Reward offered in hit-and-run (another dead chemist)

Houston Chronicle ^ | Jan. 9, 2004

[mykdsmom]

A reward of up to $20,000 was announced Thursday for tips leading to the arrest and charges of a hit-and-run motorist who killed a chemist walking in the Texas Medical Center.

Robert Leslie Burghoff, 45, a postdoctoral fellow at Baylor College of Medicine's molecular virology and microbiology department, was walking to his car Nov. 20 when he was hit from behind by a white or light-colored cargo van that jumped the sidewalk in the 1600 block of South Braeswood.

Burghoff, a father of three who lived in The Woodlands, had been studying the Norwalk virus plaguing cruise ships.

Broken glass found at the scene was matched to a Ford E-series van, 1997 to 2004 model.

A witness reported seeing a round insignia on the right back portion of the van, below the license plate, and suspected it was a city emblem, but no city-owned van of that description was found to have any damage, police Investigator Ronnie Miller said.

The van might also have a spider crack in its windshield, he said. Witnesses said the van had no side windows, but had two dark tinted windows in the rear.

The driver was described as a short Hispanic man in his 40s or 50s with a slightly rounded, unshaven face.

Anyone with information should call the Houston Police Department Hit and Run Division at 713-247-4065 or Crime Stoppers at 713-222-TIPS.

Private sources have put up $15,000 of the reward, Crime Stoppers $5,000.

[mykdsmom]

I know there are a number of chemists that have been killed world wide in the past couple of years. Wonder if this one is related?

I'll try to find some other threads on these deaths and post the links in this thread.

MKM

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[Spok]

Looks like another Vince Foster-type suicide...

[mykdsmom]

Exactly!

Interesting that he was studying the Norwalk virus. I remember some speculating on threads if Norwalk could possibly be terrorism related.

I'm having some trouble finding threads related to the past killings of chemists. If anyone reading this can help I'd appreciate it.

MKM

[Faith65]

Note for self....dig around later to find old articles...how many dead now?

[mykdsmom]

how many dead now?

Looks like this could make 15 or more.

I did find these but they're not FR threads.

A Career In Microbiology Can Be Harmful To Your Health

http://www.deadscientists.blogspot.com/

MKM

[ruoflaw]

I tried biochemists and scientists amoung other words and I found nothing....but I remember reading about them

[Wonder Warthog]

"I know there are a number of chemists that have been killed world wide in the past couple of years. Wonder if this one is related?"

The context of the article implies that the victim was NOT a chemist, but probably a microbiologist. Other articles from Google call him a microbiologist.

The other "suspicious cases" all involved microbiologists.

[mykdsmom]

Same here, I keep coming up empty handed.

MKM

[John H K]

No, there was a vast spectrum, including doctors.

And actually I haven't seen a thread mentioning a biologist/doctor death in over a year, I think.

There are lots of them, and sometimes they'll die tragically.

[vetvetdoug]

This makes me worry.

[CyberAnt]

I'm not sure they're considered "chemists", but I think most of them were researchers in biological or chemical compounds.

[mykdsmom]

You're right. I was simply using chemist since that was the term used to describe him in the first sentence. Agree that microbiologist is a more accurate word.

MKM

[mykdsmom]

Here is something else, from Steve Quayle's site.

http://www.stevequayle.com/News.alert/03_Disease/030811.dead.microbiol.html

http://www.stevequayle.com/C2C.index.dead.scientist.html

http://www.memphisflyer.com/MFSearch/full_results.asp?xt_from=1&aID=2521

MKM

[_Jim]

BTTT

(Stealthily watching 'this conspiracy' - for what ever devious purpose by whatever sinister 'group' - unfold)

[mykdsmom]

Thanks for the Bump.

Looks like the Mod. "bumped" this right out of Front Page News. Thank God that Couples Asked to Bathe Together To Conserve Water is allowed to stay though.

MKM

[Wonder Warthog]

"And actually I haven't seen a thread mentioning a biologist/doctor death in over a year, I think."

You've missed some. I've seen at least two (not counting this one).

[backhoe]

I'm having some trouble finding threads related to the past killings of chemists. If anyone reading this can help I'd appreciate it.

Can't find mine easily- pinging Betty Jo.

[CyberAnt]

Okay .. didn't mean to make you think I was critizing .. it was just that I wasn't sure chemist really described these people. Sorry if I offended you.

[_Jim]

Couples Asked to Bathe Together To Conserve Water is allowed to stay though.

Perhaps the other story is of wider general interest :^)