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A New Smyrna Beach woman returning home from a trip with her husband on an Amtrak train was found dead next to the railroad tracks in southeast Georgia and may be the victim of homicide, authorities said. Special Agent Mike McDaniel of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation termed the death "suspicious."
Wow. Intriguing,,,especially the fact that Auto Train is non-stop. Pretty alert CSX traincrew that spotted the body.
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I've always found it interesting how unwilling (at least, in my opinion) it seems that Amtrak Police Department does not get involved in major crimes in THEIR jurisdiction. A similar thing happened (homicide) on the Coast Starlight a few years ago in Oregon. Amtrak PD's response: Nuttin' honey. And for those who don't know how PD's work, yes, you DO fly detectives to the scene of the crime immediately to take over the case. I don't care how far away the closest Amtrak officer is---that's why we pay them!
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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So let's say this woman was murdered on the train and her body dumped off it somehow, what police department would have jurisdiction for the investigation?
Department in the locale where the murder was committed (how would you know?)?
Department where the body was found?
State Bureau of Investigation (in this case GBI)?
FBI, since it was on Amtrak?
Amtrak Police?
Interesting, no?
railrev Member # 2640
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In the movies, it's always the conductor, Poirot, or some off duty cop on the train.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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The jurisdiction is always the location of the crime. Just off the top of my head without any inside or specific knowledge, if a passenger on a non-stop train somehow ends up dead outside of the train, then something happened on the train in order to create the incident. Thus, it would be the jurisdiction of Amtrak PD.
I just read another article about this incident with this quote:
"Sanford police Sgt. David Morgenstern said he was told by Amtrak investigators that Arteta was thrown from the train".
So let's hope that Amtrak PD is actually on-scene, and not relaying this info over the phone from hundreds of miles away and just saying what the on-scene non-Amtrak officers told them.
smitty195 Member # 5102
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And not to complicate things, but even though location determines who is primary on a case, there are exceptions. For example, the huge fire and explosion that happened last night in San Bruno, California. Normally, it would be the fire investigators for San Bruno Fire and Police. But due to the enormous nature of the incident and the fact that gas was being "transported" in a pipeline, the NTSB has taken over and nobody except NTSB personnel are allowed beyond the crime scene tape.
A similar thing could happen with a bank robbery. The city it occurs in will have the local police respond. In the vast majority of the cases, it remains with the local police and a courtesy copy of the report is forwarded to the FBI. But if there are a chain of bank robberies that are being committed by the same suspect, the FBI might want to come in and take over and/or work with the local PD.
sojourner Member # 3134
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I found this incident disturbing and strange. Is it likely that rowdy passengers were hooting it up and killed her but that others didn't notice even though the rowdies were being rowdy?
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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Wasn't there just a passenger found dead on the route of the Empire Builder recently as well? I know every train ride is an adventure, but now some have become a murder mystery. Maybe a plot is developing here for a new Henry Kisor novel.
Ocala Mike Member # 4657
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quote:Originally posted by sojourner: Is it likely that rowdy passengers were hooting it up and killed her but that others didn't notice even though the rowdies were being rowdy?
Rowdies on the Autotrain? No, not likely.
My money's on the husband.
train lady Member # 3920
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speaking of a new novel it ocurrs to me that we haven't heard from Henry in a long time. I hope he is just busy and not ill.
RRRICH Member # 1418
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Of course this incident made the news down here in Orlando. I am also betting that her husband had something to do with it.......
Now how many people do you bet will jump up and blame AMTRAK for it?..............
HillsideStation Member # 6386
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The town where the unfortunate woman's remains were found advertises in Train publications as a place to watch train action. Don't think they had anything like this in mind. Best regards, Rodger
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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I'm fine, I'm fine! Just published a new book and am finishing up another -- that sure derails the morning train of thought. Thanks to all concerned for their good wishes.
