More than six years after Jón Jónsson vanished without a trace during a poker trip to Dublin, the long-cold case has taken a fresh turn.
A recent podcast investigating the Icelandic poker player’s disappearance has prompted new leads, sparking renewed efforts by Ireland’s national police, the An Garda Síochána (Gardaí), to locate him.
Mysterious Disappearance
Jónsson, then 41, was in Dublin to attend the Dublin Poker Festival in February 2019. He had flown in from Iceland a day before the tournament, planning to compete and enjoy a holiday with his fiancée, Kristiana Guðjónsdóttir, who was set to join him later.
However, the couple never reunited. Just after 11 a.m. on February 9, Jónsson walked out of the Bonnington Hotel, leaving behind all his belongings, including his wallet, phone, and passport, and never returned.
Despite an extensive investigation that has seen over 270 lines of inquiry explored, his whereabouts remain unknown.
A major search of Santry Demesne Park earlier in February 2024 was launched after two anonymous letters, one sent to a local priest and another directly to police, suggested the park might hold clues. That search, like others before it, turned up nothing.
Nonetheless, the case is gaining traction again thanks to “Where is Jón?”, a podcast produced jointly by Irish broadcaster RTÉ and Iceland’s national media.
The series has struck a chord with listeners and, more importantly, has brought forward potential witnesses and fresh information. Gardaí have now identified a new group of people they want to speak with.
Jónsson’s Brother: “It’s a Huge Victory”
The momentum has also encouraged better international cooperation. Irish investigators recently met with Icelandic police and Europol in The Hague to coordinate efforts, a move long urged by Jónsson’s family.
“Basically, we have been fighting for the Icelandic police and the Gardaí to work closer together throughout the years,” Jónsson’s brother, David Karl Wiium, told RTÉ.
“So, for us, it’s a huge victory that they have already met and that they have already established more personal connections and cooperation.”
David also emphasised the importance of not leaving any “stone unturned”.
Over the years, several theories have circulated, from mistaken identity to accidental involvement in criminal activity.
In 2020, an Icelandic inmate reportedly claimed that Jónsson was killed by another Icelander over missing money.
Jónsson‘s family, however, called the claim baseless, as neither Irish nor Icelandic police have ever received such a report.
A team from Gardaí is expected to visit Iceland soon. After meeting with them in March, David said the tone had shifted. “This visit was different, and I could feel it… we really believe… the gardaí are really on our side.”
The family sees the increased communication as a hopeful sign.