Found Deceased Chile - Tom Marsh 60, Uk National, University Professor missing from a research trip, 16 September 2022

[dotr]

Unrelated, it happened yesterday- but noting in case there is something going on with Profs these days, fwiw, imo..

Cops: Ex-grad student suspected in Arizona professor killing

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A University of Arizona professor who authorities say was fatally shot on campus by a former graduate student was an expert on desert water issues who faculty and former students described as a kind and brilliant colleague.

www.thestar.com

Arizona- Dr. Thomas Meixner, Head of Hydrology & Atmospheric Sciences, U ofA, Fatally Shot, Suspect Grad student, Murad Dervish, 46, 5 Oct. 2022

https://www.fox9.com/news/uarizona-police-searching-for-suspect-following-reports-of-shooting-on-tucson-campus Murad Dervish https://www.thestar.com/news/world/us/2022/10/06/police-ex-grad-student-kills-arizona-professor-on-campus.html ''TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — The University of Arizona has...

www.websleuths.com

 

[ignacio]

"Me dijo algo super extraño": estudiante revela detalles de discusión con astrónomo desaparecido

T13 tuvo acceso al contenido de la declaración prestada por el tesista británico, en la que apuntó su versión de los hechos registrados las jornadas previas a la desaparición de Thomas Marsh.

www.t13.cl

Might include gramatical errors (by me)
"He told me something super weird": student reveals details of argument with missing astronomer
T13 had access to the contents of the statement made by the British thesis student, in which he gave his version of the events that took place in the days prior to Thomas Marsh's disappearance.
The student who accompanied Thomas Richard Marsh, the British astronomer who disappeared in mid-September from La Silla Observatory, affirmed that he had a discussion with the researcher the day before he dissapeared.

T13 had access to the contents of the statement given by the British student, in which he said that he met Marsh in August 2021 at the University of Warwick, where he was a professor of physics.

Although he has already left the country, the testimony appears as transcendental in the framework of the investigation, since the subject appears as a key witness.

In his account he states that during May 2022, the academic invited him to Chile to visit the observatories and work with the NTT telescopes, to which he accepted and ended up traveling to the country on September 12.

After arriving in Chile, and according to his account, he arrived in La Serena on the 14th of the same month and after moving to the La Silla Observatory they carried out the first works.

However, in the statement, the young student notes that after spending September 15 with Thomas, during the night he told him "something super strange", pointing out that he was not happy with what he was doing and reproaching him for not seeing any interest in astronomy, physics or science on his part.

"On the 15th (of September) I was practically all day with Thomas, we had breakfast, lunch and dinner, we also worked on the NTT telescope (.... ) I remember that Thursday at about 7:00 PM after dinner we went to our bedrooms where Thomas told me something very strange to me, saying loudly: 'I'M NOT CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU DO, YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN ASTRONOMY, PHYSICS OR SCIENCE, THAT PISSES ME OFF, IT WAS BY CHANCE, LET'S CONTINUE TOMORROW'. All this was said to me by Thomas crying, locking himself in his bedroom, and I was terribly surprised", says the student in his statement.

And he adds: "I was upset by what he told me, since what I study is something very important for me, it is my life, astronomy, physics and science is my passion, then I went to the canteen because in my room I do not have wifi in order to call a friend in my country and tell him what the professor told me, to let off some steam".

According to what is indicated in the document, the astronomer and the student did not see each other again, since he did not find him during the morning even though they had a meeting with a telescope operator.

According to what he said, he looked for him constantly in the vicinity of the site, but without success. He did meet with the telescope operator, who also said he did not know details about Thomas Marsh's whereabouts, only that he had received an e-mail stating that he needed to rest and sleep.

According to the statement, one of the people working at the site had received an e-mail from the astronomer that was "very confusing and strange". The same person reportedly spoke to Thomas' wife, who also reportedly received a "confusing" message.

 

[realanastasia]

Oh, that statement has me worried. The seemingly out-of-character outburst by Dr. Marsh could indicate some kind of physical ailment (blood clot/mini-stroke), so if such a thing happened, he might have become confused and wandered off of the research campus into the desert. But I also feel like the student's version downplays the student's reaction, maybe deliberately--he just phoned a friend to blow off steam? He did not verbally respond to Dr. Marsh? That seems...unlikely, although not impossible (the student was really at the mercy of his academic advisor both in the immediate sense, as AFAIK he did not know others there at the laboratory, and in the long term, for without a good recommendation a decent academic/scientific job would be very hard to come by).

