In a blood-curdling incident straight out of a horror movie, Colleen Monfore’s exotic island getaway turned into a nightmare when the 68-year-old American tourist vanished, feared to be eaten by a shark.
Whilst enjoying her diving adventure in an Indonesian archipelago’s translucent waters, strong currents overpowered her, sweeping her out to sea. The tourist, 68, was enjoying a diving trip with six friends near Pulau Peong island, off the country’s southwestern coast, but despite the best efforts of their guide, she did not make it back to the boat.
The South Dakota native’s mystifying disappearance sparked a relentless eight-day search that ultimately proved futile. Then, in a disturbing turn, human remains were discovered within a shark’s belly by an East Timor fisherman on October 6, arousing suspicions that they could belong to Ms Monfore.
In a similarly horrific event, tragedy struck as a surfer’s disembodied leg was found on shore after a colossal great white shark’s attack. The ghastly find came from a fisherman who reported: “The shark was caught but it was not in normal health. I thought it had swallowed plastic or a fishing net. It was cut open to find the problem and inside there were the remains of a woman.”
Muhammad Saleh Goro, who leads the UPTD for Management of Alor Islands Marine Park, confirmed a macabre find with international links: “We have coordinated with the Indonesian Embassy (KBRI) in Dili, and the KBRI has confirmed the truth of this information.
“The body of the woman was found in a shark in Timor Leste. It was not in Indonesian territory. We are now investigating the case further to confirm if they are the remains of anyone reported missing in Indonesia.
“From the diving suit worn by the victim, it is suspected that they were a diver. The results of the investigation will be published soon after more complete information is available. The anecdotal reports from Timor Leste are that the victim in the shark was foreign female.”
Local law enforcement illuminated the initial actions taken when Colleen vanished, with Ipda Giovani BM Toffy, the chief of police in Southwest Maluku, leading the search operations, stated: “The initial search effort was carried out by the victim’s friends because they were on the same trip to the Banda Islands.”
“We coordinated with the Nabar Village Government to mobilise residents to help search the coast facing Reong Island and conduct searches around the waters of Reong Island using long boats or speed boats, but the victim has not been found.”
Pulau Reong, a quaint island tucked away in Indonesia’s Alor Archipelago, is becoming a hot spot for scuba diving aficionados.
The area, renowned for its remarkably beautiful underwater locations, provides divers with a variety of distinctive dive sites, pristine corals, and a rich marine life.
