14-05-2018 09:00
(anonymised)
Recent discovery of damaged electronic equipment, buried nearby polar base on Jan Mayen island, forced us to re-open the cold case of murder that took place there in 1975. While there were several scientific and military expeditions since 1975, through analysis of Beerenberg volcano eruptions in 1973 and 1985, we can assume it is something that was brought to the island between 1973 and 1985, most likely between 1973 and 1975.
Since the original polar base was mostly destroyed by the 1985 eruption, we can only base our findings on the materials gathered by our colleagues in 1975.
26-06-1975 13:00
(anonymised)
About 9 AM the Bodø police were contacted by (anonymised), in charge of the scientific expedition to polar base on Jan Mayen island, who reported that this morning one of his colleagues, (anonymised), was found dead in suspicious circumstances. Since the incident took place in the civilian part of the polar base, police officers were given the authority to investigate and a team of two detectives and a coroner was deployed to the island.
On arrival, we found (anonymised) dead in the communication room of the base, primary inspection indicated that she was strangled during the night. There were no signs of struggle around the body, but bruising on her hands suggest she was trying to fight off the assailant.
Currently, there are 8 occupants on Jan Mayen island, six scientists taking part in international expedition monitoring the Beerenberg volcano and two soldiers from Norwegian Army, who service the military equipment near the polar base. They all arrived 6 days ago, aboard HNoMS Brage from Sortland Royal Norwegian Navy base.
The maximum capacity for the base is 24-30 people, but since this was the first group of occupants this year, only the skeleton crew was deployed to assess the status of equipment on the island so the main group, arriving in few days, could bring the replacement parts with them.
The island is not inhabited due to unforgiving climate, lack of fauna, possible volcano activity and location over 300 miles away from the nearest land. Civilian access to the island is very restricted, only military and scientific expedition take place during summer months, but during winter, the island is uninhabited.
