‘Three Cups of Tea’ co-author David Oliver Relin dead at 49
David Oliver Relin, co-author of the controversial book “Three Cups of Tea,” has killed himself. He was 49.
The journalist and adventurer had been “suffering from depression” and took his own life on November 15 in Multnomah County in Oregon, The New York Times reported, citing Relin’s family.
Deputy Multnomah County medical examiner Peter Bellant said Relin died from “blunt force head injury,” the Associated Press reported. Further details were not available.
Relin was co-author with Greg Mortenson of “Three Cups of Tea” which tells the story of how Mortenson, a former mountain climber, started building schools for girls in Pakistan and Afghanistan, CBC News reported.
But an investigation by “60 Minutes” and author Jon Krakauer called into question basic facts in the book.
CBC said Mortenson denied any wrongdoing and Relin did not comment on the controversy, which triggered a lawsuit by readers of “Three Cups of Tea” who had donated money to Mortenson’s charity.
Relin is survived by his wife, Dawn.
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