Obama nominee questioned in disappearance of Marine’s missing heart

Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | January 20, 2014 | Jeremy Roebuck

[Rabin]

Philadelphia USA — Athens, Greece---- The mystery surrounding US Marine, Brian LaLoup’s missing heart has already drawn two nations into a Philadelphia federal court. Aug. 12, 2012, in a Greek government-run hospital in Athens, cut out their son’s heart.

U.S. military officials never informed Brian's parents that their son’s remains were incomplete until well after his burial —Defense Department later located a heart and sent it back to the United States, but it was not Brian LaLoup’s.

Dan Smith, US ambassador to Greece, “From the outset, this matter was a high priority for me. Three times before the procedure occurred, ( I ) attempted to block it. I raised the issue senior levels of the Greek government, pressing for an investigation, an accounting and the return of Sgt. LaLoup’s heart."

More than a year later, the LaLoups say they are no closer to finding out what happened to their son’s heart or where the heart they were sent came from.

[Rabin]

Daniel Smith, is President Barack Obama’s pick to lead the State Department’s intelligence and research apparatus. Smith’s nomination was approved by the Senate intelligence committee last week. He awaits a confirmation vote from the full Senate later this year.

Rab.

[andyk]

A true apparatchik. Sad story.

[peeps36]

Do they think someone stole the heart for a transplant? I wouldn't be as suspicious if they didn't try to dupe the family by sending a heart that belonged to someone else.

[Irenic]

That’s my guess.

[andyk]

Right? How disgusting is that?

[informavoracious]

Either that or they ate it.

[Jeff Head]

Makes one seriously wonder whether he really committed suicide.

Sounds like a Greek version of an Akancide.

[andyk]

Do they think someone stole the heart for a transplant?

We'd have to be crazy not to assume that. Right?

[Pollster1]

In other missing organ news, Americans continue
searching for signs of Obama's brain.