Found Deceased Greece - Dr. Suzanne Eaton, 60, American, gone for a run, Crete, 2 Jul 2019 *ARREST*

[Elainera]

The gardener man was quoted as saying he saw her by the chapel and bridge on the road leading out of Afrata. There is a chapel on one of the roads just outside of Afrata but we haven't been able to locate a bridge.

ETA: change elderly man to gardener

Yes I know, which is why I thought she might have never made it to Afrata. Was it said where exactly the second witness saw her?

 

[glassheater]

Greek police are close to a breakthrough in the case of murdered American biologist | Daily Mail Online

"An 85-year-old gardener and an elderly fisherman have both independently told detectives they saw 59-year-old Dr. Eaton in the village of Afrata, which is three miles from the place she had been staying.

Witnesses said they had seen her in Afrata, a former fishing village, which does not have street CCTV cameras.

But they are adamant she came into the picturesque village, which is surrounded by cliffs and olive fields and where sheep roam, before turning back towards the academy.

The retired gardener, who asked not to be identified, told DailyMail.com: 'I saw her and I recognized her from the photographs of her. I also told police correctly the pink and purple colors of her clothing.

'She was walking quite fast near a bridge and small church on the road out of the village. I was walking and she walked past me. I am sad about what has happened to her.'"

I guess this is all we have to go by for now

 

[otto]

Thanks glassheater and otto. I was under the impression the witnesses saw her outside of Afrata by the bridge and church.

I posted a link this morning to the news article that states that they saw her in Afrata (Daily Mail).

Was it the fisherman who saw her near the church and bridge? Where did the 85 year old see her - do you remember? I do remember that one witness saw her on the road, but maybe she was just coming from the direction of Afrata.

 

[glassheater]

Yes I know, which is why I thought she might have never made it to Afrata. Was it said where exactly the second witness saw her?

I posted a link this morning to the news article that states that they saw her in Afrata (Daily Mail).

Was it the fisherman who saw her near the church and bridge? Where did the 85 year old see her - do you remember? I do remember that one witness saw her on the road, but maybe she was just coming from the direction of Afrata.

It was the gardener. However, Elainera I think you may be onto something. I read in this article American Biologist Suzanne Eaton was Brutally Murdered, Coroners Say | GreekReporter.com
that investigators believe she was taken closer to Kolimbari where the institute was. How would they know this unless the gardener saw her on the bridge at the midway point between Afrata and Kolimbari

 

[otto]

Greek police are close to a breakthrough in the case of murdered American biologist | Daily Mail Online

"An 85-year-old gardener and an elderly fisherman have both independently told detectives they saw 59-year-old Dr. Eaton in the village of Afrata, which is three miles from the place she had been staying.

Witnesses said they had seen her in Afrata, a former fishing village, which does not have street CCTV cameras.

But they are adamant she came into the picturesque village, which is surrounded by cliffs and olive fields and where sheep roam, before turning back towards the academy.

The retired gardener, who asked not to be identified, told DailyMail.com: 'I saw her and I recognized her from the photographs of her. I also told police correctly the pink and purple colors of her clothing.

'She was walking quite fast near a bridge and small church on the road out of the village. I was walking and she walked past me. I am sad about what has happened to her.'"

I guess this is all we have to go by for now

Thank you! This is the place on the road that we aren't sure about:

"She was walking quite fast near a bridge and small church on the road out of the village."
​

It has also been reported this is one mile outside of Afrata.

 

[otto]

It was the gardener. However, Elainera I think you may be onto something. I read in this article American Biologist Suzanne Eaton was Brutally Murdered, Coroners Say | GreekReporter.com
that investigators believe she was taken closer to Kolimbari where the institute was. How would they know this unless the gardener saw her on the bridge at the midway point between Afrata and Kolimbari

The "bridge" and Orthodox Church seems more like 1.5 - 2 mile mark on the road. Total distance is 3 miles. Looks like a half or a bit more to me. Thoughts?

