I just re-read this..
"For health reasons the original developer was forced to leave which left the bitcoin donations locked in a multisignature wallet."
What? Funds was moved away lol, if you don't believe me, check address
https://blockchain.info/address/3Q2aKEGFTKDw3hghsBifXp39CZVMtZukxn
At least EK and other people didn't drop the project, but let's name things as they are. Lanister (probably) just scammed ~700 BTC.
Also here is full list of XEL Donors, https://github.com/OrdinaryDude/elastic-core/blob/master/genesis_block_generator/is_this_correct.txt
Check who they send money and you will find that is that address I posted: 3Q2aKEGFTKDw3hghsBifXp39CZVMtZukxn
and it have now only 3,5 Bitcoins...
Well those funds are lost either way even if he did scam and fake an illness as an excuse - he no longer has anything to do with the project and if he reappears at any point he is not going to get anything further from it.
I have full faith in EK and the other devs who have worked for free and created the project without any of the funds.