What happens when a woman disappears in lower Manhattan on September 10th, 2001?

June 20, 2006 7:51 PM

The Mystery of Sneha Philip, the Possible 2,705th Victim of 9/11 At 4 PM on September 10th, 2001, Dr. Sneha Philip left her lower Manhattan apartment. Credit card records show that she made a couple purchases at the department store Century 21. Then she vanished. What happened?
posted by anjamu (36 comments total)

Her family believes she died a hero in the World Trade Center

"Why is Timmy O'Toole a hero, Dad?"

"Well, he fell down a well... and he can't get out."
posted by Mayor Curley at 7:57 PM on June 20, 2006

I remember reading awhile back that in every major scale disaster there are a small number of people who disappear, usually to start new lives elsewhere. The disaster acts as a catalysis of some sort...


(it would seem you have to DO something to be a hero, being killed is having something done to you, tragic yes, heroic no)
posted by edgeways at 8:11 PM on June 20, 2006

In the days right after 9/11, my mom speculated that a number of people would take the opportunity presented by the disaster and "disappear" to start new lives. I thought that was pretty ridiculous. But this story, and a couple of others I have read, have made me change my mind about that.
posted by jayder at 8:18 PM on June 20, 2006

This is very touching anjamu, thank you for posting it.
posted by bigmusic at 8:20 PM on June 20, 2006

Fascinating story; pretty poorly written, I thought.

it would seem you have to DO something to be a hero

Did you even read the article? Family speculates she went into the towers as she was a doctor and (likely) close when the first plane struck.

Thanks for the link, anjamu. I'm fascinated with stories of people who (may) lead double lives.
posted by dobbs at 8:31 PM on June 20, 2006

Occams Razor -- When you hear hoofbeats, think horses...not zebras.
posted by bim at 8:37 PM on June 20, 2006 [1 favorite]

I figure it is/was more than a few after Katrina.
posted by Ynoxas at 8:56 PM on June 20, 2006

My money is on Kali the kitten being to blame.
posted by UbuRoivas at 8:58 PM on June 20, 2006

So what did happen to her? The article says that the police don't think she died on 9/11, but the police don't? What do the police think. I'm not going to read all this purple prose to find out. Bleh.

Judge Renee Roth ruled that Sneha officially died on September 10, 2004—as set forth by state law, three years to the day after her “unexplained absence commenced.” Because Ron could not produce a 9/11 death certificate, the Compensation Fund denied his claim. Based on Sneha’s age and potential earnings, the claim would have been worth about $3 million to $4 million

Lame. Oh well.
posted by delmoi at 9:27 PM on June 20, 2006

Interesting article.
posted by Juggermatt at 9:30 PM on June 20, 2006

There are two types of people; those who run towards the gun shots and those who (perhaps more sensibly) run towards the nearest news kiosk and dial 911. Having been a combat medic and volunteer firefighter for a good spell I can’t imagine anyone affiliated with the medical profession running, at least systemically, any direction but towards such an event. It is ingrained, like blinking, like pooping.
That said, New York is a freak joint for the other than traditional, life is complicated, so whatevah. Sounds like, (wasn’t there, didn’t read the transcripts, don’t know the girl) she was a tad on edge, one more reason to show up and do something. If people are down on you; go, be, and do what you can, where you may appreciated, besides it is good for the soul. All of this proves… nothing.
Suicide by charity, we should all be so lucky.
posted by MapGuy at 9:35 PM on June 20, 2006

I can’t imagine anyone affiliated with the medical profession running, at least systemically, any direction but towards such an event

"Such an event" with the benefit of hindsight, of course. At the time, it may have been more a case of "Hey! Look at that! A fire in the WTC! You sure don't see *that* every day!".

Off-duty medical / emergency personnel within spitting distance may have run to help, but I am guessing that plenty of others more than about a kilometre away probably wouldn't have, at least not until the towers came down. To think that everybody immediately understood the enormity of what was going on & reacted with appropriate heroism is indulging in a bit of retrospective mythologising, IMHO.
posted by UbuRoivas at 10:13 PM on June 20, 2006

I remember the 'missing' poster for her. At the time i thought someone might have asked her back to the tower to do it on the boss's desk.
posted by bhnyc at 10:15 PM on June 20, 2006

A sad story for any number of reasons.

