02/13/16: Zachary Marr, 22, Boston, MA

Zachary Marr.
Photo credit: Boston police

Our thoughts go out to Zachary Marr and his loved ones.

Zachary Marr, 22, was last seen on Saturday, February 13, 2016 at the Bell in Hand Tavern near Boston's Faneuil Hall. Marr, who lived in Harvard, MA, and was a student at Mount Wachusett Community College had taken the train to celebrate his birthday with his three cousins. The group, according to a family member, was from the Leominster area of central Massachusetts and not real familiar with Boston.

After being dropped off at the train station by his father, Matthew, and riding the train, Zachary's cousin, Amanda Marr, picked him up from North Station at about 6 p.m. According to the Boston Globe on February 16, "The two drove back to her apartment in South Boston, where she prepared dinner for him: chicken, chips, guacamole, and hummus. She said they had a drink before leaving to go to the Bell in Hand art about 10 p.m."

At around 1:30 am, Zachary sent Amanda a text that he was going out to smoke a cigarette, something he had done several times that night. He was seen on surveillance at 1:40 am, standing outside the Boston Public Market, across the street from the tavern. It was a weekend that saw record cold temperatures of 9 below, but Marr just had on a pullover sweatshirt. He had left his coat in the coat check.

"He sent me a Snapchat saying they're not letting me back in, let's leave," said his cousin Amanda, "I texted him and said where are you, and he said out front and that was at 1:41 am." It was apparently last call.

One of the released surveillance images does show Marr still in front of the Market as late as 1:44 am. But by about 1:51 am, after Amanda and her cousins grabbed their coats and got outside, he was gone.

"I was trying to stay calm," Amanda told the Globe. She hoped he'd just gone for a walk, run into a friend or met a woman, and she'd hear from him later that day. But he didn't turn up.

Photo credit: Boston Public Market / NECN.com.

     Photo credit: Boston Public Market / NECN.com.

Wide shot of Bell in Hand Tavern with Boston Public Market at left.
Google image search. Photo credit: Bill Mueller, June 2015.

The restaurant said in a statement that they provided video surveillance to the police, which shows Marr did not attempt to re-enter the Bell in Hand. Video shows other customers leaving and re-entering after 1:20 a.m. and they said Marr would not have been denied access. The restaurant said another video shows Marr in front of a garage, heading toward the Surface Artery.

The Boston Globe has reported that additional surveillance video shows Marr on a walkway, then walking on train tracks before disappearing into into the river underneath the Leonard P. Zakim Bunker Hill Memorial Bridge. 

Search team near Zakim Bridge at Nashua Street.

Photo credit: Caitlin Fichtell, 

The Boston Globe, February 23, 2016

Marr's missing person's poster describes him as 5-feet-8, 175 pounds with blue eyes and short brown hair and beard. If you have additional information, call Boston Police at 617-343-4571 or Harvard, Massachusetts, Police Sgt. Coates at 978-456-1212.

Zachary's body found

Two passerbys spotted Marr's body in the water in the locks near Paul Revere Park in the Leverett Circle area at about 5:45 p.m. on Tuesday, March 15, 2016. Preliminary evidence indicated his death is consistent with a fall into very cold water.  The Suffolk County District Attorney's Office later added that he did not appear to suffer any trauma. Investigators have not announced an official cause of death, though they said there is no sign of foul play. 

Amanda Marr said Zachary had a few drinks that night, "but it was nothing out of the ordinary." 

Matthew Marr told the Boston Globe that he suspected Zachary might have tried to swim in the Charles River, or fell through the walkway.

Marr's paternal grandmother had passed away from breast cancer in January, and according to The Boston Globe, he was planning to help his father pack up her apartment that weekend. He had been very close to her, and while he was under some stress, nothing has been reported to indicate Marr was depressed. Marr, a graduate of Leominster High School, was a student at Mount Waschusett Community College. He was taking five classes and was doing well in school. In addition to being a full time student, he was also working full time at Quiet Logistics. The company provides shipping fulfillment for high-end retail fashion brands. Marr had just been promoted.

A funeral Mass for Zachary Marr was held Wednesday, March 23 at St. Anne’s Church, 75 King St. Littleton with burial in Bellevue Cemetery in Harvard.  

