12/15/13: Jacob Anderson, 19, Minneapolis, MN

 

Jacob W. Anderson

A University of Minnesota freshman was found dead Sunday morning near the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minn.

Police believe that after walking a girl home from a party, Jacob W. Anderson, 19, may have hit his head and subsequently frozen to death outside. His body was found about 8:45 a.m. on the ground, possibly the riverbank, just east of the Stone Arch Bridge near main Street and 6th Avenue NE, not far from campus. Temperatures had dropped to one degree below zero Saturday night, when Anderson had walked the girl home.

Fox 9 News has reported, "Family members told Fox 9 their son was walking a girl home from a party and while walking back, he somehow ended up down the steep bank next to the bridge, possibly slipping and falling on the ice. No one can figure out how he got there, just that he couldn't get back up."

Police have said foul play is not involved. They are continuing to investigate. The cause of death is will be determined by the Hennepin County medical examiner.

Jake, as he was known by his friends, was a popular varsity lacrosse goalie and co-captain at Orono High School. The team captured the section 8 championship in 2013. He had also played football.

Jake's fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha,
posted a photo of this snow memorial
on their website, along with their condolences.

Jake was enrolled as a freshman in the College of Liberal Arts and lived in Pioneer Hall, a dormitory on campus. He was also a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

According to the Star Tribune, "On Monday, tributes and expressions of grief poured into Anderson’s Facebook page, and by evening, more than 300 donations totaling more than $18,000 had been made to a Give It Forward site set up by family and friends to help raise funeral costs, as well as airfare to bring Jake’s sister, Emily, home from New Zealand."

 Jacob Anderson is survived by his parents, Bill and Kristi, and siblings Emily and Luke.

Our deepest sympathies are with the Anderson family and his many friends and loved ones.




Sources

Adams, Jim and Lonetree, Anthony. (2013, December 16). U freshman found dead on riverbank near Stone Arch Bridge. Star Tribune.com. Retrieved Dec. 17, 2013 from http://www.startribune.com/local/235969181.html.

Daily Mail Reporter. (2013, December 16). Freshman, 19,  found 'frozen to death' on banks of the Mississippi River. Daily Mail.com. Retrieved Dec. 17, 2013 from: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2524660/Freshman-Jacob-W-Anderson-frozen-death-riverbank.html

LaBelle, Lindsey. (2013, Dec. 17). Beloved U freshman, Orono grad, found near Stone Arch Bridge. MyFoxTwinCities.com. Retrieved Dec. 17, 2013 from: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/story/24225218/body-found-near-stone-arch-bridge#ixzz2nnlPoQfP

Staff Reports. (2013, Dec. 16). Donation fund set up by family, friends of U student found dead by river. Star Tribune. Retrieved Dec. 17, 2013 from: http://www.startribune.com/local/236099741.html.

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.

05/29/97: Jeff Buckley, 31, Memphis, TN

Jeff Buckley
Wikipedia

Jeffrey Scott "Jeff" Buckley, 31, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist and son of folk and jazz musician Tim Buckley. After a decade in the music business and amassing loyal following of fans, he signed with Columbia Records, recruited a band, and recorded the album, Grace.


On the evening of May 29, 1997, Buckley was in Memphis after enjoying a warm 84 degree day when he spontaneously decided to go swimming in Wolf River Harbor, a slackwater channel of the Mississippi River. A roadie in Buckley's band, Keith Foti, remained on shore. Buckley had gone swimming there several times before, but this time, he was still wearing boots, all of his clothing, and singing the chorus of the song "Whole Lotta Love" by Led Zeppelin. As a tugboat passed by, Foti decided to move a radio and guitar further back on the shore. When he looked at the water again, he saw that Buckley had vanished, presumably after being caught in the wake of the tugboat.

Despite a determined rescue effort, Buckley was not found until June 4, when two locals spotted his body in the Mississippi River near a riverboat. Buckley's autopsy showed no signs of drugs or alcohol in his system and the death was ruled as an accidental drowning.

The Buckley estate released a statement that reads, "Jeff Buckley's death was not "mysterious," related to drugs, alcohol, or suicide. We have a police report, a medical examiner's report, and an eye witness to prove that it was an accidental drowning, and that Mr. Buckley was in a good frame of mind prior to the accident."

Wolf River Harbor 2006. Looking south down Wolf River Harbor with downtown Memphis, Tennessee, on the left, Mud Island on the right, and the Mississippi River in the extreme upper-right corner.

Sources

Wikipedia. Accessed 9/2/12 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_buckley.

06/24/09: Zachary Pittman, 26, Pearl River, LA

Zachary Pittman with daughter, Kaili

Shortly after 11 p.m. on June 24, Zachary Pittman, 26, called his mother to say that he had gotten into a verbal argument with his sister over who would be living at the home. She called the police. When the police arrived, Pittman was gone. He had left the home with the clothes he was wearing and a backpack containing his wallet with little to no money inside and one change of clothes. Pittman, who had a three year old daughter, lived in a sparsely populated part of Pearl River, La., and did not own a car or cell phone. His mother, Christy Ragas, said her son would've had nowhere to go.

Ragas told the St. Tammany Sidell Sentry that her son had fallen on hard times. He was desperate and out of work and he had gotten mixed up in drugs. She said he was no angel, but “he was a human being and he was a good dad.” She added that they were very close and he called her often.

“Zach would never leave me no matter what,” she said.

