TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Tourist missing since 2010 found in submerged car

A very odd story regarding an American tourist missing since 2010. His rented BMW was found this Spring submerged in Great Bay. Sadly, it appears to have been a suicide, but how in the world does one drive a car into the ocean near a very populated area without anyone noticing? https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/66034-police-identify-bones-found-as-robert-brous

Actually, while the article mentions that there is no evidence of criminal behavior it also mentions that the cause of death is undetermined. Could have been natural causes before the car went into the water.

The story was posted here when the vehicle was first found. I am surprised that it took that long to identify the remains. As far as the cause of death, because of the body having been in the water for that period of time, I would think it would be very difficult to determine cause of death, even if it had been a homicide. How the car came to be in the water I guess will remain a mystery.

I recall the original story when the relatives he came down with said he had been despondent due to business downturns. I have heard of many suicides of people who submerge themselves in the water with a car, and they usually have a large amount of pills or a gun to help facilitate that they stay down. The original stories speculated that the man was murdered and the car off the island, but I was only surprised it took so long to solve this mystery, as there are so many scuba divers in St. Maarten. Forensic scientists could probably determine if it was suicide or homicide. I know in the cases we have seen in our town for the same type of death -- it is always they have been dealing with overwhelming depression.

Not many divers dive in Great Bay that would be close enough to find a submerged car. Don't think a car would make it very far from shore and most frequented dive sites are further out in deeper waters.