The Mysterious Disappearance of Jim Thompson -- Lew Toulmin

When Jim Thompson vanished 50 years ago, he was the best-known American in Thailand. Rumors still swirl around his disappearance. Thompson had set up the Bangkok OSS office and later served as a CIA asset in Thailand, but it was his beautiful Thai silk that made him famous.
He revitalized the industry, amassed a huge art collection, and built a magnificent house from traditional Thai homes to showcase his precious objects. So what could have happened in March of 1967, when he went for a short walk in the high jungles of Malaysia? Why were the CIA , DoS, US Army, and FBI involved in the massive search?
Join Dr. Llewellyn Toulmin, the co-founder of Missing Aircraft Search Team, as he analyzes the case of Jim Thompson, the man who set up the Bangkok OSS office. When he vanished 50 years ago, why were the CIA , DoS, US Army, and FBI involved in the massive search and what could have happened?
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[@johnscanlan9335]

I first heard this amazingly fascinating story in 1990 while I was on a vacation trip to Thailand. I don't understand why no one in Hollywood has made this great mystery into a blockbuster major motion picture!

[@holgeru.6613]

Perfect story for an amazing blockbuster.

[@Tsnore]

This is well done. It remains a fascinating case. I have visited Jim's house/museum, the klongs, Tanah Rat, the Easter picnic spot and walked up the hill to Moonlight Cottage in 2000. Read two of those books, and I remain very interested in this case. Thank you for this excellent offering.

[@SalBiancoJr]

I was chosen by CIA, to go undercover with my Bangkok crew to find him, and we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@James_Bowie]

On the matter of too many people on the SAR effort, I'm reminded of the saying in software project management: Putting more people on a late project only makes it later.(Brooks' Law)

[@toma5153]

Very interesting presentation. Glad I took the time to watch it.

[@raymondkong1917]

Lew this is fascinating. You have provided a structured and detailed analysis on the matter. I have been intrigued by JT, and know the family who owned the Moonlight Cottage back then (they are from Taiping). I read a book about JT's disappearance while visiting BKK and had a chance to walk up the hill to the cottage several years later. Wandered around the garden, peered into the house and was puzzled by the mystery. I believe Jim was involved in an unintentional accident and the party/ies involved hurriedly hid his body or carried it away.. my simple 2 cents.

[@lindalu8565]

After visiting Jim Thompson house in Bangkok, I've been fascinated by this story. What a great investigation. I really like the question about the cigarettes the day before. That would answer a few questions being he was a chain smoker.

[@ericsjaunirsjoekoer8535]

As a Malaysian ex military man who visits Cameron Highlands frequently during my holidays, I would like to offer some points to ponder; a. The search for Thompson may be restricted due to the Communist threat in the surrrounding area at that time. b. The "Orang Asli", natives are superb jungle trackers. I believe that they would have been involved in the search albeit unsuccessfuly. c. Apart from tigers, another hazard in the Malaysian jungle are pythons. Even the Orang Asli are wary of them during their jungle forays. The python may ambush their prey by dropping from above the canopy onto their victim. Not a very nice way to disappear.

[@styxcabin]

Hello Eric, Thanks for the comments. My responses are: a. In all my research and interviews with 1967 searchers, I never encountered any indication of the search being restricted by Communist Terrorists (CTs). There were CTs 90 miles away on the Thai border. b. The orang asli played a key role in the search, but were unsuccessful. They are not infallible, however, according to Paul Coakley of KZbin junglecrafty, who has worked with them extensively and says even THEY get lost in the jungle sometimes. c. I never found any documented cases of death by python of an adult in that area. Can you supply info? I did find that there are 105 species of snakes in Malaysia but only 17 are poisonous, and even those often give dry, defensive bites. For more info, see my very substantial report, which considers all these items. The report is at www.themosttraveled.com under "New Land Adventures" and is downloadable for free. Cheers, Lew Toulmin, Ph.D., F.R.G.S.