Pittman's remains were found May 31, 2011 in a heavily wooded area of the Mossy Oak Hunting Club north of Louisiana 36, in St. Tammany and did not appear to have been buried. The remains were identified through dental records. The Coroner's Office has not yet determined the cause or manner of Pittman's death, Croft said. Because of the state of the remains, the office plans to bring in a forensic anthropologist from Louisiana State University to aid in the investigation, she said.

According to a post by Simon Barrett of Blogger News Network, "Pearl River is a small community, the population is approximately 2,000 people. It is a community where everyone knows everyone. Yet no one is talking about Zachary Pittman. It stretches my fertile imagination that a man accustomed to the area would wander off into one of the local swamps and die."

If you have any information about Zachary Pittman, please call the St. Tammany Sheriff’s Department at 985-726-7836.


Case Details

Name/age: Zachary Pittman, 26
Residence: 35333 Mockingbird Loop, Pearl River, Louisiana
Last Seen: June 2009
Physical Description: 5'10," thin to medium build, close cut hair, goatee, three tattoos on right shoulder and forearm
Recovered: May 31, 2011, wooded area of the Mossy Oak Hunting Club north of Louisiana 36, in St. Tammany
Investigating Agency: St. Tammany Sheriff’s Department at 985-726-7836


Sources

Barrett, Simon. (2010, June 28.) Zachary Pittman--the plot thickens. Blogger News Network. Retrieved July 27, 2012 from http://www.bloggernews.net/124807.

Staff article. (2012, November. 19.) Mom not giving up in search for missing son. St. Tammany Sidell Sentry. Retrieved July 27, 2012 from http://www.helpfindthemissing.org/forum/showthread.php?p=788997

07/03/11: Sean Matti, 22, Monticello, IN

Sean Matti

Sean Matti, 22, a running back on Purdue University's football team, was last seen around 5 p.m. on Sunday, July 3, 2011 while swimming with friends near a home on Lake Freeman in Monticello, Ind., less than an hour northeast of the Purdue University campus.

Matti had reportedly been drinking when he disappeared.

His friends spent six hours looking for him before calling the Carroll County Sheriff's Department around 11:30 p.m.

A search of the shoreline was then conducted by members of the sheriff's department and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. On Monday, the search expanded to include divers, sonar, search dogs and a fixed-wing airplane from the Indiana State Police.

Matti's body was recovered Tuesday.

WLFI.com reported, "Matti's body was recovered Tuesday morning on Lake Freeman. DNR officers said they found Matti's body 20 yards from the dock of the home where he'd been staying with friends on Lake Freeman."

Carroll County Coroner Jay Cree later said the preliminary cause of death was respiratory arrest and asphyxia due to drowning. The manner of death is being called an accident. Toxicology results are still pending.


About Sean Matti

Head Coach Danny Hope told CBSSports.com, "Sean Matti was a coach's dream. He was a very special teammate and I really believe he represented what we're all about. He had an unbelievable amount of pride and he loved Purdue. We are sure going to miss him."

According to Rivals.com, "Matti, a former high school star from Shoreview, Minn., was on track to finish his Boilermaker career this fall as a fifth-year senior after initially walking on in 2007, though he had yet to see the field in his first four years."

On Sept. 3, Matti's fellow Boilermakers had a moment of silence in his honor prior to their season opening game against Middle Tennessee State. They also dedicated their season in his memory.

On July 6, 2011, a memorial service was held at Saint Thomas Aquinas Center in West Lafayette, Ind.


Case Details
Name/age: Sean Alan Matti, 22
Date of birth: 9/18/88
Hometown: Shoreview, MN
College: Purdue University
Major: Double major in organizational leadership and supervision major and industrial technology
Last Seen: 7/3/11, 5 p.m.
Physical Description: 6'0," 233 lbs.
Recovered: 7/5/11
Investigating Agency: Carroll County Sheriff's Department


Sources

Hinton, Matt. (2011, July 05). Body of missing Purdue running back found in Indiana lake. ABC News Rivals.com.
Retrieved June 28, 2012 from http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/blog/dr_saturday/post/Update-Body-of-missing-Purdue-running-back-foun?urn=ncaaf-wp3281
 
Staff Article. (Undated). Sean Matti profile. CBSSports.com. Retrieved June 18, 2012 from http://www.purduesports.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/matti_sean00.html
 
Staff Reports. (2011, July 7). Boilers gather to remember Sean Matti. PurdueSports.com. Retrieved June 18, 2012 from http://www.lafayette-online.com/purdue-news/2011/07/boilers-remember-sean-matti

09/22/87: Geoffrey Dowding, 15, Kelowna, BC, Canada

Geoffrey Dowding

Excerpt from Meredian Booster:

"In 1987, 15-year-old Geoff Dowding told his dad that he planned to hitchhike from their home in Maidstone to B.C. to visit family at Williams Lake. Geoff's birth mother had passed away when he was young, and there was often friction between him and his new stepmother. Chris knew his son had the same independent, free-spirited qualities as his old man, and he reluctantly agreed to allow his son to set out on his own, a decision he would come to regret for the rest of his life. Chris could never had predicted that when he dropped his son off by the highway that summer day, he would be saying his final farewell.

'I made the sad mistake of letting him go like I did. I hitchhiked across Canada in my early years, and I figured that's what he was doing, Chris said. 'He was like his dad, kind of a young hippie at heart. Good attitude and really easy going.'

Geoff made it to Williams Lake, and after a brief stay, left for the Okanagan. Months passed, and although he often wondered, Chris assumed Geoff had simply moved on with his life, and never looked back so he never filed a missing persons report. But he always half-expected the phone to ring one day."

On September 22, 1987, a couple walking a dog found human remains in the heavily wooded Knox Mountain Park in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. Kelowna police worked up dental charts and a fingerprint analysis, but were unable to get a positive identification.