Source: Google Maps and Streetview

 

[glassheater]

Thank you! This is the place on the road that we aren't sure about:

"She was walking quite fast near a bridge and small church on the road out of the village."
​

It has also been reported this is one mile outside of Afrata.

I'm assuming then the fisherman saw her in Afrata and the Gardener saw her on her way back to Kolimbari from Afrata. Reporting gets a little jumbled at times!

 

[glassheater]

The "bridge" and Orthodox Church seems more like 1.5 - 2 mile mark on the road. Total distance is 3 miles. Looks like a half or a bit more to me. Thoughts?

View attachment 193346

View attachment 193347

Source: Google Maps and Streetview

The bridge looks to be very only a mile from the academy. That would most likely mean she got taken from the main road.

 

[tmar]

Suzanne had expertise in self-defense, but I'm not convinced that rules out abduction by a single strong man. I hope that investigators have been able to pinpoint where she was abducted, and hopefully something of her was left - like a shoe.

There's also the language difference. She spoke English and German. The suspect may only speak Greek. It's most likely that he had a plan for her, and she didn't see it coming until he was on her. She was completely disadvantaged and vulnerable.

When it comes to being attacked, some of us freeze.
I completed an Advanced Self Defence Course, run by the Police.
For our final, we were warned there will be an organized attack, and we are to use all our skills: not to worry, as the attacker will be padded.
I was attacked by one guy, at the last minute, walking towards the class, thinking I was forgotten.
I froze.

 

[Elainera]

Greek police are close to a breakthrough in the case of murdered American biologist | Daily Mail Online

"An 85-year-old gardener and an elderly fisherman have both independently told detectives they saw 59-year-old Dr. Eaton in the village of Afrata, which is three miles from the place she had been staying.

Witnesses said they had seen her in Afrata, a former fishing village, which does not have street CCTV cameras.

But they are adamant she came into the picturesque village, which is surrounded by cliffs and olive fields and where sheep roam, before turning back towards the academy.

The retired gardener, who asked not to be identified, told DailyMail.com: 'I saw her and I recognized her from the photographs of her. I also told police correctly the pink and purple colors of her clothing.

'She was walking quite fast near a bridge and small church on the road out of the village. I was walking and she walked past me. I am sad about what has happened to her.'"

I guess this is all we have to go by for now

Thanks! So we know one witness saw her at the bridge outside Afrata but we don't know where the second witness saw her.

It was the gardener. However, Elainera I think you may be onto something. I read in this article American Biologist Suzanne Eaton was Brutally Murdered, Coroners Say | GreekReporter.com
that investigators believe she was taken closer to Kolimbari where the institute was. How would they know this unless the gardener saw her on the bridge at the midway point between Afrata and Kolimbari

Thanks, this must have been the article that made me think she was only seen at the bridge but not in Afrata proper.

So we don't know for sure if she was in the actual village. Jmo from how I understand the reporting. Since it was said she usually ran about 3 miles daily it would make more sense to me that she turned around before reaching the village. But that's just an assumption on my part. Police will know when exactly the gardener saw her close to the bridge and which way she was headed.

 

[otto]

The bridge looks to be very only a mile from the academy. That would most likely mean she got taken from the main road.

For some reason, I thought the bridge/church was one mile from Afrata, but if it's one mile from the Orthodox Academy, then it is likely the bridge and Greek Othrodox church.

That would mean that not only was she taken from the main road, but she was almost back at the academy when she was taken.

 

[glassheater]

For some reason, I thought the bridge/church was one mile from Afrata, but if it's one mile from the Orthodox Academy, then it is likely the bridge and Greek Othrodox church.

That would mean that not only was she taken from the main road, but she was almost back at the academy when she was taken.

