In 1961, 23-year-old Michael Rockefeller traveled to Papua to pursue a career in anthropology and escape the silver straitjacket that came from being the son of New York governor Nelson Rockefeller. After his dugout canoe swamped in the Arafura Sea, he went missing. Almost 50 years later, reporter Tim Sohn and a film crew ventured to Papua to investigate whether he drowned, was eaten by cannibals, or survived to live Kurtz-like in a remote village.
Field Notes: Take No. 1,472
Tim Sohn investigates Michael Rockefeller’s disappearance and becomes a first time TV host while dodging sea snakes and crocodiles, and trying to communicate with locals decked out for a war party.
Lost Scion
By Tim Sohn
The Michael Rockefeller story that led to the Travel Channel show appeared in ϳԹ‘s October 2003 special package, The O Files.