According to Porchlight Canada:

The body was badly decomposed and it is believed that it had been there, for approximately two to six months. The human remains were subsequently recovered by police investigators and an autopsy was performed. It was determined that the body was that of a caucasian male, between the ages of 16 and 20 years, with medium length light brown hair. The height of the deceased is estimated to be between 179cm and 180 cm. A unique characteristic of note is the deviation of the nasal septum towards the left (slight bend in the nose). The deceased was in good dental health and dental charts are available.

Four years passed and when Chris Dowding still hadn't had any contact with his son, he recruited the help of Maidstone and Onion Lake RCMP in trying to locate him. For years, no one could find so much as a trace.

Then in 2000, the police published a facial reconstruction of the body, which eventually led to an ID by local police. In 2002, it was confirmed through DNA testing that the remains belonged to Geoffrey John Dowding.

The circumstances surrounding his death are suspicious.

"I wake up every morning and see my son's picture, and I wonder who the hell would do that to a 15-year-old kid," Chris Dowding told the Merdian Booster. "Somebody's got to live with it and somebody's got to pay for it."

If you have any information, please contact Detective Roy Fitzpatrick, Kelowna RCMP at 250-470-0620.



Sources

Staff article. (2005.) Father seeking answers to son's murder. Meridian Booster. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from http://www.meridianbooster.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2427006&archive=true

Porchlight Canada. Retrieved May 28, 2012 from http://s13.invisionfree.com/PorchlightCanada/ar/t1349.htm

12/11/11: Clinton Hamilton, 19, Oaktown, IN

Clinton Hamilton, 19, of Bicknell, Ind., disappeared along a rural road in Oaktown after taking his friends for a ride near the Wabash River on Dec. 11, 2011 around 4 a.m.

"They were just out driving Saturday night and for one reason or another the truck drowned out and he was going to stay with his truck and that's the
last time we had word of him," said Indiana Conservation Officer Tony Mann. (WTHITV.com, Dec. 13, 2011).

When he failed to come home, his family called police.

On Dec. 11, 2011, Hamilton’s truck was found in high flood waters near Wolf Hill in a remote part of northern Knox County. An extensive three-month, multi-agency search was then conducted using divers, boats, ATVs, air support and canines.

No trace of Hamilton was found until Sunday, Mar. 11, 2012 when Hamilton's remains were found in a corn field near the location where Hamilton went missing. A concerned citizen found the remains around 1:08 p.m. and called the Knox County Sheriff’s Department.

According to The Washington Times-Herald, "a Knox County Crime Scene Detective and Coroner Gordon Belcher processed the scene and determined the remains did indeed belong to Hamilton. Indiana Conservation Officers, Oaktown Fire Department and Knox County EMS also assisted with the recovery."

There were no signs of foul play.

An autopsy, performed on March 11 by by Forensic Pathologist Dr. John Heidinsfelder of Evansville, found that the Knox County teen had died as the result of an accident.

Funeral services were held at the Sandborn Baptist Church. Memorial contributions were made to Riley at IU Health in Hamilton's name.

If you have any information, call the Knox County Sheriff's Office, 812-882-7660.



Sources

WSAU.com. (2012, March 15). Knox County Death Ruled Accidental. WSAU.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.

The Washington Times-Herald. (2012, March 11). Remains of Missing Teen Found in Cornfield.  Retrieved April 19, 2012.

WTHITV.com. (2011, December 13.).Truck found but teen still missing. WTHITV.com. Retrieved April 23, 2012.

Victim Sketches Released in Long Island Serial Killer Mystery

Suffolk County victim sketches:
Jane Doe #6 and John Doe #8 (right)
Credit: WCBS.



Police have released sketches of two unidentified victims found in the Gilgo Beach area of Long Island, New York. The remains were among ten bodies found in the area, and police are investigating the possibility that a serial killer is at work.


One of the victims, John Doe No. 8, is believed to have died between five and ten years ago. Forensic specialists have determined that the remains belonged to an Asian man, approximately 5'6" tall, between the ages of 17 and 23. He was missing two molars and one of his top front teeth. Authorities announced have also announced that the victim had been wearing women's clothing at the time of his death. Police are comparing the remains to known missing persons fitting that description, including Yim Yeung Tsui, a Stony Brook University student who disappeared in August 1998. Tsui's sister has provided a DNA sample for comparison.

The other sketch is of a woman known as Jane Doe No. 6. She is Caucasian, 5'2" tall and between the ages of 18 and 35. According to IBTimes.com, "Police said her torso was discovered in Manorville in November 2000 and, through a DNA analysis, was later linked to a head, hands and a right foot that was recovered along Ocean Parkway in April."

Five of the ten bodies found near Gilgo Beach, including that of a female toddler, approximately 18-24 months old, have not been identified. The toddler was found on a highway, wrapped in a blanket. It appears that she may be related to one of the other unidentified women, who was found seven miles away in Nassau County. The other five victims have been identified. Four were escorts who had advertised their services on Craigslist, leading police to believe that they were targeted by a serial killer.
Links:
48 Hours Mystery

01/31/10: Bryce Tarter, 19, Savannah, GA

Update (12/14/10): The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has released its investigative findings into the death of Bryce Tarter. Investigators say the missing student drowned in his submerged pickup truck, possibly after running off the road. According to WTOC.com, "The Georgia State Patrol accident reconstruction team estimates Bryce's truck was traveling between 25 and 45 miles per hour down the road leading to Bell's Landing. The report speculates Bryce may not have noticed that the road ended, and plunged right into the water....A toxicology report was inconclusive, saying the body was too badly decomposed to test for drugs or alcohol."