Sources:

Manning, Allison. Zachary Marr's death a 'horrible accident,' family says. March 16, 2016. Accessed January 17, 2019 from https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2016/03/16/zachary-marrs-death-a-horrible-accident-family-says

Claffey, Jason. Zach Marr's Body Recovered. March 15, 2016. Accessed January 17, 2019 from https://patch.com/massachusetts/westford/zach-marrs-body-recovered-0

Dore, David. Father speaks after missing LHS graduate’s body found. March 18, 2016. Leominster Champion. Accessed April 4, 2016 from http://www.leominsterchamp.com/news/2016-03-18/Front_Page/Father_speaks_after_missing_LHS_graduates_body_fou.html

Ellement, John R. Investigators search Charles River for missing man. February 24, 2016. Boston Globe.com. Accessed April 4, 2016 from https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/02/24/divers-resume-search-for-zachary-marr-charles-river/JTO72xGL18zstqiM9rWA0H/story.html

Palumbo, Alysha and Flanigan, Kaitlin. New Images Released as Search for Missing 22-Year-Old Man Continues. February 15, 2016. NECN.com. Accessed April 4, 2016 from http://www.necn.com/news/new-england/New-Images-Boston-Search-22-Year-Old-Zachary-Marr-Harvard-Massachusetts-368845361.html

Ransom, Jan. Police search Charles River, harbor for missing Harvard man. Boston Globe.com. February 17, 2016. Accessed April 4, 2016 from https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/02/17/officials-search-boston-harbor-for-missing-harvard-man/IyN8vLWFejiQeuT7irMfJO/story.html

Ransom, Jan. Celebration in Boston turns into missing person search. February 16, 2016. Accessed April 4, 2016 from https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/02/15/amissing/6BE0O8J9YdUfZMkyit9OqM/story.html

Tavern says video shows missing Harvard man heading toward Surface Artery. February 15, 2016. Accessed April 4, 2016 from http://www.wcvb.com/news/tavern-says-video-shows-missing-harvard-man-heading-toward-surface-artery/38007938

01/16/13: Charles Geurts, 26, Madison, WI

Charles Geurts

Charlie Geurts, 26, was last seen at the Sheraton Madison Hotel after an agribusiness trade show at the Alliant Energy Center on January 16, 2013. He left the hotel at 2:20 a.m. and didn't return. He did not have his cell phone or truck with him. Investigators believe Geurts may have knocked on the patio door of a nearby homeowner about a half hour later. His body was found on April 17, 2013 about 1/4 mile from Olin Park by a local diver.

12/13/08: Thomas McKay, Jr., 24, Orland Park, IL

Tommy McKay

Thomas McKay, Jr., 24, was last seen by loved ones on Dec. 13, 2008 when he unexpectedly walked out of his father's home in the 7900 block of Wheeler Drive in Orland Park, Ill., 7:15 a.m., taking his wallet (containing about $200) and his cell phone, which had been turned off.

McKay had been staying with his father in Orland Park after his mother, Kathy, moved out of their home in the 12000 block of Josephine Drive in Mokena. His father, Tom, said McKay had planned to live in the Mokena house alone, but it was causing him to become more distressed.

McKay had a history of emotional issues stemming from a series of tragic events in high school that damaged him emotionally. In the week before his disappearance, his parents said he had become increasingly depressed and was having paranoid fears of being taken by the CIA. On Dec. 11, two days before his disappearance, McKay was taken to the hospital but was not admitted because of a lack of health insurance. On Dec. 12, the distressed young man sought the solace of priest after taking several trains to Oak Park. The priest contacted his father, who planned to pick him up, but McKay arrived back home in a cab. Later that night, he got very depressed and paranoid again, then on Saturday morning, he just walked out of the house.

For more than two months, family and friends passed out fliers, scoured homeless shelters, churches, and the Internet in the hopes of finding a clue of the missing man.

McKay's fully-clothed body was found in a creek in the city of Tinley Park on March 2, 2009.

01/14/12: Greg Senn, 29, Wisconsin Rapids, WI



Greg Senn

Greg Senn, 29, spent the evening of Saturday, January 14, 2012 celebrating his brother's birthday on 80th Street in Grand Rapids, Wisc. He was last seen in the early morning hours while walking along Highway U. He never made it home.

On March 13, Senn's body was recovered from Lake Wazeecha around 4:30 p.m. by the Wood County sheriff’s rescue team. Authorities found a wallet which they used to positively identify the body. The area was investigated after police received a call from someone who had spotted a hat floating in the lake while walking along a bike path.

