Posted on 01/14/2002 1:59:40 AM PST by gorio
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - A Harvard University biologist whose body was found in the Mississippi River last month died accidentally in a fall from a bridge, a medical examiner said.
Don Wiley, 57, fell from the Hernando DeSoto Bridge after a minor motor vehicle accident there, Shelby County Medical Examiner O.C. Smith said Sunday.
Wiley had been missing since Nov. 16, when his rental car was found abandoned on the bridge with the keys in the ignition.
The body was discovered Dec. 20 snagged on a tree near a hydroelectric plant at Vidalia, La., about 300 miles south of Memphis. A wallet containing Wiley's identification was found on the body, which was identified through dental records, police said.
No evidence of foul play was found in the car.
A woman who answered the telephone Sunday night at the medical examiner's office said she did not have access to the report and told an Associated Press reporter to call back Monday for elaboration.
Wiley had been in Memphis for a scientific conference hosted by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. He was last seen publicly at a conference banquet.
Wiley's disappearance raised concerns about a possible terrorist connection since he had done research on a number of potentially deadly viruses, including Ebola, a highly contagious and lethal fever.
The FBI said it was leaving the investigation to the Memphis police. Authorities have disclosed no evidence of connection between Wiley's work and his disappearance.
Scientific organizations, including St. Jude, posted rewards totaling $26,000 for information leading to the "arrest and charge" of anyone responsible for Wiley's disappearance.
What, did the 'minor accident' rip open the guard rail? Tear open a fence if there was one? And then he just sort of backed over to the edge and fell off?
Or was the accident not so minor, and instead a car hit him and knocked him over?
Or do we have a lazy bunch of investigators?
Very curious.
How could one possibly fall "accidentally" off this bridge after a minor car accident?
What, did the 'minor accident' rip open the guard rail? Tear open a fence if there was one? And then he just sort of backed over to the edge and fell off?
No, no...none of this makes sense. Instead, after the accident he got so pissed off that he jumped up and down, accidently performing a triple flip backwards 50 feet in the air, which shot him over the guard rail. Pretty simple to figure out.
This report only shows that he fell off the bridge. Supposedly if there was a struggle there would be bruises on his body, but who knows. Other than that, falling off a bridge could be due to a push or a jump.
Looks fenced on this one
PRINT THIS STORY | E-MAIL THIS STORY Scientist fell to his death by accident
By Lawrence Buser, buser@gomemphis.com
and Thomas Jordan, jordan@gomemphis.com
Authorities said Sunday that the November death of an internationally recognized Harvard scientist was the result of an accidental fall from the Hernando DeSoto Bridge and not a homicide.
Shelby County Medical Examiner Dr. O. C. Smith gave to police Sunday his findings in the death of Dr. Don C. Wiley, 57.
Smith said the cause of death was a fall from the bridge and the manner of death was accidental. He said the accidental death followed a minor motor vehicle accident on the bridge.
Police could announce details of the medical examiner's findings as early as today.
Authorities are expected to say that Wiley, who was at least 6-foot-3, accidentally went over the railing after getting out of the car to examine the damage to the vehicle. They said there is no evidence anyone else was involved in the death.
It has been reported that the hubcap for the right front wheel was missing and there were yellow scrape marks on the rented white four-door 2001 Mitsubishi Galant.
The car was found abandoned in one of the westbound lanes of the bridge at 4 a.m. Nov. 16. The key was in the ignition, the gas tank full.
A Memphis police officer responding to "an abandoned vehicle call" located the car. Its hazard lights were not flashing.
The officer then checked the catwalks on both sides of the bridge, but found nothing.
The officer who located Wiley's car said the vehicle wasn't there when he made a routine check of the bridge an hour earlier.
Wiley, a prize-winning biochemist, had been in Memphis for a two-day meeting of the Scientific Advisory Board of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Wiley was last seen about midnight Nov. 15 in the lobby of The Peabody, where he had attended a banquet for the advisory board.
Investigators had been trying to determine Wiley's movements from then until his car was found.
The scientist's father, Bill Wiley of Memphis, said his son spent several days with him while he was here.
Smith said Wiley's family is aware of his findings.
Wiley lived in Cambridge, Mass., and was a member of the National Academy of Sciences. He was married to Katrin Valgeirsdottir.
Wiley's body was discovered Dec. 20 in the Mississippi River about 300 miles south of Memphis. The body was found snagged on a tree along the Mississippi across from Natchez. Workers with the Louisiana Hydroelectric Plant near Vidalia, La., in Concordia Parish found the body. Wiley's wallet was in his clothing.
His disappearance sparked worldwide interest. Wiley had done research on dangerous viruses, including AIDS, influenza and Ebola, a hemorrhagic fever that is highly contagious and often fatal.
Police previously had indicated Wiley might have committed suicide, but Wiley's relatives, colleagues and friends said they didn't think he would have taken his life.
- Lawrence Buser: 529-2385
- Thomas Jordan: 529-5880
BTW St. Jude and this bridge SIT in a LESS than desirable section of Memphis, it might be fairly safe in the daylight. BUT I sure wouldn't be down there at 4 am without my gun.
Very good reminder. One's instinct is to immediately hop out of the car and check the damage. It would be better to pause to reflect that this may be what the perp wants, esp. at night in a bad area . . .
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