The GBI is currently working with the family to return any of Tarter's belongings, after which, they say, the case will be closed. According to GBI's Micah Ward, the case file is complete.

Sources:

http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=13654821 

http://www.wtoc.com/Global/story.asp?S=13652861

10/31/10: Trevor Cooper, 22, Williams Lake, BC, Canada

Trevor Cooper

Trevor Cooper, 22, was was last seen by his family leaving home in Williams Lake, British Columbia, at 11:30 p.m. Halloween night with $400 to $600 cash in his pocket. Cooper, who was developmentally challenged, had been known to leave home for up to five days at a time, but he had always gone to his relatives. This time, he didn't contact his family. He was reported missing by his mother on Nov. 8.

"[He has] the functioning capacity of a youth between the ages of 12-15 years old," said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Dan Moskaluk in a press release on Nov. 13. "His family is very concerned for his well being due to his shy nature, adding that he lacks a degree of street smarts, [which] makes him more vulnerable then a typical 22-year-old."

The last confirmed sighting of Cooper was on November 3, 2010 in Prince George, BC, when RCMP checked and towed a vehicle in which Cooper was one of a few passengers. Though he had not yet been reported missing, officers did record his particulars at the time.

After appeals to the public were made, Corporal Dan Moskaluk, RCMP, said that someone came forward stating they gave a male matching Cooper's description a ride on November 7th and dropped him off at the Red Rock Fire Hall. The witness said he attempted to provide further assistance, but the male refused any help and carried on, walking away from the fire hall.

The search for Cooper ended tragically on Nov. 15, when his body was found by the PG Search and Rescue team in a ditch near the newly constructed weigh scales on Highway 97, 33 km north of Prince George, B.C.

There were no indications of foul play.

01/10/10: Paul Foster, 28, Hamilton, ON, CAN

Paul Michael Foster, 28, of Hamilton, Ontario, was last seen at his parents' Burlington home on Sunday, January 10, 2010 at approximately 6:00 p.m. before he left to see a movie. It was the last time he was seen.

Foster's family became concerned about his well-being after learning that his faithful dog had been barking and howling for 3 days. It was out of character for him to leave his dog unattended. He had also not accessed his bank accounts or made contact with his friends, which was out of the ordinary for him.


Paul Foster recovered

On September 3, 2010, Foster's eroded truck was found in Hamilton Harbour with the license plate still intact. Fosters body was still inside. Police told the Hamilton Spectator that they believe the truck went through or over the guard rail, which is about 7.8 inches (20 centimeters) in height. They said they "have no reason" to believe it hadn't been there since Foster disappeared in January.

According to the Spectator, a crew of divers from the Department of National Defence Dive Team had been preparing the docking site for the arrival of HMCS Fredericton, a 4,750-ton ship due to arrive at the Catharine Street North pier on September 7. The crew was searching for scrap metal in the area when they discovered the fully submerged pickup truck. The vehicle was pulled up around 7:30pm at Pier 9 of Catharine Street North.

The autopsy results show no signs of foul play.

01/11/06: Vincent "Buddy Roberts, 20, Minneapolis, MN

"Buddy" Roberts, 21, was last seen walking away from the Hennepin County Medical Center (HCMC) mental health unit on January 11, 2006 with a pass. It was the last time that the young man--a fixture in metro area coffee houses and homeless shelters--was seen.

Family members put up posters of Buddy daily and spend hundreds of hours searching in frustration. The media seemed to pay little attention to the disappearance of a young black man with mental health problems.

Buddy had suffered with a bipolar disorder, since he was 15. According to the Star Tribune, "he was able to flourish when he took his medications. At those times, he was a charismatic young man who was a talented drummer."

But on December 3, Buddy was off of his medication. He was found walking around at the Mall of America without shoes or a coat and talking about his "super powers." With the approval of his family, he was taken to HCMC and held for treatment. Then on January 11, six days before he was to move into a group home, he was given a pass allowing him to leave the hospital.

Buddy's body was found three months later in the Mississippi River on March 29, 2006 near the Stone Arch Bridge, not far from where Chris Jenkins had been found three years earlier. Buddy's stepmother, Lynn Roberts, learned of the finding when she happened to see a notice from the authorities requesting the public's help in identifying a young black male. She and Buddy's father, Vincent Roberts, supplied the medical examiner's office with dental records and the identification was made. Authorities told family members that the body may have been in the river since shortly after his disappearance. His bank account had not been touched since he left the hospital.

Vincent Roberts has said the staff at the hospital was wonderful, yet he questions the hospital's policy of giving unsupervised passes to the mentally ill.


Facts of Interest in this Case:
Name/age: Vincent "Buddy" Harold Roberts II, 20
Last seen: 1/11/06, in the vicinity of the 700 block of Park Ave., Minneapolis, MN.
Date of Birth: 1985-03-03
Physical description: Black male, 70 inches, 160 pounds, black curly hair, brown eyes
Clothing: Usually wears baggy cargo pants, white athletic shoes with untied laces, black or tan doo-rag, may possibly have a black, white, and red leather coat, carrying a green backpack. Wearing a long, thick silver chain with a large silver "cross" pendant and "Fossil" brand watch.
Vincent has a medical condition and needs medication.
Investigative Agency: Maplewood Police Department Phone: (651) 777-8191
Case #: 06-00-0187
NCIC #: M-115526209, Phone: (612) 348-3755

09/03/10: Adam Zaccardi, 32, Fridley, MN

Adam James Zaccardi, 32, from Minneapolis, MN was last seen around midnight on Sept. 3 in the parking lot of Springbrook Apartments in Fridley after attending a party.

