Who was the Somerton Man? Professor claims to have SOLVED one of Australia’s greatest mysteries
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Some mysteries and unsolved cases are only solved decades after they were first discovered. It's a frustrating fact, but often true. One of the reasons why these cases go unsolved for so long is that the detectives who first worked on them retired or are no longer alive, and the new detectives assigned to the case are starting over.
They have to re-interview witnesses, re-examine evidence, and try to piece together what happened. Sometimes, they get lucky and find new evidence that was overlooked the first time around. Other times, they just have to work a little harder to finally crack the case.
Such has been the case for one of Australia’s greatest mysteries, with some researchers proposing that the case has been solved nearly 75 years since it first came to light.
On 1 December 1948, an unidentified man's body was discovered pushed up against the seawall at Somerton Beach in Adelaide.
Forensic experts were able to discover a piece of paper with the words ‘Tamam Shud’, which translates to ‘finished’ in Persian, printed on it inside his pocket. They were also able to find an aluminium comb — which was not available in Australia at the time — along with a packet of Army Club cigarettes that contained different higher quality cigarettes.
The man’s discovery would then be known as ‘The Case of the Somerton Man’ — one of the most baffling unsolved mysteries of the 20th century.
Over the years, a variety of theories about the man’s identity have been proposed; one of which being that the Somerton Man was a spy after the police disclosed that the clothing he was wearing was from an American brand.
The theory is further supported by the discovery of the aluminium comb, suggesting that he had been to the US prior to his body being washed up in Australia.
The scene where the man’s body was discovered. Credit: South Australia Police.
However, one professor from the University of Adelaide claimed that he now knows who this mysterious man is, 74 years since his death.
Professor Derek Abbott and his team performed an experiment to extract and analyse the Somerton man’s DNA using the hair strands they have retrieved from his plaster ‘death mask.’
The researchers then constructed an extended family tree of the man and analysed the family’s history with the records.
‘By filling out this tree, we managed to find a first cousin three times removed on his mother’s side,’ the professor said.
Prof Abbott then declared that he was able to identify the man as Carl 'Charles' Webb.
The professor said that the man was born on November 16, 1905 — making him 43 at the time of his death — and had lived in Melbourne for most of his life working as an electrical engineer.
Prof Abbott also said that he was able to trace the man's personal life, claiming that he had married Dorothy Robertson who he eventually left in April 1947.
'He disappeared and she appeared in court, saying that he had disappeared and she wanted a divorce,' forensic expert Colleen Fitzpatrick of Identifiers International said.
Dorothy was said to move to Bute in South Australia in 1951, increasing the likelihood that Mr Webb had come looking for her.
Over the years, a variety of theories about the man’s identity have been proposed. Credit: Daniel Voshart via news.com.au.
It can’t be denied, however, that the discovery of the man’s identity will raise more questions instead of putting an end to the mystery.
South Australia Police confirmed that no updates were reported to the case.
The possibility of the man allegedly being a Russian spy is still not yet debunked and more investigations are needed to solve the mystery.
So, there you have it, folks! Are you familiar with the theories about the Somerton Man’s case? What are your thoughts about them? Share them with us in the comments below!
Some mysteries and unsolved cases are only solved decades after they were first discovered. It's a frustrating fact, but often true. One of the reasons why these cases go unsolved for so long is that the detectives who first worked on them retired or are no longer alive, and the new detectives assigned to the case are starting over.
They have to re-interview witnesses, re-examine evidence, and try to piece together what happened. Sometimes, they get lucky and find new evidence that was overlooked the first time around. Other times, they just have to work a little harder to finally crack the case.
Such has been the case for one of Australia’s greatest mysteries, with some researchers proposing that the case has been solved nearly 75 years since it first came to light.
On 1 December 1948, an unidentified man's body was discovered pushed up against the seawall at Somerton Beach in Adelaide.
Forensic experts were able to discover a piece of paper with the words ‘Tamam Shud’, which translates to ‘finished’ in Persian, printed on it inside his pocket. They were also able to find an aluminium comb — which was not available in Australia at the time — along with a packet of Army Club cigarettes that contained different higher quality cigarettes.
The man’s discovery would then be known as ‘The Case of the Somerton Man’ — one of the most baffling unsolved mysteries of the 20th century.
Over the years, a variety of theories about the man’s identity have been proposed; one of which being that the Somerton Man was a spy after the police disclosed that the clothing he was wearing was from an American brand.
The theory is further supported by the discovery of the aluminium comb, suggesting that he had been to the US prior to his body being washed up in Australia.
The scene where the man’s body was discovered. Credit: South Australia Police.
However, one professor from the University of Adelaide claimed that he now knows who this mysterious man is, 74 years since his death.
Professor Derek Abbott and his team performed an experiment to extract and analyse the Somerton man’s DNA using the hair strands they have retrieved from his plaster ‘death mask.’
The researchers then constructed an extended family tree of the man and analysed the family’s history with the records.
‘By filling out this tree, we managed to find a first cousin three times removed on his mother’s side,’ the professor said.
Prof Abbott then declared that he was able to identify the man as Carl 'Charles' Webb.
The professor said that the man was born on November 16, 1905 — making him 43 at the time of his death — and had lived in Melbourne for most of his life working as an electrical engineer.
Prof Abbott also said that he was able to trace the man's personal life, claiming that he had married Dorothy Robertson who he eventually left in April 1947.
'He disappeared and she appeared in court, saying that he had disappeared and she wanted a divorce,' forensic expert Colleen Fitzpatrick of Identifiers International said.
Dorothy was said to move to Bute in South Australia in 1951, increasing the likelihood that Mr Webb had come looking for her.
Over the years, a variety of theories about the man’s identity have been proposed. Credit: Daniel Voshart via news.com.au.
It can’t be denied, however, that the discovery of the man’s identity will raise more questions instead of putting an end to the mystery.
South Australia Police confirmed that no updates were reported to the case.
The possibility of the man allegedly being a Russian spy is still not yet debunked and more investigations are needed to solve the mystery.
So, there you have it, folks! Are you familiar with the theories about the Somerton Man’s case? What are your thoughts about them? Share them with us in the comments below!
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