Updated November 28, 2025
Commitment to Transparency & Legal Constraints
We understand that our guests, community, and the broader public may have questions.
We recognize that some information circulating publicly is incomplete or inaccurate.
No one with full knowledge of this event has spoken publicly prior to this statement in order to respect the Costa Rica judicial process.
We pledge our commitment to be transparent to the extent allowed to protect the privacy of individuals involved.
Public Statement
We are deeply saddened to share that a cherished guest experienced a sudden and unforeseen medical emergency in August 2024. Despite the immediate and coordinated efforts of our onsite team and attending medical professionals, this guest passed away.
Our team put all their professional knowledge and effort into doing what was humanly possible to help our guest. Throughout the incident, our team acted with the compassion and diligence.
We continue to extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of this individual.
We are passionately committed to honoring the life of this beloved person and their healing path in every way possible, including collaborating with experts and practitioners for continued improvements in all aspects of ceremonial work.
Official Findings
Following an extensive official investigation, the medical examiner determined that the death was due to natural causes.
On March 31st, 2025, the case was closed by the relevant authorities in Costa Rica, and no charges were filed.
The official investigation confirmed that our team responded to the medical emergency in an appropriate, prompt, and systematic manner based on the presenting medical conditions, including calling an ambulance.
While there are many specific details related to the ruling of death by natural causes, we will not disclose these sensitive case details to the general public without authorization from the family or relevant authorities to respect the legal and ethical privacy protections in place.
Safety Protocols
As with all of our gatherings, there was a licensed medical doctor onsite continuously supervising and regularly assessing all participants during the ceremony and throughout the emergency.
There was an experienced team present, with appropriate staff to guest ratio. Careful planning ensured constant attention for all participants.
Recent medical screening had been performed, in alignment with current best practices.
The ceremonial work at the retreat where this event occurred followed normal and careful parameters.
We followed guidance from legal counsel for appropriate actions and all communication with family, local authorities, guests, and the public throughout this tragedy — order to preserve due process and comply with Costa Rican law. We continue to reflect on how compassionate, timely communication with loved ones can be best integrated into legal and safety protocols.
Safety Review & Actions
We have spent the last year reviewing this event with care.
This event catalyzed a comprehensive review of our safety protocols with independent medical and traditional experts.
We are organizing a safety forum along with notable Iboga and ibogaine practitioners to discuss the latest innovations in safety.
We have continued to reach out to other sacred medicine providers, retreat centers, related organizations, and regulatory bodies to engage in constructive conversation about safety protocols.
Our intention is to help raise awareness with sacred medicine providers regarding preparation for facing adverse event.
We remain committed to an ongoing review of emergency response procedures and current best practices.
Since fall 2024, we have taken an intentional pause from public service to tend our safety review, reflection, personal healing, and continuing education with community in Gabon.
Commitments to Safety & Service
We are a team devoted to studying and stewarding this traditional path of healing along with expert medical support. We honor and respect all who feel called to this work, acknowledging the sacred nature of their personal journeys.
In more than a decade of study and service through SoulCentro, there has never been a medical event of this nature. The attending doctor had supervised more than 2000 people safely in ceremonies over the last 15 years, without any significant adverse events.
While this event stands out from our established safety record, it does not minimize that this event deserves the greatest possible attention, care, and study.
Lineage & Experience
Our lead facilitators have studied traditional healing with indigenous teachers in Gabon over the course of 12 years. For Gnyangou, these traditions are connected to his direct ancestral bloodline, including the Bobongo and Bantu peoples.
Our team has always served with the full knowledge and blessing of our indigenous teachers, and we are committed to returning to Gabon annually for continuing traditional education and reciprocity work.
Counsel from Community
We have been in communication with our traditional teachers and community in Gabon about this event, taking counsel and conducting healing ceremonial work related to this event.
We have engaged with confidential peer consultation and feel that this is essential to ethical service.
Risk, Responsibility, Respect
Even with the best screening and supervision, there are inherent risks in working with or even approaching sacred plant medicines.
We remain committed to our responsibility within the full collaboration that is required between facilitator, guest, and the medicine.
We respect the courage and strong personal intention required to engage with this work.
In Closing
We hope that this unprecedented event can contribute to ongoing dialogue and evolution across the field. It continues to fuel our commitment to promote the highest standards of care and safety.
This individual continues to be in our hearts and minds daily, inspiring our dedication to wellness, personal evolution, and service.
Public retreat offerings will remain paused until further notice as we take time to re-envision our path forward, deeply informed by this event.
Currently, we are focusing on safety advocacy and indigenous reciprocity projects.
We are grateful beyond words to all our relations who have offered kindness, support, compassionate inquiry, and space to be human during this time.
Thank you for taking your time to read our statement.
With deep respect,
The SoulCentro Team
Legal Notice:
This statement is issued for informational purposes only, based on publicly verifiable facts and findings from the relevant authorities. It is not a legal admission of liability, nor a substitute for official legal or medical records.
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