Fridley Police, Coon Rapids Police K-9, Anoka County Sheriff K-9, Minnesota State Patrol helicopter and Fridley Fire started searching for the man 5 p.m. Sept. 9. in the Springbook Nature Center at 100 85th Ave. N.E. in Fridley. The Nature Center is next to the apartments where he was last seen.

A Fridley firefighter discovered Zaccardi's body at 10:30 a.m. on Sept. 10 in a drainage pond adjacent to the Nature Center.

Zaccardi's death has been ruled an accidental drowning; his girlfriend of 15 years says he couldn't swim.

A memorial service for Zaccardi was held on September 15 at Washburn-McReavy Hillside Chapel in Minneapolis. Zaccardi's family told KSTP.com that he was always willing to help out his family and friends. He had a great sense of humor and was a good father to the couple's two sons.

Our thoughts go out to Zaccardi's family and friends at this difficult time.

08/28/10: Khalil King, 19, Ithaca, NY

On the evening of Saturday, August 28, 2010, Khalil King, a 19-year-old from Cornell University was reported missing. King had last been seen at about 3 a.m. that morning while walking on the upper gorge trail near the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, also known as the "FIJI" fraternity. A friend said King saw something and ran west; he then lost contact with the sophomore. "Charlottenews14.com has reported the something spooked King before he ran off. Attempts to call or locate him throughout the day were unsuccessful," said Cornell Director of Press Relations Claudia Wheatley.

Approximately 30 people from multiple agencies--including members of the Cornell University Police Department, the Ithaca Police Department, New York State Police, the Ithaca Fire Department and Cornell Environmental Health and Safety--were involved in the search.

The Ithaca Fire Department and Cornell University police searched the area around where King was last seen, but because of darkness and the hazardous terrain, the search was suspended at about 12:30 a.m. Sunday. The team resumed their search at 9 a.m. Sunday, joined by the Ithaca police, and staff from the Cornell Environmental Health and Safety department. The area east of the Stewart Avenue bridge above Ithaca Falls was searched, and a state police helicopter was also used.

On Sunday (8/29/10), emergency crews recovered a body lying in a deep pool of water in the south end of Fall Creek gorge. Police identified it as that of the missing student. The body was found between the pedestrian suspension bridge and Stewart Avenue Bridge near the 800 block of Stewart Avenue. Firefighters, and the Ithaca and Cornell police and Bangs Ambulance, carried the body out through the Willard Way tunnel, part of a former 19th century industrial water mill, shortly after 1:30 p.m.

No foul play is suspected, according to police. The Ithaca Police Department is continuing the investigation, and anyone with information is urged to contact them at 272-9973.


About Khalil King

On August 31, 2010, several hundred people attended a candlelight vigil commemorating the life of Khalil King.

The Cornell Daily Sun reported that "King’s mother came out and spoke of her son: 'my pride, my joy, my reason for breathing.'" She said, “a lot of questions are still not answered,” and that she “will never be satisfied until those questions are answered” by either “something from the Cornell community” or from the “divine hand of God.”

According to the Sun, "Throughout the night, filled with poems, letters and songs for King, a picture of him emerged as a gregarious, multi-talented thinker and doer, willing to cross the lines of social convention....Friend Felema Yemane, Class of 2014, recalled going to different places with King, including the Cornell Democrats, Cornell Republicans and a socialist organization, and recalled a time when the two spent “three hours discussing abortion” in Willard Straight Hall. King was “open to other people’s ideas and thoughts,” Yemane said."

King was described as being the kind of friend "who would do anything for you at the drop of a dime." His many friends enjoyed his magnetic, perhaps even a bit quirky, personality. He was described as an “amazing artist,” who had once made a landscape of Ithaca appearing in the eye of his self-portrait.

King had recently transferred from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to the College of Architecture, Art and Planning.

King was a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, and a 2009 graduate of Independence High School.
Vice President Susan Murphy ’73 also spoke at the event, saying that the “best tribute we can give Khalil is to build those bridges across the communities he touched.”

She urged the crowd to “make sure you’re here for one another,” while admitting the difficulty of “trying to understand something that makes no sense.”

07/15/08: Guowen Weng, 16, Vancouver, BC, Canada

Two years ago today, Guowen Weng, a 16-year old student from China disppeared just 6 hours after arriving in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Weng, who arrived in Vancouver at 2:30 p.m. in preparation for a two-week long summer course, went for a walk around 8:30 p.m., taking his belongings and cell phone with him. He never returned.

Guowen Weng is described as about 5'3" tall, 100 pounds, with black, spiky hair. According to police, Weng speaks no English.

In September, CBS News reported that Weng was the fourth student to disappear from the BCC Academy of English school within days of each other in July. The three other students — a boy, 19, and two girls, 16 and 17— were all in the same class and went missing five days after Weng.

According to CBS News, "The last record police have of Guowen cellphone being used is in Ottawa. Vancouver police Const. Tim Fanning said police tried to contact their families in China but they either weren't helpful or didn't return their calls."

Police now believe they may have used the summer language program as an excuse to get into Canada. All four students were admitted to the country on six-month study visas.

All four cases have now been handed over to the Canada Border Services Agency, Fanning said.

02/22/08: Dennis Cornish, 37, 100 Mile House, BC, Canada

Dennis's story
On Feb. 22, 2008, Dennis James Cornish, 37 vanished after purchasing fuel at Race Trac gas station on highway 97 at the entrance to the 108 Mile Ranch subdivision. It was the last time he was seen. His brown 1995 GMC pickup was later found abandoned in the city of 100 Mile House, British Columbia.


