Robert Barrington Leigh, was a promising 20-year old math and physics whiz at the University of Toronto. While home for two weeks visiting his parents at 9820 85 Avenue in Edmonton, Alberta, he waved goodbye to his mother, who was sitting on the couch watching TV, and headed off on his bike to the nearby Edmonton Folk Festival being held in Gallagher Park to meet some friends.
At about 11:30 p.m., he text-messaged his girlfriend, Lucy Zhang, who was studying in Italy, to tell her that he was in Queen Elizabeth Park heading toward the festival and would not be able to call her later. According to Lucy, he wished her luck on her mid-term exams and "there was nothing weird about his message."
But he never returned home.
The disappearance led the local newscasts for nine days until his body was found in the North Saskatchewan River across from Gallagher Park, the site of the festival.
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About Robert Barrington Leigh
Robert was an exceptional student in the Mathematics Department at the University of Toronto where he won top awards in several international mathematics competitions.
His family recounts a story of how "the toddler looked at ceiling lights in their home and realised he could count them quicker if he multiplied them rather than count each one individually." He quickly broadened his horizons, and by age 20, he was ready to start his fourth year studying math and physics at the University of Toronto and according to one mentor was "reading 400-level university" journals, typically authored by professors.
One of Robert's math professors, Dr. Edward Bierstone said, "we expect him to go on to graduate studies at one of the world's top universities, and to have a brilliant career. His disappearance is highly uncharacteristic of Robert."
In fact, it was so uncharacteristic of Robert to disappear that his parents did not wait for the Edmonton police to issue an alert, they went directly to the media on August 15 to appeal to the public for help. His mother, Iris, told the media they felt something bad had happened to him. His father, retired physicist John Barrington Leigh, said, "I don't have the best feeling about the situation. He's a gifted mathematician. He's very academic, very straight and narrow. Bad things happen to nice guys. I suspect foul play. That's my instinct."
Suicide does not seem to be a possibility. By all accounts, Robert was happy and looking forward to the future. He just gotten an apartment with his girlfriend two months before his disappearance.
The Search for Robert Barrington Leigh
Hundreds of volunteers, including Robert's girlfriend who flew in from Italy, helped search for the young man. His brother, Christopher, and sister, Rosalind, arrived from Vancouver and started a website,http://www.findrobert.ca/, designed posters, and help coordinate volunteer efforts.
Ground searchers looked for any of the belongings he had with him--a bike, helmet, backpack, but came up empty handed. The Edmonton Police Service conducted helicopter and dog searches along the North Saskatchewan River and Mill Creek Ravine.
Recovery
At about 11:30 p.m., he text-messaged his girlfriend, Lucy Zhang, who was studying in Italy, to tell her that he was in Queen Elizabeth Park heading toward the festival and would not be able to call her later. According to Lucy, he wished her luck on her mid-term exams and "there was nothing weird about his message."
But he never returned home.
The disappearance led the local newscasts for nine days until his body was found in the North Saskatchewan River across from Gallagher Park, the site of the festival.
----------------------
About Robert Barrington Leigh
Robert was an exceptional student in the Mathematics Department at the University of Toronto where he won top awards in several international mathematics competitions.
His family recounts a story of how "the toddler looked at ceiling lights in their home and realised he could count them quicker if he multiplied them rather than count each one individually." He quickly broadened his horizons, and by age 20, he was ready to start his fourth year studying math and physics at the University of Toronto and according to one mentor was "reading 400-level university" journals, typically authored by professors.
One of Robert's math professors, Dr. Edward Bierstone said, "we expect him to go on to graduate studies at one of the world's top universities, and to have a brilliant career. His disappearance is highly uncharacteristic of Robert."