Grand Rapids police Chief Dave Lewandowski it appeared likely that Senn's body had been in the lake since shortly after he was reported missing on January 14.

According to WSAU.com, "A passerby who spoke limited English called 9-1-1 that same day to report seeing someone walking along the highway. The Wood County dispatcher who took the call mishandled it by not sending a police officer to investigate, not reporting the call to authorities and not using the county's Spanish translation service. The dispatcher, Brian Turner, was suspended without pay for 30 days. Lewandowski said they interviewed the caller and confirmed that the caller had seen Senn."

The intersection where Senn was last seen is less than a quarter mile from Lake Wazeecha.

Investigators believe he may have been taking a shortcut across the lake to a friend's house when he fell through the ice.

"I've walked that same path with him when we were younger hundreds of times," said Greg Senn's brother, Ed. "I've crossed Lake Wazeecha in the dead middle of winter and nothing has happened."

The autopsy results showed that the cause of Senn's death was drowning and environmental hypothermia. Investigators say foul play was not involved. Senn had been drinking before he died; his blood alcohol concentration was more that 0.2 percent.

03/06/12: Philip Jobst, 24, Carbondale, IL

Philip Jobst is still missing.

Philip Jobst in Dec. 2011

Philip Jobst, 24, is a second year law student at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale where fellow law students say he is intelligent, witty, and very well liked.

Jobst's friends last spoke to him on Tuesday, March 6, 2012. That night, at 10:07 p.m., his silver 2011 4-door Kia was found abandoned on the Chester Bridge with its flashers on. The bridge, which is roughly 20 miles from Jobst's residence and school, crosses the Mississippi River and links Illinois with Missouri.

Aside from his abandoned car, no trace of Phil Jobst has been found. According to a blog by one of Jobst's friends, Jobst's cell phone was found in the trash at his apartment.

Authorities fear that Jobst may have fallen or jumped off the Chester Bridge into the Mississippi River. He is presumed dead, but police say the investigation will remain open. On March 9 and 10, the Illinois Department of Conservation police searched the river by boat using sonar and grappling hooks, but turned up nothing.

02/22/12: Franco Garcia, 21, Brighton, MA

Published: 3/11/12. Updated: 4/16/12, 2/5/13, 2/27/13.

Franco Garcia

Franco Garcia, 21, was last seen on Feb. 22, 2012 at Mary Ann’s bar in the 1900 block of Beacon Street in Brighton, Mass. The bar, which is frequented by Boston College students, is in Cleveland Circle area, not far from the Chestnut Hill Reservoir. That night, it was packed with students celebrating Mardi Gras.

Garcia, a student at the college's night school had walked to the bar with fellow members of Boston College's Symphonic Band after band practice. Garcia lived at home with his parents on Webster Street, 10 minutes away from the bar, but he planned to stay overnight at the dorm room of Katherine Corteselli, a close friend.

According to the Providence Journal, "Corteselli said Garcia found a couple friends from high school inside the bar and separated from her and other college friends for parts of the night."

At 11:27 p.m., Garcia sent close friend Corteselli a text message that read in part, "dont leave w/out me." She saw Garcia in the bar about 30 minutes later, and he knew that she wasn't planning to leave without him. Garcia had some mixed drinks and looked drunk "but not smashed," reported the paper.

He was last seen by friends around 12:15 a.m., but by bar close, no one could find him. Corteselli said she thought he might have taken a campus shuttle to the dorm or a taxi to his family's home, where he lived.

His parents, who were on a rare vacation to New York City, returned the following day after not being able to reach their son. After reporting their son missing, they learned that there had been no new activity on their son's credit card and his 1987 Volvo station wagon was still parked where he left it, his clarinet inside. Garcia also had not returned home and had failed to show up for classes and at his full-time job as a pharmacy technician at CVS.

03/03/12: Eric Duffey, 21, Stevens Point, WI

Eric Duffey
Photo Credit: Facebook

Eric Duffey, a 21-year old University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point student, was last seen about 1:15 a.m. on Saturday, March 3, leaving Joe's Bar in downtown Stevens Point, Wisc. Duffey had been out celebrating his 21st birthday, and he was believed to be heading home when he left the bar. He lived only blocks away on Isadore Street. It was the last time he was seen.


