Family of Missing Dutch Producer Rodney Leysner Plead for Help and Answers

Two months after Dutch film producer Rodney Leysner vanished in Suriname, his family and a coalition of Dutch public figures have released a social media video demanding answers and urging international cooperation in the stalled investigation. We willen weten wat er met hem is gebeurd, the family stated, as the family and friends expressed that Alles lijkt op slot te zitten. Nathalie Leysner sent a desperate plea to David van Heel, Minister of Justice and Security, and Tom Berendsen, Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Search Teams Find Leysner's Burned Car in Swamp

Leysner, 52, was last heard from on August 15, after driving away from his home in a white Kia Sorento for a scheduled appointment in Saramacca, De Telegraaf reported. The Capital Crimes Division initiated an investigation the following day. Six days later, on August 21, search teams excavated a burned and crushed vehicle from a swamp in Saramacca, which investigators confirmed two days afterward by its chassis number to be Leysner’s car.

Three Arrests and an Armed Manhunt

Three suspects—identified by initials S.A., Y.S.N., and R.E.—have been arrested in connection with the case. However, a fourth individual, Ryan Kenneth Torilal, remains at large. On August 26, the Attorney General issued an official order for his arrest and public manhunt. Torilal is wanted on serious charges including murder, complicity in murder, manslaughter, severe assault, intentional deprivation of liberty, and participation in a criminal organization, with police classifying him as armed and dangerous. Despite these grave allegations, investigators have not officially determined Leysner’s fate, and his body has not been recovered.

Private Search Teams Deploy to Saramacca

Frustrated by a perceived lack of progress and local resources, Leysner’s family in the Netherlands has taken independent action. Using funds raised through a public crowdfunding campaign, the family hired a private Dutch investigative firm, Armadillo Global Security, and flew in a specialized Dutch rescue dog team. Between September 2 and September 6, ten dogs and fifteen handlers scoured multiple sites across Saramacca, including the vehicle recovery location and land tied to suspect R.E. While the search did not locate a body, police announced on September 8 that the sweep yielded relevant clues for the ongoing criminal inquiry.

The Hague Draws Diplomatic Fire

Nathalie Leysner, the missing producer’s sister, previously criticized the Dutch government for offering no consular or official assistance, arguing that because her brother is a Dutch citizen, all available diplomatic weight should be brought to bear. In response, a spokesperson for Dutch Justice and Veiligheid Minister David van Weel stated that the disappearance is strictly a Surinamese matter, declining to comment on why the primary suspect does not feature on international red notices to restrict his global travel.

Family and Dutch Celebrities Request Surinamese Investigation Help

The newly released appeal features Nathalie Leysner alongside her 4-year-old son and Dutch celebrities including Fajah Lourens, Liza Sips, Zoey Ivory, Mahi Khalesi, and John van den Heuvel. The family now calls on the Surinamese authorities to enlist Dutch assistance and pool the available knowledge and capacity of both nations. Meanwhile, the main suspect remains untraced, the vehicle has been destroyed, and investigators have yet to establish whether Leysner is alive or dead.