02/02/06: Scott Radel, 21, St. Cloud, MN

On February 2, 2006, St. Cloud State University junior, Scott Radel left McRudy's Pub to head over to meet his roommates at the Press Bar a few blocks away. He got lost along the way and called them for directions. He seemed disoriented and was going in the wrong direction. After three or four calls back and forth, his phone went dead. Investigators found what appear to be Scott’s footprints on the frozen Mississippi River just two blocks east of the bar. The footprints indicated that Scot tumbled down an embankment to the Mississippi as he was running, headed across the frozen river, then fell into open water. His body was found in the river on March 1, 2006.


Last Seen
Scott's friends have said they had been at two bars earlier that night. Scott was last seen at McRudy's Pub at 715 W St Germain Street. He called his friends while walking to the Press Bar on 502 W St. Germain Street. Scott's friends believed they thought he had become confused and walked in the wrong direction. They called police the next morning after they failed to hear from him



The Search
Searchers found footprints to the river on 2/4/06 leading to open water. Police and family members said the footprint matched shoes like the kind Radel was wearing the night he was last seen. With the help of an underwater camera (see photo at right), Scott's hat was recovered from the river near the dam on 02/14/06.

Scott Recovered
The recovery of that hat helped focus the search effort, and two weeks later, his body was found in 11 feet of water just south of a railroad bridge. Police Chief Dennis Ballantine told reporters there was "no evidence of foul play," and no obvious signs of injury to the body. Radel's wallet (with money inside), cell phone, keys and watch were found on his body.

Theories
Radel’s father, Allan, believes Scott got into a vehicle, was attacked, and then managed to get away. He ran not knowing where he was going or that he was headed toward the river. He rolled down the embankment. Seeing a lighted stairway across the river, he ran toward it. He fell into the cold open water, and swam as long as he could.

Facts of Interest
Name/age: Scott Radel, 21 (from Owatonna, MN)
College: St. Cloud State University (business major)
Physical description: Korean, 5’5,” 145 pounds, brown hair w/lighter highlights, brown eyes, athletic (wrestler)
Last Seen: 02/02/06, 11:30 p.m., McRudy’s Pub at 715 W St Germain Street, walking to Press Bar on 502 W St. Germain Street
Recovered: 03/01/06, 1:45 pm, Mississippi River, south of a railroad bridge
Cause of death: apparent drowning
Injuries: no injuries, no sign of foul play