[@ericsjaunirsjoekoer8535]

Hi Lew. Thanks for your reply. The info concerning the danger of pythons is obtained from the local "Orang Asli". I'll put my trust in them when I'm in the rain forest. Good article. Keep up the good work!

[@SalBiancoJr]

I was chosen by them,CIA, to go undercover with my Bankok crew to find him we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@MurrayJoe]

A very concise and thorough report by Dr. Llewellyn Toulmin. I think based the evidence provided, that he has most likely suffered a medical incident, or wandered off the track he was on to answer a call of nature, that I'd base on the fact that he had dysentery, so its a possibility. I hope someone comes forward with money to help with funds for a search using the organisation he mention with not just their technical skills, but using cadaver dogs as well, they may even find the other bloke.

[@SalBiancoJr]

I was chosen by them,CIA, to go undercover with my Bankok crew to find him we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@TheForrestMaster]

i just saw a documentary by vpro today where he was interviewed in Singapore in 2015

[@chipparker3950]

A chain smoker leaves his cigarettes?

[@JJ-lk5cd]

This is an excellent presentation and study. There have been many books, articles, stories, discussions and much speculation about the disappearance of Jim Thompson, but none have ever been proven. Jim's disappearance in the Cameron Highlands on that Easter Sunday 1967, was and remains a mystery today. There has never been a shred of evidence to advance the story any farther.

[@SalBiancoJr]

I was chosen by CIA, to go undercover with my Bangkok crew to find him, and we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@robertscheibe5287]

1975 I stated Swear to God Yes I Do Sir.. I read alot since forever,,. 3 men were present @ that point in time 1,Kinfolk, present,a flying Tiger,gave me some reading,,He said they murdered him....Who?? Dunno. Gave the flying air Museum in Addison tx,, ,named the street Chinault....Hi I'm Robert....good story.

[@LIFEmedicaltourismconsulting]

I love him!!! MuseumHolic Presenter & that is why I ended up Jim Thompson House Museum but my curiosity never stop. How I wish this cold case will reopen🇨🇦🌍

[@SalBiancoJr]

I was chosen by them to go undercover with my Bankok crew to find him we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@MurrayJoe]

@@SalBiancoJr, you say this a dozen or more times in the comments section, why? It’s not that I don’t believe you, it would be better if you made only one or two replies and one decent comment on your search and why you in particular were asked to search for him. What were you doing at the time the made them interested enough in you to ask you todo a search and then later ask you to work for them. Also, I’m sure if you had a business there they’d be able to use you and incorporate that business into a legitimate cover for any activities they may have needed you to perform.

[@douglascody7431]

What kind of products do you have Lovely

[@LIFEmedicaltourismconsulting]

@@douglascody7431 Hi, Aloe Vera Products & Red Mushroom (coffee, tea & more) skin care products. Please see/check the link on my video. I also focus on Medical Tourism. Hope I answer your question

[@charlesmaeger6162]

The silk industry is a pretty lucrative commodity. Theory - Jim Thompson may have been bumped off by those attempting to control more of the Thai silk industry.

[@davidrobinson7112]

KZbin always has fascinating subject matter. This in my mind is top of the list.

[@truthman2471]

You still have this case on your mind?

[@DavidBrown-jk2pm]

Lecture starts at 4:30.

[@naftalibendavid]

I thank you

[@tinkmarshino]

Try 12:00

[@abdullahryan8816]

i realize Im kinda randomly asking but does anybody know a good website to watch newly released series online?

[@damonanders6809]

@Abdullah Ryan I use Flixzone. Just google for it :)

[@angelokaiden7196]

@Damon Anders yea, I have been watching on Flixzone for months myself :D

[@alvaroplol]

What a trip this story is. I've always been under the impression that the CIA off'd him.

