...And On The 13th Day...
The Power of Patterns: Coincidences in the Timeline of the Somerton Man Case
The Somerton Man case has long captured the imagination of researchers and the public alike, standing as one of history's most enduring mysteries. While it remains unsolved, certain patterns emerge when examining its timeline—patterns that may hold clues to the bigger picture. One such pattern is the curious recurrence of 13-day intervals linking several key events. These coincidences, if that's what they are, while not constituting direct evidence, offer a new and fascinating lens through which we can explore the case.
In the world of investigation, recognizing patterns is a critical skill, and history has shown how even the smallest connections can lead to groundbreaking discoveries. This post examines some of the patterns associated with the Somerton Man case, considers their potential significance, and places them in the context of real-world investigative techniques, including lessons from historical espionage cases.
The 1945 George Marshall Case: A Prelude to Patterns
The timeline begins in 1945 with a series of events surrounding George Marshall, who was found dead with an open copy of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. The following timeline reveals a striking series of 13-day intervals:
May 7, 1945: Pakie Macdougall was struck by a truck and died the next morning.
May 20, 1945: A newspaper dated this day was found under George Marshall’s body—13 days later.
June 3, 1945: Marshall’s body was discovered—14 days after the newspaper date, slightly breaking the 13-day pattern but still notable.because there is no way of knowing when the newspaper was put in place or exactly when George Marshall died
August 13, 1945: The inquest findings were released.
August 26, 1945: Gwenneth Dorothy Graham, a close friend of George Marshall, tragically took her own life—exactly 13 days later.
November 17, 1948: Michael Goreloff was estimated to have died.
December 1, 1948: The Somerton Man was found dead on Somerton Beach—13 days later.
December 13, 1948: Tibor Kaldor was found dead in a Hindley Street hotel—a 13-day interval. following the death of the Somerton Man Apophenia is an interesting term it deals in a way with the issue of coincidences but it does so only in subjective ways. For example, if you break a mirror there's going to be 7 years of bad luck, if you are a gambler, and you've had 7 straight losses in a row then you are due a win, In this case, the 'coincidences' are supported by documented facts. They are objective views and not subjective in nature.
So, is it all a coincidence or is it not?