there right now, right?

The Times quotes Dhruv's cousin, who said he boarded a bus to Kisol on November 8th he wanted to trek to Kyrgyzstan. He made a WhatsApp video call on November 9th at 12.25pm, and he last checked his second WhatsApp account at 12.37pm.

It's not much to go on, but Kabir came through with a potential lead. He's obtained the number for Dhruv's brother.

So regarding that, I wanted to meet you if it was possible. Are you in Delhi or you're in...?

According to the brother, Dhruv embarked on the Kyrganga hike for exercise. But Kabir's heard other stories. There's been murmurs suggesting Dhruv's family might be concealing his real reason for the trip. Furthermore, Kabir learned a significant detail that the Times of India failed to report. He made it to where?

On the track.

Supposedly, a newly installed CC camera caught footage of Dhruv starting the hike alone. We ask if Dhruv's family hired a private investigator. But, Kabir explains, PIS in India tend to be contracted for other services, like tailing unfaithful spouses.

And he's not doing anything, he's just throwing in pictures.

So he needs to be warned that they're paying for what the guy's doing.

To my knowledge, he was never hired for Justin Alexander's case. Nevertheless, hearing these rumors, I'm getting anxious to get to the Parvati, so I look to Kabir seeking guidance.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, On behalf of Alliance Air Captain Daniel, Captain Chad, Miss Jyoti and the rest of the crew, we welcome you aboard a flight to Chandigarh and then onwards to Kullu.

Our aircraft to Kullu is a mid-sized twin-prop plane. there are maybe less than ten other passengers on board. As we lift off, we break through the smog and the first rays of light peek over the horizon. It's not long before I catch a glimpse of snow-capped giants, the Himalayan mountains.

Looming like gods, they're all at once majestic, fierce and terrifying.

Touching down on a small, open runway, we step off the aircraft in complete awe.

Wow.

Wow, this is incredible, holy shit. Shortly after, we are greeted by our driver and new guide, Kabir's nephew Arshdeep. The breathing quality difference is just so insane.

That's why I didn't go to Delhi, yeah.

Arshdeep operates a trekking and motorcycle expedition company. Like his uncle, Kabir, he's from this district and has assisted with missing person cases. All these houses beautiful color blues, greens and yellows. We're along the right side of the valley. Every hill is a collection of pine and oak that tower up towards the sky.

Colored rooftops dot the colossal landscape, and all of it is covered by a blanket of misty clouds.

Just living in some clouds today.

We swing around a bend and a soft rumble begins to grow the river, glistening like sapphire. Its color is unlike anything I've ever seen. I'm genuinely surprised by how many houses and cafes and stuff are along the road. The buildings multiply, the blacktop shifts to cobblestone, and within minutes we're inside a lively market.

We've hit the heart of the district capital, Kulu, where an essential stop awaits.

Enclosed by a barbed wire gate, we enter the two-story, unassuming office of the Superintendent of Police.

Hello, how's it going? How are you doing? fine? wonderful?

From the looks we get, I can tell it's a rare sight. Foreigners at police headquarters requesting an unscheduled chat with the superintendent.

Much to my astonishment, he accepts a meeting with us, but only off mic. He's new here, just five months in, and Justin Alexander's case isn't on his radar. I provide him with the case number and he promises to do what he can to search for information on the porter. Anil Kumar out of curiosity, I also ask what he knows about the search and rescuer, Kaur Khan. He states, matter-of-factly, that the man is a well-known figure in the Parvati, even lending a hand in police searches.

I sense it's the extent of an opinion we'll hear from an officer of the law, but I want to know more so. After our meeting, we head to Arshdeep's home for lentils and rice, and I casually bring up Kaur Khan's name.

I was speaking with Kabir, What do you think about...?

So he thinks that he knows who's doing the things and who's the main culprit, and.

You see, before we left for India, the interrogations of Baba Rawat and Anil Kumar were translated and transcribed into English.

Although we can read the words, we lack the cultural understanding to discern if how any of it is being said is suspicious.

We needed a trustworthy local to help us decipher it, and I'm now thinking Arshdeep could be that person.

This is the baba questioning.

In full, the recording is 11 and a half minutes, but we've narrowed it down to these key points.

Baba Rawat says Justin approached him in Kyrgyzstan.

I said, OK, you can learn yoga, serve baba, and then only you learn yoga. Some time later, he told Justin that he needed to go to Montalai Lake. He said, I will also go, I said, then come.

Then he went with us, Who was there with you, sir? I had taken a porter along.

Baba Rawat says Justin managed his own gear, while the porter carried Baba's items. Their journey began from Kyrgyzstan on August 28. They made overnight stops along the way and reached Montalai on September 4. Baba Rawat wanted to descend that same day, but Justin wanted to stay behind. That's when, he says, four Indian trekkers arrived.

