Someone Knows Something – S10 E5: Historias

Date: April 6, 2026
Host: David Ridgen (CBC)
Main Theme:
Investigative journalist David Ridgen continues his deep dive into the disappearance of Jacqueline Furlan Smith in Costa Rica (August 17, 2021). This episode examines unverified witness sightings, the reality of the local taxi trade, and personal recollections from those who knew Jacqueline and her partner Sebastian, weaving together inconsistencies and rumors surrounding the days after Jackie vanished.

Episode Overview

Episode 5, "Historias," shifts focus to the testimonies and purported sightings of Jackie after her disappearance, scrutinizing whether these narratives withstand scrutiny. Ridgen speaks with local taxi drivers, friends, and witnesses, wrestling with conflicting stories and the limitations of memory and hearsay.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Taxi Driver Trail

• [00:50–07:27]
  • Ridgen attempts to track down a specific red taxi driver in Playa Coco, based on witness claims that Jackie was seen in a red cab the night she vanished.
    • Red cabs are popular with expats, and there were roughly 18 in the area in 2021 (now about 12).
    • The drivers and dispatchers consulted all deny picking up Jackie or having heard of anyone else doing so.
    • Unofficial “pirate” taxis exist but are typically not red.
  • Key insight: No cab driver knows of or remembers transporting Jackie. There are no logs or passenger records.

"If someone wants to call a cab, do they call you directly or do they call a cab company?"
— Interviewer/Investigator [05:48]

• Diego, a known red cab driver, says he knew Jackie and Sebastian as customers but reaffirms none of the drivers report picking her up.
• Raises further doubt: Jackie usually walked and left her car at home—why a cab that night?

2. Eyewitness Accounts: Piecing Together a Timeline

• [08:24–17:19]
  • Sebastian (Jackie’s partner) insists three people saw Jackie after her disappearance: Oro (a neighbor), Carol (a waitress), and Keith (a chef).
  • Ridgen meets Keith in a mountain town:
    • Keith clarifies he never actually saw Jackie after her disappearance. Mistaken identity is likely; the woman was later identified as Jocelyn (similar appearance but distinct features).
    • Keith shares skepticism about Sebastian’s version of events.

“I believe it's Sebastian building a try and do this to cover up whatever he did. That’s my opinion.”
— Keith [13:50]

• Carol recalls seeing someone she thought was Jackie outside a liquor store but can’t confirm the date or if it was indeed Jackie.
  • Surveillance footage checked by police—no confirmation.

“Did Carol see Jackie? Did she see her after August 17th? ...We now know that it was probably not Jackie.”
— David Ridgen [17:19]

• The OIJ (Judicial Investigation Agency) discards all post-17th sightings as unconfirmed/mistaken.

3. A New Witness, More Uncertainty

• [18:09–20:39]
  • Krista, Jackie's friend, relays a story from an anonymous woman who says she met Jackie at Claudio y Glorias bar (afternoon before Jackie went missing).
    • Companion named Michael was allegedly present.
    • Michael later denies the sighting and says he only saw Jackie jogging on the beach previously.
    • Another likely case of mistaken identity.

4. Perspectives from the Expat Community

• Frank Evans Interview [22:10–29:03]:
  • Frank, a long-time acquaintance who knew both Jackie and Sebastian well, speaks highly of Sebastian:
    • Describes their relationship as close, athletic, and loving, without signs of hostility.
    • Joined Sebastian on searches for Jackie, never saw prior behavioral red flags.
    • Refers to Sebastian’s state post-disappearance as “devastated”, physically shaken and deeply upset.

“My experience and my just in my gut feeling was...seeing him afterwards and the reaction and then the physical change, you know, that would not be the norm if you were involved in something wrong. Right. He was trying everything, from my point of view, to try and find her.”
— Frank Evans [29:03]

• Frank recognizes rumors but stands by his impression of Sebastian’s character.

