Malaysian authorities believe they have found the remains of French tourist Stephanie Foray, 30, whose remains are believed to have been found buried in a cave in Pulau Tioman, once referred to as one of the most beautiful islands in the world, according to Time.
According to police, Ms. Foray was robbed and murdered, following the recent arrest of a 36-year-old suspect. DNA comparative analysis is being conducted to confirm identity. Last week, police were led to a cave in Kampung Tekek, Pulau Tioman, by the suspect, who runs a small orchard there, where they found a blue backpack and several other items that had belonged to Foray. The suspect, whose residence is within walking distance from the cave, led police to where the remains were buried.
COMMENT: Foray, a member of the French civil service, had left France in November 2010, for a long holiday abroad, which saw her touring India and Sri Lanka before visiting Malaysia on May 5. Foray reportedly spent two days in Kuala Lumpur before going to Malacca and then went on to Pulau Tioman. Her last email to her family was on May 8 after which there was no word from her. Her family subsequently filed a missing person's report and police had been trying to track her down for the last two months before being led to the skeletal remains in the cave.
If DNA analysis confirms that the remains in the cave are in fact those of Foray, this is indeed a sad, final chapter in a young woman's life. During the course of my overseas career as an RSO [Regional Security Officer], I worked countless acts of violent crime against foreigners traveling and working abroad, largely because victims have underestimated the threats they faced and simply failed to take prudent precautions and make wise choices.
One case that is very similar to Foray's is the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell , 40, who disappeared on April 8, 2007, while she was serving in the Philippines. Within weeks of completing her tour, she decided to go hiking alone in Ifugao Province. While traveling through the village of Batad, she bumped into a local resident, Juan Duntugan, 27, causing him to drop what he was carrying. In his instinctive anger, he grabbed a rock and hit Campbell with it, killing her instantly. On April 18, soldiers searching for Campbell, noticed her feet sticking out from a shallow grave. Duntugan was eventually found guilty and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
I've never quite understood why international travelers expose themselves to increased risk by traveling alone, unless, of course, they have extraordinary security awareness skills and instincts. In the case of both Foray and Campbell, such skills seemed to have been lacking.
Solo travelers invariably become crime victims at one time or the other. This occurs largely because they feel they know best or because they somehow feel they are immortal. And often, their luck has simply run out. The reality is that they often don't have the experience to be cognizant of their own vulnerability.
According to police, Ms. Foray was robbed and murdered, following the recent arrest of a 36-year-old suspect. DNA comparative analysis is being conducted to confirm identity. Last week, police were led to a cave in Kampung Tekek, Pulau Tioman, by the suspect, who runs a small orchard there, where they found a blue backpack and several other items that had belonged to Foray. The suspect, whose residence is within walking distance from the cave, led police to where the remains were buried.
COMMENT: Foray, a member of the French civil service, had left France in November 2010, for a long holiday abroad, which saw her touring India and Sri Lanka before visiting Malaysia on May 5. Foray reportedly spent two days in Kuala Lumpur before going to Malacca and then went on to Pulau Tioman. Her last email to her family was on May 8 after which there was no word from her. Her family subsequently filed a missing person's report and police had been trying to track her down for the last two months before being led to the skeletal remains in the cave.
If DNA analysis confirms that the remains in the cave are in fact those of Foray, this is indeed a sad, final chapter in a young woman's life. During the course of my overseas career as an RSO [Regional Security Officer], I worked countless acts of violent crime against foreigners traveling and working abroad, largely because victims have underestimated the threats they faced and simply failed to take prudent precautions and make wise choices.
One case that is very similar to Foray's is the murder of Peace Corps Volunteer Julia Campbell , 40, who disappeared on April 8, 2007, while she was serving in the Philippines. Within weeks of completing her tour, she decided to go hiking alone in Ifugao Province. While traveling through the village of Batad, she bumped into a local resident, Juan Duntugan, 27, causing him to drop what he was carrying. In his instinctive anger, he grabbed a rock and hit Campbell with it, killing her instantly. On April 18, soldiers searching for Campbell, noticed her feet sticking out from a shallow grave. Duntugan was eventually found guilty and sentenced to 40 years in prison.
I've never quite understood why international travelers expose themselves to increased risk by traveling alone, unless, of course, they have extraordinary security awareness skills and instincts. In the case of both Foray and Campbell, such skills seemed to have been lacking.
Solo travelers invariably become crime victims at one time or the other. This occurs largely because they feel they know best or because they somehow feel they are immortal. And often, their luck has simply run out. The reality is that they often don't have the experience to be cognizant of their own vulnerability.
