The death was ultimately ruled a suicide, but many, including several officers on the case, were not satisfied with the outcome (via BuzzFeed Unsolved Network). The Police Security Service even admitted at the time to having been contacted by the Bergen Chief of Police to investigate possible espionage affiliation. In an autopsy, 50-70 sleeping pills that were not absorbed fully into her bloodstream at the time of death were found in her system (via BuzzFeed Unsolved Network). There were also high levels of carbon monoxide and smoke in her lungs — suggesting she was alive when she was burned to death — and a large, unexplained bruise on the side of her neck.
The findings raised many questions: Why would she burn herself after ingesting a fatal dose of pills? What caused the explosion to only burn her front half? Who placed the jewelry next to her body, if not her? And why was there petrol present? Well, investigators had the same questions, especially after the police chief in charge of the investigation declared the case would remain unsolved until the woman’s identity was found, only to rule it a suicide not long after. The area where she was found in Ice Valley was actually known as “Death Valley” by locals because of all the suicides that had occurred there throughout the ages. Hikers had also fallen and died on that same trail in the 1960s (via BuzzFeed Unsolved Network) due to its treacherous terrain through the remote wilderness — leading some to believe the Isdal Woman’s tragic fate was just an accident.
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If you or anyone you know is having suicidal thoughts, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or by calling 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Visit the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration website or contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
