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Fr. Robert Schwenker, OMI – Inquest Update |
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Requests were made for an official inquest into the circumstances of his death. A close friend of Bob was among those requesting an official investigation. He recently shared with us the response he received from the U.S. Embassy in Colombia. The report concludes by accepting the conclusions of the inquest while remaining open to any new evidence/information pertaining to the case.
The text of the letter follows:
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Embassy of the United States of America Bogotá, Colombia
February 9, 2005
Mr. Robert R. Florida
Dear Mr. R.,
I am writing in response to your letter of August 23, 2004 to Ambassador Wood concerning the death of Reverend Robert Schwenker. The Ambassador’s office passed your letter to me for reply. Please accept my condolences on the tragic death of your close friend.
Upon receipt of your letter, we discussed the case with the State Department Foreign Service medical doctor assigned to Bogotá, who reviewed the report of the autopsy performed by the Colombian National Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences. He translated the report and forwarded it to the Chief of Forensics at the U.S. Armed Forces Institute of Pathology. In the opinion of the Chief of Forensics, the Colombian autopsy was well done. He agreed that Father Schwenker probably died after being hit by a car, as described by the Colombian report. He added that if Father Schwenker had been assaulted (i.e. hit with a blunt object on the head), there should have been a distinct depressed skull fracture at the point of impact, which there wasn’t. He concluded that the mechanism of injury that would explain the findings is consistent with a pedestrian vs. motor vehicle accident – Father Schwenker was probably struck on his thigh, lifted into the air, and then struck his head against the hood or windshield.
On October 1, 2004, the Embassy also wrote to Dr. Nestor Raul Garzon, Chief of Forensic Medicine at the Colombian Government’s Institute of Legal Medicine, asking him to review the initial autopsy finding. Dr. Garzon concluded that Father Schwenker died as a result of a severe blow to the head, indicative of having been hit by an automobile, thrown into the air, and striking his head on the way down. He also told us that Dr. Yolanda Sarmiento, Chief of International Affairs, Office of the Colombian State Prosecutor, was preparing a full report of the investigation.
On December 20, 2004, we received Dr. Sarmiento’s report in which she informed us that her investigation has concluded that Father Schwenker’s death was caused by a head injury incurred in a traffic accident. She added that police investigators conducted a thorough investigation of the incident, including interviews in the neighborhood and an inspection of the area, but were nevertheless unable to establish the identity of the driver.
Colombian authorities have been very cooperative with the Embassy, and we believe the autopsy and investigation were conducted in a competent and professional manner. While we understand your concern that Father Schwenker may have been the victim of an intentional assault, the evidence suggests that you friend was instead the victim of a tragic hit-and-run traffic accident. We remain open, however, to any new evidence or information relating to this case.
Again, please accept my sincere condolences on the loss of your friend.
Sincerely,
David P. Schensted Chief, American Citizen Services Unit
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Information courtesy of Fr. Eugene Tremblay, OMI, Buffalo, NY |
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On
March 17th, 2004, Fr. Bob Schwenker, OMI, died in an apparent
“hit and run” motor accident on the outskirts of Bogotá, Colombia where he
was missioned. Bob was a very devoted Oblate missionary and was fearless in
his preaching and living of the social Gospel. The circumstances of his
death (while out on a country road taking his daily early morning jog) could
be variously interpreted and were viewed as somewhat suspicious.