Someone Knows Something – Season 10, Episode 3: Ex-Patriota

Date: March 23, 2026
Host & Investigator: David Ridgen (CBC)

Episode Overview

This episode continues the investigation into the disappearance of Jacqueline (Jackie) Furlan Smith in Playa del Coco, Costa Rica. Host David Ridgen dives deeper into the aftermath of her vanishing, the relationship and actions of her husband, Sebastian, the involvement of his new partner Lorraine, and the reactions and recollections of neighbors, friends, and local authorities. Central themes include community suspicion, inconsistencies in stories about Jackie’s disappearance, and the struggles to uncover reliable evidence against a backdrop of grief, rumor, and fear.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Accounts of Disturbance and Domestic Strife

• Neighbor’s Testimony:
  • A neighbor recalls hearing a woman screaming for help in the house Jackie and Sebastian shared, involving another neighbor and security guard but with altercations ceasing before anyone could intervene. (01:07–02:20)
  • When investigated, Jackie and Sebastian would act as though nothing had happened.
  • Memorable quote:
    • Neighbor 1: “Help, help, help, help. So I’m going out and I know, obviously, what’s that?” (01:33)

2. Sebastian’s New Relationship and Local Perception

• Sebastian and Lorraine:

  • Lorraine Franco, Sebastian’s Canadian girlfriend, recounts meeting him after Jackie’s disappearance and how their relationship became public. (03:05–08:45)
  • They undertook a dramatic scooter journey from Canada to Costa Rica, which caught local and online attention, culminating in a motorcycle magazine article that omitted Sebastian’s prior marriage or Jackie’s disappearance, painting him as a longtime bachelor.
  • Lorraine expresses concern about the story's portrayal:
    • Quote:
      • Lorraine Franco: “I read the story after it published and I went, ‘oh, shit.’ …if I was her family, I’d read that story and want to throw up and want to strangle you. Because it makes you come off as this gallivanting bachelor…” (07:12)
  • Lorraine had to reassure her family about Sebastian’s innocence amidst “serial killer” rumors sparked by internet searches.

• Lorraine’s Loyalty and Narrative:

  • Lorraine firmly believes in Sebastian’s innocence:
    • “He is extremely loyal, he’s extremely dedicated. Everything about his history, Jackie, it makes sense, and he has not given his side of the story.” (10:12)
  • She emphasizes Sebastian’s devotion and the toll the incident has taken.

3. Police Investigation and Surveillance Gaps

• Sebastian’s Account:
  • Police (OIJ) searched the house and yard, used sniffer dogs, and examined surveillance footage, but found nothing of interest. (12:19–15:29)
  • Sebastian blames technical failures on the poor quality security system, claiming he didn’t have access to the relevant footage, as only Jackie had the password.
  • Sebastian on search thoroughness:
    • “...when you find something in Ancient Egypt that’s like 6,000 years old, they know if there was blood somewhere, like, they can smell it with like a dog… they even dog… cops obviously, they see, like freshly moved dirt.” (15:08)

4. Community-Led Search Efforts

• Volunteer Search Orchestration:
  • Jackie’s friend, Krista, organized volunteer searches by land and sea, including drones and a professional team from a rescue organization called 'Open.' Despite extensive efforts, nothing was found—no belongings, no trace. (16:17–19:56)
  • The official search spanned three weeks but ended with no result and dwindling support.
  • Krista mentions Sebastian did not participate in the physical search but assisted as a driver and logistical support, while Sebastian claims to have been highly involved, citing exhaustion:
    • Sebastian: “We were like, basically 15, 16 hours, like a day… Like, by the end, okay, like, myself, I was like, I just can’t do that anymore. I’m gonna die.” (20:33)

5. Forensic Uncertainty and Allegations

• Concerns About the House and Car:
  • Jackie's parents noticed potentially odd cleaning behavior in Sebastian, including a mop and chlorine, but admit the use of bleach isn’t inherently suspicious. (21:45–22:03)
• Discussion of Blood in the Car:
  • Neighbor Alejandro claims authorities found blood in Sebastian’s car, which, combined with a refusal to share footage, led to his suspicions. (29:02)
  • Krista's friend provides indirect confirmation: police did cut out a section of the car seat after her dog indicated something, but no results were provided. (30:58–31:47)
  • Sebastian insists police cleared all sites and dismisses rumors around burning debris as misinterpretation of his burning wood from a decayed garden with dogs present during investigations. (32:03)

6. Local Rumors and Fear

• Neighbor Alejandro:
  • Shares vivid suspicions regarding Sebastian’s backyard, mentioning that his dogs were drawn to one area and that vultures appeared over the property.
  • States: “He continued burning things on top of it, but there was something burned underneath, and you could see birds all over…” (27:57)
  • He claims to have confronted Sebastian with a shotgun due to these fears, which Sebastian denies ever happened. (30:09)

