The Lost American — From an FBI wanted list to a Tralee direct provision centre

Thomas Stofiel, an American prepper, preacher and outdoorsman, ended his days as a resident in a Tralee direct provision centre. But how did he find his way here? 

Thomas Stofiel is The Lost American.

When journalist Mostafa Darwish was researching an award-winning series on deaths of people in Direct Provision, he discovered that one of those who passed away was an American. His name was Thomas Stofiel, and in 2017 he had been wanted by the FBI after disappearing with his young daughter.

When we dug deeper into his past, it opened up a strange and often poignant story.