[@SalBiancoJr]

That not true, as I was chosen by them to go undercover with my Bankok crew to find him we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@tonysukhanov7324]

Interesting and smart man ... I mean Lew Toulmin

[@robertroberts5090]

As a much less expert person who has lived in a national park in north America for over a decade, I can say that hikers and those traveling in the mountains, even right next to well traveled areas, occasionally become fatalities by wandering only a few dozen meters off well traveled trails and becoming lost. Often their bodies are not recovered for years, despite a well funded, professional park warden service.

[@als1023]

This is so true, I am Canadian. A couple of close friends of my wife and I were hiking a trail in the US. The husband wandered off the trail, slipped down a cliff, the wife went down after him, got to him uninjured ,, he was. They spent 2 days there before being found by searchers. Survived and are still alive because they stayed put, no obvious way out.

[@SalBiancoJr]

I was chosen by them,CIA, to go undercover with my Bangkok crew to find him, we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@selenaclarke]

ohh the beautiful Tai Lady who spoke at the end was so gracious. I have no doubt her information is sound also

[@Juizhaigou]

It was reported on 1 Oct 2023 that "The body of Indian national climber, Nandan Suresh Nadkarni, 44, who went missing since September 22 in Gunung Jasar was brought down at 11.20am, said Pahang police chief, Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman." Gunong Jasar is also in the Cameron Highlands. It just goes to show a person can get lost there.

[@bertjilk3456]

I agree with his conclusions. People love conspiracies etc, and you'll never change their minds, but more often than not the simple solution is correct.

[@whereismypropics6659]

In Malaysia we have a youtube who reveal some mystery,i believe one of his theory, Jim was an cia agent and maybe he just come to Malaysia to collect some information about Japanese army that still staying inside the jungle,after everyone realized he disappeared 2 helicopter from tudm(malaysian royal air force) start the sar (search and rescue) but he say one of the helicopter wasn't finding him,but picking him up from one point and take him back to usa and he changed his name,

[@GrumpyYank26]

Great presentation. I wonder at how often he determines that something is ‘pretty unlikely’. However unlikely, something did happen. -armchair critique.

[@edgarandes4508]

@1:22:12 Jonna Mendez.

[@dictater2]

If Mr. Toulmin ever reviews these comments, firstly excellent presentation I wish I could have been in the audience for it. Secondly, I wonder if Mr. Toulmin was privy to the supposed death bed confession of Teo Pok Hwa who told his nephew that he had inside knowledge as a member of the Malay communist party of Thompsons murder (assassination), which then was supposedly corroborated Willis Bird Jr whose father, the Sr. knew of the murder and told his son many years later. This information is the backbone on which the 2017 doc Solved is predicated on. I wonder if Mr. Toulmin has comments on this?

[@TheDavidlloydjones]

In the Q&A we get that classic: "But enough of *my* opinions. What do *you* think of what I said?"

[@Gabriel-by3yx]

If had to walk for a few days I would choose full moon, getting lost the previous day on such a short distance seems strange to me

[@alejandrokedeni222]

All persons lost in the jungle are discovered sooner or later at least in terms of traces. Most probable reason why he or his traces are not found despite the number of searchers is that he may have been adducted and transported out of the area. Once out of that area, he could be transported anywhere.

[@12dougreed]

No not true

[@jaredb9523]

Look into Dave Palisades missing 411

[@Tarotgal8205]

The excerpt sounds like The Quiet American

[@judyjackson2260]

On the hike to the golf course the day before he did disappear, did he take his wallet that day or medicine? Did anyone go to the golf course again, to see if clues were found on the way there?

[@howdy268]

Suspicious that the botanist disappears same area similarity very strange?