 

[WingsOverTX]

Uh oh. If something happened to Tom medically, mentally or both, it sounds serious. I wonder what kinds of clues could be deduced from the emails, especially the one his wife - who would know him well - received.

OTOH, did anyone else have access to his account to send emails from it? If so, it could be an effort to make it appear self-harm of some kind is involved.

I wonder if Tom has any history of physical/mental issues or if he was dealing with some recently. Only those who know him best can answer.

This is sounding like a recovery if they can determine where he is. But I wouldn't rule out something nefarious just yet. I want to hear from others who interacted with Tom both at La Silla & at the university in the recent past. What do they say they observed?

Whatever the outcome, this talented family man disappearing is a personal & professional tragedy. I hope answers come soon.

 

[Kaykedi]

Uh oh. If something happened to Tom medically, mentally or both, it sounds serious. I wonder what kinds of clues could be deduced from the emails, especially the one his wife - who would know him well - received.

OTOH, did anyone else have access to his account to send emails from it? If so, it could be an effort to make it appear self-harm of some kind is involved.

I wonder if Tom has any history of physical/mental issues or if he was dealing with some recently. Only those who know him best can answer.

This is sounding like a recovery if they can determine where he is. But I wouldn't rule out something nefarious just yet. I want to hear from others who interacted with Tom both at La Silla & at the university in the recent past. What do they say they observed?

Whatever the outcome, this talented family man disappearing is a personal & professional tragedy. I hope answers come soon.

Excellent post WingsOverTX

 

[charminglane]

Do we know where his cellphone is?

 

[WingsOverTX]

Do we know where his cellphone is?

I haven't found anything that mentions his cell phone. Some articles mention his "personal belongings" were left in his room. Maybe @ignacio has seen something about his phone in a local story?

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Mystery after Brit professor goes missing in Chile as search enters third week

Prof Tom Marsh, 60, an astrophysicist at the University of Warwick, went missing on September 16, in the Chilean desert and local police are continuing to search paths he may have taken

www.mirror.co.uk

Adrian Vega, the regional prosecutor in Coquimbo, Chile, has reportedly said that the search is carrying on “painstakingly” as they look for traces of the professor, and certain materials are being tested by scientists in labs.

Mr Vega said that the terrain has been studied and “there are certain signs or indications in certain areas where he may have walked”, reported El Dia.

And particular attention is being given to an area by the Cerro La Silla peak where Prof Marsh could have started on a paved path and then there are various routes around gullies and ravines, police sources told El Dia.

Mr Vega said: “We have put all our human and material resources available in the area surrounding the La Silla observatory so as to search certain possible areas and those where there maybe some evidence of Prof Marsh, which we are verifying in laboratories.”

 

[savagewoman]

"Me dijo algo super extraño": estudiante revela detalles de discusión con astrónomo desaparecido

T13 tuvo acceso al contenido de la declaración prestada por el tesista británico, en la que apuntó su versión de los hechos registrados las jornadas previas a la desaparición de Thomas Marsh.

www.t13.cl

Might include gramatical errors (by me)
"He told me something super weird": student reveals details of argument with missing astronomer
T13 had access to the contents of the statement made by the British thesis student, in which he gave his version of the events that took place in the days prior to Thomas Marsh's disappearance.
The student who accompanied Thomas Richard Marsh, the British astronomer who disappeared in mid-September from La Silla Observatory, affirmed that he had a discussion with the researcher the day before he dissapeared.

T13 had access to the contents of the statement given by the British student, in which he said that he met Marsh in August 2021 at the University of Warwick, where he was a professor of physics.

Although he has already left the country, the testimony appears as transcendental in the framework of the investigation, since the subject appears as a key witness.

In his account he states that during May 2022, the academic invited him to Chile to visit the observatories and work with the NTT telescopes, to which he accepted and ended up traveling to the country on September 12.

After arriving in Chile, and according to his account, he arrived in La Serena on the 14th of the same month and after moving to the La Silla Observatory they carried out the first works.

However, in the statement, the young student notes that after spending September 15 with Thomas, during the night he told him "something super strange", pointing out that he was not happy with what he was doing and reproaching him for not seeing any interest in astronomy, physics or science on his part.

"On the 15th (of September) I was practically all day with Thomas, we had breakfast, lunch and dinner, we also worked on the NTT telescope (.... ) I remember that Thursday at about 7:00 PM after dinner we went to our bedrooms where Thomas told me something very strange to me, saying loudly: 'I'M NOT CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU DO, YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN ASTRONOMY, PHYSICS OR SCIENCE, THAT PISSES ME OFF, IT WAS BY CHANCE, LET'S CONTINUE TOMORROW'. All this was said to me by Thomas crying, locking himself in his bedroom, and I was terribly surprised", says the student in his statement.

