The Dark Oak23 Apr 2025

Episode 98: The Probable Abduction of David Sneddon - Part 2 of 2

In August 2004, American student David Sneddon disappeared while hiking in China's Tiger Leaping Gorge. Despite official claims that he fell into the Jinsha River, his family’s investigation uncovered multiple witness accounts suggesting he survived and reached Shangri-La. A guide, Keith Chu Chung, reported hiking with David, who spoke fluent Mandarin, Korean, and English, to Tina’s Guesthouse, and 12 other witnesses, including the owner of the Yak Bar in Shangri-La, confirmed seeing him as late as August 14, 2004. However, Chinese authorities confiscated guesthouse logs, and all witnesses later recanted, fueling suspicions of a cover-up. In 2011, Chuck Downs, a former Pentagon official, proposed that North Korea abducted David, possibly mistaking him for a smuggler or targeting him as an English teacher due to his language skills, as the gorge was a route for North Korean defectors. Reports in 2012 and 2016 supported this, suggesting David, under the name Yoon Bong Soo, was teaching English in North Korea, married with two children. Despite these leads, the U.S. and Chinese governments maintain he died, and North Korea denies involvement. The Sneddons, frustrated by official inaction, possibly due to U.S. nuclear negotiations with North Korea, urge public awareness through social media and contacting officials to seek justice for David and highlight North Korea’s human rights issues. Additional case details, including maps, are available on Instagram at @TheDarkOakPodcast. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to the Dark Oak 02:40 100th Episode Celebration and Giveaway 06:55 David Sneddon 01:08:40 The Branch of Hope Sources:

Persio, S. L. (2018, June 11). Did North Korea kidnap a U.S. citizen in China? Family hopes Singapore summit will help bring their son home. Newsweek. https://www.newsweek.com/family-us-student-who-disappeared-china-looks-north-korea-summit-answers-967469

China Discovery. (n.d.). China Discovery - Leading China Travel Agency with Reviews. https://www.chinadiscovery.com/

Vogel, C., & Vogel, C. (2022, May 12). Did North Korea kidnap an American hiker? Outside Online. https://www.outsideonline.com/outdoor-adventure/hiking-and-backpacking/did-north-korea-kidnap-american-hiker/

“Thinking Sideways Podcast” David Sneddon (Podcast episode 2015) - Plot - IMDB. (n.d.). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14457712/plotsummary/

O’Donoghue, A. J. (2023, December 31). Utah parents long for answers in missing son’s case. Deseret News. https://www.deseret.com/2012/8/5/20505138/utah-parents-long-for-answers-in-missing-son-s-case/

Korea’s other Otto Warmbier. (2017, June 23). News. https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/true-stories/north-koreas-other-otto-the-unbelievable-story-of-missing-hiker-david-sneddon/news-story/90ab2549acafc281d965f7700c52bb4e

Corbin, C. (2017, June 28). Family of David Sneddon, missing US student, says North Korea kidnapped him. Fox News. https://www.foxnews.com/world/family-of-david-sneddon-missing-us-student-says-north-korea-kidnapped-him

David Sneddon: Tiger Leaping Gorge, China. (2024, February 8). Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/david-sneddon-tiger-leaping-gorge-china/id1715813037?i=1000644599761

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This episode of The Dark Oak was created, researched, written, recorded, hosted, edited, published, and marketed by Cynthia and Stefanie of Just Us Gals Productions with artwork by Justyse Himes and Music by Ryan Creep

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