[@peterazlac1739]

Occam's razor - the simplest answer is the best. In this case believe the dogs and the evidence showing he never left the grounds of the bungalow: dogs could not pick up the scent on the road or trail, his wallet, keys and especially cigarettes etc were still in the bungalow. The owner's of the bungalow would be the prime suspects in any normal police case and one would suspect the statement by the doctor that he enjoyed being lost as a red herring to provide motive for him not being found in the jungle and it is unlikely a man is such poor health would be able to go very far. What was his relationship with the doctor's wife and would it provide a motive like the claimed motive of the ambassador to off him. If so the doctor could do it easily and quietly by drugging the food. How well were the grounds and house searched and di the doctor leave the house in his car in the afternoon. These are the questions I would want answers to if I were investigating this case

[@haroldbridges515]

That's not what the Razor says.

[@CosmosGwelf]

That is such a fun lecture :)))

[@KidCity1985]

I'm so confused

[@taiikomochiyuurichin1459]

It is an interesting point that the isolation of the area would be a plausible reasoning to rule out conspiracy as it would take a lot of coordination to evade locals not seeing newbys in transit through the town especially vehicles of the time. The number of road curves would be an indication that the vehicle(s) would continually have its motor accelerating in order to make the grade and thus noticeable. And if he had been apprehended on a trail that trial should have shown signs of multiple people. Having had gallbladder issues I know how it can debilitate oneself which could have caused him to fall off trail into the thick underbrush. As far as the CIA is concerned, I can understand why their file predominately would not be disclosed because if he was the source of the information in the file then it might have a bearing on what the CIA was using to gather information on these influential people visiting Asia. Also, if locals apprehended him the notoriety probably would not have been containable unless some outside the area authority wanted it done. Interesting that the day previous he got "lost" and his host knowing what happened would let him go on another walk on his own.

[@ninirema4532]

very sweet good morning dear super Brain Well good thanks

[@Kwisatz_HaderachXIII]

I love silk. I have a bunch of silk worms in my room. I am saving them trying to make a shirt.

[@Wiggles_vs._snuggles]

How many? Are they hard to upkeep?

[@SalBiancoJr]

I was chosen by CIA, to go undercover with my Bangkok crew to find him, and we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@sierraevanlukethomas]

CENTREVILLE, Del is where his sister Katherine was beaten to death! Pa State Police venue? Asking for a friend.

[@Bigwave2003]

12:38 Talk about Jim Thompson actually begins. Everything proceeding that is just waste of time introductory nonsense. Spare us.

[@nursecathy123cat]

Thank you.

[@apitameer4324]

killed by British M17

[@theelizabethan1]

Jim's host on this trip to Cameron Highlands (the Doctor "Ling"?) with whom he got lost, the day before during a walk to the golf course -- was possibly annoyed with Thompson as he had not shared the Doctor's anxiety/chagrin re: their shared lost experience during which the Doctor sustained a strained muscle. Obviously, this injury prohibited him joining Thompson that Sunday afternoon. So did he or others attempt to dissuade him from walking alone? Or ask for specifics about his hiking plan, considering the previous day's scenario? As for the cook (at the Lutheran Mission compound a mile & a-half away) who claimed to have seen him:. Well, Malaysia, being a Muslim country invokes that a female's testimony is not to be weighted as authentically as a male's.... That, plus the behavior of the tracking dogs adds to mystery....

[@kyleanuar9090]

Malaysia follow the British law system. The religious court is a minor one only applies to the Muslims should they choose to use that as an option.

[@davedillon1372]

I think I'd like to have this on a 'paid by the hour' basis. Too many options, weird trails, et al. I've lived in BKK for years & I just woke up to the end of your presentation. I'd assume most people are not being forthcoming w/any thing that most people would likely care about. Return to soil.

[@wewogaming1153]

It's connected somehow to the Malaysia disappearances

[@jarrodwraight9971]

Jonna Mendez asking the second question 🤩 1:22:11

[@12dougreed]

It's very easy to get lost in the jungle I am sure he is right. He got lost .. As far as Thai people are concerned, there are not many that even know who Jim Thompson was , also They are not interested in the past . ( Part of the culture)

[@j.dunlop8295]

There were about 3,000 tiger's in Thailand back then. What do you think happened?

