American Scientist Vanishes on Greek Island

Friends, family fear something happened to Suzanne Eaton while she was running
By Kate Seamons,  Newser Staff
Posted Jul 8, 2019 5:00 AM CDT
American Scientist Vanishes on Greek Island
Suzanne Eaton.   (Facebook)

An American scientist vanished in Greece on Tuesday, and friends and family fear something may have happened to her while she was out running. Suzanne Eaton, a molecular biologist with Germany's Max Planck Institute, was on the island of Crete for a conference and disappeared near the port of Chania. A statement posted to Facebook says the 59-year-old was last sighted playing piano on Tuesday. Authorities say they believe Eaton set out on a run between 3pm and 5pm local time, as she did the previous day, and confirmed her sneakers are not among her belongings. Her passport, phone, and money were left in her room.

The statement notes Eaton is an avid runner who tends to run daily, and says that "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. We need as many volunteers as possible to help check ravines, trail edges, and under brush and shady areas." NBC News reports a statement from the Max Planck Institute noted Eaton is a senior black belt in Tae Kwon Do. "If anyone can find her way out of a difficult situation it is Suzanne," the statement reads. The AP reports Eaton's husband and two sons have gone to Crete to help search for her. (More missing person stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X