The Search for Dennis Cornish
Dennis Cornish's parents, Janette and Dennis, made the trip from Calgary to 100 Mile House to hand out flyers, checking in with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and speaking with the 100 Mile Free Press. A Facebook page was created by Dennis's friend, Ken Mont from Calgary. Early on, Dennis's family expressed concerns on the page that Dennis had met with foul play.

On the one-year anniversary of his disappearance, the Cornish family released a statement that read, "It is now a year since our son, Dennis went missing. We know he is no longer with us. That is the focus of the RCMP investigation. Our family does not know how and why he died. The most important thing for us is finding his body. Not a day goes by that we don’t think of him. We can’t find peace and move on until we have his remains and give him a proper burial. We are open to all suggestions as to where Dennis might be."

When we come to the last moment of this lifetime,
As we look across it,
The only thing that is going to matter is,
“What is the quality of our love?”
~Richard Bach, as read by Dennis's sister, Corrine, at his memorial service on 8/16/09.

Sadly, it was later determined that Dennis had been murdered. On June 8, Darin Randle, a friend of Dennis's was arrested in his death. An RCMP officer flew to Calgary to inform Dennis's parents. On their Facebook page, the family posted, "We were advised that DARIN RANDLE, Dennis’ friend in 100 Mile House, had been arrested for murder and subsequently charged with “indecency to a body.” To date Dennis’ body has not been found. [Randle] was released until his next court appearance in July. If you have any further information regarding these charges, please contact Constable Jay Grierson, North District, Major Crime Unit – (250) 649-3923."

A trial is set to begin September 05, 2012. It is our sincerest hope that some measure of justice can be will be found for Dennis and his family.

About Dennis Cornish

Dennish Cornish, whose friends called "Corn", lived in the 100 Mile area for two years before planning to return to his home-province of Alberta in the beginning of 2008. His family states that he had an amazing smile, a love of life, and a positive attitude. At his memorial service, friends said that he was caring and non-judgmental, bringing many good things to the world.

"Dennis’ life was full of adventure and he lived on the edge. He grew up in the community of Mapleridge, Calgary. A big part of his time there was participating in Lacrosse. The family has many fond memories of Dennis’ team mates, his coach, Mr. Boykiw, lacrosse games and tournaments. Dennis loved water and snow skiing and became a Certified Canadian Ski Instructor in his early 20s. He had an inherent understanding of mechanics and technology. Computers became one of his passions. He received Computer Technology Certificates from SAIT. He worked for Apex Cable and then 5 years as a computer analyst at the Calgary Board of Education. He went on to apply his computer skills in video and slide presentations for businesses and individuals. From Calgary, Dennis found his way to Canmore, Kelowna and finally Northern BC where he settled for a couple of years.

He had a beautiful spirit and he touched many people with his warm and charming nature. We know and feel he is always with us....



Dennis Cornish Memorial Bench



A lovely memorial bench has been placed in Fish Creek Provincial Park to commemorate the life of Dennis Cornish. The inscription reads, "In Loving Memory of Dennis James Cornish 1970-2008. He lived, loved and laughed."

Dennis leaves behind a 13-year-old daughter, Chay. Anyone wishing to make a contribution to her education fund may do so at any Royal Bank - Trust account #: 06892-5099254.

Quick Facts:
Name/age: Dennish Cornish, 37
Date of birth: 9/13/70
Residence: 100 Mile House, British Columbia, Canada
Last seen: 02/22/08: Race Trac gas station on highway 97 at the entrance to the 108 Mile Ranch subdivision near city of 100 Mile House in British Columbia, Canada
Physical Description: 5' 7" tall, 165 lbs, short brown hair and hazel eyes. Tattoo on his right upper arm of a yin/yang symbol with crossed swords through it. Wears a heavy silver neck chain.
Investigating Agency: 100 Mile House RCMP at 250-395-2456
Links: Facebook

Originally published: 4/28/10. Updated 12/2/10.

05/5/10: Syed Naqi, 22, Chicago, IL

Syed "Zain" Naqi, the American-born son of Indian immigrants, had been described as "a normal college student," nearing completion of a political science degree at Roosevelt University in downtown Chicago. The 22-year-old was last seen leaving the Rebel Bar and Grill at 3462 N. Clark Street near Wrigley Field late on Saturday, May 1 by a female friend who works at the bar. The woman told Zain's mother, Rugia Naqi, that she saw him going out the door. He was then talking to some girls outside the bar, but the woman was not certain whether he left alone or with the girls.

At about 10:30 p.m. that night, Naqi's father, Syed Naqi Sr., said he contacted his son and asked him to come back to the suburbs for a late night family gathering. Naqi, Jr. said he would return. At about midnight, his father sent him a text message asking him where he was. At 12:17 a.m., Naqi, Sr. received a text that read, “Goodbye dad." It was the last time that anyone heard from the college student. Naqi's phone was then turned off.

Naqi's friends told his father that Naqi had been sober when he left the bar that night.

His family reported him missing the following Monday.

The search for Syed Naqi

Early on, police reported that Naqi drove a 4-door dark green Honda Civic, which had not been found. Police in his hometown of Elk Grove Village said they didn't yet know whether Naqi chose to take of left on his own accord or if something happened to him; and sent detectives to Chicago to investigate further. Police also checked whether Naqi may have driven to Des Moines, where he was formerly a student at Drake University, but that possibility yielded no results.

