Detectives probing the mysterious death of an MI6 agent reportedly misidentified the name of a Welsh mountain as a secret code. The decomposing body of Gareth Williams, a 31-year-old math prodigy, was found locked inside a red North Face bag in his Pimlico apartment in August 2010. The discovery prompted a significant investigation involving Scotland Yard and the intelligence services.
During the inquiry, investigators found a scrambled message in Mr. Williams’ diary that they believed to be an unbreakable cipher holding vital clues to his demise. However, the note turned out to be a reference to “Cadair Idris,” a Welsh mountain, written in his native Welsh. Sources close to the family revealed that Mr. Williams was training for the Snowdon marathon at the time.
This error was highlighted as one of many “embarrassing failures” in the police investigation, with critics questioning the authorities’ competence. Despite the unusual circumstances of the case, the police concluded that Mr. Williams likely died alone after accidentally locking himself inside the bag. A forensic review in 2021 that was closed in 2024 failed to uncover any new leads contradicting this theory.
Critics, including confined space rescue specialist Peter Faulding, have challenged the police’s explanation, calling it physically implausible for Mr. Williams to have locked himself in the bag without leaving any trace evidence. The Metropolitan Police stated that while the case is not being reopened, any new evidence will be evaluated by specialist detectives if it emerges, as is standard procedure for unexplained deaths.
The police expressed condolences to Mr. Williams’ family and emphasized the thoroughness of their investigation, which included a comprehensive forensic review lasting three years. They reiterated their commitment to reviewing any new information that could shed light on the case.