And he adds: "I was upset by what he told me, since what I study is something very important for me, it is my life, astronomy, physics and science is my passion, then I went to the canteen because in my room I do not have wifi in order to call a friend in my country and tell him what the professor told me, to let off some steam".

According to what is indicated in the document, the astronomer and the student did not see each other again, since he did not find him during the morning even though they had a meeting with a telescope operator.

According to what he said, he looked for him constantly in the vicinity of the site, but without success. He did meet with the telescope operator, who also said he did not know details about Thomas Marsh's whereabouts, only that he had received an e-mail stating that he needed to rest and sleep.

According to the statement, one of the people working at the site had received an e-mail from the astronomer that was "very confusing and strange". The same person reportedly spoke to Thomas' wife, who also reportedly received a "confusing" message.

Wondering if the professor had wifi in his room since he sent emails.

 

[annpats]

I was going to ask the same thing, how far was it from the telescope to his accommodation?

They are in the same complex, so I'd say no more than a 15 minute walk. There is nothing else up there, just the telescopes, a research facility and the living quarters.

if he was heading towards the telscope when he went missing, why was he alone? Why didn't the student go with him?

Th student didn't go with him, as apparently there was an argument between the two of them.

 

[5W's]

The complex has a lot of buildings on it. I suppose at certain times it would be busier than others. But it looks like at the time Tom went missing perhaps not many people were out and about. What are the labs testing? If it was Tom's DNA they could say that couldn't they? Is LE being quiet about this? To me it looks as if Mr. Vega (LE) is stating that the lab(s?) are testing materials of where he could have been after his disappearance if I'm reading correctly its looks like a few different places. What other substances could they be analyzing, maybe something he could have ingested? IDK. Just wondering. I wonder what "substances they could be?" To be honest I'm not thinking drugs or anything like that, maybe his medications if he took any. Did something happen to his medications, perhaps he took his meds with him and something not ok with his meds? Trying to think of the substances.

 

[WiseOwl]

I am intrigued by the emails Tom had supposedly sent to his wife and also to someone who was working at the site. They are said to be 'confusing', it would be really interesting to hear what his wife made of the email.

Would the emails confirm that Tom was in some sort of confused state? I wonder exactly when these emails were sent, were they mailed before or after Tom was last seen?

 

[WingsOverTX]

They are in the same complex, so I'd say no more than a 15 minute walk. There is nothing else up there, just the telescopes, a research facility and the living quarters.


Th student didn't go with him, as apparently there was an argument between the two of them.

What source indicates distance between where they were staying (one of the two dorms?) and the observatory/research facility they were using? Did an official source state where & walking distance? TIA if I missed it.

My understanding is the reported argument occurred after dinner right before they separated for the evening not in the midst of their work.

Since the only reported communication from Tom after that was an email saying he was not keeping a research appointment the next day because he needed to rest, he seems to have disappeared overnight. Surely someone would have seen him if he headed out to walk in the desert after daylight on the 9/16?

At this point, I need independent corroboration to accept the student's story.

What if the "confusing" communications from Tom were not sent by him at all? Something about the whole scenario is troubling me.

Corroboration. Of Tom's demeanor in the time leading to his travel to La Silla and while there. Of his last sighting at the facility. Of his leaving to go into the desert. That his email could not be hijacked.

Show me evidence he may have disappeared of his own volition. No warning signs except one "conflict" would be very concerning to me unless he was known to be difficult or volatile.

Did Tom have conflict with anyone else at La Silla? If so, what was it about?

I hope they are searching the desert because of solid leads and not just assuming because he hasn't been found onsite that he left it on foot.

 

[WingsOverTX]

I am intrigued by the emails Tom had supposedly sent to his wife and also to someone who was working at the site. They are said to be 'confusing', it would be really interesting to hear what his wife made of the email.

Would the emails confirm that Tom was in some sort of confused state? I wonder exactly when these emails were sent, were they mailed before or after Tom was last seen.

Answered in this post RSBBM:

"Me dijo algo super extraño": estudiante revela detalles de discusión con astrónomo desaparecido

T13 tuvo acceso al contenido de la declaración prestada por el tesista británico, en la que apuntó su versión de los hechos registrados las jornadas previas a la desaparición de Thomas Marsh.

www.t13.cl

Might include gramatical errors (by me)

"On the 15th (of September) I was practically all day with Thomas, we had breakfast, lunch and dinner, we also worked on the NTT telescope (.... ) I remember that Thursday at about 7:00 PM after dinner we went to our bedrooms where Thomas told me something very strange to me, saying loudly: 'I'M NOT CONTENT WITH WHAT YOU DO, YOU HAVE NO INTEREST IN ASTRONOMY, PHYSICS OR SCIENCE, THAT PISSES ME OFF, IT WAS BY CHANCE, LET'S CONTINUE TOMORROW'. All this was said to me by Thomas crying, locking himself in his bedroom, and I was terribly surprised", says the student in his statement.