In fact, it was so uncharacteristic of Robert to disappear that his parents did not wait for the Edmonton police to issue an alert, they went directly to the media on August 15 to appeal to the public for help. His mother, Iris, told the media they felt something bad had happened to him. His father, retired physicist John Barrington Leigh, said, "I don't have the best feeling about the situation. He's a gifted mathematician. He's very academic, very straight and narrow. Bad things happen to nice guys. I suspect foul play. That's my instinct."
Suicide does not seem to be a possibility. By all accounts, Robert was happy and looking forward to the future. He just gotten an apartment with his girlfriend two months before his disappearance.
The Search for Robert Barrington Leigh
Hundreds of volunteers, including Robert's girlfriend who flew in from Italy, helped search for the young man. His brother, Christopher, and sister, Rosalind, arrived from Vancouver and started a website,http://www.findrobert.ca/, designed posters, and help coordinate volunteer efforts.
Ground searchers looked for any of the belongings he had with him--a bike, helmet, backpack, but came up empty handed. The Edmonton Police Service conducted helicopter and dog searches along the North Saskatchewan River and Mill Creek Ravine.
Recovery
On August 22, "at about 11:00 a.m. Edmonton firefighters in wetsuits fought fast-flowing currents as they pulled a body from the river near 92nd Street and 99th Avenue. The body was found trapped by deadfall at the side of the river across from Gallagher Park, the site of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival. Police said the body was found by a contract employee manning a City of Edmonton Water and Sanitation jet boat while inspecting drainage pipes along the riverbank."
The owner of River Tours West, Alan Flynn, discovered the body. He knew of "an abnormal current in the river usually caused by new boulders under the surface" and knew Barrington Leigh was missing, so he decided to go take a look. Flynn told the media, the body "was snagged on some deadfall under the water." His head was to the side and just above the waterline, making it visible as the current moved. Flynn said, "I took one look and I knew it was him."
The owner of River Tours West, Alan Flynn, discovered the body. He knew of "an abnormal current in the river usually caused by new boulders under the surface" and knew Barrington Leigh was missing, so he decided to go take a look. Flynn told the media, the body "was snagged on some deadfall under the water." His head was to the side and just above the waterline, making it visible as the current moved. Flynn said, "I took one look and I knew it was him."
Flynn called 911 and then stayed with the body until fire rescue boat and police arrived.
Edmonton police homicide detectives assisted in the recovery of the body, but would not comment on its condition. Flynn later told media there were no marks on the body. "He wasn't beat up at all," Flynn said.
According to reports, the body was fully clothed and also had on a wristwatch. It was taken by ambulance to the medical examiner's office. A wallet in his pocket, followed up by dental records later, provided positive identification that Robert Barrington Leigh had been found.
Police hade stated that no foul play was suspected. Barrington Leigh's death was later determined to be non-criminal in nature.
Unanswered questions
According to Last Link on the Left.com, "Robert's body was found about 984 feet (300 metres) downstream from the footbridge that connects the Gallagher Park and Muttart Conservative areas to Louise McKinney Park on the north side of the river. The bank above the spot where the body was found rises about 25 metres and is very steep. It has yet to be determined how, where or why Robert fell into the swift flowing river."
Facts of Interest
Name/age: Robert Barrington Leigh, 20
Name/age: Robert Barrington Leigh, 20
Physical Description: 6'1", approx. 150, slim build, short brown hair, hazel eyes
Other: British accent
Belongings: wearing short-sleeved button-down shirt, brown leather shoes, blue Mountain Equipment Co-op fleece jacket, blue bicycle helmet, carrying blue Mountain Equipment Co-op backpack with purple trim. Was riding a blue Raleigh "Cliffhanger"mountain bike with road tires, plastic fenders, oval headlight, short frame, tall seat.
Last seen: Sun, August 13, at 10:30 p.m. heading to the Edmonton Folk Festival on bike from Old Strathcona, probably through the Mill CreekRavine and Cloverdale. His bank account and credit card was not used after he went missing.
Recovered: August 22, 11:00 a.m., North Saskatchewan River, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Sources
Published July 2, 2009.
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