Teacher vanishes while preparing for multi-day hike in Peru
A Virginia teacher vanished while preparing for a multi-day hike in Peru, and now his family is begging for answers to bring him home safely.
Ian Thomas Treger, 29, was supposed to have completed his hike to Choquequirao Archeological Park around May 20, but his family grew worried after they couldn't get in contact with him.
At first, his mother, Michelle Ludwig, thought her son might have been struggling to reach out because of poor cell service in the Andes, she told The News-Gazette.
She also thought he might have decided to visit the famous Machu Picchu archeological site in Peru, Ludwig mentioned.
'I wasn't too worried because he changes his plans a lot,' she said, adding that her beloved son is an Eagle Scout who is very familiar with the outdoors.
According to his Instagram profile, he is also very well-traveled, with his last post showing him in Ecuador on April 16.
Ludwig said he traveled to Peru after wrapping up his teaching year at Ecuador’s Galápagos Language Academy.
She said he wanted to experience Jubilee Month, a month-long celebration in Cusco, a city in the Peruvian Andes.
Ian Thomas Treger, 29, vanished while preparing for a multi-day hike in Peru. His family is now begging the public for answers after not hearing from him in weeks
His mother, Michelle Ludwig, said he traveled to Peru after wrapping up his teaching year at Ecuador’s Galápagos Language Academy
His distraught mother said she notified local authorities that Treger was missing on May 26, but an alert wasn't issued by Peruo's national police until June 11 - when she arrived to join in the search for her son.
'I really thought something was happening, that they were looking for my son. But they weren't,' she told the outlet.
Two Peruvian police divisions, the High Mountain Rescue Police and the Missing Persons Divison have been assisting in the search for Treger, Ludwig said.
She has also hired private guides to help look for her child.
'It's been a real challenge finding information,' Ludwig stated.
A police alert has described Treger as 5'10", white, with blond hair and blue eyes. He also has small tattoos that feature two pairs of whale sharks on his right calf.
Anyone with information on Treger has been urged to call the Peruvian authorities or Ludwig directly.
A police alert has described Treger as 5'10", white, with blond hair and blue eyes. He also has small tattoos that feature two pairs of whale sharks on his right calf
She has also launched a GoFundMe to help raise money for her efforts.
'Everyone who knows or has met Ian enjoys his sense of humor, appreciates his love of life, is fascinated by his many tales of travel, and will never forget his beautiful smile & bright blue eyes,' she wrote.
As of Tuesday evening, more than $26,000 had been raised.
A local site at Collierstown Presbyterian Church is also collecting donations, per the outlet.
Treger grew up in Effinger, Virginia, where he was a Boy Scout and eventually became an Eagle Scout.
Treger grew up in Effinger, Virginia, where he was a Boy Scout and eventually became an Eagle Scout, his mothe said
He obtained a Wilderness First Aid certification while attending college at Washington and Lee, she told the publication.
During his senior year, he led one of the school's Appalachian Adventure trips before graduating in 2020.
'He loves the outdoors and prefers to be away from crowds and the destinations popular with tourists. He is as comfortable hiking with friends as he is adventuring alone,' she added.
The Daily Mail contacted Peru's High Mountain Rescue Police and the Missing Persons Divison for comment.
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
