Cardiff graduate found dead after being ‘brainwashed’ by gurus in Bali

A Cardiff graduate has been found dead after being “brainwashed” by New Age gurus when travelling in Bali on a spiritual retreat

Josephine Tabor, 30, was found by a hotel cleaner in a Turkish hotel room on 30th December, 2021, having died from suicide. 

In a final diary entry, Josephine Tabor wrote: “I have tried everything except suicide. It is my final role of the dice.”

The court were informed by Josephine Tabor’s family that they believed their daughter fell influence to cult-like groups from reading in her diary entries that she described them as administering her “truth serum.”

Turkish authorities conducted an investigation which found no evidence of alcohol or drug use. Her GP from home in Somerset showed evidence of no known mental health issues and no physical health issues which could have contributed to her suicide.

Josephine Tabor graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in psychology. She also was a passionate and qualified yoga teacher, sharing teaching videos on a social media page dedicated to her yoga. 

The yoga teacher was greatly immersed in the spiritual world having attended a retreat in Bali for three weeks prior to her death. It is thought that her interest in spiritualism was taken up when meeting her boyfriend from America, who took a great interest into retreats and tarot readings.

Josephine Tabor was also a successful businesswoman, running a successful online marketing and branding business. She produced content to more than 15,000 followers on social media. The court heard Josephine Tabor described as an “independent and able woman.” 

A statement read in Taunton Coroner’s Court submitted by Josephine Tabor’s family said: “These retreats claimed to offer answers, they have thousands of followers, this does not make them qualified or altruistic.

Most Read

Exposed: The six MAFS UK 2024 cast members who already have new partners since the show

Another MAFS UK 2024 groom has posted a new girlfriend since the show and I can’t keep up

Inside the raunchy MAFS UK watch party that hints there’s been yet another couple swap

“We know an inquest cannot apportion blame however there is a cult-like side to many of these retreats.

“When a vulnerable person is told a higher force can help them and that the universe is looking out for them, not friends and family, they have no one to turn to as they have been brainwashed that the answers do not lie here but in another universe.”

Featured image via Instagram