I still have doubts though that is where the gardener saw her. There is literally nothing else there. Not sure why an elderly gardener would be walking in the middle of the day in that terrain so far from his home. I noticed we can't see all of Afrata in street view. There must be something closer that we haven't seen or things got lost in translation.

 

[glassheater]

Afrata was definitely a longer distance than she normally took. I wonder if the impending heatwave that was coming later that week is why she decided to see Afrata that day versus later on in the week.

https://www.accuweather.com/en/gr/chania/182654/july-weather/182654

 

[Handsome Sailor]

Let's not neglect the neo-Nazi connection. Check out the Jerusalem Post online or the Daily Beast website for more info. Several of the suspects have neo-Nazi backgrounds (Golden Dawn, in Greece). When the body was discovered, there were no obvious signs of sexual assault. Remember the ear.

 

[otto]

Thanks! So we know one witness saw her at the bridge outside Afrata but we don't know where the second witness saw her.

Thanks, this must have been the article that made me think she was only seen at the bridge but not in Afrata proper.

So we don't know for sure if she was in the actual village. Jmo from how I understand the reporting. Since it was said she usually ran about 3 miles daily it would make more sense to me that she turned around before reaching the village. But that's just an assumption on my part. Police will know when exactly the gardener saw her close to the bridge and which way she was headed.

Knowing whether she was seen in the village would help to determine what time she was abducted.

She typically took a 3 mile run, so maybe she ran half way to the village, was seen by a fisherman and a gardener, and was abducted shortly after she was seen by the gardener near the little church and small bridge a mile away from the Orthodox Academy?

I wonder how much traffic was at Afrata Beach that day?

Looks like a popular place.

 

[otto]

I still have doubts though that is where the gardener saw her. There is literally nothing else there. Not sure why an elderly gardener would be walking in the middle of the day in that terrain so far from his home. I noticed we can't see all of Afrata in street view. There must be something closer that we haven't seen or things got lost in translation.

There are lots of fenced areas and sheep in the area. Maybe the gardener was at the water, enjoying the afternoon.

 

[otto]

Let's not neglect the neo-Nazi connection. Check out the Jerusalem Post online or the Daily Beast website for more info. Several of the suspects have neo-Nazi backgrounds (Golden Dawn, in Greece). When the body was discovered, there were no obvious signs of sexual assault. Remember the ear.

I don't see any connection. She's born in the USA, works in Germany, researches biology. She was stabbed and there are reports that her death was not quick. Serial murderers do that. There is no information about sexual assault, as those tests take more time.

 

[CityDancer]

Suzanne had expertise in self-defense, but I'm not convinced that rules out abduction by a single strong man. I hope that investigators have been able to pinpoint where she was abducted, and hopefully something of her was left - like a shoe.

Exactly. IMHO her being proficient is self-defense is being overplayed to rule out a single perp. Do you have any idea how many men take martial arts classes in Greece? They are very popular. She was petite, she was 60, and she was exhausted from having run or brisk-walked all that distance. She wouldn't have stood much of a chance against a younger man who also knew some martial arts.

 

[Zella]

Exactly. IMHO her being proficient is self-defense is being overplayed to rule out a single perp. Do you have any idea how many men take martial arts classes in Greece? They are very popular. She was petite, she was 60, and she was exhausted from having run or brisk-walked all that distance. She wouldn't have stood much of a chance against a younger man who also knew some martial arts.

I think people are also overestimating how much benefit the martial arts expertise would be if she were taken by surprise by an armed assailant.

 

[otto]

Exactly. IMHO her being proficient is self-defense is being overplayed to rule out a single perp. Do you have any idea how many men take martial arts classes in Greece? They are very popular. She was petite, she was 60, and she was exhausted from having run or brisk-walked all that distance. She wouldn't have stood much of a chance against a younger man who also knew some martial arts.

Men are physically stronger with a different center of balance than women (might be lower, need to double check). Historically, men could always overpower women. I don't know that a self-defense course can change that.