US tourist found dead in Greece identified as horse trainer from London

An American tourist found dead on a small Greek island has been identified as a horse trainer from Long Island.

Toby Sheets, 55, was found dead on Sunday on Mathraki, a 2.0-square-kilometer island west of mainland Greece.

“They’re not releasing any information until the autopsy is done, so we just don’t know what happened,” his cousin Greg Sheets told BloodHorse. “I spoke to his father on the phone today, we live next door to each other. They’re doing the autopsy today, then he’ll be cremated and put back on a plane.”

Sheets worked for noted trainer Steve Asmussen at Belmont Park. He was part of the team that trained 2016 Belmont Stakes winner Creator, Asmussen told Thoroughbred Daily News.

“Toby was part of our stable for many years,” said Asmussen. “He will be sorely missed by his family and many friends.”

Sheets was last seen alive on June 11 and was reported missing on June 13. He had traveled to Mathraki with a Greek-American friend. Authorities say he was last seen with two women who have since left the island.

Mathraki, which lies west of the more popular island of Corfu, is home to only about 100 people. Laken was reportedly found in a coastal area that had been previously searched, and officials suspected he may have been washed out to sea.

Several people visiting Greece have disappeared in recent weeks as a heatwave hit the country. In June, temperatures in Athens regularly reached over 38 degrees.

British television doctor Michael Mosley disappeared while hiking on the tiny island of Symi and was found dead on the island on June 9.

In addition, on June 15, a 74-year-old Dutch tourist was found dead face down in a ravine on the island of Samos.

Another American, Albert Calibet, disappeared while hiking on the island of Amorgos. Calibet, a 59-year-old ex-police officer, has not been seen since June 11.

Two French women, aged 64 and 73, are also still missing; they were last seen on the island of Sikinos.