Roadside murders & brutal robberies

IT may seem like the perfect road to freedom - living in a camper van and travelling the world without any of the constraints of conventional life. Van life is certainly enjoying a boom with more and more people opting to quit the 9-5 rat race, sell up their belongings, and hit the road.

Image Credit: The Sun [Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie in their van.]

And, of course, many of them are choosing to document their journeys online with van life influencers making a career out of their nomadic lifestyles on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. But while van life, as documented by influencers, may look romantic and idyllic there are harsh realities behind the off-grid lifestyle.

Image Credit: The Sun [Gabby Petito standing next to a white van.]

The Netflix documentary, American Murder: Gabby Petito, tells the story of 22-year-old van life blogger Gabby and her fiancé Brian Laundrie’s life on the road. To her thousands of social media followers Gabby and Brian appeared to be living their dream, travelling across America in their van.

Image Credit: The Sun [Brian Laundrie and Gabby Petito in a photo.]

But behind the scenes the stresses of van life were taking their toll and police even pulled the couple over after reports of a domestic violence incident in the street. Controlling Brian eventually murdered Gabby, dumped her body and fled back home before taking his own life.

Image Credit: The Sun [Photo of Emily Ferlazzo.]

And. in 2021, another van life couple’s dream ended in murder when 22-year-old Emily Ferlazzo’s body was found in Vermont after being reported missing by her family. Her husband Joseph later admitted to killing her after a row in their camper van. He was convicted of her murder in December last year and faces at least 35 years in prison.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman with blonde hair holding a butterfly on her finger.]

The intensity of travelling alone and isolation from family can play into the hands of a controlling partner, and worsen domestic abuse, one charity has warned. In October, Women’s Aid teamed up with LadBible and Merman to create the film ‘Van Wife’ to help people spot the signs of coercive controlling behaviour.

The film follows a young couple, Liv and Jack, heading off on a van life adventure, documenting their journey on social media. To the outside world, they seem to be living the dream. But behind the picture-perfect facade, a darker reality is unfolding.

Image Credit: The Sun [CCTV image of Lucas Fowler and Chynna Deese hugging at a gas station.]

He controls the finances, her phone, her passport. He isolates her from her friends, shames her about what she eats and dictates her appearance. His criticisms, initially disguised as concern, escalate into emotional, verbal and physical abuse. Throughout the film, you see the gradual erosion of her confidence and independence.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman sitting by a campfire next to her camper van.]

Eventually, Liv bravely escapes her abusive partner at the ferry terminal where she’s met by a male friend who knew something wasn’t right and came to support her. As well as domestic abuse, travellers can be vulnerable to attacks from strangers. In 2019, American Chynna Deese and her Australian boyfriend Lucas Fowler were found shot dead next to their camper van in Canada.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman standing on a mountaintop with arms outstretched.]

The couple had been enjoying a three-week road trip when they were brutally murdered in what police believe was a botched robbery. Their suspected killers, teenagers Kam McLeod, 19, and Bryer Schmegelsky, 18, were found dead in the wilderness after a huge manhunt - having taken their own lives.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman sitting in a campervan.]

And just last year 72-year-old Gary Weaver died and his wife Mary, 71, was left in a critical condition in a double stabbing after parking their RV at a rest stop in Nebraska. Their alleged attacker, James Thompson, 22, was attempting to steal a Jeep that was hitched to the van.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman standing between two vans.]

While being cooped up in a van can be a pressure cooking for domestic abuse, travelling solo also brings a whole new set of dangers. Last summer a 60-year-old French woman was found brutally murdered in her camper van in Spain. The solo traveller had been stabbed to death.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman relaxing on bed in van conversion.]

In the Van Life UK Facebook group one woman posted that she had given up her travels due to some bad experiences. The anonymous member posted last July: “I’m a solo female and have taken a step back from van life, at least for now. I chose this lifestyle after finding myself in a vulnerable position.

Image Credit: The Sun [Woman standing in front of a green van.]

"While being houseless allowed me to enjoy freedom and learn some valuable off-grid living skills whilst travelling the UK, it unfortunately attracted some unsavoury characters that forced things to come to a halt. “The popularity of this lifestyle is on the rise, which is great, but it also means it can attract the wrong crowd. As a solo female, particularly without a dog, it’s crucial to prioritise safety.

Be cautious about sharing your location both online and offline, especially if you are a streamer, as some people may try to pry for your whereabouts. "Always be vigilant, keep your doors locked invest in a safety keyring set or other self-defence gadgets and choose established campsites over dark and empty lay-bys.

“Keep a spare power bank in the glove box and be cautious about sharing your location both online and offline, especially if you are a streamer, as some people may try to pry for your whereabouts. “Above all, I hope everyone has a fantastic summer filled with adventure and empowerment while staying safe and vigilant.”.