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

[5W's]

Hoping that the identifying evidence found is human waste and not blood.imo.

That's what I was also thinking when I first read that, but wasn't sure. From what the prosecutor Vega is saying its making me wonder, maybe I wasn't off in that thought.

 

[5W's]

Inspector Vega's statement was released in Spanish and translated into English. I'm not sure we should be overly suspicious of the word "characteristics" when that is the case.

I don't think so he is being specific. He is part of the government of the area I'm thinking the head of the prosecutors or like the DA or something like that. But he isn't just an inspector. But he is the head of some part of LE of the area. He could have used different wording but he has chosen these consistently. The main Spanish media outlets like anywhere in the world would not deviate from his statements so we can be assured that he is telling the public what has been found. I don't feel any misconceptions when it comes to statements given by Vega, its actually quite surprising to learn what he says.

 

[5W's]

That cannot be overstated! If he ventured into that desert & they believe he did, the why needs a convincing explanation. I hope we get one.

What direction is Santa Maria? I know its 60kms away. There are apparently homes before or on the way to Santa Maria. Santa Maria looks touristy.

 

[5W's]

From the main road in La Silla SW there are three telescopes. So from the hotel to one of those three telescopes is where he dropped his keys. So he must have gone past the telescopes SW
IMO. So is there a road/s he could have gone onto? Vega did say that Tom's scent ended at a road. Did he get a ride into Santa Maria?

 

[5W's]

Here is an image to give an idea of the place I don't know which telescopes these are, though. After comparing images and the Safety map of La Silla it looks like the 4th one at the far right of this image is the ESO 3.6 metre telescope. I don't think its the MPG 2.2 metre telescope because that silo looking part is to the right not the left. Whereas the ESO 3.6 metre is to the left. So I believe in this image we are looking SE. Could the one to the left of it be the New Technology Telescope? It looks like the New Technology Telescope, but what do I know.

 

[5W's]

Its hard to read for me maybe someone can enlarge the words or better focus. But I do know that the Dutch telescope is in the SW its one of the three in that direction where Tom headed. In this image the Dutch telescope is the last one on the farthest right. I hope people can read the lettering. Maybe someone can enlarge IDK.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Did Tom have a vehicle to drive there ?

Or was the telescope within walking distance of where he way staying.
I just assumed he would walk there and back.

 

[5W's]

Did Tom have a vehicle to drive there ?

Or was the telescope within walking distance of where he way saying.
I just assumed he would walk there and back.

They are all within walking distance. I believe it says that in the ESO info. One would have to look that up, though to see where in their info it says that.

 

[TootsieFootsie]

Yes, thanks I thought it did say they walked there and back.

It just looks so hilly, so I thought maybe he had use of a vehicle and may have gone off the road somewhere.

 

[TLobo]

I don't think so he is being specific. He is part of the government of the area I'm thinking the head of the prosecutors or like the DA or something like that. But he isn't just an inspector. But he is the head of some part of LE of the area. He could have used different wording but he has chosen these consistently. The main Spanish media outlets like anywhere in the world would not deviate from his statements so we can be assured that he is telling the public what has been found. I don't feel any misconceptions when it comes to statements given by Vega, its actually quite surprising to learn what he says.

.......I'm not saying that I don't believe him, or that I don't think he has the authority to make such a statement ("fiscal regional" = something like "regional prosecutor" in Chile; not completely synonymous with a prosecutor as here in the US, investigation of crime is actually part of their job description).

What I am saying is, translation from one language into another is more nuanced than Google Translate can accommodate. Unless there is someone who is fluent in both Chilean Spanish and English who can confirm that "características" is used there exactly as we would use "characteristics" in statements put out in English, I do not think that we can pick apart his use of that word.

JMO as someone with 13+ years in language-related fields, to include language learning, bilingual* speech-language pathology and medical and legal interpretation/translation support. *Spanish, but not Chilean Spanish.

 

[WingsOverTX]

.......I'm not saying that I don't believe him, or that I don't think he has the authority to make such a statement ("fiscal regional" = something like "regional prosecutor" in Chile; not completely synonymous with a prosecutor as here in the US, investigation of crime is actually part of their job description).

What I am saying is, translation from one language into another is more nuanced than Google Translate can accommodate. Unless there is someone who is fluent in both Chilean Spanish and English who can confirm that "características" is used there exactly as we would use "characteristics" in statements put out in English, I do not think that we can pick apart his use of that word.

JMO as someone with 13+ years in language-related fields, to include language learning, bilingual* speech-language pathology and medical and legal interpretation/translation support. *Spanish, but not Chilean Spanish.

THIS^^^^
I am not confident in any of the translations from Chilean media shared here because of what you point out. That is one of my frustrations in following this case.

Also, we don't know why British police would go on such a LONG journey to La Silla. But I would speculate they suspect some kind of criminal act (perhaps involving the grad student?). I'm not sure about jurisdiction for prosecution of anyone, should it come to that. But I doubt local police went with the family to Chile without serious cause. IT DEFINITELY PUTS A WRINKLE IN A MISSING PERSON CASE, IMO.

So the question becomes, is this a criminal investigation already? I think it is. The Chilean authorities themselves may have asked the British police to get involved, if so.

MOO & JMO

 

[WiseOwl]

THIS^^^^
I am not confident in any of the translations from Chilean media shared here because of what you point out. That is one of my frustrations in following this case.

Also, we don't know why British police would go on such a LONG journey to La Silla. But I would speculate they suspect some kind of criminal act (perhaps involving the grad student?). I'm not sure about jurisdiction for prosecution of anyone, should it come to that. But I doubt local police went with the family to Chile without serious cause. IT DEFINITELY PUTS A WRINKLE IN A MISSING PERSON CASE, IMO.

