Where is Jón? | New Podcast Series from RTÉ

Today, RTÉ and RÚV (Iceland’s public broadcaster) publish a new podcast series Where is Jón? investigating the bizarre and unexplained disappearance of Icelandic poker player, Jón Jónsson.

The series will also broadcast on RTÉ Radio 1 on Saturday evenings, with the first episode broadcasting at 7pm this Saturday, 1 February*.

In 2019, a Dublin Poker Festival hit the headlines when one of its players disappeared. 41-year-old Jón Jónsson (pictured above) had arrived from his home in Iceland, visiting Ireland for the first time.

Within 24 hours of arriving in Dublin, he was gone.

Recorded in both Ireland and Iceland over the last 18 months, the series makes every attempt to unearth new information around Jón’s disappearance.

Featuring exclusive interviews with all of Jón’s family including his partner, his children, parents and siblings, Where is Jón? also tracks down previously unknown and unpublished information including Jón’s own communications in the days and weeks before he disappeared.

Jón’s partner Jana speaks of the last time she saw Jón on the morning he disappeared “I see him going far away, and I didn’t notice it was him before I see the walk (she demonstrates).

“I start and this can’t be Jón, this is like five minutes since I was at the room, and he was sleeping, undressed.

“I just stood there and ‘no, no, it can’t be’. I decided to not call his name, but it wasn’t real to me that this was him…That was the last time I saw him, I saw him walk away”.

The series also meets with people who have never spoken before, including a man who played poker with Jón right up to a few hours before he vanished.
“I was playing with him for a good six to seven hours, something along those lines. He was sat directly to my right… everyone was jolly, most people were having a drink.

“The vibes were good, and me and Jón were speaking and getting on for a good few hours and that’s why I remember the events so well.”

Almost six years later, no trace has ever been found of Jón.

In February 2024, a major development took place when An Garda Síochana undertook a search for Jón’s remains in Santry Park Demense, Dublin assisted by cadaver dogs and the Garda Air Support Unit. But nothing was discovered.

Co-producer, writer, narrator of Where is Jón?, Liam O’Brien said “Jón’s disappearance is really unusual.

“The story received lots of media attention at the time, and then slipped out of notice.

“I never forgot the story, especially because Jón seemed to vanish within 24 hours of arriving into Ireland for the first time.

“Working with Jón’s family and RÚV, we’re all really hoping the podcast can bring some forward momentum to Jón’s case and answer some questions.

“The ultimate goal is to help bring him home.”

A multi episodic true crime podcast series from RTÉ and RÚV, in Iceland, on the unexplained disappearance of Jón Jónsson and their attempt to bring him home publishes the first two episodes today, 27 January 2025 wherever you get your podcasts.