7. Gate Guards’ Observations

• Timeline:
  • Gate guard Michael observed Jackie driving her car into the development, possibly around 6:30 or 7pm (date uncertain, but possibly matching last known movements). No one saw her leave, but a taxi was seen departing some time later with an unidentified person inside. (36:26–39:06)
  • Guards say Sebastian did not immediately notify them of Jackie’s disappearance; they learned from police days later. (33:39)
  • Another incident shared: Michael witnessed Jackie hitting Sebastian on the back while they rode a scooter together—showing potential volatility in the relationship. (40:05–41:15)

8. Surveillance Footage Shortfalls

• Neighbor Ramay Aldana:
  • Her cameras did not record any definitive evidence of Jackie leaving on the nights in question.
  • The last certain visual is Jackie’s car returning on the 15th, not her actual person. (42:11–43:14)
  • Ramay believes there was “foul play” and dismisses the idea Jackie just walked away. (43:14)

9. Sebastian’s View on What Happened

• Confronted directly, Sebastian denies any involvement in Jackie’s disappearance and expresses frustration that nothing he says can change public opinion.
• He speculates Jackie may have deliberately gone for a last swim in the ocean, reflecting her mental health struggles:
  • “She loved the ocean. So she probably went for a swim, like. Like planning on swimming until she cannot come back.” (44:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Lorraine Franco (on public perception):
  "We don't want to have that legacy following us everywhere we go... And I read the story after it published and I went, oh, shit. And I said, you gotta call that guy and ask him to correct that line." (07:12)

• Sebastian (on investigation):
  “Dogs are that good. They even dog… they smell everything… (the police) dug everything.” (15:08, 32:03)

• Neighbor Alejandro (on backyard suspicions):
  “The dogs, as soon as I open the gate, would go to the… last part of the garden… He continued burning things… and you could see birds all over until I got scared and … started going around the house with a shotgun.” (27:57)

• Krista’s friend (on blood in car):
  “During the search… my little dog… was digging furiously at it and sniffing it… police did end up cutting a spot out of the back seat of the vehicle.” (30:58)

• Gate Guard Michael (on sighting):
  “He say that day he saw her about… 6 stories [6:30], coming in the gate. In her car?… She waved.” (36:26–36:44)

• Ramay Aldana (on neighborhood suspicion):
  “I think there was foul play. I really think so. I don’t think she just walked away like, this is what they were saying, that she just walked away. No way.” (43:14)

• Sebastian (on public judgment):
  “I did not kill her, obviously. Yes. So. But who am I to convince anyone? … So even if I say something in their head, it’s gonna be to prove that it’s not me…” (43:59)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:07–02:20] Neighbor recounts screams for help from Jackie’s house
• [03:05–08:45] Details of Sebastian’s new relationship with Lorraine and local gossip
• [12:19–15:29] Sebastian’s account of the police investigation and surveillance footage gaps
• [16:17–19:56] Community-led search efforts, organization by Krista, and search methods
• [20:01–22:03] Questions surrounding Sebastian's participation and home cleaning questions
• [27:57–30:39] Neighbor Alejandro’s suspicions and confrontation with Sebastian
• [30:58–32:38] Krista's friend and Sebastian discuss the car seat blood spot and burning garden materials
• [36:26–39:06] Gate guards describe the last sighting of Jackie and a possible taxi departure
• [42:11–43:14] Review of available surveillance footage with neighbor Ramay
• [43:59–45:04] Sebastian discusses what he thinks happened to Jackie and confronts speculation

Episode Tone & Takeaways

The episode carries a somber, contemplative tone. David Ridgen carefully presents competing perspectives—between Sebastian’s ongoing protestation of innocence, the suspicion fueled by local rumors and small bits of evidence, and the utter absence of physical proof or resolution. Ridgen remains objective, neither definitively incriminating nor absolving Sebastian. The overall picture is one of heartbreak, distrust, and unanswered questions, with the investigation mired in a thicket of rumor, hearsay, and the limitations of memory and evidence.

For Listeners

This episode offers a detailed, empathetic exploration of those closest to Jackie, the small Costa Rican community around her, and the tangled web of perceptions and facts complicating the case. It’s a critical entry in the ongoing search for the truth about Jackie’s disappearance, highlighting the emotional toll on all involved and the challenges facing investigators.

If you haven’t listened, this summary provides a rich outline of what’s new, unresolved, and still haunting about Jackie Furlan Smith’s disappearance.