New to the Case? From The Beginning...

Welcome to one of the world's most intriguing unsolved mysteries. If you're new to the Somerton Man case, this page will give you the essential facts and help you navigate the investigation.

The Basic Mystery

On December 1, 1948, the body of an unidentified man was found on Somerton Beach in Adelaide, South Australia. Despite extensive investigation, his identity remained unknown for over 70 years. The case involves coded messages, mysterious connections, possible espionage, and forensic puzzles that continue to baffle investigators.

This isn't just an unsolved death; it's a window into Cold War intelligence operations and one of the most sophisticated mysteries in criminal history.

But was the Somerton Man just the tip of the iceberg? What bigger secrets lie behind this man's death?

The Essential Facts

December 1, 1948 – Body discovered at 6:30 AM on Somerton Beach, Adelaide. Estimated time of death: Late evening, November 30 or early morning December .1 Cause of death: Unknown (no obvious injuries, suspected poisoning) Age: Estimated 40-45 years old. Distinguishing features: Exceptionally fit, well-groomed, unusually small feet for his height of 5' 11"

What Made This Case Unusual

No identification: All clothing labels had been removed—highly unusual and suggesting deliberate concealment of identity.

Strange items found: An unused train ticket, an American-made comb, cigarettes of a specific brand, Kensitas, but in an Army Club cigarette packet..

The "Tamám Shud" slip: A tiny piece of paper found in a hidden pocket, torn from a poetry book. The Persian words mean "ended" or "finished", the final words of the Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam.

The mysterious book: Months later, a copy of the Rubaiyat was found with the missing piece torn from it. Inside the book was a phone number and a mysterious code. But it was not the one that was at first thought; this was a Collins book, a smallish book that contained both Fitzgerald's first and second editions.

The Code Page: Five lines of seemingly random capital letters that have never been definitively deciphered although here at this blog we have made some incredible discoveries.

Key Players & Connections

Jessica Thomson (Maiden name Jessica Harkness, Jestyn) – A nurse whose phone number was found in the Rubaiyat. When shown the body's plaster bust, she appeared shocked. She claimed not to know the deceased but her reactions suggested otherwise.

Alf Boxall – Jessica had given this Australian Army Lieutenant with an intelligence background a copy of the Rubaiyat in 1945 with a handwritten inscription. Investigators initially thought this might be the book found, but Boxall still had his copy. or that maybe the dead man was Alf Boxall. But not so. Alf is said to have had an Intelligence background

Paul Lawson – The Adealide Museum taxidermist who created the plaster bust of the Somerton Man in 1949, preserving the only three-dimensional record of his appearance. I had the privilege of spending many hours talking with Mr. Lawsn.

Detective Sergeant Lionel Leane – One time Lead investigator on the case, who conducted extensive inquiries but was unable to establish the man's identity. Some researchers have been critical of Leane's role in the case but in my view, he did a good job under difficult circumstances.

Tibor Kaldor – Found dead in an Adelaide hotel room just 14 days after the Somerton Man, only 35 minutes away from Somerton Beach. His death also involved suspicious circumstances and possible intelligence connections. An acrostic code was found in his last letter.

The Intelligence Connection

Evidence suggests the Somerton Man case may involve Cold War espionage:

Timing: December 1948—height of early Cold War tensions
Location: Adelaide—strategic military location with Salisbury Long Range Weapons Establishment and Woomera rocket range nearby
Methodology: Removed labels, concealed pocket, coded messages, untraceable poison, all consistent with intelligence espionage tradecraft.
Connected cases: Multiple suspicious deaths in the same timeframe (Kaldor, Marshall, Goreloff)
The DANETTA code: Acrostic patterns appearing across multiple 1945-1949 cases
The Rubaiyat as a training manual: Evidence suggesting the 1944 Boxall Rubaiyat was used for intelligence clandestine communications training

Major Developments in the Case

1949 – Initial Investigation & Inquest

Body found, extensive police investigation
Plaster bust created by Paul Lawson
Inquest returns an open finding—cause of death undetermined
Code page publicized, seeking public help

1949-2020s – Cold Case Period

Second inquest in 1959
Occasional renewed interest
Various amateur investigators propose theories
Most evidence held by the SA Police
Growing community of researchers worldwide

2013-Present – This Blog's Investigation

Using initial variations of WW2 concealed message recovery techniques, systematic analysis of all available evidence
Discovery of micro-written text using SMET (Sub-Millimeter Enhancement Technique)
Identification of intelligence tradecraft in case documents
Research into connected deaths and Soviet diplomat Pavel Fedosimov
Direct interviews with key witnesses, including Paul Lawson

2022 – The Webb Identification Controversy

Professor Derek Abbott announces DNA identification as "Carl Webb"
This blog's forensic analysis reveals critical flaws in that identification:
- Misidentification of post-mortem vs ante-mortem root banding
- Significant height discrepancies (photogrammetric analysis)
- Chain of custody issues with DNA samples
- Physical appearance inconsistencies

2024 – Official Recognition

SA Police request evidence submission for Coroner's Inquest
Police acknowledge microcode evidence
Ongoing investigation into the true identity

December 2025 – Major Publication Coming

77th anniversary of the discovery
Revelation of SMET findings on Boxall Rubaiyat
Evidence of sophisticated intelligence tradecraft
Multiple concealment layers revealed

The Evidence This Blog Focuses On

The Code Page: Five lines of capital letters found in the Rubaiyat. Research has revealed micro-written and sometimes anamorphic text within the letters themselves, evidence of sophisticated concealment techniques.

