Isdal Woman

Isdal Woman events

The investigation

The other investigation

The modern investigation

Discovery of Isdal Woman

Discovery of suitcases

Isdal Woman theories

Personal problems

Mental problems theory

A fraudster

Elaborate suicide theory

A spy network courier

A prostitute

A German spy

A Soviet spy

Isdal Woman

A Soviet spy

Due to her unusual movement patterns all over Norway, her clear schedule in notepad, fact that she was seen talking to a naval officer close to the Penguin missile trials, changing identity and appearance Isdal Woman was of course suspected of being a Soviet spy.

Facts that are supporting the theory:

she was in places near the Penguin missile trials, was seen talking to a naval officer,
she was cautious about her surroundings, changed hotels and rooms after checking-in, like she was trying to mislead potential pursuit,
she was changing her appearance,
she was seen talking to men in hotels, those meetings did not looked like personal matters,
she used fake passports and probably lied about her Belgian nationality,
she had resources to travel for months without clear destination,
the labels on her belongings were removed,
her mysterious death in secluded place,

Facts that oppose the theory:

if she was talking to a naval officer it is not known what was the nature of that conversation,
Soviet spy would most likely have prepared one fake identity and would stick to it throughout the travel with every detail of the backstory fitting the purpose,
removed labels from clothing looks more way to cover identity than professional agent, spy would wear things that fit the backstory,
meetings with men in hotels did could be significant, but just like in case of conversation with naval officer we do not know the details,
although her death seems suspicious it could be just a suicide,
spy on a mission would try to blend in, while she was remembered by most of the people she had met, like shop owners, hotel staff, etc.

There are not enough data to determine if she was or was not a Soviet spy, but her behaviour would suggest she wasn’t. She drew attention to herself (f.e. hotel staff noticed she smelled of garlic or wear wigs), did not speak fluently English, she switched identities without clear need to, even something trivial like buying rubber shoes she done in a way that shopkeeper remembered. Her movement close to the Penguin missile trials sites was suspicious, but it wasn’t impossible that it was coincidence.