True Crime Obsessed: Episode 474

"Vanished in Paradise: The Untold Story" (December 9, 2025)

Episode Overview

This episode of True Crime Obsessed recaps the Hulu/Amazon Prime documentary, Vanished in Paradise: The Untold Story, which examines the mysterious disappearance of Hannah Up, a beloved teacher who vanished from the island of St. Thomas just before a major hurricane in 2017. The hosts, Patrick Hines and Gillian Pensavalle, bring their signature mix of humor, warmth, and curiosity—delving into Hannah’s history of dissociative fugue states, the baffling circumstances surrounding her disappearance, and the ongoing search for answers amidst natural disaster and unanswered questions.

Main Discussion Points & Key Insights

Introducing Hannah Up and Setting the Stage

• Patrick & Gillian introduce the case and Hannah:

  • Hannah is described as outgoing, energetic, and popular within the tight-knit St. Thomas community.
  • She had taught at various Montessori schools in NYC, Maryland, and St. Thomas.
  • Notable quote:

    "She seems like a really interesting, very special person, but, like, there’s something about her that's a little bit hard to...put a finger on." — Host 1/Patrick (08:20)

• Background on St. Thomas:

  • The island is small (13 miles long, 3 miles wide), with a community made up of locals and many mainland U.S. transplants.
  • The hosts discuss the logistics and quirks of island living, including driving and the sense of being a haven for "non-typical" folks.

The Timeline of Hannah's Disappearance

• Pre-Hurricane Trauma (12:08–15:38)

  • Hannah chooses to stay on the island as two major hurricanes (Irma and Maria) threaten, while many—including her boyfriend Joey—evacuate.
  • Patrick reflects on the trauma and unpredictability of natural disasters:

    "It makes me so anxious...It is so, those kinds of natural disasters, really, I find incredibly upsetting." — Host 2/Gillian (11:26)

• Day of Disappearance (19:08–22:22)

  • September 14, 2017: Hannah’s roommate sees her leave at 8am; she is not seen again.
  • Her car is found at Sapphire Beach with her personal belongings—passport, cash, IDs—left behind.
  • Clothes are folded carefully on a barstool in what used to be a beachfront bar.

Critical Theories & Patterns

• Discussion of circumstantial evidence:
  • The hosts highlight that the disappearance occurred after Irma but before Maria, leading to only a tiny window for searching (22:57).
  • Noted: Hannah was an exceptional swimmer; ocean conditions post-hurricane were still perilous.
  • Reflections on her intentions:

    "It looked like she was going to leave. Like she had all of her stuff." — Host 1/Patrick (24:15)

  • The possibility of a voluntary disappearance or tragic accident is weighed, with both hosts leaning toward a tragic outcome due to the chaos and conditions (53:42).

Revelation: Hannah's Previous Disappearances

Game-Changing Discovery (26:35–41:58)

• Hannah disappeared twice before (2008 and 2013):

  • Both earlier episodes involved vanishing around the start of the school year and were linked to water (Harlem/NYC—found face-down in the harbor; Maryland—found at a creek).
  • In her 2008 fugue, security cameras captured her living her life, evading searchers, but with no conscious memory of her actions.
  • The pattern:

    "All three times this has happened...almost to the date, whatever the first day of school is, is when this is happening." — Host 2/Gillian (48:08)

• Hannah's Account from Earlier Fugue State:

  • Quote from 2008 interview (40:23–40:31):

    "It goes from like going for a run to being in the ambulance. For me that was like 10 minutes, but it was like three weeks."

The Psychology: Dissociative Fugue States

Scientific/Expert Analysis (45:36–47:28)

• Dr. Spiegel (Stanford) explains fugue states:

  • Extremely rare, possibly trauma-triggered episodes where a person “goes offline” from their own identity and may act with habitual, muscle-memory behaviors.
  • Details on how people in fugue can operate semi-normally but later have no recollection.

• Discussion of possible triggers:

  • No clear history of trauma for Hannah; hypnosis did not reveal obvious sources.
  • The start of the school year appears as a repeated stressor.

• Limits of medical understanding:

  • Duration of fugue can range from days to years; recovery is unpredictable.

    "Sometimes it's just a day or two...sometimes it can be for years." — Dr. Spiegel (48:52)

• Host skepticism:

  • The hosts challenge the limitations and contradictions in current psychological explanations, maintaining empathy while probing for answers.

Speculation, Sightings & Theories

Aftermath and Search Efforts (50:33–54:17)

• St. Thomas police and Hannah's mother investigate dozens of possible sightings on the island and neighboring territories, including Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic.
• The idea circulates that Hannah could have left without documentation due to post-storm travel chaos.
• Notable, compassionate moment during a mistaken identity search:

  "I wish I were her for you." — Unidentified woman, to Hannah's mother (52:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Hannah's unique energy:

  "Hannah was extra of everything." — Friend Maggie (08:18)

• On the emotional toll of the search:

  "Barbara, her mother, and her friends obviously are holding on to hope because these experts are saying...she can snap out of it at any time." — Host 2/Gillian (53:06)

• Host skepticism in summary:

  "I want to believe her. It’s just…maybe it’s that we just don’t know enough about this." — Host 1/Patrick (47:37)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Background & Setting: 06:40–08:20
• Hannah's Disappearance Timeline: 12:08–22:36
• Discovery at the Beach & Immediate Search: 19:52–25:32
• Revelation of Past Disappearances: 26:35–41:58
• Hannah's Own Words (2008): 40:17–40:48
• Psychological Explanation/Expert Interview: 45:36–47:55
• Patterns, Host Reflections: 48:01–50:02
• Search Efforts, Final Theories: 50:48–54:17

Tone and Style

The hosts balance frank skepticism with respect for Hannah and her loved ones. They mix humor (even riffing on Apple Store culture and "geniuses" at 32:06–33:27) with authentic curiosity, regularly pausing to examine their emotional reactions and addressing the complexities of trauma, mental health, and the limits of both science and community understanding.

Conclusion & Final Thoughts

Patrick and Gillian wrap up reflecting on the limits of what can be known. While some listeners might still hold out hope given the unexplained elements and past recoveries, the hosts agree that the most probable outcome—based on the conditions and evidence—is tragedy at sea.

• Quote:

  "I looked it up today. I looked to see if there’s any updates. There isn’t anything. There’s just a lot of theories." — Host 1/Patrick (54:11)

They express compassion for Hannah’s mother and friends, who remain in limbo, and encourage listeners to learn more and stay safe.

End of Summary
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