In 1998, 15 Backpackers Disappeared in New Zealand — Unseen Footage Surfaces 25 Years Later | HO!!!!

Queenstown, New Zealand — In the crisp autumn of 1998, New Zealand’s South Island was alive with the usual hum of adventure tourism. The famed hiking trails, world-class scenery, and reputation for safety drew young travelers from across the globe.

Among them: 15 American backpackers, each carrying dreams, family traditions, and the promise of a life-changing journey. Their story would soon become one of the most chilling mysteries in modern travel history—a case that haunted two nations for a quarter-century.

On March 15th, 1998, Michael Thompson, Sarah Williams, David Martinez, Jennifer Davis, the Johnson twins, and nine other young Americans set out on what should have been a routine trek along the Routeburn Track. They were not reckless thrill-seekers; they were experienced hikers, well-prepared, and cautious. By evening, they had vanished without a trace.

For 25 years, their disappearance remained a baffling cold case. Families in Iowa, Ohio, Arizona, and Colorado grieved, searched, and held out hope. The New Zealand 15, as they came to be known, became a symbol of heartbreak, international cooperation, and the limits of law enforcement. But in 2023, a shocking discovery in an abandoned Queenstown hostel would reignite the investigation—and reveal disturbing new evidence.

The Vanishing: A Day That Began With Promise

March 15th, 1998, dawned with the familiar rituals of hostel life. Michael Thompson’s Timex watch read 6:23 a.m. as he stirred in the Kiwi Backpacker’s Lodge, a favorite among international visitors.

Sarah Williams wrote postcards home, her yellow rain jacket draped nearby. The Johnson twins braided hair and consulted guidebooks. Rebecca Foster, the youngest, zipped her green jacket and snapped photos for her parents back in Vermont.

By 7:15 a.m., all 15 Americans gathered in the communal kitchen, sharing Pop-Tarts and instant oatmeal, buzzing with excitement for the day’s hike. Their destination: the Routeburn Track, one of New Zealand’s “Great Walks.” They were prepared—permits in hand, emergency beacons rented, weather checked, gear packed.

At 11:47 a.m., they posed for a group photo outside the Te Anau Visitor Center. The image, later central to the investigation, showed bright smiles and confident faces. Park ranger William Patterson would later recall, “They were better prepared than most. Maps, proper clothing, emergency supplies. They did everything right.”

At 2:33 p.m., the group reached Route Falls. Faced with a choice between the main trail and a tempting sidetrack known as the Devil’s Staircase, they debated for 20 minutes. Witnesses saw them consulting maps, checking watches, and discussing weather. At 2:41 p.m., security footage captured them beginning their ascent of the unmarked trail. It was the last confirmed sighting.

By 6:15 p.m., alarm bells rang when they failed to arrive at McKenzie Hut. Their rental car remained untouched, beds unoccupied, belongings neatly stored. The emergency beacon had been activated but transmitted no distress signal. Helicopters and ground teams scoured the area through the night, but the Devil’s Staircase had seemingly swallowed 15 young Americans without a trace.

The Investigation: False Leads and Lingering Grief

The initial search was exhaustive. FBI agent Robert Harrison arrived from Wellington, joining New Zealand Detective Inspector Margaret Thompson. Helicopters, ground teams, and forensic experts combed the wilderness. But no dropped equipment, no markers, no remains—nothing.

False leads abounded. Witnesses claimed sightings near Milford Sound, but these proved unreliable, tainted by media coverage. Theories ranged from cult abduction to drug trafficking, each investigated and ultimately dismissed. One promising lead involved a damaged trail barrier, raising the possibility of a deadly accident and coverup, but searches turned up only century-old mining debris.

As weeks turned into months, the case consumed thousands of work hours and millions in resources. Families clung to hope, organizing prayer vigils, memorial rituals, and support groups. Every March 15th at 11:47 a.m., Michael Thompson’s parents sat in a Walmart parking lot for 15 minutes of silence—a tradition that spread to other families across the Midwest.

False sightings tormented the families. Reports of Jennifer Davis in Sydney, the Johnson twins in Thailand, and Rebecca Foster in Costa Rica led to frantic searches and heartbreak. One cruel hoax involved extortion calls from a Texas prison, exploiting the Fosters’ desperation.

By 2003, the case was officially archived, and the families established the Bring Them Home Foundation, advocating for international cooperation and support for missing Americans abroad. The trauma of “missing but not dead” created a unique, lingering pain—divorces, lost faith, and lives forever changed.

The Breakthrough: Hidden Evidence and Unseen Footage

On July 23rd, 2023, demolition worker Jake Patterson discovered a false wall in the abandoned Kiwi Backpacker’s Lodge. Inside: 12 video cassettes, three disposable cameras, a waterproof bag of personal items, and Michael Thompson’s leather journal. The evidence had been professionally concealed, raising immediate suspicions.

The video tapes, dated from March 10th to March 15th, revealed the Americans being secretly filmed—checked into the hostel, followed around Queenstown, observed in private conversations. The camera work was steady and professional, audio surprisingly clear. The footage captured moments missed by security cameras, including the group’s final hike planning.

Michael Thompson’s journal described feeling watched and followed, noting “the man with the scar on his left hand” who worked at the hostel unofficially. Disposable cameras contained photos of their belongings being searched and rooms documented while they were absent. The waterproof bag held photocopies of passports, registration forms, and detailed notes about their families—evidence of systematic intelligence gathering.

Modern forensic analysis digitized the tapes and extracted DNA from hair follicles and saliva. The results pointed to multiple contributors—including Raymond Mitchell, a former U.S. Army intelligence operative living in New Zealand, and Marcus Johnson, leader of a religious commune previously investigated. Satellite imagery revealed a temporary camp near the group’s last known location, visible in March 1998 but gone by June.

Three Theories, No Closure

The 2023 investigation transformed the case from a mysterious disappearance into something far more sinister. FBI behavioral analysts suggested a military-grade human trafficking operation, targeting stable, predictable victims for exploitation. Detective Inspector Thompson proposed accidental death and a corporate coverup to protect New Zealand’s tourism industry. Forensic genealogists uncovered evidence of passport alterations, raising the possibility of voluntary disappearance and identity erasure—perhaps intelligence operatives starting new lives.

Each theory was supported by compelling evidence, yet contradicted by equally convincing facts. The surveillance was too sophisticated for random criminals. No remains were found, and immigration records showed no suspicious departures. The families’ genuine grief and personal details seemed inconsistent with a planned disappearance. The truth, it seemed, was more disturbing than the unknown.

The Legacy: New Questions, New Laws, New Hope

By late 2023, the New Zealand 15 case had become a catalyst for policy change. Congressional hearings focused on international law enforcement gaps, and new safety protocols were implemented for foreign visitors. The Bring Them Home Foundation now works with the State Department and FBI, advocating for families of internationally missing Americans.

For the families, the answers provided by the 2023 evidence were both a relief and a nightmare. “I thought not knowing was the worst thing,” said Patricia Williams, Sarah’s mother. “But knowing someone was watching her, planning something terrible—that’s a different kind of nightmare.”

As 2024 draws to a close, the case remains open, with new technology providing hope for future breakthroughs. The families continue their rituals of remembrance, joined now by advocates and policymakers determined to prevent similar tragedies.

The New Zealand 15 remind us that some mysteries resist resolution, even when evidence is uncovered. Sometimes the truth is more disturbing than the unknown. And sometimes, the questions we uncover are more important than the answers we seek.

After 26 years, 15 American families continue their wait for closure. But they now know they are not waiting alone.