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DNA Solves 70-Year-Old Somerton Beach Mystery
12 Aug
Summary
- Unidentified man found on Somerton Beach, case remained unsolved for decades.
- Forensic DNA analysis led to the identification of Carl 'Charles' Webb.
- The man's death and cause remain uncertain, with murder not ruled out.
In the late 1940s, a man was discovered deceased on Somerton Beach, sparking a mystery that would endure for over seven decades. Found without identification and in excellent physical condition, his death was deemed unnatural by pathologists, yet no one came forward to claim his body. His likeness was preserved via a face cast before he was buried in an unmarked grave.
Recent advancements in forensic science have cracked the case. In 2022, scientists extracted DNA from hairs on a cast of the man's face. This complex trail, involving genealogical research and familial DNA technology, led to the identification of Carl 'Charles' Webb, an electrical engineer born in Victoria in 1905.
While Webb has been identified, the exact cause of his death remains unconfirmed. Initial suggestions pointed to heart failure, but a coroner declined to exclude the possibility of murder. It is conceivable that Webb was attempting to locate his estranged wife, Dorothy Robertson, who had moved to South Australia, at the time of his demise.
