Two men traveling Route 66 by motorcycle who were found dead last week in separate motel rooms in Springfield, Missouri, have been identified.
According to The Guardian newspaper in London, James Bethel, 44, former leader of the Eurasian Natural Resources Corp.‘s copper and cobalt division in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Gerrit Strydom, 45, general manager of ENRC subsidiary Congo Cobalt Corp., were found dead Saturday in separate rooms at the La Quinta Inn in north Springfield.
The Guardian reported the London-based Eurasian Natural Resources Corp., which primarily is involved in metals mining, encountered numerous problems recently:
It had suffered from a series of corporate governance issues – which once saw the business labelled “more Soviet than City” – as well as numerous allegations of corruption. The claims prompted the Serious Fraud Office to launch an investigation in 2013, focusing on allegations of “fraud, bribery and corruption” in Kazakhstan and Africa. The company confirmed the investigation was still open.
KY3 in Springfield also reported the two men both were from South Africa. The station also reports:
Preliminary results of autopsies completed by the Greene County Medical Examiner show no signs of foul play. The causes of their deaths continues to be investigated, requiring toxicology reports and additional medical exams.
According to a previous report, the men were doing a self-guided tour of Route 66. Springfield was their second stop from Chicago on the way to California.
Sounds like a double suicide if no foul play is expected. I would think it highly unlikely that two relatively young men traveling together died of natural causes at the same time. In any case, I’m happy that they did not stay at my B&B in Pontiac and die here. That is one experience I would rather never have. My condolences to their families.
You could be right. Or it could be:
— Acute food poisoning from a restaurant where both of them dined.
— An accidental overdose of narcotics.
I knew one of the men personally and it is definitely not a suicide, it is highly unlikely to be natural causes either , something doesn’t smell right here
Yep I have known and worked with both men for a number years and just cant believe the circumstances.
The reports pending may clear things up.
Condolences to both families involved
If you have any contact with Gerrit.s family .please contact me. Old friend Dewald
Hi dewald – email me on cathreeves@Gmail.com for family details.