The Search for Eric Duffey

According to the Associated Press, police conducted "an exhaustive neighborhood search for Duffey that included the use of tracking dogs and about 150 volunteers knocking on doors, checking backyards and passing out fliers with Duffey's photo. Police also sent a Code Red Alert out Saturday evening and again on Sunday morning. With the alert, police asked residents between downtown Stevens Point and Duffey's residence to check their property for signs of him."

A witness came forward who told police he had heard someone yelling for help at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday near the Clark Street bridge. The witness had checked into it, but didn't see anyone. (Associated Press).

This tip led police to turn their focus to the Wisconsin River, which is only a few hundred feet from where Duffey was last seen.

On March 5, emergency personnel scoured the river around the Clark Street bridge in "a part of the river where the ice becomes open water," according to the Associated Press. Divers then found a body in the Wisconsin River near the Clark Street Bridge. According to the paper, "the coroner's office made a positive identification after meeting with Duffey's family."


Eric Duffey
Credit: JSOnline.com

Police believe Duffey may have been heading back to his residence or to the residence of his girlfriend.

According to the Associated Press, "[Stevens Point assistant police chief Brian] Kudronowicz said the department had received new information that led officials to believe Duffey walked into the Wisconsin River."

"I think alcohol had something to do with his actions," said he said.

Duffey's obituary listed his cause of death as accidental drowning.

Anyone with information in the case is asked to call Stevens Point police at 715-346-1501.


About Eric Duffey

An excerpt from Eric Duffey's obituary (Madison.com), reads:

Eric Duffey
Credit: Madison.com

"Eric Duffey was born on March 3, 1991, in Madison, the son of Daren and Joan (Spurrier) Duffey. Eric graduated from Verona High School in 2009, where he was a member of the golf team for four years. He was currently attending UW-Stevens Point, majoring in Wildlife Ecology Research Management. Eric was an active member of the UWSP chapter of the Wildlife Society. While in high school, Eric worked at Meadowood Ace Hardware and then as a field technician for Monsanto while at UWSP. He was recently hired and looking forward to working for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. Eric enjoyed traveling with the university on ecological trips. He was creative and dedicated to family, nature, and the environment....His contagious smile and great sense of humor will be missed by all who knew him."

Eric is survived by his parents, maternal and maternal grandparents, two aunts, an uncle, two cousins and many dear friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial was held on March 9 at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Parish. A memorial fund will be established in Duffey's name.


Case Details

Name/age: Eric Duffey, 21

Hometown: Fitchburg, WI

Residence: 700 Isadore Street

College: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Last Seen: 03/03/12, 1:15 a.m., Joe's Bar, Main Street, Stevens Point, WI

Recovered: 03/05/12, Wisconsin River

Physical Description: 6'0," 150 pounds, red hair, green eyes.
Last Wearing: orange flannel shirt, blue jeans, a brown jacket, and possibly a gray and white stocking hat.
Investigating Agency:  Stevens Point police, 715-346-1501


Sources


Associated Press (2012, March 5). Police: Missing Wis. student's body found in river. Retrieved March 12, 2012.

Gannett Wisconsin Media (2012, March 5). Missing UW-Stevens Point student update: Police searching Wisconsin River. Post Crescent. Retrieved March 12, 2012.

Lohr, David (2012, March 5). Eric Duffey Missing: Body Found In Wisconsin River Could Be That Of Missing College Student. Huffington Post. Retrieved March 12, 2012.

Madison.com (2012, March 7). Obituary. Duffey, Eric. J. Retrieved March 13, 2012.

WSAW.com. (2012, March 5). Body Pulled from Wisconsin River ID'ed as Missing UWSP Student. Retrieved March 12, 2012.

12/06/11: Jeremy Gillis, 22, New Richmond, WI

Jeremy Gillis

On the morning of Dec. 6, St. Croix County deputies responded to reports of a one-vehicle crash in Erin Prairie, Wis. at about 6:30 a.m., about a quarter mile west of County Road T on County Road K. A passerby had reported that a car was on its side on County Highway K near County Highway T. The vehicle looked like it had been there awhile and was abandoned.

When deputies arrived on the scene, the vehicle was indeed empty. The car's owner, Jeremy Gillis, 22, of rural New Richmond, Wisc., was nowhere to be found.

Tracks in the snow near the vehicle zig-zagged across the road and were eventually lost on the blacktop portion, Sheriff John Shilts said.

“We checked the area and even checked the residence of the vehicle’s owner,” Chief Deputy Scott Knudson told the New Richmond News. Calls were also placed to local hospitals in hopes of locating the victim; however, none had admitted Gillis.

