publication date: Monday, December 24, 2018 (part of Winter 2019)

category: Mysteries

clue: What do a millenium-old book of MIddle Eastern poetry and the genetic implications of the folds of an ear have to do with this murder victim? Not enough to solve the case.

explanation: "Somerton Man" is the name given to a corpse found in Australia in 1948. The case has fascinated the public ever since then, thanks to certain mysterious details, like a scrap of paper in his pocket torn from a rare copy of Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. One modern-day expert discovered that the same unusual ear shape caused by the man's genetics is shared by the daughter of a woman connected to the case. more…

intended difficulty: hard

solved by: Russ Wilhelm, LaVonne Lemler, Samir Mehta, Chris Lemler, Richard Slominsky, Erik Bates, and Stan Iwanchuk


Similar Goos

Kelleth Cuthbert

For some Internet celebrities, wetter is better. Go »

Amelia Earhart

Sorry, this goo crashed with only 7,000 bytes left in the upload. Go »

Grigori Perelman

After 100 years, the million-dollar solution to a French geometric mystery has come from St. Petersburg, by a man who wants nothing to do with the field. Go »

D.B. Cooper

If this notorious (and anonymous) hijacker was ever arrested, he'd definitely be considered a flight risk. Go »

Madeleine McCann

The words "little girl lost" (or their Portuguese equivalent) launched a worldwide media investigation one year ago. Go »

Johnny Gosch

Gosh, I hope this paperboy finishes his route soon. Go »