ATHENS—An American scientist who disappeared a week ago on the island of Crete was found dead on Tuesday, her employers said.
Suzanne Eaton, 60, a molecular biologist at the world-renowned Max Planck Institute in Dresden, Germany, was attending a conference in the town of Chania when she was reported missing on July 2.
Suzanne Eaton, the American scientist who went missing in Greece last week, was found dead on the island of Crete on Monday, her German employer said.
She was a 1977 graduate of Byram Hills High School.https://t.co/DzK0qXUvDa @lohud @USATODAY @mpicbg
— Matt Spillane (@MattSpillane) July 9, 2019
Greek authorities said a body was discovered on a rough and rocky site inside a World War Two bunker, about 8-10 km (5-6 miles) from where she was last seen.
“It is with enormous sadness and regret that we announce the tragic demise of our dearest friend and colleague, Suzanne Eaton. The police recovered her body during the evening of 8th July,” the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics said in a statement.
Police said further forensic tests were underway. The cause of death was not immediately known.
“Searching for Suzanne,” a Facebook page created by Eaton’s family, said she was last known to be playing the piano on July 2 and is believed to have gone for a run later that afternoon.
#MISSINGPERSON Update about #SuzanneEaton. Whoever can help, also with translating this update, please get in contact with @CallieBroaddus @eaton_lab pic.twitter.com/a0G2lugS1L
— Ste Tavano (@SteTavano) July 5, 2019
Her passport, wallet, phone, cash, and cycling shoes were in her hotel room but her running shoes were missing, it said.
Dresden University’s Max Planck Institute, where Eaton was a research group leader, described her in a statement on its website as “a leading scientist in her field, a strong athlete, runner and senior black belt in Tae Kwon Do.”
Family Speaks
Her niece, Callie Broaddus, told People magazine that her family didn’t “have any leads save for what we’ve already posted on Facebook,” adding that she traveled from the United States to help search for the woman.
“The Greek government has been incredibly supportive and sent in a whole armada to help find Suzanna,” said Broaddus. “We’ve been joined by so many volunteer groups and people flying drones, people coming out to search in their spare time and taking out their own boats—even planes as well. It seems like everyone in Crete knows.”
On Tuesday morning, the Facebook page “Searching for Suzanne” wrote: “We cannot comment on anything at this time, but I will post a message here when the time is appropriate.”
“Due to the rough terrain and extreme heat, we believe the most likely possibility is that Suzanne may have either become overheated and looked for shade or that she may have fallen,” said a Facebook post on the page.
Epoch Times Reporter Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