The Boxall Rubaiyat: The copy Jessica gave to Alf Boxall in 1945. SMET analysis has revealed previously unknown layers of concealed communications using infrared-reactive inks.

The "Tamám Shud" Slip: The tiny rolled-up paper fragment found in the hidden pocket. Analysis suggests professional intelligence preparation.

Connected Cases: Research into Tibor Kaldor, George Marshall, Michael Gorloff, and others who died under suspicious circumstances in the same timeframe.

Soviet Connections: Investigation into Pavel Fedosimov and other Soviet diplomats with potential connections to the case.

Small Ads & Covert Communications: Analysis of classified advertisements placed by residents of 90a Moseley Street, revealing patterns consistent with intelligence communications.

Key Research Principles of This Blog

This investigation follows professional investigative methodology:

Evidence-based: All claims substantiated with documented evidence. Transparent: Unproven theories clearly identified as hypotheses. Primary sources: Direct access to witnesses, original documents, and official records. Technical innovation: Proprietary SMET methodology revealing previously invisible evidence. Academic rigor: Peer-reviewed publications and open methodology

"Islands of Truth adrift in an ocean of wild theories and guesswork."

This phrase captures the blog's approach: focus on what can be proven, the islands of truth, clearly distinguish facts from speculation, and follow evidence to conclusions rather than seeking evidence to support predetermined theories.

Why This Case Matters

The Somerton Man mystery is more than a fascinating puzzle. It is of historical importance. It represents:

Historical significance: A window into Cold War intelligence operations
Forensic innovation: Development of new techniques (SMET) with applications beyond this case
Justice: An unidentified person deserves to have their story told
Truth: Understanding what really happened in post-war intelligence operations
Methodology: Demonstrating how systematic investigation can reveal truths hidden for decades

Common Misconceptions

"The case was solved—it's Carl Webb." Not definitively. Serious forensic and chain-of-custody issues remain with the DNA identification. The SA Police Coroner's Inquest is still ongoing.

"The code has been broken." No complete decryption exists. However, SMET analysis has revealed micro-written text suggesting intelligence communications rather than a simple cipher. and some small groups of letters have been found, including names.

"It was just a suicide or accidental death." The removed labels, hidden pocket, coded messages, and connected cases all point to something more complex than a simple death.

"Jessica Thomson knew nothing." Her reactions and the evidence suggest she knew more than she revealed, while the exact details of her involvement remain unclear; it is not thought that she was anything other than a trained operative for Australian Military Intelligence

How to Navigate This Blog

With over 1,000 posts covering 12+ years of research, here's how to explore:

Start with key topics:

SMET Analysis (microcode discoveries)
Webb Identification Critique
DANETTA Code Network
Tibor Kaldor Investigation
Pavel Fedosimov Research

Use the search function to find specific topics

Check the Pages (see sidebar) for organized resources

Follow chronologically if you want to see how discoveries unfolded

Read the upcoming December 2025 publication for the most significant findings

Questions Newcomers Often Ask

Q: Who do you think the Somerton Man was? A: The evidence suggests involvement in intelligence operations, but specific identity remains under investigation. The focus is on what can be proven through evidence.

Q: Was he a spy? A: The evidence—removed labels, coded messages, sophisticated concealment techniques, connected cases—is consistent with intelligence work. Whether he was an agent, informant, or target remains uncertain.

Q: Why hasn't this been definitively solved? A: Key evidence has been lost (the original Rubaiyat and Tamám Shud slip have been "mislaid" according to SA Police). The sophisticated intelligence tradecraft suggests professional operators who knew how to cover their tracks.

Q: How can I help? A: Read carefully, think critically, and share any genuine historical connections or information you may have. The blog welcomes evidence-based contributions.

Ready to Dive Deeper?

Now that you understand the basics, you're ready to explore the detailed research. The blog contains extensive analysis of every aspect of this case, from forensic details to intelligence connections to connected mysteries.

Remember: approach the case with curiosity but also critical thinking. Not every theory is equally supported by evidence. This blog prioritizes proven facts over speculation—but the facts themselves are extraordinary enough.

The bottom line is that we may never know the Somerton Man's identity, but, as I suspect, we may find out more about the 'bigger secret'.

Welcome to the investigation.

Last updated: November 2025 For questions about the case, see the Contact page or explore the blog's extensive archives.

New to The Case?