More than 50 years after the Isdal Woman’s charred body was found in Norway’s “Ice Valley,” the authorities still don’t know who she was or how she died.
Stephen Missal / Bergen PoliceA forensic sketch of the Isdal Woman , whose burnt dead body was discover in the Isdalen Valley in Norway .
On Nov. 29 , 1970 two unseasoned girls and their begetter were hiking through the Isdalen Valley , a few miles outside the city of Bergen , Norway , when they follow upon a horrific heap : a woman ’s physical structure lie in on its back , burned beyond credit .
The man and his daughters come back to Bergen and report the consistence . But alas , this was just the beginning of what would become a decade - foresighted mystery story with more questions than answer .
Stephen Missal/Bergen PoliceA forensic sketch of the Isdal Woman, whose burnt dead body was found in the Isdalen Valley in Norway.
In fact , the more detective seem into the case , the stranger it became . The fair sex had left behind a unknown trail of cod messages , disguises , and fake identities . Even with desoxyribonucleic acid examination , constabulary break down to name the char .
The grammatical case of the Isdal Woman was reopen in 2016 , but so far , over 50 years after her body was find , her identity remains a mystery .
Here ’s everything we know about the Isdal Woman .
The Horrific Scene In Ice Valley
When police were told of the utter , burned body in the wood , a small party ventured out to remember it . Among them was police attorney Carl Halvor Aas . As of 2016 , whenthe NRKreopened the investigation , he was the last living person from the political party .
“ The first matter we notice is the stink , ” Aas order . “ I remember we were walking , and sometimes climbing , up the scree incline . As we hurry along , I ’m wondering where we are heading for , because it all seems so steep and unpassable . This is no hiking trail , that ’s for certain . ”
When they make the torso , they began jactitate around theories . Some officers wonder whether the woman had fallen into a fire and launched herself backward in a panic . Others enquire if there was a liquidator lurking somewhere in the timberland .
“ It is not a pretty sight , ” Aas aver . “ The question is whether someone set fire to her , or if there are other movement . ”
Bergen State ArchivesThe body of the Isdal Woman , lie in the “ boxer ’s position ” on the cliffside where she was receive .
The clay was sprawled out in a “ packer ’s ” or “ fencer ’s billet , ” with its arms outstretched in front of the upper body — a common position for bodies that had been burnt animated . Nearby , police find the charred corpse of the woman ’s holding : minute of habiliment , an umbrella , two dethaw charge card bottle , a one-half bottle of Kloster Liqueur , a fictile cover for a passport , and more .
But these items offered little sixth sense into who the woman was . In fact , it seemed as if every trace of recognition had been designedly pass over clean . There were no markings on any of her holding . Manufacturing labels had been cut off the burnt article of clothing , and even the labels on the bottles had been hit .
Speaking withthe BBC , forensic investigator Tormod Bønes noted another odd affair about the woman ’s belongings . She had a scout and jewellery , but she was n’t hold out any of these items . Instead , they were placed beside her .
“ The placement and localization of the objects surrounding the soundbox was unusual , ” Bønes say . “ It search like there had been some kind of ceremonial occasion . ”
Bergen State ArchivesThe body of the Isdal Woman, lying in the “boxer’s position” on the cliffside where she was found.
Bergen State ArchivesThe lookout and jewellery find at the site of the Isdal Woman ’s decease .
Eyewitness reports also did little to help identify the woman . From what police could pull together , the fair sex was around five - human foot - four , aged between 25 and 40 , with “ long chocolate-brown - back hair , ” a small round face , brownish eyes , and small capitulum . At the time of her death , she wore her hair “ in a ponytail tied with a dispirited and white photographic print medallion . ”
Just who was this womanhood ? What happen to her ? And why , despite not having the answers to these interrogative , did the police end the case after only a few weeks ?
Bergen State ArchivesThe watch and jewelry discovered at the site of the Isdal Woman’s death.
Two Suitcases Found Nearby Deepen The Mystery
A few day after the Isdal Woman ’s physical structure was found , constabulary made another gonzo find : two suitcases allow at the Bergen railroad station ’s baggage department . Inside one , they found prescription medicine - free glasses — and a fingerprint on the lens that match the Isdal Woman ’s .
Finally , it seemed , they were one footstep nigher to learning the woman ’s identity .
Bergen State ArchivesThe Isdal Woman ’s fingermark on a twain of glasses base among her belonging .
Bergen State ArchivesThe Isdal Woman’s fingerprint on a pair of glasses found among her belongings.
Alongside the glasses , police retrieve a variety of other point including clothing , wigs , a comb , a hairbrush , cosmetic , eczema cream , teaspoon , and currency from Germany , Norway , Belgium , England , and Sweden .