I can see why she wasn't counted in the 9/11 death toll although I would say she probably died there - she seemed a little edgy, but not the type to run into a serious tragic romantic/chemical driven misadventure or be able to keep a low profile for so long.

It is hard for her family to let her go, especially because their last memories of her were created during a troubled time in her life but the 9/11 only puts her name on a page and doesn't bring her back... maybe they should move on. This is tilting at windmills....
posted by Deep Dish at 10:34 PM on June 20, 2006

Off-duty medical / emergency personnel within spitting distance may have run to help, but I am guessing that plenty of others more than about a kilometre away probably wouldn't have, at least not until the towers came down.

The reason that this article was so interesting to me has a lot to do with that.

My best friend's boyfriend had a brother who was a police cadet (and, IIRC, an EMT) who was commuting from Queens to his job on the Upper East Side when the towers were hit. He disappeared on September 11th, and the explanation given to his family when all was said and done was that he had made his way to the towers (from the UES) and died helping people there.

Immediately after the attacks, the Post printed articles suggesting that he, a Pakistani-American and a Muslim, was a terrorist who had gone into hiding after September 11th. While his family knew this not to be the case, I am under the impression that for a host of other reasons, they have never fully accepted the "official" story with regard to his death.

In their case, though, I think the tiny unrealistic hope they clung (cling?) to, is that he was mistakenly swept up with other suspected terrorists and taken away somewhere. Nevertheless, this story struck a chord with me.
posted by anjamu at 10:52 PM on June 20, 2006

Ubu. Yeah, I didn't assume she went just because of a bang, and I don't think distance was established. Which is a factor, what with new heels and all.

To think that everybody immediately understood the enormity of what was going on & reacted with appropriate heroism is indulging in a bit of retrospective mythologising, IMHO.

I don't recall mentioning heroism with respect to this post. I will humbly reserve that for the 343 in uniform. Who by the way were just working the problem, when a cascade of non preferred events brought them to unfortunate notoriety. As for the implications of mythologies and your HO those are your bags, not mine.

A systemically motivated response usually entails invoking an information network relative to one's response protocol. She, not having a formal one as indicated by her recent disenfranchisement, may have just gravitated toward an "event". Besides, It didn't look like she had a full schedule, per se. By the time the second plane hit I think everyone knew it was going to be a goat rope of a day. After the first building fell anyone within response distance, heels or wheels, was reacting either within a system or freelance. Can't imagine she was sipping a latte and trying on those new pumps saying dang that's going to take some paint to clean up. Curious the phone usage the night before, curious. It seems that something is not being said. But as stated with the information as presented, it proves nothing, either way. Girl is gone, freaky cheese, rock on.
posted by MapGuy at 11:17 PM on June 20, 2006

If she didn't live practically next door, I'd be just a bit dubious. But come on. What are the odds?
posted by fourcheesemac at 11:37 PM on June 20, 2006

I can see why she wasn't counted in the 9/11 death toll although I would say she probably died there - she seemed a little edgy, but not the type to run into a serious tragic romantic/chemical driven misadventure or be able to keep a low profile for so long.

And plus, so what if she was hooking up with lesbians? Lesbians are not particularly dangerous, from what I understand.

How many 'questionable' cases are there like this? Might as well lump them all in as 9/11 victims.
posted by delmoi at 12:03 AM on June 21, 2006

After the first building fell anyone within response distance, heels or wheels, was reacting either within a system or freelance.

If you say so. I only got the news version. I guess those who didn't respond wouldn't really come forward & admit it, though.

Can't imagine she was sipping a latte.

No, wrong beverage, from the sounds of it.

Might as well lump them all in as 9/11 victims.

