Body found after suicide MMS

2009-05-05 09:06

Sonja van Buul

Vanderbijlpark - The body of a man has been found, a week after he took a photo on his cellphone camera showing him piping exhaust fumes into his car, and sent it to his girlfriend and brother.

The Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) made it easier to know what had happened to Chris Gunter, 37, after he went missing.

Vaalrand police divers, a helicopter and police dogs had carried out an extensive search to find him.

On Saturday night, a pedestrian found his body in his car on an uninhabited farm next to Old Barrage Road, which leads to Parys.

On April 24, Gunter left home in his metallic light blue Opel Corsa to shop for car parts, but never returned.

"I suspect he sent the MMS shortly before his death," said Robert de Villiers of Vanderbijlpark, who had been a friend of Gunter's for many years.

The reason for his suicide is not yet known.

'I'm sorry'

On the day that Gunter disappeared, he sent the photo and message (which he started with "I'm sorry") to his girlfriend Joeline Weideman, 21, and his brother, Donald, 38. In the message, he asked Weideman to take good care of their one-year-old daughter.

Gunter owned a towing business and used to be a mechanic, De Villiers said.

He added that Gunter's friends and family are relieved that they know what happened to him.

"We would like to thank the police, Beeld readers and everyone who helped with the search."

- Beeld