A creepy new app for explorers led TikTokers to a dead body stuffed inside a suitcase. Here's how Randonautica works.

Sophia AnkelJul 4, 2020, 21:52 IST

Screenshots of TikTok teens filming their Randonauting experience.@ughhenry/@mykenarae/TikTok

A new app for explorers called Randonautica is captivating the internet after it led a group of teenagers in Seattle to find human remains stuffed in a suitcase under a bridge.
The app generates a random set of coordinates on a map for users, otherwise known as "Randonauts," to explore.
But before traveling there, "Randonauts" are encouraged to "set an intention" or think of a goal. The theory being that once they get to their destination, they will find something relevant to what they had thought.
Randonautica has gained a reputation for being creepy after thousands of TikTok teens started making videos about the weird experiences they would have while using the app.

A few weeks ago, a group of teenage friends were exploring Seattle when they made a horrifying discovery under a bridge — human remains packed into a suitcase.

In a video uploaded on TikTok, the teens can be seen laughing as they use a stick to poke the suitcase, not knowing what's inside. Once they manage to open it, they discover a foul-smelling trash bag, prompting the teenagers to call the police.

"It stinks, ya'll!" one of the teens can be heard saying in the TikTok video, which has been viewed more than 4.3 million times.

The group's worst suspicions were later confirmed: Seattle police announced they were launching an investigation after verifying the suitcase did contain a dead body.

The teens were led to the suitcase by a new explorer app called Randonautica, which promises to "turn the world around you into an adventure," according to its website.

The app gives users — otherwise known as "Randonauts" — a randomly generated set of coordinates in their local area to explore. Before traveling there, however, users are encouraged to set an "intention" or a goal, with the theory that once they get to their destination, they will find something relevant to what they had thought.

The Randonauting trend has especially become a popular way to explore during the coronavirus lockdown, with more than a million people downloading the app in the last few weeks, according to Bustle.

Thousands of teens — including YouTube star Emma Chamberlain — have since been posting their own Randonauting experiences online, ranging from finding beautiful hidden spots in nature to stumbling upon creepy abandoned places.

Scroll down to find out how Randonautica works, and why people are so afraid of it.

Randonautica's creepy reputation grew after teenagers in Seattle found the suitcase, although the co-founder of the app said the incident was only a "shocking" coincidence.

@ughhenry/TikTok

Randonautica's creepy reputation grew after teenagers in Seattle found the suitcase, although the co-founder of the app said the incident was only a "shocking" coincidence.

The app, called Randonautica, has had more than one million downloads in the last few weeks, as more people have taken to exploring their local neighborhoods during the coronavirus lockdown.

The app logo. Randonautica

The app, called Randonautica, has had more than one million downloads in the last few weeks, as more people have taken to exploring their local neighborhoods during the coronavirus lockdown.

"Randonauting" was already a trend way before the app was launched at the beginning of 2020. It was popular amongst Reddit users, who visited unusual places in their area and then discussing their experiences online.

A screenshot of the Randonauts subreddit page Reddit

"Randonauting" was already a trend way before the app was launched at the beginning of 2020. It was popular amongst Reddit users, who visited unusual places in their area and then discussing their experiences online.

It was not until YoutTube star Emma Chamberlain made a video about in mid-June, that the Randonautica app really caught people's attention.

Screenshot of Emma Chamberlain's YouTube video entitled "TESTING A CREEPY TIK TOK TREND *fail lol* Emma Chamberlain

Here's how it works: the app gives its users — known as "Randonauts" — a randomly generated set of coordinates in their local area that they're meant to discover. Most points are usually around a 10-minute drive away.

A screenshot of the app's homepage. Randonautica

Here's how it works: the app gives its users — known as "Randonauts" — a randomly generated set of coordinates in their local area that they're meant to discover. Most points are usually around a 10-minute drive away.

Before traveling, "Randonauts" are encouraged to "set an intention" or think of a goal, with the theory being that after arriving at their destination, they will find something relevant to their intention.

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While the app encourages people to set only positive intentions, it was only a matter of time until people started reporting scary experiences after choosing negative intents.

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Thousands of people have since been posting their unusual experiences with the app on TikTok, which range from finding mysterious objects to stumbling upon abandoned, or creepy places.

Screenshots of some experience TikTokers are having with Randonautica @nickibaber/@es_dons/TikTok

Thousands of people have since been posting their unusual experiences with the app on TikTok, which range from finding mysterious objects to stumbling upon abandoned, or creepy places.

Either way, experts have said that there is science behind why people might have these unusual experiences. One physics professor told Bustle: "When you are truly observing, [the mind] can experience wonderful, strange feelings in and of themselves."

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A creepy new app for explorers led TikTokers to a dead body stuffed inside a suitcase. Here's how Randonautica works.

Randonautica's creepy reputation grew after teenagers in Seattle found the suitcase, although the co-founder of the app said the incident was only a "shocking" coincidence.

The app, called Randonautica, has had more than one million downloads in the last few weeks, as more people have taken to exploring their local neighborhoods during the coronavirus lockdown.

"Randonauting" was already a trend way before the app was launched at the beginning of 2020. It was popular amongst Reddit users, who visited unusual places in their area and then discussing their experiences online.

It was not until YoutTube star Emma Chamberlain made a video about in mid-June, that the Randonautica app really caught people's attention.

Here's how it works: the app gives its users — known as "Randonauts" — a randomly generated set of coordinates in their local area that they're meant to discover. Most points are usually around a 10-minute drive away.

Before traveling, "Randonauts" are encouraged to "set an intention" or think of a goal, with the theory being that after arriving at their destination, they will find something relevant to their intention.

While the app encourages people to set only positive intentions, it was only a matter of time until people started reporting scary experiences after choosing negative intents.

Thousands of people have since been posting their unusual experiences with the app on TikTok, which range from finding mysterious objects to stumbling upon abandoned, or creepy places.

Either way, experts have said that there is science behind why people might have these unusual experiences. One physics professor told Bustle: "When you are truly observing, [the mind] can experience wonderful, strange feelings in and of themselves."