[@lowprofile1722]

Well, keeping one's eye on the ball when listening to a report such as this one, is a good place to start, especially if one wants to start speculating about what tigers in Thailand may have done, while the person who disappeared was in another country ...

[@Matt-ld2dd]

hmmmm OK

[@RAHHHHHproductions]

You said he was missing!?

[@SalBiancoJr]

I was chosen by them to go undercover with my Bankok crew to find him we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@brendanryan6740]

a classic missing 411

[@professorsogol5824]

Yes! Let's get David Paulides on the case; he'll prove Big Foot is behind it all.

[@kkdesignservices183]

Are there pits or caves or well? Did he simply fall into something?

[@belindaschafer1593]

Guessing : Silk =Money. He was bumped off. He was lured by someone he trusted. Even left his cigarettes behind. If its the inheritance involved, thats why the sister got bumped off too.

[@Hshraffsaad92_]

detective mat dispatch bring me here

[@symsrz]

lagi HAHAHAHA

[@Hshraffsaad92_]

@@symsrz hahahahahaha.....kaki research jgk ni...bguih²

[@whereismypropics6659]

X cukup melayu!!

[@YoungLionC]

This has the intelligence community written all over it, his disappearance was too clean to not be intentional and well planned in advance. But I can't wait to research and learn more but that's just an initial theory

[@jean6872]

*"I don't know." "Who knows?" "Very unlikely." "Not probably." "Search dogs are unreliable." "Cadaver dogs which were not used are great." etc. etc. You will never hear an expert know so little about his subject as this baldy guy.*

[@playinggames7856]

45:15 - bingo.

[@tonyjoel985]

I was bored to death with the history of silk....I got no further...I died of boredom

[@429np]

There is this thing called fast forward....JS

[@Davey-Boyd]

You were so bored you wrote a reply. That is so funny!

[@theelizabethan1]

Died?.....you lived to type about it for us, thank God!

[@buildmotosykletist1987]

G'day, Obviously Malaysian 'Drop Bears' got him.

[@SalBiancoJr]

I was chosen by CIA, to go undercover with my Bangkok crew to find him, and we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@paul87buick]

He states my 1968 mustang is loud there for no other old car can be quiet, is is wrong and a moronic statement ,this makes him loose all credibility.

[@matabeleman]

KGB..

[@RecoveringGenius]

I've been lost in a few Ladyboy bars myself... maybe check there.

[@smitty19612008]

Best of luck with your Recovery

[@JP-wx6uh]

There were no ladyboys when Thompson was there.

[@tb8651]

@@JP-wx6uh Of course there were, it's not a new phenomena, there have been Ladyboys throughout History. Just read some ancient history, only the names change.

[@trissloan2340]

Ooooooooooooo! Spill it, Dahlink! Dooooo tell.

[@oceanblue22]

Extremely detailed however, I found one conclusion Interesting the effort and measures to locate Mr. Thompson . the largest search and rescue operation in Malaysian history was referred to as “insufficient“ Not is a reference to insufficient in finding Mr. Thompson but insufficient in the effort to find Mr. Thompson. I guess practicality & budgets don’t factor into this gentleman’s thinking.

[@SalBiancoJr]

That not true, as I was chosen by them to go undercover with my Bangkok crew to find him we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@atmosrepair]

I really enjoyed this, and I dont mean to be too critical of the speaker but it seemed like he made a lot of assumptions. Never seen a chain smoker leave his cigarettes at home first red flag. Next is that he had gotten lost the day prior and mentioned that he enjoyed it, seems like he was laying the groundwork to disappear. Interesting that he had a companion to hike with the day prior, when they "got lost" so someone would be able to mention that story after his disappearance. But the very next day, doesn't have anyone hiking with him, nor did he invite anyone to go along. Very peculiar that he vanished the very next day, like not a couple of days after first "getting lost" but the very next day. Another red flag is that he decided to go for his hike during the time that his host was taking a nap. Next red flag is that the dogs lost his scent. And then the biggest red flag of all is that his sister was murdered in an unsolved mystery.....