That could have been the husband's reasoning. In the absence of catastrophic international terrorist events, the hubby would normally have been the default #1 suspect. Was there any mention of an alibi? It seems like he would have had quite a window of opportunity, including plenty of time to dispose of remains, what with the police being kinda busy with other matters, and the general confusion reigning.
posted by UbuRoivas at 12:12 AM on June 21, 2006

That's just the thing: if someone - anyone, not just her husband - did kill her, they committed essentially the perfect crime. There were thousands of missing people in New York City before he even filed a report, and the police had a lot bigger fish to fry.
posted by anjamu at 12:28 AM on June 21, 2006

Great story. To be incorporated into a CSI episode in short order no doubt.
posted by missbossy at 12:50 AM on June 21, 2006

I'm pretty sure this one was done on Law & Order, missbossy.

Interesting article, though. But yes, shoddy writing, the last two paragraphs especially so. I dislike journalists that insert themselves into the story like that: "I didn't have the heart to tell her."
posted by tracicle at 3:08 AM on June 21, 2006

To be incorporated into a CSI episode in short order no doubt.

Yes! Those CSI people could easily turn the grainy, out-of-focus video into a hi-resolution image with their amazing computer technology, analyse the distinctive spectrum of the tiny smear of lipstick on her neck, and promptly bring in her lesbian lover for questioning.

It turns out that the lipstick is a custom colour, using minke whale blubber as a base (which the CSI people instantly recognise because of the trace elements of minke whale prey). It is sold only by one boutique outlet in NYC (they establish this by typing a CSIOOGLE search into their amazing computer).

The store's CCTv record shows said lover buying the lipstick (once again, the amazing, truth-defying zoom capabilities allow them to read her name off her credit card). Upon questioning, the lover breaks down & cries: "I didn't mean to kill her. She was just into asphyxiation for sexual release"

Can't wait for the episode. Then again, I think I have already written it.
posted by UbuRoivas at 3:22 AM on June 21, 2006

I dislike journalists that insert themselves into the story like that: "I didn't have the heart to tell her."
Specifically when you've just told her. Or would the family not read this article? Bad hack.
posted by imperium at 4:21 AM on June 21, 2006

I remember the 'missing' poster for her. At the time i thought someone might have asked her back to the tower to do it on the boss's desk.

Thanks for sharing. In the future, when MeFites discuss women's lives and/or accomplishments (as scientists, entertainers, doctors, artists, average folks, whatever), please be sure to chime in with your thoughts on their cup size or whether you'd hit it or not. We need to be shown early which fucking idiots to ignore.
posted by dobbs at 5:41 AM on June 21, 2006

Very interesting topic. I agree with those who suspect the most probable scenario here is that she did in fact die in the Towers on 9/11. But in the alternative, I do think that possible sexual orientation issues could have driven her to take advantage of the tragedy and "start a new life." Obviously an extreme solution for anyone, let alone someone with such a seemingly close relationship with her parents--parents depicted in the article as being proud and adoring of their successful and attractive only daughter.

But perhaps the pressure of having to be "that" daughter increased her orientation turmoil to the degree that it was worth running away from on 9/11. Her drinking and depression could signal orientation turmoil. (Does it not seem suspicious that a 31 y/o newlywed, a new doctor, is out all night drinking?) I wished the article had given us a clue as to her family's/parents' attitudes about homosexuality, and "what if" their daughter was. And if the bisexual tryst with the brother's girlfriend was to be so easily discounted then it seems salacious to have mentioned it in the first place.
posted by applemeat at 6:22 AM on June 21, 2006

Kind of a dumb question: but did the WTC also include apartments? Might she have spent the night with someone there? I'm not saying a tryst, but spent the night there for any reason? 9 am is not that late for sleeping in, especially for someone with a hangover.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:50 AM on June 21, 2006

If she didn't live practically next door, I'd be just a bit dubious. But come on. What are the odds?

Their apartment was two blocks from the World Trade Center, but she was last seen at 6:00 on September 10. She could have been anywhere.

And she bought lingerie, a dress, panty hose, and three pairs of shoes with a friend. Maybe they skipped town together. But she left her passport, driver’s license, and credit cards. Weird.

She got fired in the spring, had increasingly erratic behavior, and had a big fight with her husband earlier in the day. Maybe she killed herself.