So the question becomes, is this a criminal investigation already? I think it is. The Chilean authorities themselves may have asked the British police to get involved, if so.

MOO & JMO

JMO, but It can only be that the British police have flown over because the Chilean authorities have suspicions that something criminal has happened to Tom, otherwise why would they fly over in the first place? They wouldn't be needed for any searches of the area, that would be left to the local authorities.

It would appear that when the results of the laboratory tests came back, it led to the authorities believing that Tom had been the victim of a crime and contacted the British police for them to get involved in the investigation. Or maybe when the police heard about the results of the laboratory tests they decided to visit La Silla to see the evidence for themselves.

 

[WingsOverTX]

JMO, but It can only be that the British police have flown over because the Chilean authorities have suspicions that something criminal has happened to Tom, otherwise why would they fly over in the first place? They wouldn't be needed for any searches of the area, that would be left to the local authorities.

It would appear that when the results of the laboratory tests came back, it led to the authorities believing that Tom had been the victim of a crime and contacted the British police for them to get involved in the investigation. Or maybe when the police heard about the results of the laboratory tests they decided to visit La Silla to see the evidence for themselves.

Definitely a new twist. I hope they hold a press conference but unsure if that is a norm for Chilean LE.

I've been a doubter about the grad student's account of TM's behavior - not that I assume the student was involved in anything criminal - but because of Tom's absence at breakfast not being an immediate red flag the day after.

I'd like to see corroboration, timeline & some evidence. It is looking like a crime of some kind. But human behavior is unpredictable so I will withhold judgment for now.

JMO

 

[Seni]

There is huge competivity between scientists. I think it is possible that the student blew the latest research project into the air by stumping it before it started.

 

[WingsOverTX]

There is huge competivity between scientists. I think it is possible that the student blew the latest research project into the air by stumping it before it started.

RBBM
Not sure what you mean?
We are at a disadvantage in only knowing what the student reportedly said about their interaction on the evening of Sept. 15.

 

[Laughing]

Hoping that the identifying evidence found is human waste and not blood.imo.

Some people tend to vomit at high altitudes.

Don't ask me how I know, OK?

My family lives in Santa Fe, lower altitude than the mountaintop La Silla observatory but over 7000 feet above sea level. No unusual for visitors, including me, to throw up while adjusting to the altitude. One of the ways I know I've been gone too long!

Usually before my nose starts bleeding from the dryness btw.

Sad that we may never know what happened to Dr. Marsh, tragic for his family, friends, and colleagues.

jmho ymmv lrr

 

[5W's]

.......I'm not saying that I don't believe him, or that I don't think he has the authority to make such a statement ("fiscal regional" = something like "regional prosecutor" in Chile; not completely synonymous with a prosecutor as here in the US, investigation of crime is actually part of their job description).

What I am saying is, translation from one language into another is more nuanced than Google Translate can accommodate. Unless there is someone who is fluent in both Chilean Spanish and English who can confirm that "características" is used there exactly as we would use "characteristics" in statements put out in English, I do not think that we can pick apart his use of that word.

JMO as someone with 13+ years in language-related fields, to include language learning, bilingual* speech-language pathology and medical and legal interpretation/translation support. *Spanish, but not Chilean Spanish.

Well that's all we got though. So I will take his word for word what he says and if it is being translated as such then it is. However we did have a Spanish I believe Chilean speaker who has written about what Vega stated early on about two times and it didn't deviate. So if you can translate perhaps since you have a reach in that field then perhaps you can do so. Plus if he is giving statements to the media then he has inside knowledge of the case so if that's the case then why not accept what is being stated.

 

[5W's]

Some people tend to vomit at high altitudes.

Don't ask me how I know, OK?

My family lives in Santa Fe, lower altitude than the mountaintop La Silla observatory but over 7000 feet above sea level. No unusual for visitors, including me, to throw up while adjusting to the altitude. One of the ways I know I've been gone too long!

Usually before my nose starts bleeding from the dryness btw.

Sad that we may never know what happened to Dr. Marsh, tragic for his family, friends, and colleagues.

jmho ymmv lrr

He has been there many times, His system is accustomed to it, however.

 

[5W's]

Definitely a new twist. I hope they hold a press conference but unsure if that is a norm for Chilean LE.

I've been a doubter about the grad student's account of TM's behavior - not that I assume the student was involved in anything criminal - but because of Tom's absence at breakfast not being an immediate red flag the day after.

I'd like to see corroboration, timeline & some evidence. It is looking like a crime of some kind. But human behavior is unpredictable so I will withhold judgment for now.

JMO

This is kind of reminding me of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon. There is CCTV on the property so Tom would have been picked up they haven't stated he wasn't. Its possible he walked off the property and walked up the road after away from CCTV footage. If they've gotten hits at different locations then that's what it means. That Tom left the property. It doesn't matter how bad the translation is we would know if Tom stayed at La Silla and that's where he remains missing, but that hasn't been the case.

 

[seasideForest]

.......
What I am saying is, translation from one language into another is more nuanced than Google Translate can accommodate. Unless there is someone who is fluent in both Chilean Spanish and English who can confirm that "características" is used there exactly as we would use "characteristics" in statements put out in English, I do not think that we can pick apart his use of that word.

JMO as someone with 13+ years in language-related fields, to include language learning, bilingual* speech-language pathology and medical and legal interpretation/translation support. *Spanish, but not Chilean Spanish.

This! Also JMO as someone with 15 years in language-related fields including legal translation though not for Spanish.
Translation is very nuanced work and Google Translate can't compete with a qualified human.