| Case Report No. 3287 | Date 10 Sept |
| Reporting Officer D. I. Carmody |
Description of Unusual Event:
At approx. 7:30 Mr. Frank Sacristedes (47, Caucasian, 8 Happenworth Square) discovered the body of Louis Wilhelm Kohner, 58, inside the bread baking oven of the Savoy Hotel. Sacristedes, an assistant to Kohner, was checking an incoming order in the pantry when he became aware of the smell of something burning. According to Sacristedes this was not unusual because rodents sometimes get trapped in an oven. Although it was Sacristedes’ job to turn on the oven each morning preparatory to baking the luncheon breads, he noticed that the oven was already on when he arrived shortly after 7. Sacristedes assumed that Kohner had turned on the oven himself. Sacristedes opened the oven door and found the body. Sacristedes said he knew it was Kohner immediately because of the ring on his finger (a signet ring with a crossed knife and spoon given to members of Les Amis de Cuisine, a professional club for chefs). Sacristedes slammed the oven door and ran screaming through the hotel dining room until he was subdued by the security staff.
The investigating police officer turned off the oven. He opened the door and found Kohner’s hands clenched as though still clutching the bolt on the inside of the door. Kohner’s stomach had exploded from the pressure within the oven. His face was not immediately recognizable until it was cleaned of internal debris. The deceased was twisted as though he were pushing from the inside to open the door (an impossibility). Identification of the body was almost immediate in view of the deceased’s jewelry, keys, and watch. The mouth of the deceased was open wide as though he had been screaming. Verification of dental records reconfirmed the identity of the Victim.
Examination showed that a blow had been dealt to the back of the skull. The blow (search at the scene indicated possible use of a heavy pot or wooden rolling pin) did not kill the victim but presumably rendered him unconscious while the perpetrator pushed the body into the oven. Analysis shows that the body was pushed in head first as evidence of blood was found at the back of the oven. This would indicate that the victim regained consciousness, moved himself to face the door, and tried to release himself from the oven.
The oven temperature (approx. 450 degrees) would indicate that the oven had been turned on just shortly before 7, only five or ten minutes before Mr. Sacristedes arrived. The coroner reports that death would have occurred due to suffocation. If not, when the oven temperature reached 200 degrees the air would have seared the victim’s lungs. It would appear that death took place at about 7:10, some twenty minutes before the body was found.
Appended are the statement by Sacristedes, report from the police officer, report from the coroner.
Personal Observations:
A worrisome case. There appears to be a singular lack of motive for killing the deceased. The appended statements, while still unverified in some instances, appear to be accurate. Or, at least, do not conflict with my personal observations below.