Not much you could do with Paypal since you paid as friends/family. Did you pay the funds with a debit or credit card? You may be able to contact your bank to get the funds back.

I transferred the money from my bank account to my paypal and then sent the money that way. I know I'm not going to be able to get the funds back, which is kinda what I'm trying to figure out. What I do at this point. The funds were for a large scale project that can't actually happen now.

Well, there is a couple of options such as leaving a shout on the artist's page to make others aware. There is also artist beware as well.

I hope the person gets back to you and either refunds or works with you to figure something out. :(

I don't want to destroy their life. That's the thing. I just would like to know what happened as I had worked with them many times over the last decade and never received a lick of a reason not to trust them. I don't think they could refund the money as the amount is a tad a lot. Mostly, just trying to figure out how to progress forward.

Ah I gotcha. Hope they get back to you soon then. I would try poking them on social media or any messengers if they have them listed.

That's the thing, here and email is all they've got, which REALLY limits it LOL