Body of Missing Billionaire Found?

[blogslut]

::UPDATE::
Much love to this thread by KoKo01, in which posting has expired:
Phillip Merrill, Prominent Publisher & Bush Diplomat Missing from Yacht
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=364&topic_id=1402002

as for the update:

(eek!) THE WASHINGTON TIMES
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police has recovered a body at Poplar Island in the Chesapeake Bay.

It could not be determined whether the body was that of publisher Philip Merrill, 72, who disappeared June 10 during a solo sailing trip around the bay and has been presumed dead...
http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20060619-020538-6670r.htm

To review: The 1988 Bristol of Philip Merrill, media magnate, life-long sailor, long-time friend of VP Dick Cheney, former chair of the Export Import bank, former NATO guy, worked with both State and Defense departments, member of the Board of Trustees for the Aspen Institute, co-member of the Atlantic Council with Judy Miller - was found in shallow water by two jetskiers on Saturday, June 10, 2006.

According to an account in Merrill's own paper, one jetskier claimed to have boarded the boat and turned on the engine. The skier then said he then saw blood and tried to shut the engine off. It would not turn off. The skier called the police. Merrill had left his wallet on the Bristol and was known to shun life jackets. His bay sailing was a regular activity and his route common. The day was sunny with gusts up to 35 MPH.

Mysterious...

[blogslut]

1. Confirmation

just found this:

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/dnrnews/pressrelease2006/061906c.html

Media Advisory - Body Of Philip Merrill Found

WHAT: Maryland Natural Resources Police will be holding a press briefing to announce the details surrounding the recovery of Philip Merrill who has been missing from his sailboat since Saturday, June 10...

[blogslut]

12. More details

According to this quick bit @ WaPo, The Merrills and the Cheney's were close friends and Lynne Cheney used to write for Merrill @ the Washingtonian:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/19/AR2006061900774.html

Cheney called him "a friend, an adviser and a patriot." He described Merrill and his wife, Eleanor, as "some of our closest friends during our years in Washington."

Cheney's wife, Lynne, worked for Merrill and his wife at the Washingtonian for a number of years.

"I had the privilege of working with him when he was the assistant secretary-general of NATO and I was secretary of defense," the vice president said. "Phil was one of those rare individuals who was good at everything he ever tried, and he made major contributions -- public, business and philanthropic..."

[Minnesota Libra]

2. "......long-time friend of VP Dick Cheney,..." says it all nt

[Fridays Child]

3. Hmm.... Did he double cross the familia?

:yoiks:

[Warpy]

4. Gusty winds and sailboats

can produce credible accidents. All it takes is a gust from the wrong direction shifting that boom when you're taking a long suck of beer, and you're over the side with a dent in your head.

Don't get out the tinfoil yet.

[spinbaby]

5. The BFEE can also produce credible accidents n/t

.

[Warpy]

7. They'd rather produce suicides

with multiple gunshot wounds to the head.

[blogslut]

6. yes, i am aware

Just the same, intriguing stuff...

[mntleo2]

8. Dick Wasn't Bird Hunting Nearby, Was He???

...just asking

Cat In Seattle

[warrens]

9. I wonder if he got shot in the face...

Cheney a serial killer? Who knew?

[SeattleRob]

10. Interesting...

I found this listing of their board of Trustees on their website. Scroll down and see the lifetime members:

http://www.aspeninstitute.org/site/c.huLWJeMRKpH/b.612063/k.AE55/Board_of_Trustees.htm

[blogslut]

11. Bandar Bush!

I never noticed that! The creepiness creepens...

[blogslut]

14. Suicide!

That's what the statement from his family says:
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-statement0620,0,6337480.story?coll=bal-local-headlines

...Phil underwent significant heart surgery over a year ago and was on several medications as a result of it. Over the past four weeks, we observed that his spirit had dimmed. We spoke to him and consulted his physician about it. He was fatigued and unmotivated, a clear departure from his lifelong optimistic outlook and irrepressible spirit. We were concerned for his welfare but never imagined that he would consider taking his own life...

Ths additional bit from the WaPo:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/20/AR2006062001476_pf.html

...Merrill, 72, was found with a shotgun wound to the head and a small anchor tied around one or both ankles, according to a source familiar with the investigation...

wowsers

[chill_wind]

13. ABC (in Washington area) just getting around to this update?

He was found when again?

Prominent Publisher's Body Found
RSS Feeds From ABC 7 UPDATED - Monday June 19, 2006 5:18pm
Annapolis, Md. (AP) - The body of prominent publisher and former diplomat Philip Merrill has been found.

The 72-year-old went missing during a solo sailing trip June tenth in the Chesapeake Bay.

http://www.wjla.com/news/stories/0606/337501.html

on edit:
Times and dates of stories noted. My confusion (apologies)

[Bucky]

15. Grabbing my popcorn... waiting for the conspiracy crowd to get warmed up.

:popcorn: Wait for it... here it comes...

"There are no coincidences"

"No one ever dies in accidents"

"Cheney is well known for his ability to make realistic plans and carry them out competantly"

"Where was Jenna when this went down?"

[blogslut]

16. Yagotta admit

The details read like TV detective script. :)

[DoYouEverWonder]

17. What accident ?

"Obviously, he took his own life," the source said, speaking on condition of anonymity because the results of an autopsy had not been announced. "This is not an accident."

Either he killed himself or someone did it for him. Pick One.

I don't see why they jump to the conclusion that it was 'obvious' that he took his own life. Nothing to see here, move along.

[AndyTiedye]

18. More Aspens Turning?

member of the Board of Trustees for the Aspen Institute