And he adds: "I was upset by what he told me, since what I study is something very important for me, it is my life, astronomy, physics and science is my passion, then I went to the canteen because in my room I do not have wifi in order to call a friend in my country and tell him what the professor told me, to let off some steam".

According to what is indicated in the document, the astronomer and the student did not see each other again, since he did not find him during the morning even though they had a meeting with a telescope operator.

According to what he said, he looked for him constantly in the vicinity of the site, but without success. He did meet with the telescope operator, who also said he did not know details about Thomas Marsh's whereabouts, only that he had received an e-mail stating that he needed to rest and sleep.

According to the statement, one of the people working at the site had received an e-mail from the astronomer that was "very confusing and strange". The same person reportedly spoke to Thomas' wife, who also reportedly received a "confusing" message.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

I am intrigued by the emails Tom had supposedly sent to his wife and also to someone who was working at the site. They are said to be 'confusing', it would be really interesting to hear what his wife made of the email.

Maybe the confusing part was about him not going to keep an appointment.
Maybe that was out of character for him.

 

[WiseOwl]

Answered in this post RSBBM:

Thanks for this @WingsOverTX.

Althought it says 'confusing', it doesn't necessarily mean that Tom was confused, just that the emails seemed confusing to the recipients - at least that's how I read it. It also doesn't state what time or day these emails were sent.

I too was wondering if these emails could have been sent by someone else, maybe that's why they appear confusing to Tom's wife and the worker at the site?

The confrontation with the student is very worrying, I note that the student said Tom invited him in May this year to accompany him on the trip to Chile in September. I would of thought that this would be regarded as a privilige at the University to be chosen to go with Tom, so if the student's account is correct i wonder why Tom got so annoyed with him? Did he really have a go at him for not appearing to be interested in the work they were doing, or was there something else that spiked Tom's reaction?

 

[annpats]

What source indicates distance between where they were staying (one of the two dorms?) and the observatory/research facility they were using? Did an official source state where & walking distance? TIA if I missed it.

Facilities​

Currently, our facilities include two well-implemented libraries (the leisure and the scientific library), two conference rooms, an astronomy lounge, a learning laboratory, a cinema room, a clubhouse, and a gymnasium. Regarding lodging, we have a total of 172 dorms for all the staff, besides 14 hotel rooms, which are mostly used for astronomers and visitors.

Taken from the official La Silla Telescope website:

ESO - About La Silla

ESO is the European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere. It operates the La Silla Paranal Observatory in Chile and has its headquarters in Garching, near Munich, Germany.

www.eso.org

There are only 14 hotel rooms for visitors there, so would be housed close-by each other. They're all in same block, a bit like a small motel.

There is a little road that leads to the clubhouse and gymnasium which are a short walk away.

 

[annpats]

At this point, I need independent corroboration to accept the student's story.

Well, sadly, don't think you'll get that.

I doubt anyone will if it was just between the professor and the student.

It's likely there is no corroboration as there have been no witnesses.

 

[annpats]

The professor didn't appear for breakfast or lunch the next day, so I wonder if he went out for a stroll to clear his head the evening before after dinner.... it would've been light until nearly 8pm there.

I also wonder if the 'confusing emails' could've been a sign of dehydration or something more severe like a TIA or mini-stroke. The flights getting there seemed pretty gruelling.....

I wonder if the argument was just a difference of opinion on research and nothing more than that?

Perhaps more is being made of it than should be? After all, the student was honest and told the police about it.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

British professor 'argued with PHD student' before vanishing in Chile

Thomas Richard Marsh, a 61-year-old astrophysicist at University of Warwick, was last seen on September 16 near the remote astronomical observatory La Silla in Chile.

www.dailymail.co.uk

He told Chilean daily El Dia: 'There's no way we can impede the free travel of a person or prevent him from leaving the country if that person is not accused of anything. The student is not accused of anything.'

The same newspaper, citing unidentified sources, claimed there had been a row between Mr Marsh and his pupil, saying: 'This is something the authorities are working with as well.

'That aspect of things is something that has been incorporated into the lines of investigation prosecutors are conducting.'

It offered no more detail in an overnight report about when or why the alleged row occurred.