Posted on 04/18/2007 9:57:57 AM PDT by nmh
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine police launched a criminal investigation after soldiers found the body of a missing American Peace Corps volunteer in a shallow grave Wednesday in a mountainous northern town where she disappeared while hiking.
Army spokesman Lt. Col. Ernesto Torres said officials at the site confirmed that the body belonged to Julia Campbell, 40, from Fairfax, Virginia. It was to be airlifted Thursday to Manila.
The remains, believed to be clad in the same clothes that Campbell was last seen wearing, were found buried in a dry creek, with a foot sticking out, in the vicinity of Batad village, where she was last seen, regional police commander Chief Superintendent Raul Gonzales said.
"There is a probability that there was foul play," Gonzales told AP, adding police will now treat it as "a crime incident."
(Me thinks there is a HUGE "probability" of foul play.)
U.S. Embassy spokesman Matthew Lussenhop earlier said embassy and Peace Corps officers were helping police recover and identify the remains.
Campbell's aunt, Ann Knight, of Pensacola, Florida, said Peace Corps officials contacted Campbell's mother with news of the discovery.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Maybe she fell down. Really really hard.
She commited suicide by burrowing into the ground to death ?
You just can’t make this stuff up. Hey at least they *do* suspect foul play.
“Maybe she fell down. Really really hard.”
Oh, that’s funny. Would you be joking around if it was someone you knew and loved?
Suspecting is a step forward ... .
Honestly, must they make a mockery of her death too?
Missing since when? Is this what passes for journalism nowadays?
And covered herself up.
Those evil Methodists must have gotten to her.
Isn’t it sad?
If I were her parents I would be LIVID.
Nope.
And I was making fun of the cops anyways, not the dead woman.
8 paras into the story, we learn she has been missing since April 8.
Condolences to Julia Campbell’s family and friends.
Maybe the black shadowy thing on "Lost" came from the Philippines?
I simply found it appalling how they “suspect” foul play. It’s OBVIOUS.
Julia might have been better off joining our military rather than our Peace Corp...she’d have been better prepared, trained, armed, and certainly not alone.
forever grateful that my son saw the writing on the wall and resigned his ‘Peace’ corp. assignment, the day before swearing in.
I read about this on the ticker this morning on fox. It said she was found in a shallow grave, and foul play MAY be suspected. I asked my self how many people bury themselves?!?!
Prayers for her soul.
“I read about this on the ticker this morning on fox. It said she was found in a shallow grave, and foul play MAY be suspected. I asked my self how many people bury themselves?!?!”
That’s what got me!
It’s sad enough she was OBVIOULSY murdered. Then to report it like THIS!
Prayers for loved ones left behind.
Smart son.
Landslide burried all but her foot? Although this is most likely fould play, there are slim probabilities of something accidental.
A probability? Gee ya think?
Although it may seem obvious, there is always even the minute possibility of this being an accident. They have to investigate all possibilities. She could have been burried alive by landslide for all we know.
Just an itsy bitsy teeny one.
Of course I don't want to ALARM anyone ... .
I simply found it appalling how they “suspect” foul play. It’s OBVIOUS.
Remember there is a stupid journalist involved in this. It may not be what was said...........
Yes, foul play is likely, but we can all come up with scenarios that differ.
Maybe she was hiking by herself when she keeled over dead form a heart attack, and some native who lived nearby found her body and, not knowing what to do, buried it!
Like I said, not likely...but maybe.
When was the last landslide in THAT area?
Why can’t they just say the OBVIOUS - foul play?
Someone murdered her.
Which island did this happen on?
Because responsible authorities would find out the truth before making a statement that may panic people in that area or waste time/effort in their investigation.
This type of knee-jerk reaction is the same reason every time something scary happens (explosion,shooting, car accident) people on this site automatically assume it is muslim terrorists. Get all the facts before you make up your mind.
... as well as everytime you have someone accused of a crime you have people calling for a lynch mob.
Excerpt:
Banaue town in Ifugao province north of Manila, where she had planned to view the famed mountainside rice terraces.
Ifugao provincial police chief Senior Superintendent Pedro Ganir told AP by telephone that a stray dog had dug out one foot when soldiers discovered the body, which was placed in the creek and covered with dirt.
A pair of reading glasses was found near a trail about 50 meters (165 feet) from the body, with one of the lenses laying nearby. Police also recovered a sandal they believed belonged to the woman.
“This is no longer an accident,” he said.
Me: Thank GOODNESS someone sees the light!
Amazing how others still want to fabricate far out possibilies for anything but a MURDER.
My issue is how this “journalist” is reporting the story.
It is confirmed LATER in the same article that it is NO LONGER being viewed as an “accident”.
Still this lame brain reported doesn’t report THAT.
They wouldn’t report it?
I suppose you know better than me.
Seriously. You can’t make this stuff up.
I see what you mean. But all they add is this was no longer an accident and they are treating it as a crime scene.
They have likely ruled this is most likely a crime but if there is still a 1/1000000000 chance of this being an accident or an animal killed her and buried the body (???) then they must leave the options open.
None of us know from the story at what stage the investigation is currently. When they get to the point that they rule out any other possibilities, they will state that it is definitely foul play. But they don’t appear to be there yet.
Thank G-D they didn’t eat her.
There are still parts of the Philippines that are very, very removed from civilization.
I don’t think anyone is envisioning this place like downtown Boston! Clearly there is a difference. But truly, later in the article they finally announce that it is NOT an accident.
At the age of 38, I decided to step out of the rat race of New York, join the Peace Corps and board a plane for Manila. This blog is dedicated to my adventures in the Philippines for the next two years. Wish me luck.
http://juliainthephilippines.blogspot.com/
“I’m trying to think of a way to help, even if it’s just to visit the kids and say hello and lend support. There is a great little new American relief group here now, Hands On, based out of Boston. It’s a funky little group that just gives people a chance to volunteer all over the world when there is a disaster. They will be here for three months at least and I’m hoping I can work with them on helping out those in need here.”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/30079973@N00/12267694/
This MENSA honor student is Chief Superintendent?
In other words, you don’t have to fabricate scenarios to make it an “accident”.
Could be!
They are still investigating. Like our LEO saying there is no connection to terrorist.
Not a fabrication just a possibility. I have hiked this area. Falling is a possibility.
Sigh. You can give up on trying to make this INTO an accident. It’s okay. We can all look at it as a murder - NOT an accident. Truly.
If you don’t want to believe it is a murder, then by all means believe it is an accident - despite the evidence that says otherwise and another official acknowledged.
Did she go hiking alone?
From what the article says it appears so. I can only go by what is written here.
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