So I told them, I don't know English. Tell Justin in English that go with Baba, otherwise if something happens to you, then Baba will get defamed.

Baba Rawat recounts that he and the porter proceeded down the mountain and reached the resting stop of Pundapul by 5pm.

Justin supposedly arrived later, around 8pm.

We stayed for the night. Eight to ten more people who were going to Montalai, they also had stopped there. No questions were asked about these eight to ten people.

In the morning on 5th, Kras Thakur Khon sat a little and had some food, smoked, some chillum. And then I said to Porter, you go ahead, make some eggs and food and keep it ready. I will reach slowly by evening, so Porter went ahead.

Behind was Justin, and after that me, and in between Thakur Khon and Tundavuj, where he stayed, he fell down. Or what happened? I don't know, Sir, I do not. Why didn't you report after he had not come? Justin is missing.

I have come this side from Vaidyanath for the first time. Sir. I don't know much about this place. I ask Arshdeep if he finds Baba Rawat's answers suspicious.

It will never come to his mind that I should report the police about him not arriving.

Anil Kumar, who looks to be 20-something, clutches a red beanie and shifts his weight anxiously.

The recording lasts an hour and 12 minutes. But again, we've distilled it down to these key points.

Anil says the trek began on August 28th. He, too, describes reaching Mantalay on the 4th and how Justin wanted to stay behind but ended up meeting them later that night. At Pundapur. The following day, Anil says they continued down the mountain and reached the rest stop of Taku Kuan by 12.30..

This portion of the hike takes about 4-5 hours for Anil, who reaches Tundabhush around 5 p..m. He says. Baba Rawat arrived an hour later.

Because that's what the baba said and I'd like to know.

When you were at Tundur Bush, was anyone else on the trail? Did he see anyone else?

Or one of you have done something, did something like this happen?

I apologize that he is going through the interrogation, however.

It will be his karma.

And I am sorry for him. Can we say that?

Why is this man such a coward?

At least an opinion. An innocent man would be remorseful, he would say to Susie, he would say, I am sorry that your son is missing. I had nothing to do with it, but this man can't stand there and even look at her.

Tell him he looks guilty. to me, he looks guilty.

Skeel's and Susie's frustration boils over.

They just stand there.

If he was telling the truth, he would have remorse. Please tell him he is a coward.

I don't know anything about previous things.

Watching these interrogations, they feel fumbled. The situation is a delicate one as I feel. For Susie and Skeels, who are just craving progress. Yet having them practically lead the interrogations seems like gross misconduct. Their assertive approach leaves me with the impression that it steered the investigation, most likely without them even realizing it.

Delving into case specifics, these recordings revealed that before Justin went missing, he passed at least three groups on his dissent. And from my knowledge, law enforcement never approached any of them. I'm lost in thought about all these neglected leads when I notice Arshdeep steps outside to take a call.

When he returns, he says he's put out an interview request to a group who can provide some more answers. A little eager, I ask if it's possible to have them come by that very evening, how's it going?

We pull together chairs in a cold, rustic dining hall and flick on a single space heater. Manu, Very nice to meet you. we meet Manu and Jagdish.

Two venture companies here in the valley. Manu carries most of the conversation, as Jagdish speaks little English.

Sorry, who did you say?

Anil Kumar does not know who started down the mountain after him, but claims what happened next was strange.

Coming up on status untraced, I find it tough to believe. Actually, there's something more to the story. And, trust me, there are plenty of babas that are corrupt and sadhus who are trying to rip you off.

The same thing.

Com or leave us a message at 507-407-2833.

Status Untraced is a production of Tenderfoot TV in association with Odyssey. I'm Your host Liam Lukson. Executive producers are Alex Vestbested, Donald Albright and Payne Lindsey. Producers are Meredith Stedman and myself. Supervising producer is Tracy Kaplan.

Consulting producer Jonathan Skeels. Associate editors are David Bash and Charles Rosner of GetUp Productions, with additional editing by Sydney Evans, artwork by Trevor Eiler, original music by Makeup and Vanity set.

Our theme song is Colder Heavens by Blanco White, mix by Cooper Skinner. Voice acting provided by Omer Wala, Sameer Goel, Kaushal Patel and Panaki Kaur. Thank you to Oren Rosenbaum and the team at UTA, Beck Media and Marketing and the Nord Group. And also special thanks to Arshdeep Sharma and Kabir Sharman. To Sameer at India Someday, who juggled all of our endless last-minute itinerary, switch-ups and to Neha Bharara.

For maps and exclusive photos related to the podcast, find us on Instagram at statusuntraced. For more podcasts like Status Untraced, search Tenderfoot TV on your favorite podcast app or visit us at Tenderfoot..tv.