The suspects
PN
Pavel Novak
Age 51
Station Lead
Motive: Elin's audit showed four years of his ice-core data were duplicated
MA
Mikkel Aas
Age 33
Mechanic & Logistics
Motive: Elin ended their relationship that evening — the whole station heard
SQ
Sana Qureshi
Age 38
Atmospheric Chemist
Motive: Elin's grant ranked above hers; only one would be funded
JB
Jonas Berg
Age 26
PhD Student (Novak's lab)
Motive: He processed the duplicated data — the audit could end his PhD
Case file excerpt
VICTIMDr. Elin Strand, 44 — glaciologist, Kestrel Research Station
FOUNDJanuary 14, 2021, 07:10 — by mechanic Mikkel Aas, searching after she missed breakfast
LOCATIONMoraine slope, 200 m north-east of the station, off the guide rope
INITIAL RULINGLost in the dark on the nightly instrument check — hypothermia