Biggest amateur-built sub sinks—owner is suspected of killing passenger

Started by jimmy olsen, August 19, 2017, 05:40:23 AM

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jimmy olsen

Denmark hmm...what do you know Jacob, and when did you know it!?

https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2017/08/biggest-amateur-built-sub-sinks-owner-is-suspected-of-killing-passenger/

QuoteBiggest amateur-built sub sinks—owner is suspected of killing passenger [Updated]
Reporter missing after "minor problem with ballast" caused near-instant sinking.

SEAN GALLAGHER - 8/12/2017, 7:00 AM

Believe it or not, there's a crowdsourced, open source non-profit attempting to build a sea-launched suborbital rocket. Called Copenhagen Suborbitals, it even had access to a submarine. A club associated with the venture completed the sub in 2008, designed by Peter Madsen, a Danish inventor who is co-founder of the group. That submarine is now at the bottom of the sea, and Madsen is being held by Danish authorities on suspicion of "unlawful killing"—a precursor charge to manslaughter or murder.

The UC3 Nautilus was the third and largest submarine effort by the club, costing $200,000 to construct. It served as a workhorse for Copenhagen Suborbitals, helping push the group's Sputnik rocket launch platform into position on a number of occasions. Nautilus is—or was—powered by two diesel engines above the surface and by batteries underwater. While it could hold a crew of four underwater, all of its controls could be managed by a single person from its control room.

By 2011, the sub needed an overhaul. But the repairs required more than Copenhagen Suborbitals could afford to sink into the Nautilus. So in 2013, the group launched an Indiegogo campaign to get it back in the water. In a video, Madsen described the sub and the inspiration behind it.


Madsen's pitch for crowdfunding repairs on the UV3 Nautilus, from 2013.
The crowdfunding project fell short, and Madsen eventually took possession of the Nautilus himself after an often contentious dispute over control and ownership of the sub, continuing work on it himself. (Madsen is no longer associated with Copenhagen Orbital). His efforts drew the attention of a Swedish journalist, who took a trip with Madsen on the sub this week. The reporter had said she was writing a story for Wired (though she was not on assignment for Wired in the US, and was not formally employed by the UK edition of the publication). Madsen was seen departing with her around 7pm local time on August 10 from Refshale Island (Refshaleøen), an industrial area east of Copenhagen. (Update: the journalist has been identified as Kim Wall, who has contributed in the past to the Guardian and the New York Times.)

At 3:30am Friday, the Copenhagen Police received a call from Denmark's Joint Rescue Coordination Center (JRCC) indicating that the Nautilus had not returned from what was supposed to be a trial run. About 7 hours later, a harbormaster reported spotting the submarine passing Drogden Lighthouse, in Køge Bay, well south of Copenhagen's harbor. Madsen spoke with the harbormaster, via radio, indicating that he was headed for the harbor. When asked why he had not been in contact with the harbor, he said that he had been experiencing technical issues.

But he never made it back to the harbor. According to the police report, "At 11.00 the submarine suddenly sank and the owner was subsequently rescued on a private motorboat sailing [near] him in port."

After being rescued, Madsen told Denmark's TV2 that "a minor problem with a ballast tank... turned into a major issue." The ballast tank, which holds air or water to vary the submarine's buoyancy, apparently filled with water unexpectedly. The Nautilus' hatches were open, so as the sub started to submerge it began to flood. Madsen said that the sub was gone in 30 seconds. If he had been below decks instead of in the small mast of the sub, he would have been killed.

But Madsen didn't mention his passenger. When questioned by the police, he said that he had dropped the woman off Thursday evening near where they had departed from, around 10:30pm. But no one had been able to reach the woman or establish her whereabouts.

Police are still seeking anyone who may have seen the woman or the submarine on Thursday night. A search effort was still underway as of this evening, and the submarine has been located at the bottom of the bay in 7 meters (22 feet) of water, but divers have not been able to enter the sub to check for a body.

Update [August 14, 10:00 am Eastern]:  The Nautilus has been raised, but no body was found aboard. However, police are continuing to hold Madsen, as he has changed his story about dropping Wall off. Details of his new narrative have not been publicly shared. Madsen will be held an additional 24 days while an investigation continues. Police believe Madsen deliberately sank the sub.
It is far better for the truth to tear my flesh to pieces, then for my soul to wander through darkness in eternal damnation.

