A 73-year-old mystery might have finally been solved by an Australian researcher who says he has cracked the case. It seems the mysterious cold case surrounding the "Somerton man" might finally be getting the answers it deserves - so let's take a look at what we know...
Over 70 years ago, a man's body was found on Somerton Beach in South Australia. And since then, authorities have been trying to figure out who the victim was and how he landed in Adelaide. When the body was discovered in 1984, the man was described as well-built and in his mid-40s - with gray-blue eyes, gingery-brown hair, and 5'11" height. The Somerton man was found well dressed, with a half-smoked cigarette resting on his collar, chewing gum, matches, two combs, and a wartime code written in a book. In addition, he was found with a Persian poem in his pocket, reading "Tamam Shud," meaning "it's finished" in English, and no ID. With all these peculiar clues, authorities thought the man was a spy. But with not enough answers, the case had been labeled as one of the world's most puzzling cold cases. Until now.
An Australian researcher, Derek Abbott from the University of Adelaide, claims the body actually belonged to Carl "Charles" Web, an electrical engineer from Melbourne born in 1905, debunking the notion he was a spy. For years, authorities created theories surrounding the man's identity, but when his remains were lifted last year in an effort to solve the case, answers led in the opposite direction. Abbot used the DNA from the Somerton man's preserved hair and worked alongside US forensic expert Colleen Fitzpatrick to create a heavy family tree that would help them crack the cold case.
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After much time analyzing DNA and sorting out the logistics of who the Somerton man could really be, the dynamic duo was able to narrow down their search to 4,000 names. Lucky for them, they then figured out the man's identity - Carl Webb. Furthermore, they were able to find the man's family and confirm his identity. As it turns out, Webb was born on November 16, 1905, in a suburb of Melbourne and was the youngest of six siblings. He was also reportedly married. However, with all the newfound information, they are still unclear as to how Webb died. Safe to say, this story is far from over. Stay tuned. And in the meantime, check out these other unsolved mysteries.
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