The 1993 Portuguese national bodyboarding champion, Daniel dos Santos, has been missing for over two weeks on the Thai island of Koh Phangan.
His mysterious disappearance of “JoJo Mariani,” as he was also known, has sparked widespread concern, with his family, friends, and the Portuguese government rallying to find answers.
On November 17, 2024, Daniel, aged 51, was last seen in the Thongsala area of Koh Phangan, where he lived with his wife, Avalon Giuliano, and their two sons, Ocean (8) and Sky (2).
The bodyboarder failed to return home that evening, prompting Avalon to search for him.
Days later, his personal belongings, including his passport, wallet, swim gear, and Buddhist amulets, were discovered soaked and hidden under a piece of plywood near a hardware store.
Despite these findings, there has been no further trace of Daniel.
Could he have just gone surfing and suffered a life-threatening wipeout? Was he kidnapped?
Family’s Efforts to Find Him
Avalon has taken to social media to raise awareness and seek help, describing the circumstances of his disappearance as “mysterious.”
“The last time I saw him was on the 17th. I was with him at a hostel downtown, and he was supposed to go home at the end of the day, as always, to take care of the boys, but he didn’t appear,” Daniel’s wife stated.
“From then on, I never heard anything from him again. This is not an island where you can disappear like that. There are many animals and other dangers lurking around.”
She expressed fears that Daniel may have gone into the ocean and suffered an accident, though other theories, including the possibility of a psychological episode, have also been considered.
“The police here are not helping much, so we need to put pressure on them,” Avalon shared in her online appeal.
She has called on Portuguese authorities and the public to assist in demanding action from Thai officials.
Flyers and posters have been distributed across the island, and a GoFundMe page has been created to support the search efforts and her family.
So far, the campaign has raised $1,500 out of a $10,000 goal.
Portuguese Government Involvement
The Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed it is monitoring the situation closely through its embassy in Thailand.
The ministry remains in contact with Daniel’s family, offering some reassurance amidst the lack of progress on the ground.
Known for his devotion to his children and his expertise as a waterman, friends, and family find it difficult to believe he would vanish voluntarily.
Avalon has highlighted the lack of support from local authorities.
Daniel’s father-in-law, Geoffrey Giuliano, an actor featured in Netflix’s “Squid Game,” has also joined the efforts, accusing some individuals on the island of withholding critical information.
Geoffrey mentioned a recent sighting of a man matching Daniel’s description, limping and seemingly injured, as reported by a local Burmese worker.
Unanswered Questions
Daniel’s friends have also noted inconsistencies in the narrative surrounding his disappearance.
Before moving to the remote island paradise in Thailand (with ten thousand inhabitants and known for its full moon parties), Daniel and Avalon lived in Óbidos, and their two children are Portuguese citizens.
About two years ago, they decided to go live in Asia, where Avalon’s father also lives, in a life change that at the time generated strangeness among the friends of the former Portuguese bodyboarding champion.
They believe Daniel would never disappear as he is the main caregiver for his children and has a huge passion for the boys.
Although “Jojo” has been monitored to treat some mental health problems, friends trust he would hardly end his life.
They believe that there is something that isn’t being fully revealed.
Koh Phangan’s Reputation
Koh Phangan, renowned for its picturesque beaches and Full Moon parties, also has a darker reputation for unsolved crimes and unexplained deaths.
Notable incidents include the mysterious death of Belgian tourist Elise Dallemange in 2017 and a series of other fatal incidents involving tourists.
The island’s dense jungle and dangerous wildlife add to the risks of survival for anyone lost there.
So far, there are no more solid leads on Daniel’s location.