Jet: So what kind of woman is she? What's Julia like?
Faye: Ordinary. The kind of beautiful, dangerous ordinary that you just can't leave alone.
Jet: I see.
Faye: Like an angel from the underworld. Or a devil from Paradise.
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Monoriu

The sub has been raised and there is nobody onboard?  So how is this a killing?

jimmy olsen

Quote from: Monoriu on August 19, 2017, 05:42:59 AM
The sub has been raised and there is nobody onboard?  So how is this a killing?

They think he killed her, dumped the body, then sank the sub to destroy any evidence.
It is far better for the truth to tear my flesh to pieces, then for my soul to wander through darkness in eternal damnation.

Jet: So what kind of woman is she? What's Julia like?
Faye: Ordinary. The kind of beautiful, dangerous ordinary that you just can't leave alone.
Jet: I see.
Faye: Like an angel from the underworld. Or a devil from Paradise.
--------------------------------------------
1 Karma Chameleon point

Liep

"Af alle latterlige Ting forekommer det mig at være det allerlatterligste at have travlt" - Kierkegaard

"JamenajmenømahrmDÆ!DÆ! Æhvnårvaæhvadlelæh! Hvor er det crazy, det her, mand!" - Uffe Elbæk

Liep

He admitted burying her after she died "in an accident" on board.
"Af alle latterlige Ting forekommer det mig at være det allerlatterligste at have travlt" - Kierkegaard

"JamenajmenømahrmDÆ!DÆ! Æhvnårvaæhvadlelæh! Hvor er det crazy, det her, mand!" - Uffe Elbæk

Jacob

Quote from: Liep on August 21, 2017, 03:32:41 AM
He admitted burying her after she died "in an accident" on board.

Super convincing. Of course if someone dies in "an accident" on your property, the normal thing to do is bury them and not tell anyone about it until questioned by the police. Not suspicious at all.

alfred russel

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

There's a fine line between salvation and drinking poison in the jungle.

I'm embarrassed. I've been making the mistake of associating with you. It won't happen again. :)
-garbon, February 23, 2014

Habbaku

The medievals were only too right in taking nolo episcopari as the best reason a man could give to others for making him a bishop. Give me a king whose chief interest in life is stamps, railways, or race-horses; and who has the power to sack his Vizier (or whatever you care to call him) if he does not like the cut of his trousers.

Government is an abstract noun meaning the art and process of governing and it should be an offence to write it with a capital G or so as to refer to people.

-J. R. R. Tolkien

Berkut

"If you think this has a happy ending, then you haven't been paying attention."

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Jacob


alfred russel

They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.

There's a fine line between salvation and drinking poison in the jungle.

I'm embarrassed. I've been making the mistake of associating with you. It won't happen again. :)
-garbon, February 23, 2014

Caliga

I wonder if he shot her out a torpedo tube like Kirk did to Spock. :hmm:

"Of... all... the reporters... I have... ever... known... she... was... the most... human."
0 Ed Anger Disapproval Points

Liep

They found a female torso (no limbs or head) by the shore close to my place and the police think it's her. I don't know what religion he practises but that's not a burial ritual I've heard of before.
"Af alle latterlige Ting forekommer det mig at være det allerlatterligste at have travlt" - Kierkegaard

"JamenajmenømahrmDÆ!DÆ! Æhvnårvaæhvadlelæh! Hvor er det crazy, det her, mand!" - Uffe Elbæk


jimmy olsen

Quote from: Liep on August 21, 2017, 05:02:52 PM
They found a female torso (no limbs or head) by the shore close to my place and the police think it's her. I don't know what religion he practises but that's not a burial ritual I've heard of before.

Couldn't the body have been chewed ip by sharks?

He probably just bashed her head in with a wrench and dumped her rather than going all Saw on her and chopping her up.
It is far better for the truth to tear my flesh to pieces, then for my soul to wander through darkness in eternal damnation.

Jet: So what kind of woman is she? What's Julia like?
Faye: Ordinary. The kind of beautiful, dangerous ordinary that you just can't leave alone.
Jet: I see.
Faye: Like an angel from the underworld. Or a devil from Paradise.
--------------------------------------------
1 Karma Chameleon point