Police consider death by elk in murder case

Published: 28 Nov 09 11:03 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/23536/20091128/

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A former murder investigation has been reviewed by police who now suspect a 63-year-old woman found dead in Småland, southern Sweden, last year was killed by an elk.

The woman’s body was found by a lake close to the village of Loftahammar in September 2008.

She was last seen taking her family dog out for a walk in the forest. When she did not return home her husband ventured out to look for her and found her dead body.

The 68-year-old was immediately arrested and detained on suspicion of murder. He was held in police custody for five months.

He revealed his story to newspaper Expressen. “When my children and I buried my wife I was still suspected of killing her,” he said.

After an autopsy failed to determine the cause of death, further analysis was conducted.

An investigation by Sweden’s National Laboratory of Forensic Science concluded that strands of hair found on the woman’s body and clothes came from a species of deer.

Elk experts at the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences in Umeå also confirmed that saliva from an elk was found on the woman’s clothes.

The man was released in January without charge when the investigation took a new course.

Police have refrained from commenting on details of the case so far but a press conference will be held in Västervik on Tuesday to explain the current state of the investigation.

An elk expert will also be in attendance to explain the findings of the forensic analysis.

TT/Christine Demsteader (news@thelocal.se)

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11:36 November 28, 2009 by uunbeliever
Do they mean elk? as in moose, or a deer. It is so confusing.
11:39 November 28, 2009 by livinginsweden
Three tragedies :

Its tragic she died ....

Its tragic that the first suspect was the husband .....

Its tragic that suspicion will always hang over his head forever ....

Some will even say that the elk was wrongly accused ...

It is very sad all round.
20:18 November 28, 2009 by Rebel
He should sue!
20:18 November 28, 2009 by izbz
Of course the police refrained from commenting about the case. BUT...... what about the man...his reputation was stained, he was jailed or retained for a period of 5 months, mourning his wife's death in the cell. His children might even have thought ' Dad killed mom' Must be hell for a man. 5 months is a long time for an innocent old man. Did he get any compensation and an apology letter from the police?
21:05 November 28, 2009 by karex
@uunbeliever

Yes, it's elk as in moose. The animal known as moose in the US is called "European Elk" here.
21:57 November 28, 2009 by karex
@Osokin

If the poor lady was indeed killed my an elk/moose the reson may have been the dog. These creatures are very shy unless they feel threatened or are annoyed in anyway. A barking dog could do that.
22:14 November 28, 2009 by dizzymoe33
It is all so sad that this tragedy had to happen. I feel so sorry for the man and his family not only living with this loss but the acqusations also hanging over his head.
23:01 November 28, 2009 by karex
@dizzymore33

I agree with you. The poor man had enough tragedy to deal with already. Accusations as to being responsible just serve as rubbing salt into an open wound. The worst part in all this is that the damage these accusations caused, both to his image and the pain he must have gone through, cannot be removed.
00:33 November 29, 2009 by uunbeliever
@karex is it only a moose in the US? I realise that it is North America but arn't there a couple of other countries there too?

And yes, a tragedy.
01:56 November 29, 2009 by Coalbanks
Yes there are several other countries in North America which (surprising to many North Americans) extends from the North Pole to South of the Panama Canal where Panama & Columbia South America border was drawn - somewhat arbitrarily - seperating North & South America. The moose is common to only 2 North American countries - USA & Canada. Elk aka wapiti are also found in those countries but are a differant species of deer than European Elk. Another Hinterland Who's Who vignette brought to you by a proud Canadian. EH!
04:25 November 29, 2009 by MasonPaul
It is very unfortunate. The highlight for some home owners in Evergreen Colorado has been to see up to 40 elk run through their back yards without causing mischief or mayhem. For more information check out You Tubes clip on Evergreen Colorado Elk.
10:08 November 29, 2009 by uunbeliever
@Coalbanks I feel better knowing I'm not the only Canadian in Sweden. Maybe the two of us could open a Tim Hortons and have some real dougnuts!!
11:16 November 29, 2009 by SweetBlue
@uunbeliver... Not Timmy's! I think Swedes can live life not knowing what a double-double is. :-)

As sad as this story is, I understand why the husband was under suspicion. I don't agree, but I understand. My question is this.... if he was only under suspicion, why detain him for 5 months? His children are left to grieve without him and with ridiculous suspicion. The man is having to grieve without his children and in a holding cell. Why incarcerate him when there is clearly no evidence of foul play besides suspicion?

@ izbz... I agree with you totally. What compensation is the police giving this man for robbing him of 5 months of his life?
00:13 November 30, 2009 by dtes
the poor man should be compensated big time but this shitholegovernment would never ever be upstanding enough to pay for its mistakes!
08:07 November 30, 2009 by Da Goat
shithouse policework yet again (bad habits die hard)
16:04 November 30, 2009 by ooh456
There are no elk in Sweden. Just deer and moose. Elk live in Canada and in the northern US http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elk

I don't care if the Brits call moose elks. They don't have any elk or moose so what would they know about them?
18:30 November 30, 2009 by jack sprat
WRONG pal!

There are moose in the UK,.....they have been re-introduced into Scotland.

"Hoots mon,theres a moose a loos aboot this hoos,"

Courtesy of Lord Rockinghams Eleven,...many moons ago.
18:56 November 30, 2009 by izbz
OH DEER! now nobody seems to care about the poor inocent old man....More interested in wild life...DEER OH DEER... OK now let's all call it a Malaysian mouse deer instead
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