When deputies cleared the accident scene at 7:34 a.m., Gillis's family went out looking for him. The family stumbled upon some tracks leading down to the river from County Road T. At about 9 a.m., a family member reported that Gillis had been found floating in the Willow River.

Knudson said it’s unknown how Gillis ended up in the river after the crash.

“Without anyone to tell us what happened, we’re not really sure how he ended up in the river,” he said.

Knudson said it appears Gillis lost control of his vehicle while driving along Country Road K; however, the impact is not what caused Gillis’ death.

"We’re not considering this a traffic fatality,” he said.

On Wednesday, December 7, the Pioneer Press reported that the cause of death had been determined. Police believe that after falling into the water, Gillis was overcome by hypothermia and then drowned.

Sheriff John Shilts had said previously that there was nothing to indicate foul play.


About Jeremy Gillis

Jeremy Joseph Gillis Jeremy was born on May 5, 1989, to Joe and Judy (Kemling) Gillis.

He is survived by his loving son, Kayden Gillis; parents, Joe and Judy Gillis; brothers, Justin Gillis, Jake Gillis; sister, Jessica Gillis; grandparents Ron and Vivian Kemling and Rosemary Gillis; along with Kadyen’s mom and Jeremy’s friend, Jessica Foster.

Jeremy’s true devotion was to his son, Kadyen. He was also exceptionally passionate about dairy farming and spending time with friends.

A mass of Christian Burial was held for Jeremy on Friday, Dec. 9, at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Erin Prairie, Wis.


Case Summary

Name/age: Jeremy Joseph Gillis, 22
Residence: New Richmond, WI
Last seen: unknown
Recovered: 12/6/11, Willow River

08/31/11: Ricky Gonzales, 22, Eau Claire, WI

Ricky Gonzales

Ricky Gonzales, 22, was last seen the night of Wednesday, August 31, drinking at bars along Water Street in Eau Claire.

His body was found by tubers the afternoon of Friday, September 2 in the Chippewa River, near the university--about 200 yard west of the UW-Eau Claire footbridge. The tubers called 911. EMS and police then arrived at Hobbs landing to recover the body.

Autopsy results list the cause of death as a fresh water drowning, with no signs of trauma. Authorities believe the body had been in the water since late Wednesday evening and, at this point, foul play is not suspected.

Gonzales was found wearing the same clothing he had been seen in on Water Street. The autopsy also showed his blood alcohol content was point .19. Authorities say that may have been a contributing factor in his death.


About Ricky Gonzales

Gonzales was a junior majoring in history at UW-Eau Claire and was a member of the Blugold wrestling team. The university sent out a letter to students on Saturday which read:

“It is with a heavy heart and great sadness that I inform you of the loss of one of our fellow Blugolds. Ricardo “Ricky” Gonzales, a UW-Eau Claire student, passed away unexpectedly; his body was recovered from the Chippewa River Friday afternoon. Ricky, a junior majoring in history, was a member of the Blugold wrestling team and touched the hearts of many people."

The university also said that counseling is available for those who need it.

According to his obituary, "Ricky was born on Aug. 3, 1989, in Albuquerque, N.M., to Ricardo and Kathleen Gonzales. He was a junior at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire majoring in history. Ricky had been selected to be a varsity wrestling team captain. He was a standout who enjoyed all sports. Ricky graduated from Bluffton High School in Bluffton, S.C. Ricky had a strong passion for life, establishing lasting friendships. He had a deep love for his family and pets."

Not only was Gonzales a stand out athlete in college, he was also a wrestling star in high school, having been named a regional champion in wrestling.

He is survived by his parents and three sisters of Eau Claire, along with many other loving relatives--including 21 first cousins--in New Mexico, Illinois, and Colorado.

A memorial service was held in the theatre at 161 Davies Center Theater, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Campus on September 7, and a funeral ceremony for his family and close friends was held September 8 at the Newman Roman Catholic Community in Eau Claire. A fund has also been established in Ricky's name at the Royal Credit Union, P.O. Box 970, Eau Claire, Wis. 54702. Questions regarding donations will be taken at (715) 833-8111.

As the investigation continues, police are interested in talking to anyone who may have seen or had been with Gonzales Wednesday night into Thursday morning. The number to call is (715) 839-4978.

