The body of Suzanne Eaton, 59, was found Monday by police, according to the Max Planck Institute at Dresden University in Germany, where she worked as a biologist. Police said Wednesday that Eaton was asphyxiated.
Eaton had been attending a conference at the Orthodox Academy in northwest Crete when she is believed to have disappeared during a run on July 2.
The institute offered its condolences to Eaton’s family.
“We will remember forever the extraordinary scientist so caring and devoted to her family and friends and so beloved by us all,” the statement said. “We remain in disbelief of this shocking and awful tragedy.”
Hans Müller-Steinhagen, university rector, said in a statement, “We have lost an immensely renowned scientist and a truly outstanding human being.”
“We are deeply shocked and disturbed by this tragic event,” it added. “Suzanne was an outstanding and inspiring scientist, a loving spouse and mother, an athlete as well as a truly wonderful person beloved to us all.”
Eaton was the wife of British scientist Tony Hyman and mother of two sons, Max and Luke, according to the institute.
Eaton usually ran for 30 minutes every day and was a regular face at the conference, according to the Facebook page. Her family believe she went missing during a run within 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) of the academy complex.
“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.
While Eaton’s employer acknowledged in an earlier statement that the “most likely” scenario was that she had gone for a run, it added: “There are many observations that challenge such a theory, including the heat of the day suggesting that a swim would have been more attractive.”
“As well as being a leading scientist in her field, Suzanne is a strong athlete, runner and senior black belt in Tae Kwon Do,” the statement added. “If anyone can find her way out of a difficult situation it is Suzanne.”
CNN’s Elinda Labropoulou in Athens, Arnaud Siad and Sarah Dean in London contributed to this report
Source : Nbcnewyork
