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.
The problem is that the coroner's report is engaging in speculation when describing this as an accident. Given that it no doubt would be a very strange accident falling off a (fenced) bridge.
I'm sure someone will find the pertinent threads and give us a link.
Perhaps. But then again, perhaps you can explain how someone accidently falls off a bridge, a bridge with a 10 foot high fence.
Really, please do favor us with your reply.