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British Family’s Island Paradise Turns to Nightmare in Nicaraguan Drug Territory
A British family’s dream of island life near Nicaragua descended into a harrowing ordeal involving local criminals and a shocking betrayal, culminating in tragedy. The family, seeking a radical change from their quiet UK life, purchased a private island situated along a known “cocaine highway,” a perilous drug trafficking route to Miami. The idyllic island setting soon became the backdrop for kidnapping, infidelity and ultimately, fatal consequences for the father of three.
Island Dream and Foreboding
Jayne Gaskin, along with her three children—Damien, James, and Cherry—and her new partner Phil, embarked on what was intended to be a fresh start, leaving their conventional life in Hampshire for the allure of Lime Clay island. This 9.5-acre isle was nestled off the Mosquito Coast of Central America. However, upon arrival at the airport, Phil experienced a strong sense of unease. “I suppose I should be feeling really excited but I just feel apprehensive and worried that I’m doing the right thing taking these children out all the way over to this island,” he confessed, a premonition of the terror that awaited.
Paradise Lost and a Hired Hand
Their venture, chronicled by documentary filmmaker Billy Paulett, saw them hire Teodoro as a resident security guard, handyman, and construction worker, as detailed in the podcast “The Price of Paradise.” While Phil and the children longed for their familiar life in England, Jayne remained determined to make their island relocation work, undeterred by mounting tensions, unsettling silences, and the incessant annoyance of sand flies. Phil admitted the island’s beauty but confessed, “It’s still not my idea of paradise. It’s growing on me. But there’s no going back because Jayne’s not leaving this island.” Their plan was to develop the island into a tourist destination, with Phil commencing construction on several cabanas for future guests. This is where Teodoro’s role was intended to be crucial.
Unease and Intimidation
Billy Paulett described Phil as “devoted” to Jayne, believing he would follow her anywhere. However, Paulett harbored deep reservations about Teodoro, finding him physically intimidating and unsettling. “The thing I noticed about him were the eyes… they were a light brown hazel-y colour but they were sort of dead,” Paulett recounted. “He smiled and he laughed but it was quite an unnerving smile and laugh – he would chuckle but end up staring at you. He’s built like a heavyweight boxer – he’s big and lean. You instantly knew he was ex-military just because of the way he carried himself.”
Financial Strain and Betrayal
Initially, Phil and Teodoro attempted to renovate a basic one-room cabin into a livable space. Prior to their island move, Phil had budgeted approximately £50,000 for the resort’s development, including wages, materials, fuel, and provisions. However, expenses rapidly spiraled. “It’s a lot more expensive living here than I thought it was going to be,” Phil admitted, concerned about their financial sustainability. Growing dissatisfaction with Teodoro’s work ethic led to his dismissal, only for him to return seeking re-employment. Subsequently, a heated argument with Jayne revealed a clandestine affair between her and Teodoro, which ended when he also became involved with the family’s cook. Jayne confronted Teodoro, stating, “I don’t want someone like that on my island. You no like me anymore.”
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Ominous Departure
Teodoro’s response was chilling. “You have husband and these children, you know,” he retorted, before departing with a dark warning: “This is my country. One day she gone and I stay in my country. You will see.”
Island Invasion and Desperate Escape
The situation escalated dramatically in the dead of night when five masked men stormed their residence, demanding a ransom of $1 million for their lives. “Lots of commotion outside the hut and the next thing I know somebody said, Mr. Philip, you better do what you’re told,” Phil recounted in the documentary. “There was a gun pointing at me telling me get down on the floor.” The family was abducted at gunpoint and forced onto a motorboat. During the terrifying ordeal at sea, Phil recognized one of the kidnappers’ voices as Teodoro, Jayne’s former lover and their ex-handyman. “First of all, I recognised his voice, and the children also recognised his voice,” Phil stated.
Fiery Retaliation and Swamp Refuge
In a moment of bravery, Phil fought back, igniting a fuel canister and matches, setting the motorboat ablaze. Despite sustaining burns to his hand, he continued to engulf their captors in flames before leaping overboard. Jayne grabbed the children, and they followed suit, seeking refuge overnight in an alligator-infested swamp. “All I could hear was bang, bang. I didn’t look back I was running for my life at that point,” Phil explained. “We went right back into the bush, through some swamp. We waded through right up to our knees, then we hide in the swamp behind a tree.” Jayne recalled the chilling irony of their sanctuary: “We stayed completely silent all night because I knew Teodora enjoyed hunting in the bush. He used to talk about hunting tigers at night. I knew he enjoyed killing.”
Rescue and Lasting Trauma
Eventually, Phil managed to flag down a passing fishing vessel, which transported the family to safety. They reported their horrifying experience to local authorities, who apprehended the kidnappers after a week-long search. Despite the trauma, Jayne initially expressed a desire to return to the island.
Tragic Aftermath
However, the ordeal took a severe toll on Phil’s health. “This is my prison, the sea forms my bars, and I’m perpetually haunted,” he lamented. His health deteriorated due to overwhelming stress, leading to a respiratory infection and a series of severe asthma attacks. The family made the decision to leave the island to seek medical care for Phil. Tragically, Phil succumbed to his condition and passed away just four weeks later. Reports indicate that Jayne and her children have since sold the island and returned to London, leaving behind their shattered island dream and the paradise that turned into a nightmare.