UPDATE: An American scientist whose body was discovered in a cave several days after she went missing on the island of Crete was asphyxiated, police said Wednesday.
Police in Greece say they have opened a homicide investigation in the death of Suzanne Eaton, 59, according to Eaton’s employer, the Max Planck Institute at Dresden University in Germany. Eaton’s body was found on Monday, the institute said.
Eaton, who worked as a biologist, had been attending a conference at the Orthodox Academy in northwest Crete when she is believed to have disappeared during a run on July 2.
The institute said in a statement:
“There is an ongoing homicide investigation being led by the police in Crete, which has taken comprehensive measures to ensure that the responsible party(ies) will be brought to justice,”
Hans Müller-Steinhagen, university rector, offered condolences to Eaton’s family saying:
“It is with enormous sadness and regret that we announce the tragic demise of our dearest friend and colleague, Suzanne Eaton. We are deeply shocked and disturbed by this tragic event. Suzanne was an outstanding and inspiring scientist, a loving spouse and mother, an athlete as well as a truly wonderful person beloved to us all. Her loss is unbearable. We have lost an immensely renowned scientist and a truly outstanding human being.”
Eaton, originally from Oakland, California, was the wife of British scientist Tony Hyman and the mother of two sons, Max and Luke, according to the institute.
A Facebook page called “Searching for Suzanne” set up by family said Tuesday morning: “We cannot comment on anything at this time, but I will post a message here when the time is appropriate.”
Family members said that Eaton would run 30 minutes every day, and on July 1 had taken a trail northeast of the academy. Her phone, passport, watch, and cash were all left behind in her room, but her running shoes and hot pink running shirt were missing.
Before her body was discovered, the institute had said that the “most likely” scenario was that Eaton went for a run.
“There are many observations that challenge such a theory including the heat of the day suggesting that a swim would have been more attractive,” the institute said, adding that besides a runner, Eaton was a senior black belt in Tae Kwon Do.
“If anyone can find her way out of a difficult situation it is Suzanne,” the group said.