03/05/11: Alexander Grant, 19, Saratoga Springs, NY

Alexander Grant

Alexander Grant, 19, a sophomore at Boston College in Chestnut Hill, Mass., was last seen on Sat., Mar. 5, 2011, after visiting a hometown friend who was a student at Skidmore College. Grant, who was on spring break, attended house parties at 146 and 150 Church Street in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. with upwards of 300 people in attendance. It is believed that Grant had been drinking. He left about 11:30 p.m., about a half an hour after he arrived. It is not clear where he was headed.

Police broke up the party at around 12:25 a.m. (Mar. 6) after receiving noise complaints from neighbors.

A break in and a missing young man

Philip Kamrass / Times Union

At around noon on Mar. 6, police responded to a report of a break in at a medical office building at 3 Care Lane, off Church Street. When police arrived, they found a window broken and a significant amount of blood inside, but nothing had been disturbed or stolen.

A surveillance tape showed that at 1:15 a.m. that same morning, a young white male broke into the office building by kicking a window. The footage showed the young man--wearing only a pair of shorts, a white long-sleeved shirt and one sock--kicking the window and making entry by climbing through. It was thought that he probably sustained a non-life threatening cut on his foot at this time. The young man stayed in the lobby and did not try to enter offices. He left the building at 2 a.m.
At 4:50 p.m., about eighteen hours after Grant had left the party three of Grant's friends arrived at the Saratoga Springs Police Department to report him missing. The description of Grant matched the individual in the surveillance video from 3 Care Lane. Friends watched the video and confirmed that the man was Alexander Grant.
City Police and Fire Department Personnel then returned to the medical building and expanded their search of the area. One sock and a pair of pants were later recovered about 150 feet from the building. The pants contained identification belonging to Alexander Grant. There was no other sign of the young man. While there was blood inside the medical office building, heavy rain had fallen for several hours before the break in was discovered, so any blood trail had been washed away well before the police arrived.


The search for Alexander Grant

On Sunday evening, Mar. 6, soon after authorities learned that Alexander Grant was missing, search crews began combing a wooded area north of Church Street behind Sunnyside Gardens along the railroad tracks. The search was conducted both on foot and on all-terrain vehicles.

According to a Saratoga Springs Police press release, "some footprints in the snow were noticed by searchers in the wooded area Sunday night however snow had begun falling so rapidly that the tracks were soon covered over by fresh snow."

Thermal imaging equipment was used without success. The search continued through heavy rain, wind, and snow until 11:30 p.m., when search conditions had deteriorated to the point where the search had to be suspended until the following morning.

On Mon., Mar. 7, nearly 50 emergency personnel from several different agencies looked for Grant from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., while a foot of snow blanketed the area. Attempts to locate Grant using tracking dogs, a state police helicopter, and global positioning via his cell phone failed.

On Tues., Mar. 8 at 11 a.m., firefighters using special equipment found Alexander Grant’s body at a sharp bend in Putnam Creek about 300 yards north of Sunnyside Gardens off Route 9N. The body was found entangled in underbrush and submerged below the water line in about four feet of open water. The location was three-tenths of a mile away from the medical office building where he was last seen. The creek was swollen and had a swift current at the time. Foul play was not suspected.

About two dozen members of the city police, firefighters, state forest rangers and state police were at the scene. At 12:28 p.m., city firefighters wearing special cold-weather gear recovered the body, which was clad only in shorts, a shirt and one sock. The body was removed from woods behind Sunnyside Gardens on Route 9N and taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital where an autopsy was performed by a forensic pathologist.

Photo Credit: Eric Miller, The Record

Autopsy and toxicology findings

An autopsy determined Grant died early on Sunday morning from drowning with hypothermia. The temperature outside when Grant left the party was between 28 and 30 degrees.

Saratoga County coroner John DeMartino told The Journal News that while Grant had lost quite a bit of blood at the medical office, it would not have been enough to cause his death, and "His disorientation would be more from hypothermia, or if he was taking drugs and alcohol."

The final autopsy and toxicology reports later showed no indication of narcotics in Grant's system. In order to be certain of the toxicology results, two tests were performed, both yielding negative results. Authorities are still investigating what affected his body or lead to the circumstances of his death.

Earlier authorities stated they believe Grant fell into the water upstream from where he was found while walking in the dark in knee-deep snow. His body then got tangled in underbrush beneath the water line.

"We’re pretty confident his demise occurred a couple of hours after he was seen on that video," Police Chief Christopher Cole told The Record in March. "There’s probably not much we could have done."