• Pete (Coconuts Bar Owner) [29:44–35:40]:
  • Knew Jackie and Sebastian as friendly customers, not close friends.
  • Recounts three very public, heated arguments between them at Coconuts Bar—the last so intense Pete considered barring them.
  • Describes Jackie as outgoing and Sebastian as notably reserved.
  • After Jackie vanished, Pete noticed Sebastian’s demeanor wasn’t what he’d expect of a grieving spouse; seemed eager to move on.
  • Four months after the disappearance, Sebastian approached Pete for help finding a job for a new romantic partner, which Pete found odd.

“If my wife went missing, I would be devastated...The behavior that I got from him was not that.”
— Pete [31:50]

“My gut told me... it's obvious that he had something to do with it. He was just very—this is demeanor just like he was happy. I think he snapped and, and it was probably something in the spur of the moment... I don't think it's premeditated.”
— Pete [34:24]

• Pete joins others in theorizing but admits the investigation was limited, the community rife with speculation, and evidence is thin.

5. Summary of Known Facts & Open Questions

• [36:05–39:27]
  • Timeline recap:
    • Jackie vanishes after leaving a physiotherapy appointment in Tamarindo, upset.
    • Diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, reportedly off medication.
    • Credit card used at a surf shop (likely Jackie) between 6–7pm.
    • Security guards, neighbors, and purported witnesses offer inconsistent reports.
    • No confirmed sightings of Jackie after Aug 17, 2021 (OIJ files).
    • Sebastian’s own narrative is inconsistent about his whereabouts and the sequence of events.
    • Discrepancies abound regarding the fight, injuries on Sebastian, and who saw Jackie last.

“There are no confirmed sightings of Jackie and anywhere after Aug. 17, 2021, according to police documents. All of it adds up to questions that I need to take back to Sebastian. I need to talk to him again.”
— David Ridgen [39:19]

• The episode ends with Ridgen emphasizing the persistent gaps and unresolved questions in Jackie’s case, foreshadowing further direct engagement with Sebastian.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the cab search:

  "Trying to find one specific cab four years later may seem like a long shot, but I think it's one well worth the taking."
  — David Ridgen [01:07]

• On mistaken identity:

  “If there's a picture at the Coconuts Bar and she walked by the Coconuts Bar where she'd always go in to drink...And nobody noticed. That kind of odd to me.”
  — Keith [13:00]

• On community perceptions:

  "It's incredibly difficult to just do that too, right? I mean, suicide. I don't think many people really—they're probably trying to get found, right? ...Nobody's that good at not getting found, especially for suicide. That's crazy."
  — Pete [35:40]

Key Timestamps

• 00:50–07:27 – Taxi driver interviews, confirming no driver recollects picking up Jackie.
• 08:24–17:19 – Interview with Keith (chef), analysis of mistaken identity, failed witness accounts.
• 18:09–20:39 – Krista relays anonymous tip, Michael investigated.
• 22:10–29:03 – Frank Evans interview, insider view on Sebastian and the couple’s life.
• 29:44–35:40 – Pete (bar owner) gives observations, discusses odd behavior by Sebastian.
• 36:05–39:27 – David Ridgen synthesizes facts, contradictory reports, and the case's open questions.

Tone & Style

Ridgen maintains his characteristic calm persistence, balancing empathy with skepticism. He is respectful but probing, regularly re-centering on tangible evidence over rumors. The interviewees display a variety of emotions—some defensive loyalty (Frank), some skeptical detachment (Pete, Keith), all against a backdrop of a close-knit but rumor-plagued expat community.

Conclusion

“Historias” strips down local lore and rumored sightings, casting doubt on nearly every eyewitness account after August 17, 2021. It highlights the community’s fractured perspectives, the perils of hearsay, and the emotional complexity of those left behind. At the episode’s end, Ridgen is determined to press Sebastian further, as central uncertainties persist: What really happened to Jackie in those crucial hours, and why does every apparent answer only lead to more questions?