Naqi, who took medication for depression and saw a counselor, had never gone missing before. In fact, his family said it was very uncharacteristic for him to disappear. Naqi, who only went out about once a month, was also in the habit of waking up his father to let him know when he had returned back home (Daily Herald, 5/14/10).

Police noted that his bank and credit cards and cell phone had not been used since he was last seen. His Facebook page had not been updated since the first week of April, well before his disappearance. The family I-PASS device, which would have flagged any toll booth violations, was left at home.

The school held several vigils since May 2 in hopes of finding Naqi.

Naqi found

On Sunday, May 23, a boater reported seeing a car in the waters of Chicago's Belmont Harbor, and police divers recovered a green 2000 Honda Civic belonging to Naqi with a body inside.

The car was found in Belmont Harbor near the Lincoln Park neighborhood east of Lake Shore Drive near Roscoe Street. According to the Chicago Sun-Times, authorities believe it had been "in the water for at least a full day, but likely much longer because the car was found extremely murky and covered in weeds."

On May 26, it was reported that an autopsy conducted by the Cook County Medical Examiner had determined drowning to be the cause of death. The report also noted that while sucide had been suspected in the death, a medical examiner’s spokesperson announced that the death was still undetermined and pending investigation. [Journal Online, May 26, 2010.]

Naqi's identity was positively confirmed through dental records on May 25.

According to the Chicago Sun-Times, "it was not immediately clear how the car entered the water. A fence around the area where emergency crews worked was intact until workers removed part of it for the recovery effort. But onlookers said a few weeks ago, around the time Naqi went missing, they noticed part of the fence was badly bent and tire tracks could be seen leading to the water."

As of June 1, 2010, the case was still unresolved. The Daily Herald reported, "Chicago Police investigators are reluctant to release any information surrounding Naqi's drowning. Police have not ruled the death a suicide, as the autopsy conducted by the Cook County medical examiner's office was inconclusive as to the cause of death, Chicago police spokesman Rob Perez said Tuesday."


About Syed Naqi

Naqi had previously been a student at Drake University in Des Moines for one year, and had said he liked it there and wished he could go back. According to the Daily Herald, Naqi had to leave Drake University during his freshman year after he was accused of an incident of plagiarism. Unhappy that he could no longer attend, he began taking a small dose of Wellbutrin, a prescription antidepressant. And while he wanted to go back to Drake, he was doing well at Roosevelt. Jeff Edwards, Naqi's professor in a political theory class, told the Daily Herald that Naqi "always seemed a very happy, delightful person in class" and he seemed determined to do well.

Naqi lived at home in Elk Grove Village with his parents and younger sister.

Elk Grove Village police ask that any information about Syed "Zain" Naqi's whereabouts should be directed to them at (847) 357-4100.


Case Details
Name/age: Syed Naqi, 22
College: Roosevelt University
Last seen: Chicago, IL
Hometown: Elk Grove Village
Physical Description: 5'4", 140 pounds, Indian decent with a dark complexion, black hair, brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a red T-shirt and blue jeans. He drives a dark green 2000 Honda Civic, four-door car with Illinois license plate No. A195471, which is also missing.


Originally published: 5/7/10. Last Updated: 8/2/10.

11/04/07: John Kahler, 29, Mission, BC, Canada

John Kahler, 29, a resident of Langley, British Columbia, disappeared on Nov. 4, 2007 while attending the King of the Pit 4×4 truck festival on the mud flats of Stave Lake near Mission, B.C. with two friends. The festival drew a crowd of more than 1,000 people.
 
Kahler was last seen around 4 a.m. having a drink around the campfire. His white Ford F150 pick-up truck was then found at 6:30 a.m. by one of his friends who left early. It was stuck in a ditch about 200 meters from the campsite. The engine was still running, the doors were opening, the radio was on, and the wipers were on. There was no sign of John Kahler.

02/07/10: R.C. Dean, 22, Fort Madison, IA

RC Dean

On Feb. 7, 2010, Ray Charles Newell Dean, who went by "R.C.," of Keokuk, IA was visiting friends in Fort Madison, IA when he fell through the ice on the Mississippi River.

According to The Hawk Eye, Dean had been walking along the riverbank with another man and fell in about 100 feet from shore near Riverview Park. The man placed the 911 call.

Fort Madison Police Chief Bruce Niggemeyer said, 'He went on the ice with another gentleman, and the other guy came back alone. The other guy heard him go into the water. He couldn't swim either, so he couldn't really help.' The identity of the other man has not been disclosed.

According to the Fort Madison Police Department, they received a report at 2:01 a.m. of the 22-year-old male falling through the ice along the river west of Riverview Park.

According to Connecttristates.com, "investigators found two sets of footprints leading to where Dean is thought to have fallen through the ice, but only one returning track of footprints.

Captain Bruce Gustafson of the Fort Madison Police Department said there is nothing that indicates foul play. He says until a body is found, this can only be treated as a missing person.

Dean's family urged the public to come out and search, saying they were hoping to be able to give him a proper burial. Dean has a 2-year old son.


Search and Recovery

On April 15, 2010, local fishermen recovered the body of RC Dean. According to the Fort Madison Daily Democrat, the body was "about a quarter mile south of the Amtrak depot near 20th Street. Gustafson said he would most likely be found not too far from where he fell into the river. He fell in at about 13th Street. The body had clothes on which matched the description of what the family had said he was wearing on Feb. 7 when he fell into the river after walking out on the ice. He wore a T-shirt and camouflage pants. He also had a billfold with a chain on it, which some searchers last Saturday hoped would get caught on a log to keep Dean from going further down river."

A wallet found in the back pocket of his pants confirmed the identity.