Grant's whereabouts from the time he left the party until the time he broke into the office almost two hours later are still unknown.

The Grant family said in a statement that his death was a "tragic accident."

The Saratoga County District Attorney's office is investigating whether anyone at the party had served alcohol to Grant. They may be charged with unlawful dealing or endangering the welfare of a child, both are misdemeanor offenses that carry punishments of up to one year in jail.



GOLD – Last Seen Location (146 Church St.)
GREEN – Dormitory area where he would have returned after party.
RED – Medical office
BLUE – Recovery Location, Putnam Creek



A celebration of life

On Mar. 10, 2011, more than a hundred Skidmore students, faculty and staff members attended a silent vigil to honor the life of the young men who had been visiting their campus. The vigil was held outside the Case College Center and leg by the Rev. Richard Chrisman, director of religious and spiritual life.

"The death of a student is a tragic event in the life of any college, and this is a grievous loss for two campus communities," said acting Skidmore president Susan Kress. "Our own community is still struggling with this very difficult news. While we must await the results of the investigation into whether alcohol or drugs played a role in this case, we fully acknowledge the seriousness of this issue on college campuses nationally and our responsibility to make absolutely clear to our students the very real dangers that abuse of these substances can present both to themselves and to others."

Boston College held a memorial Mass for Grant on Mar. 22 at Saint Ignatius Church at 7 p.m.


About Alexander Grant


Born in Lake Forrest, Ill., to Kenneth and Deanna Grant, Alexander Maxwell Grant graduated with high honors from Briarcliff Manor High School in Briarcliff, N.Y. in 2009. At Briarcliff High, Grant was a member of the international Tri-M Musical honors society, which "recognizes secondary music students for their musical ability, academic excellence, school involvement, and community service." (Menc.org). He also won the regional prize for Mathematics in the nationwide Intel Science and Talent Search. Grant's principal, James Kaishan, described him as "wonderful student, a really nice kid who did well academically, was involved in school activities and had a great sense of humor."

Grant subsequently enrolled at Boston College where, according to the college, he was "a gifted and popular student in his class." He had been recently nominated for induction into the Golden Key National Honors society and was also a founding member of the university’s first fraternity, Sigma Phi Epsilon. He was majoring in economics, and had worked for the last three years as an intern at Risk Resources, LLC, a financial advisory company in New York City.

Grant was involved in philanthropic activities for City Meals on Wheels, the Robin Hood Foundation, Doctors Without Borders, Friends of the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, and did fundraising for cancer research on behalf of his friend Demitri Demeropoulos, who preceded him in death. A talented keyboardist, he and his band, the Jays, performed in venues in and around New York City.

He is survived by parents Kenneth and Deanna, sister, Brianna, two sets of grandparents, and aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends.

In a statement issued by the Grant family, Alex's father, Kenneth, thanked the community for their outpouring of support, sympathy, and loving thoughts for the "lad of great promise, humor, warmth and sensitivity."

"We loved him deeply," said Kenneth Grant, "and believe that everyone he encountered felt the same...I will say that not only was he my son, but he was my brother and my best friend. Our hearts are broken and we don’t particularly want them to heal, but we will carry him with us always...on behalf of my wife Deanna, my daughter Brianna and the rest of our family, we ask that you remember Alex in your thoughts and prayers."

On Fri., Mar. 11, a Rabbinical Service was held at the Beecher Funeral Home in Pleasantville, NY, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial on Sat., Mar. 12 at St. Theresa's Roman Catholic Church in Briarcliff Manor, NY. Burial followed in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery. Shiva was held on Sunday and Monday in Briarcliff Manor, NY. Kenneth Grant is Jewish and Deanna Grant is Roman Catholic, and the family held two services.

The Grant family is in the processes of establishing the Alexander Maxwell Grant Foundation, which will fund musical scholarships for talented and underprivileged young musicians. Those who would like to donate may contact Gina Gill at Risk Resources, LLC, at 646-840-4961 or gina.gill@riskresources.us.


Case Details:

Name/age: Alexander Maxwell Grant, 19
College: Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
Physical Description: 6'2", 190 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes.
Last seen: 03/05/11, Skidmore College, 146 Church Street, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Recovered: 03/8/11, 12:28 p.m., Putnam Creek, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
Investigating Agency: Saratoga Springs Police, 518-584-1800.

Published: 03/21/11. Revised 09/22/11, 7/15/12.