Missing Producer: Day 5
Significant developments emerged on the fifth day of missing record producer Christian Irwin, who fled his home last Sunday night under what can only be described as bizarre circumstances.
Major Theories on the Disappearance
Since it is unknown what has happened to Christian, investigators are trying to fit what is known into several possible theories including:
- Internet scam theory
- Medical confusion theory
- Staged disappearance theory
Sheriff’s investigators are downplaying the Internet scam theory. While they do believe that Christian was indeed involved with a “Nigerian Internet scam,” at this point there is no clear connection to his disappearance.
For the first time a new theory was discussed publicly: the medical confusion theory. Confusion or some unknown medical problem may have played a role in the incident and put him in a state where he fell or injured himself. Capt. Ray Peavy of the sheriff’s homicide unit:
“He obviously felt threatened. Whether that was real or imagined is impossible for us to know.”
Christian’s relatives, meanwhile, said they were dubious about the medical theory and that Irwin had behaved normally with friends before Sunday’s incident. Baseless panic does not fit with his personality, his sister said.
At this point, no one has discussed the possibility of it being a staged disappearance though it is almost certain that Sheriff’s investigators are not precluding this possibility either.
Newly Released Facts
As earlier reported, the $50,000 check Irwin received as part of the scam was a forgery. Nonetheless, the scammers had apparently demanded repayment.
A previously unreported 911 call was received around the time of his reported flight. Police are investigating whether one call may have come from Christian.
It was previously reported that during Christian ’s frantic cell phone calls he had said his pursuers may have been people drawn to him by “the money” or “the e-mail.” Today we learned that Irwin had also said that his pursuers were possibly connected to his father, who died in March.
Perhaps most importantly, we learned that a noisy party was in full swing at a neighboring house about the time of Christian’s flight. Cars were roaring in and out, and presumably dogs were barking.
What the New Facts Tell Us
Independent Sources had already written about the problems with the Internet Scam theory so we are not surprised that it is being discounted as a direct cause of the disappearance. It doesn’t fit the facts and violence in these cases is almost unheard of.
If the newly announced 911 call was from Christian, it would answer the puzzling question why he didn’t call 911 while “running for his life.”
We know that Christian was confused at the time of the phone calls. With today’s knowledge that there was a loud party going on, it is possible that he confused the comings and goings of party-goers with assailants and this is what set him off. We also now know that even during his frantic calls to his friend that he was at a loss to explain who was chasing him. He even threw out the possibility that it was somehow tied to his father. This means that it is unlikely that there was a discussion or other meaningful interaction with assailants before he headed down the ravine; otherwise he would know why they were there and what they were after.
As we have said, developments are changing this story daily. However, thus far, “medical confusion” answers more questions than any of the competing theories.
What is expected to happen today
Search and rescue teams will resume the search this morning in the rugged canyons around his last known sighting at 525 South Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Click here to access all of Independent Sources postings on the disappearance of Christian Irwin.
Similar Independent Sources posts:
- Day 6: Christian Irwin Found Alive But Delusional: In a surprising development, Christian Irwin, the Topanga record producer who disappeared last Sunday under bizarre circumstances was found in relativ ...
- The Internet Scam that Snarred Christian Irwin: Christian Irwin, the music producer who disappeared under bizarre circumstances after making frantic phone calls about a Nigerian Internet Scam, appea ...
- Christian Irwin Saga: Aftermath: As LA Observed wrote, the story had a simple ending as he was found pretty much where he was last seen. But how does one elude sheriff's deputies, d ...
- Missing Music Producer Christian Irwin: Victim of a “419″ Scam?: The disappearance of music producer Christian Irwin has been linked in the media to "Nigerian internet scam(s)." The Los Angeles Times reported Sever ...
- Missing Music Producer: Christian Irwin: Here is what the Sheriff's Department flyer looks like. They are posted all over Topanga, but for some reason is not also at the Sheriff's website. ...










August 26th, 2005 at 10:59 am
First thing Friday, 8/26 *
• Jill Murphy, the Getty’s 33-year-old chief of staff with no art background, is leaving and apparently won’t be missed. Her mentor since college at Cal State Sacramento, Barry Munitz, concedes to the Times: “No one ever said to me, …