At 48, Valerie de la Valdene had it all: a career that earned her a spot in the Women Divers Hall of Fame, features on Shark Week, a culinary education under a world-renowned chef, and the kind of wealth that came with a prestigious family name.
But in June 2014, Valerie was found dead in the Galapagos Islands - a single gunshot wound to the left temple.
Authorities called it a suicide. But the scene? It told a different story.
And when you follow the trail of strange details and unanswered questions, it begins to look a lot less like self-destruction… and a lot more like murder.
Listen as we dive into the Galápagos Islands, the case of Valerie de la Valdene, and how to stay alive on vacation.
Do you have a story to share? Send your email to lasttrippodcast@gmail.com
We're on YouTube with full video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLastTripPodcast
Follow us on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thelasttripcrimepod/
And join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TheLastTripPodcast
Listen to this week's podcast recommendation, Weird True Crime
https://weirdtruecrime.com/
Theme Music by Roger Allen Dexter
Sources:
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4679860/American-woman-s-family-goes-Galapagos-probe-death.html
https://www.bradenton.com/news/state/article160395929.html
https://www.wdhof.org/members/valerie-valdene
https://www.sharks.org/blog/blogs/ocean-log/valerie-elaine-de-la-valdene-1966-2014
https://wetpixel.com/articles/rip-valerie-de-la-valdene
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/article4827450.html
https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tallahassee/name/valerie-valdene-obituary?id=17009121
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/in-galapagos-a-case-of-su_b_6529550
https://www.change.org/p/rafael-correa-government-of-ecuador-who-killed-of-countess-valerie-elaine-de-la-valdene-an-american-with-usa-passport-no-442549467-and-msc-doctor-in-criminology-cameraman-submarine-aficionada-volunteer-and-philanthropist-domiciled-for-25-years-in-the
https://shootingsportsman.com/guy-de-la-valdene-1944-2023/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuyKbZh5USQ
Popular Podcasts
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
24/7 News: The Latest
The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.