For centuries, Santoalla was a thriving village; home to farmers, blacksmiths, cobblers and shepherds. But, during the late-20th century, as the world modernized, earning a living by these traditional means became increasingly difficult. The residents began emigrating to other European countries in search of a better way of life.

Years passed and Santoalla fell into disrepair; the remaining houses slowly decaying as portions of the old slate rooftops collapsed with each passing storm. After a while, Manolo Rodríguez, his wife Jovita and their sons were the only ones who remained. Able to hold onto a sizable piece of land and a herd of cows, they stubbornly refused to leave their home, as their neighbors fled. The family lived alone, in isolation...until 1997.

Martin Verfondern and Margo Pool left Holland in search of a quiet place where they could live out their dream. They wanted to start an organic farm and survive off the land; to escape the bureaucracies and hassles of city life. For over two years, they traveled throughout Europe and Asia in an RV looking for the perfect place to settle down. And when they stumbled upon Santoalla in 1997, they knew right away, that it was going to be home.

The couple bought an abandoned stable and set to work turning it into a house. The future looked bright...and the possibilities for creating the life they had so coveted, seemed endless. But, things didn't work out the way they had planned.

Martin had a vision for his adopted home that seemed to be at odds with everyone around him; to save Santoalla from ruin. And soon, he began lobbying to improve the village's conditions.

But, Martin's advocacy was only met with resistance, sparking tension between the foreigner, his neighbors. Frustrated, Martin believed that his status as an outsider prevented anyone from taking his ideas and demands seriously. But, his resolve only grew stronger. Martin mounted a press campaign to shed light on Santoalla's problems, denouncing both the Rodríguez family for refusing to support his plans to restore the village. Making matters worse, Martin and Margo became embroiled in a heated court battle with their neighbors over a land dispute, giving the once-tranquil village of Santoalla a notorious reputation.

On the rainy morning of January 19th, 2010, Martin drove out of Santoalla, navigating the nearly ten kilometers of switchbacks that snaked through the steep hills, down into a neighboring town. At approximately 11 a.m., he walked into a local market and purchased some food and supplies for the coming week. Later that afternoon, several people spotted his noisy, rust speckled SUV roaring through the local plaza, as it headed up towards the long, winding road leading back to Santoalla. It was the last time Martin Verfondern was ever seen.

In the months following his disappearance, investigators scoured the countryside for any sign of Martin and his car; to no avail. As months turned to years, Margo did her best to move on, attempting to build the life she and Martin had once envisioned.

By 2014, life in Santoalla seemed to have returned to normal. But, a grisly discovery that June, sparked a new investigation into Martin Verfondern's disappearance; one that exposed the dark secrets hidden by this desolate village.