But once again , Bønes said , “ all the labels that could have key out the woman , her clothes , or belongings , had been removed . ”
The charwoman ’s name was scratched off of the eczema pick tube , and no major department stores could detect a couple for any of her clothing . To complicate matters further , police found what appeared to be a fool musical note among the cleaning woman ’s belongings , which they cracked later , believing the codes may point which hotels she stayed at , and when .
Bergen State ArchiveThe coded message also found in the suitcases.
Bergen State ArchiveThe put one across message also notice in the suitcases .
The only useful piece of grounds they plant in the suitcases was a plastic bag from Oscar Rørtvedt ’s Footwear Store in Stavanger . The owner ’s Logos , Rolf Rørtvedt , recalled that he had sell a pair of rush to “ a very well dressed , squeamish - looking womanhood with dark hair ” who “ took a long time ” choosing her boots .
The thrill in inquiry , police believed , matched those find at the scene of the Isdal Woman ’s death . Using this as a base point , they were able to trace her to a nearby hotel , but happen she had check in under a false name : Fenella Lorch .
Bergen State ArchiveSuitcases and a tube of eczema cream found at the Bergen railroad station.
In fact , she had stayed at a few dissimilar Norwegian hotels leading up to her destruction , but in each case she used a dissimilar alias . Sometimes , she was Genevieve Lancier . Other times , she was Claudia Tielt or Claudia Nielsen . She also used the names Alexia Zarne - Merchez , Vera Jarle , and Elisabeth Leenhouwfr .
A waitress from one of the hotels at which the char stayed , Alvhild Rangnes , commemorate the cleaning lady . She told the BBC , “ My first impression of her was one of elegance and ego - poise … In fact , I remember her winking at me … from my perspective it felt as though she thought I had been staring a snatch too much at her . ”
Bergen State ArchiveSuitcases and a tube of eczema cream find at the Bergen railroad station .
Bergen State ArchivePolice investigating the scene where the Isdal Woman’s body was discovered.
“ On one occasion , ” she added , “ while I was serve her , she was in the dining hall , sit right next to — but not interacting with — two German navy personnel , one of which was an policeman . ”
All of these unusual clues , match with the fact that her death happened in the thick of the Cold War , contribute to theory that the Isdal Woman may have been a undercover agent . What ’s more , some clues paint a picture her motion trace up with trials of the Norwegian Penguin projectile in the sixties .
Still , despite all of this , police were no closer to finding out who the cleaning lady was .
Bergen State ArchiveA photograph captured at the Isdal Woman’s funeral. All in attendance were members of the police force.
Reopening The Isdal Woman Case After 46 Years
At the start of the investigation , the cleaning woman ’s autopsy revealed a few key things about her . She had n’t been significant , for one , nor had she ever given giving birth . A contusion on her cervix indicated that she may have taken a serious fall or a blow , but she had not been inauspicious .
Then , “ there were smoke particles in her lungs , ” Bønes order , “ which register that the adult female was alive while she was burning … we can express with certainty that gasolene had been used . ”
Bergen State ArchivePolice investigate the fit where the Isdal Woman ’s body was discovered .
to boot , around 50 to 70 quiescence contraceptive pill were in the woman ’s stomach , but they had not all been amply absorbed into her blood stream when she died . The autopsy ultimately close that she died from a combining of carbon paper monoxide poisoning and the sleeping tablet — and that she may have , in fact , died by suicide .
“ We talked about it in the police , but as far as I call up very few thought it was suicide , ” Aas articulate . “ I do not conceive it was suicide . ”
Still , it was the closest thing they had to an answer , and the case was closed in 1971 . The woman ’s body was given a Catholic funeral go to by police officers .
But even with the case formally being closed , there were those in the effect who could n’t let it go .
Bergen State ArchiveA picture captured at the Isdal Woman ’s funeral . All in attending were members of the constabulary force .
46 class later , in 2016 , NRK journalists and the Norse law decide to reopen the case , hoping that advanced advances in forensic engineering science and DNA depth psychology might help to answer some of the mill around interrogative sentence of the case : Who was the woman ? Why was she in Norway ? Why did she die so deeply in the Isdalen Valley ?
offence newsperson Knut Haavik is among those who never accepted the suicide account for the character .
“ in person , I ’m totally convinced that this was a murder , ” Haavik said . “ She had various identities , she operated with codes , she wore wigs , she travel from town to townsfolk , and swop hotels after a few Clarence Day . This is what the police call ‘ conspiratory demeanour . ' ”
Finally , many old age later , scientist have created a full desoxyribonucleic acid profile of the Isdal Woman . They jazz that she was of European descent and are working with police forces across Europe to find a match .
As of the meter of penning , however , no match has been found , and the charwoman ’s identity stay a mystery . Still , investigators are closer than ever before to solving this teaser . Only time will say if the accuracy is ever uncovered .
After ascertain about the cryptical death of the Isdal Woman , read the story ofRodney Marks , the South Pole ’s only murder dupe . Then , pick up aboutRoland T. Owens , and his mysterious , gruesome execution in room 1046 .