If she'd been seen on September 11, like stayed the night at their apartment, I'd be more inclined to think she died in the World Trade Center, but she was last seen at 6:00 p.m. the previous day. Until the planes hit the towers, that was just an ordinary day, and this could just be an ordinary disappearance.

Lesbians are not particularly dangerous, from what I understand.

That's true. I've seen The Warriors. They're terrible shots.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:53 AM on June 21, 2006

jayder writes "In the days right after 9/11, my mom speculated that a number of people would take the opportunity presented by the disaster and 'disappear' to start new lives. I thought that was pretty ridiculous. But this story, and a couple of others I have read, have made me change my mind about that."

There was a postcard on Postsecret that said "Everyone who knew me before 9/11 thinks I'm dead."
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 6:55 AM on June 21, 2006

If I had to bet: she is still in town, living with a woman, avoiding all the possible crap back home (job failure, depression, alcoholism, coming out, divorce?). And if there are 3 or 4 million dollars riding on it, I'm not surprised that her family have decided that she must have died in the WTC, especially when some of the alternatives are so inconvenient.
posted by pracowity at 7:29 AM on June 21, 2006 [1 favorite]

Kind of a dumb question: but did the WTC also include apartments?

Nope. Closest things were some artists studios the city parceled out every few years.

Even though her story is possibly tragic, there's obviously reasonable doubt about whether it was 9/11 related or not. Sadly people dissapear like this a lot in NY. It's a big, big place, and often heartless. Also, if she did want to dissapear, she chose the perfect time, no?

My heart goes out to the family, because they'll probably never know.
posted by lumpenprole at 9:38 AM on June 21, 2006

Interesting article. I don't have any speculations, but no matter how you cut it, it's tragic. Either this woman felt so alienated from her life that she ran off and left her family in anguish, or she was killed somehow. Neither possibility is going to make anyone sleep any easier.

(And yeah, it would make an awesome CSI: NY episode. Or Law & Order, but only Criminal Intent. You need Vincent D'Onofrio for grasping at these kind of straws.)
posted by grapefruitmoon at 9:51 AM on June 21, 2006

The suggestion that she took advantage of the situation to disappear reminds me of Chandra Levy. During the search for the intern, while she was still potentially alive, I wondered if she was sitting somewhere in a bar in Key West, her hair straightened, big sunglasses, and an upturned collar, watching the news coverage about herself and thinking how well she'd fooled them all.

But I knew this wasn't true. Given the amount of attention paid to the Chandra Levy case (it was the biggest story of Summer 2001, until 9/11) I found it impossible that someone could just sit there and remain anonymous and unrecognized and not try to contact family to let them know she was okay - you'd have to be pretty sly, skilled at disguise, and utterly unfeeling toward your family to pull something like that off.

I don't think Sneha Philip is living a new life. And as the article points out, if she had been killed or otherwise died on the 10th, there should have been a body, an accident report, etc - some evidence that she did in fact die on the 10th. It really seems the most likely scenario that the story her family has created is the truth. Hopefully the new DNA testing will help.
posted by etoile at 4:42 PM on June 21, 2006

I think New York magazine went TABLOID-Style" thu this article. What is the writer trying to accomplish by this poorly-written article? The article says " the forensic examination of Sneha's computer showed no evidence of a secret lover or an upcoming tryst".

Courts have no real evidence nor circumstantial evidence to support the claims they are making. What is apparently evident is that, the courts and police are fabricating statements about this woman's character to fill in the holes and negligence in this case.

Based on the story of she could not have died in WTC is much weaker that she could have died in the greatest tragdy in New York City.
posted by logicalthinker at 11:13 AM on June 24, 2006

it was the biggest story of Summer 2001, until 9/11

That and the "Summer of Sharks!" Apparently the sharks stopped eating people at some point.
posted by brundlefly at 7:44 PM on June 24, 2006

etoile writes "Given the amount of attention paid to the Chandra Levy case (it was the biggest story of Summer 2001, until 9/11)"

Ya, Gary Condit was probably happier about 9/11 than Osama.
posted by Mitheral at 8:35 AM on June 25, 2006