Now to catch up on what I've missed.
notelvis Member # 3071
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quote:Originally posted by HillsideStation: The town where the unfortunate woman's remains were found advertises in Train publications as a place to watch train action. Don't think they had anything like this in mind. Best regards, Rodger
Amtrak doesn't kill people......
People who ride Amtrak kill people?
Gilbert B Norman Member # 1541
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The Orlando Sentinel reports that the autopsy report regarding the victim's death has been released, however it does not address to what extent there is a possibility of "foul play'.
It would appear that the investigative agencies (at the moment it appears the Georgia agency holds jurisdiction, but in view of that there was "interstate commerce" involved, the FBI could join the party at their choosing - defer to Mr. Smith for comments, if any, regarding one agency "usurping' the jurisdiction of another) could easily locate any passenger they choose insomuch as all passengers were manifested and can be tied with a registered motor vehicle. That the incident involves a passenger traveling Coach means more witnesses are available than had the passenger been traveling Sleeper.
Obviously, there is media interest with this incident, and in all likelihood, there will be further coverage. Likely, Amtrak would just as soon have 'the whole thing go away'; as they could do without the Auto Train being renamed in the minds of the public, the Orient Express.
RR4me Member # 6052
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I hope her name wasn't "Momma".
Ok, stupid joke. I am sorry for her, and suppose the husband is the first person whoever is in charge will question.
I too was wondering about Henry's absence.
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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You can still always find Henry at his "Reluctant Blogger" website. Always a good read. Just combine his name and "reluctant blogger' in a Google search.
The Chief Member # 2172
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Regarding questions/observations on what agencies are involved investigating, per reports, GBI is the lead. FBI could be involved.
GBI spokesman John Bankhead said Thursday other agencies were handling the analysis of the train itself (think forensics, this could be FBI, or destination agencies, on an assist). <-- New fact, multiple agency involvement.
Bankhead said investigators had conducted phone interviews with "many" of the more than 260 passengers. <-- That's a new fact, the PAX count.
This FOX-Atlanta article of Mon 13 Sept mentions GBI focus on passengers in cars 5310, 5311, 5312, and 5313, and the lounge.
Here's summer 2010 consist info: AUTO TRAIN 2 sets
CBS Atlanta article 13 Sept noted autopsy results indicate victim died of "multiple injuries including a broken neck."
Mrs. Arteta's funeral Mass was Friday. Her obit indicates she was involved as a community giver-backer and a good baker. She sounds like she would have been an interesting table companion in the Dining Car.
mr williams Member # 1928
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Without wishing to be morbid, how would an assailant have thrown the body out? Can the windows by the main carriage doors be opened? Surely the doors can't be opened whilst the train is moving nowadays, and the last carriage connecting door would be locked?
TwinStarRocket Member # 2142
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The windows on the regular exit doors on Superliners swivel inward and open with a simple twist of a handle. Of course there is a sign telling you not to open them. Lifting an unresisting small person up to and through the window would be possible. They are large enough. Except for bathroom traffic, no one would likely see.
Some of the photos you see on train websites that seem to be taken out a window of the train ahead...that's where they were taken from.
Henry Kisor Member # 4776
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Wouldn't opening a Superliner vestibule window at speed cause a lot of wind noise, enough to alert the attendant?
One of the admonitions of the train chiefs aboard the early Superliners was not to open the windows lest one get a faceful of wet exhaust from the macerating toilet system in the car ahead.
notelvis Member # 3071
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The noise would alert the attendant if the attendant were on the ground floor. If the attendant were upstairs or in another car it would not be noisy enough to be heard above the normal train noise..... even by passengers sitting near the top of the stairs.
As the Auto-Train is (normally) not detraining passengers or making smoke stops enroute, there is not much reason for a coach attendant to go downstairs or even be highly visible.
I would suggest that whatever foul play this lady encountered took place on the lower level of whichever coach she exited. It would be difficult for someone to make their way down the stairs carrying another person and not be noticed.
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