He gave a fake name, a fake address, and spent three days carefully disposing of everything that could identify him. Then he walked into the sea.
Arrival in Sligo
On June 12, 2009, a tall, thin, grey-haired man with a Germanic accent arrived by bus in Sligo, Ireland, and checked into the Sligo City Hotel under the name Peter Bergmann, giving an address in Vienna, Austria.
Three Days of Disposal
Over the following days, Bergmann left the hotel repeatedly, each time carrying a purple plastic bag that he returned with empty, apparently disposing of its contents somewhere never captured on camera despite the area's extensive CCTV coverage. He also purchased postage stamps and mailed several letters, and visited a local beach, Rosses Point, with a taxi driver, asking about quiet places to swim.
His Final Day
On June 15, Bergmann checked out of the hotel carrying three bags. He discarded one along the way to the bus station, wrote and discarded a note in a coffee shop bin, and took a one-way bus ticket to Rosses Point. He was seen by multiple witnesses at the beach that evening, described as overdressed for the setting. He was last seen walking near the incoming tide around 11:50 p.m.
The Discovery
Bergmann's body was found on the beach the next morning, with a neatly folded pile of clothes matching his description nearby. An autopsy found he had died of a heart attack rather than drowning, and that he had advanced, terminal prostate cancer that would likely have caused significant pain and left him with a short time to live. There were no signs of foul play.
An Identity That Never Existed
The Vienna address Bergmann provided did not exist. Investigators were unable to trace the letters he mailed, recover the disposed bags, or identify any tags or markings on his clothing, which had been deliberately removed. No missing person report anywhere in the world matched his description or the name he used, which is itself a common German surname rather than a clear clue to his real identity.
Theories
Investigators have speculated Bergmann deliberately and methodically concealed his identity before ending his life, possibly due to his terminal diagnosis, though this doesn't fully explain the extent of his efforts to avoid identification. Some researchers have questioned whether his training or background — potentially military, intelligence, or otherwise — explains his ability to avoid CCTV so consistently, though there is no direct evidence supporting this. The letters he mailed suggest at least one person may know who he was, but no one has ever come forward.
FAQ
Has "Peter Bergmann" ever been identified?
No. Despite an extensive investigation, his true identity remains unknown.
How did he die?
Of a heart attack, not drowning, according to the autopsy. He also had terminal prostate cancer at the time of his death.
Was foul play suspected?
No. The coroner found no signs of foul play in his death.