[@drlobomalo]

Did they use tracking dogs? Very old but reliable technology.

[@Franklin-pc3xd]

Gay intrigue feud - maybe even Hoover himself knocked him off after getting him off. Hoover could have been jealous.

[@ldcbeats6684]

If this was real it wouldn’t be here the cia delete this

[@timothyretter5082]

I vote his nephew was involved, returning to the scene of the crime after his alibi cleared. Who is more greedy than a stock man? Probably was offered the opportunity to forfeit his uncle by a Malaysian bank which connects the loop and explains how we was involved in the realm of finance. I think the cook was a valid source and the Malaysian police wanted to diminish her evidence by claiming she was unreliable. All speculation, just fun to make guesses

[@SalBiancoJr]

I was chosen by them,CIA, to go undercover with my Bankok crew to find him we spent 2 weeks and came out disappointed. they then asked me to join them, but I refused cause I had a Business to run, making Thai silk flowers for the US market!

[@1809steph]

Malaysia is mysterious: Jim Thomson , MH370 ….hmmmm

[@theelizabethan1]

"Thompson"

[@muzzapj86]

One way to put me to sleep

[@derekmanthey8811]

Is there a possibility of man eating tigers.

[@edwardhew4984]

The intense of communist guerilla warfare during that time was not mentioned.

[@brentbeacham9691]

How to kill someone twice? Statistics

[@sotogremble953]

I'm surprised that you'd so readily jump to conclusions which could only be true were Thompson a blithering idiot, or a 14yo girl. He was neither. The search is a waste of time, the participants probably bewildered by all the attention paid to someoned foolish enough to go hiking there, for no practical reason. He got lost and perished from exposure in the jungle. Thius story isn't that interesting and its connection to espionage is pretty thin.

[@fryertuck6496]

Speakers are not well informed. This is rubbish.

[@richardp2309]

hack

[@two-bit8502]

I suspect the Chinese.

[@bigbearfuzzums7027]

Will you effiminates get off silk and get on with the story!

[@scottburns8697]

Yeah the introductory speakers almost got me to move on. Got lot better when the primary guy finally got to talk

[@trissloan2340]

You mean you did not enjoy two future hosts of Project Runway???? Where is the lecture on chiffon?????😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜😜

[@johnoneill6535]

1234 test

[@berkoyt6397]

peniinsuar :P

[@rsattahip]

Probably still in Immigration's jail for working without a work permit.

[@paticake3213]

Did they look into his finances?

[@balkrishnaparab3353]

He was kidnapped by aliens!

[@jalaluddinahmadshaharudin1106]

Jim was a good candidate to be absorb in the 4th dimension, in the world similar to Shambala, Telos or Agartha. He was a very giving person, a service to others oriented, as the Law of One puts it. The Law of One says that when you are 1% more oriented to service to other than to self, you are eligible for ascension into the 4th dimension. In the Malay community, it is commn to link such disappearance as an entry into the world of "Bunians" or invisible people. In fact the Malay race are the result of the intermarriage of all the major races of the world with the Lemurian people of the 4th dimension who had survived the great flood by living in the inner Earth.. In my personal experience, I have been to the house of a lady who was married to such being. Among her six children, only two were visible. People living in rural areas often encounter these interdimensional beings but are reticent about it. This is because the enforcement department of the religious institutions would incriminate anyone who propagate such topic. It is not surprising if people like David Wilcock and many others who are accused of being conspiracy theorists, claimed that there is a law America against making contact with interdimensional beings.

[@Mr.Caring]

repeat, I'm a sinner JESUS please forgive me for all my sins I know you shed your Blood for me on the cross at Calvary. Thank you JESUS for my salvation they your Blood. I love you JESUS. Romans ct...❤️k JESUSisLord!Amen .u