The last confirmed sighting of Elaine McSorley was at the reception of the Ghost Mountain Inn in Mkuze, South Africa. She was 71 years old, enjoying a holiday with her partner, and embarked on a walk from which she would never return.
Lorna McSorley, as she was also known, ventured out with a map, intending a simple excursion. A local farmer, Koos Prinsloo, encountered her along the way. He recalled a relaxed pensioner, but noticed she’d strayed significantly from her planned route, pointing out the deviation on her map.
She politely declined his offer of a ride, and Prinsloo returned to his lunch, assuming she would continue on her own. Ninety minutes passed, and when McSorley hadn’t returned to the inn, her partner, Leon Probert, raised the alarm. A frantic search began.
The search was extensive, involving local farmers, dedicated volunteers, tracking dogs, and even drone technology scanning the landscape. Boats patrolled the nearby waters, but despite the exhaustive efforts, no trace of Lorna McSorley was ever found. Only her map remained, a silent testament to her vanished journey.
Investigators now focus on a chilling possibility: that McSorley was a victim of “Muti” killings. This deeply unsettling practice, rooted in traditional Zulu beliefs, involves the use of body parts for medicinal purposes, prescribed by traditional healers known as *inyangas*.
The demand for ingredients fuels a dark network, where scouts locate and procure human remains. While traditional Muti associations condemn the use of human parts, the practice persists, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal, the province where McSorley disappeared. Mkuze, the town near the inn, is known to be a center for this illicit trade.
Locals whisper of dozens of disappearances, including children, attributed to Muti killings. The fear is palpable, a shadow hanging over the region. Geoff Sheward, McSorley’s brother, described the thought of her fate as the “worst thing imaginable,” envisioning her final moments filled with terror.
Probert, now 81, is consumed by guilt, haunted by the belief that his presence on the walk could have prevented the tragedy. He wonders if staying with her would have altered the course of events, shielding her from harm. The unanswered questions weigh heavily on him.
The fact that McSorley’s body has never been recovered strongly suggests an abduction motivated by the demand for body parts. Her bank card remained unused, further fueling suspicions. The official search was paused as investigators pursued other lines of inquiry, but the chilling possibility of a Muti killing remains at the forefront.
The Ghost Mountain Inn maintains that guest safety is paramount, noting that many visitors undertake the same walk, sometimes with a guide. However, the disappearance of Lorna McSorley serves as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers lurking in this remote corner of South Africa, and the enduring darkness of a centuries-old practice.