Fort Madison Police Chief Bruce Niggemeyer said he had searched the area where Dean was found just a few days ago and saw nothing. Gustafson said during the search last Saturday that he had been driving up and down the BNSF fire road almost every day since Dean was reported missing in hopes of finding him."




Sources

Benedict, Joe. (2010, April 16). Keokuk man's body found near FM riverfront. Fort Madison Daily Democrat. Retrieved April 14, 2010 from http://www.dailydem.com/articles/2010/04/16/news/news1.txt

Mangalonzo, John. (2010, March 24). Drowning victim's family seeks help. The Hawk Eye. Retrieved April 14, 2010 from http://www.thehawkeye.com/story/Search-032410


Wells, Jarod. (2010, March 26). Final efforts from family of missing man. Connect TriStates.com Retrieved April 14, 2010 from http://www.connecttristates.com/news/story.aspx?id=435552#.UJcCqI5Z_FI


Originally Published: 04/14/10. Updated 04/18/10, 11/4/12.

03/21/10: Patrick Trainor, 19, Fishers, IN

Nineteen-year old Patrick Trainor, a freshman at Purdue University's School of Agriculture, spent spring break at his family's home on the south side of Indianapolis. On Saturday, March 20, he drove to a party in Fishers, IN, approximately 25 miles north of his home. Patrick's brother, Matt Trainor, told The Exponent that he believed that Patrick left the party to go to another party near 96th Street in the Geist Reservoir area, 10 minutes away.

The last time anyone heard from Trainor was via text message at 1:21 am March 21 in the 96th Street/Interstate 69 area. A second text message was sent around 3:40 a.m. in the 10900 block of Olio Road.

The Search for Patrick Trainor
Patrick's family became worried after not hearing from him, because the young man was known to communicate his location. He also frequently used his phone and sent text messages. He only had a limited amount of cash on him and there had been no activity on his bank account.

The day after he went missing, the Geist Reservoir was searched after the last known cell phone “ping” was detected in the area. Randy McFarland, public information officer for the Fishers Police Department, told The Exponent, "It’s hard to tell how big the general area of the cell phone ‘ping’ was,” he said. “We put sonar boats from the fire department (in the Reservoir) and they scoured the whole shore area.” Police say the search was a "precautionary measure" and there is no other reason to believe Trainor might be in the water. Police are also interviewing people in the area.

On March 23, a small retaining pond off of E 104th Street between Cyntheeann Road and Florida Road was searched by a dive team after tire tracks were seen appearing to go into the water. The area, which had plans to be developed, only had one house. It was in the vicinity of the party where Trainor was last seen. Nothing turned up, and police believed the tracks were left by the construction crew that installed the decorative fountain.

On March 24, police announced that Patrick Trainor's electric green Ford Mustang was found at the bottom of a retention pond near 116th Street and Brooks School Road in the private gated community of Breakwater. Sadly, the body of Patrick Trainor was found in the vehicle. The pond is located about 2 miles northwest from the 10900 block of Olio Road, the location of the last ping from Trainor's cell phone. It was reported that the Olio Road area had previously been searched.

Patrick Trainor's father, Dr. Don Trainor, read a prepared statement the following day, "Obviously the outcome was not what we were hoping for, but these efforts led to his discovery and some closure for us. The outpouring of support has been incredible and we appreciate all of the kind words and prayers from everyone...[Patrick] was an awesome son, brother, and friend who was always willing to go the extra mile for a stranger, friend or family."

Investigation
At a press conference, Randy McFarland of the Fishers police said surveillance video at the entrance of the neighborhood showed Trainor's vehicle entering the gated community but never leaving. A preliminary autopsy showed drowning to be the cause of death. According to Wishtv.com, "officers found light tire tracks in the grass near the retention pond, and noticed some scratches on rocks near the pond."

On March 25, the Hamilton County coroner said the preliminary cause of death was drowning. On April 9, the Hamilton County coroner’s toxicology report was released showing that Trainor's blood alcohol content level was 0.19% which is more than twice the legal limit for driving in the state of Indiana. He also had marijuana present in his urine. The coroner ruled the final cause of death to be drowning and the manner of death accidental.

About Patrick Trainor
Patrick Trainor was an animal sciences major with dreams of becoming a veterinarian. He had recently joined Purdue’s chapter of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. He reportedly had a lot of friends and no known enemies or trouble with drugs or alcohol. Prior to college, he graduated from Cathedral High School. “He was an awesome son,” Patrick's father Don told the media during a press conference. He “was always willing to go the extra mile.” He had three older brothers.

On March 26, 2010, more than 500 friends and family members gathered at Cathedral High school for a visitation for Patrick Trainor. A second service was held the following day at 9 am, followed by a Mass. The family requested any donations be made to the Indianapolis Humane Society.

Quick Facts:
Name/age: Patrick Trainor, Fishers, IN
College: Purdue University (freshman)
Major: Animal Sciences
Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Last seen: 3/21/10, last cell phone contact near 10900 block of Olio Road in Fishers, IN.
Recovered: 3/24/10, retention pond in the gated Breakwater community in Fishers, IN in the Geist neighborhood.
Physical Description: 5'11, 140 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes, last seen wearing beige shorts or blue jeans, a gray hooded sweatshirt and white tennis shoes and driving a two-door, dark green 1999 Ford Mustang with Indiana license plate 522ZVF. Trainor's car is very distinctive--electric green with spoiler, tinted side windows, Indiana plates, and dents on the left side. Trainor also had surgery recently.

If you have any information about Patrick Trainor, call the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department's Missing Persons office at (317) 327-6613.