04/13/01: Ken Christiansen, 19, Duluth, MN

Ken Christiansen, 19, a student at the University of Minnesota-Duluth attended a rugby party with his friends. He drank with his buddies and the senior players drew on his face with marker in an initiation rite. He disappeared about 3 a.m. while walking home with a friend after the party. One minute he was walking next to his friend, the next minute he was gone.

Although the friend lost sight of him, he assumed Ken was okay. The next day, when he hadn't heard from him, he reported him missing. On April 16, after having been missing for three days, Ken's body was found face down in Chester Creek. He had become hypothermic and had drowned.

Charges filed, guilty pleas
October 30, 2001 - Wesley Wheeler Omer, 22, the former field captain of the University of Minnesota-Duluth men's rugby team pleaded guilty to providing alcohol to minors.Two other teammates, Kevin James McGuigan, 22, the president of the team; and Brian Warden, 22, the team's treasurer were charged last May.Warden and McGuigan allegedly bought two kegs for the party; Warden paid with a check from the rugby team and McGuigan signed for the receipt. McGuigan and Warden must now conduct more than 200 hours of alcohol awareness seminars, perform 40 hours of community service and pay a $200 fine.

Facts of Interest in This Case
Name/age: Ken Christiansen, 19, Duluth
College: University of Minnesota-Duluth (microbiology major)
Physical description: unknown
Last seen: 04/13/01, 3 a.m., Duluth, MN
Recovered: 04/16/01, Chester Creek
Cause of death ruling: drowning, hypothermia
Manner of death ruling: accidental
Injuries: unknown
Blood Alcohol Content: 0.22