Found Deceased UK - Susan McLean, 61, U.S. tourist, Aberfeldy, Scotland, 17 May 2015

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Susan was so close, yet so far.
Lorna, you came all this way to find your lovely friend. You've found her, now you're taking her back home where she can be laid to rest and forever sleep peacefully.
i cannot imagine how you're feeling right now.
Simply, Bless You Lorna.
Sending condolences to you and Susan's family.
 
Thank you for showing on the map, LJ. Am I right in thinking it rules out the area Phoebe came out from? I probably should go back through all Hippy's maps but I'm wondering if that area had already been covered.
 
Lumberjill, if I understand the map and the info well, your assumptions were spot on.

http://www.thecourier.co.uk/news/lo...-for-missing-us-tourist-susan-mclean-1.893736

“So the working presumption is that she turned west on to Loch Hoil trail, looked at the map posted there and opted to walk westward, then to turn north on any of several paths between sections of forest or along old stone walls.

“The next assumption is that she went under the trees for shelter from the rain and wind. But from there – maybe she snoozed, became hypothermic and passed on. "

I hope the autopsy confirms this. We all wanted so much that Susan would be found alive, and in our hearts we still do, but since it is not to be, it is the softest option that she fell asleep and never woke.


:candle:
 
Given how long she has been there it may be hard for the autopsy to determine an exact cause of death. Unless the Police say otherwise I'd assume this was natural and not in any way sinister.

I'm curious to know who in the search party found her - was it someone skilled at searching or was it a general member of the public that got involved in the search.
 
This news has brought more tears and questions. These events following her disappearance have been a testament to the remarkable life she lived.

Thanks to all who have played small or large roles in finding Susan.
 
I have been following this since it started, thinking daily of Susan and now when she has been found I feel sad and can only say that Hippy Hippy and Lumberjill are amazing people. My condolences to her family and friends.
 
I am saddened yet relieved to see that Susan has at last been found.
I am glad she had a friend like lumberjill to come bring her home.
I do not have sufficient words to convey how amazing I find Hippy Hippy to be. I just wish we had more people in the world like her! Susan has brought people together from across the ocean due to her wonderful spirit and the life she led.
Rest in peace Susan.
God bless LumberJill
My respects to Susans family.
Hippy, I hope you receive tenfold of what you have done for this family. You never gave up and it kept Susan front and center. You are a good soul, and you restore my faith in humanity.


Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk
 
I'm still very concerned about what happened to Susan but actually hoping I'm totally off base and have missed something. My questions probably result from following too many cases where foul play is suspected, and pray for everyone's sake that those of you who are assuming a tragic, but gentle end to Susan's life are correct. Worried about what I'm not hearing, I suppose?

I realize and respect what Susan's friends and family must be feeling these days and am thankful LJ was able post at all - that said, I noticed the info was basically the fact there was a discovery and where, but I haven't heard anything that indicates the scene appeared peaceful or that Susan most likely died of natural causes. The article describes dense undergrowth, and I remember HH describing very dense woods and becoming almost lost. Is this what they are describing, a place where Susan may have sought shelter, or was the undergrowth so dense that it was more likely an attempt to hide her body? I've also been trying to follow the maps/events that HH posted, and may not be reading them correctly but it appears that she was found pretty close to the campsite and/or the hikers that HH came upon, is that correct? At this point they are classifying it as "unexplained death", so without knowing procedure in Scotland I'm guessing that classification triggers an autopsy, and hopefully by a forensic specialist?
 
azure said:
So I suppose the gate is left open, as seen in the photo? And is the sign some sort of trail marker?
Click to expand...

Just a quick note azure and will speak more later: go back to post 348 to see my photo of the trail map. Gate is never open btw, just open now for police vehicles (they are still there this evening) and go back to post 350 for a photo of the stile/gate to the secondary trail where Susan was found.
 
I have been following Susan's thread from the beginning. I am sad about her loss. Limberjill, you are an amazing friend, and your efforts have been beyond what anyone could hope for. You have my sincere admiration. Hippy, your work has been a tremendous asset in these searches. A big thank you is not enough.

Equivet, your Susan has touch so many from so far away. I am sorry for your loss, and thank you for sharing with us here. Blessings to all who loved Susan, through the years and/or through our recent experiences.
 
Lintx there will certainly be an autopsy and forensics would be searching the area she was found, this is normal police procedure when a body is found. I don't think anyone has answers right now, it will take a few days for police to work out if anything untoward happened. Personally I doubt it was suspicious.
 
Re: LinTX

A Procurator Fiscal is called a Coroner in many other legal system.

When a person dies in Scotland, they cannot be buried or cremated until a medical certificate giving the cause of death has been issued. This certificate must be completed by a doctor, and must show the time, place and cause of death.
Most sudden and unexplained deaths are reported to the Procurator Fiscal because a doctor is unable to confirm the cause
of the death and is therefore unable to issue a death certificate.

When the cause of death is not known or is not clear to a doctor, this is described as an "unexplained death".

More info about the procedures in this leaflet:

http://www.copfs.gov.uk/images/Docu...ormation for bereaved relatives - June 15.pdf
 
Thanks for that booklet, ZaZara, that did help. The descriptions re: "unexplained" vs "suspicious" especially - it very well could just be the situation that LJ talked about early in the thread. It does say that an autopsy may be requested, but is not required.
 
<modsnip> My question, as well as other acquaintances of Susan;s, is it possible the body was recently moved to where it was found? How could it have been missed if it is not that far from the resort and on an actual trail? After three months outside in the summer heat how could it not have been discovered especially in an area crawling with tourists on the Memorial Day weekend. I am not certain the truth will ever be known in this case.
 
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