07/28/12: Benjamin Fuder, 21, Whitewater, WI

Benjamin Fuder

Benjamin Fuder, a 21-year old student at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater was last seen in leaving the Hawk's Nest Bar and Grill in downtown Whitewater, Wisc., around 12:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2012. The State Journal has reported that Fuder's friends told him to go home because he was intoxicated. It was the last time he was seen. Benjamin Fuder was reported missing at 11:37 p.m. that night.

Someone found Fuder's phone and used it to contact his girlfriend to ask how to return it to him. Fuder's girlfriend then directed him to leave it at his residence. The person put it in the mailbox anonymously, and police would like to find out where the phone was found.

It has also been reported that someone told Fuder's father, Bradley Fuder, that his son's wallet was found Saturday afternoon at the top of an outdoor staircase.

On Sunday, July 29 about 6:45 a.m., Fuder's body was found in the bottom of the Whitewater Limestone Quarry below the north rim. The quarry is just outside Whitewater's southern limits, in Walworth County, on Franklin Street just north of the Highway 12 bypass. According to the Walworth County Today, "It can be seen clearly from Highway 12." The entrance to the quarry is about one mile from the bar where Fuder was last seen.

The coroner identified the body as Fuder and pronounced him dead at the scene, and foul play was not suspected.

The Fuder family has asked for anyone with information to come forward.

According to a report by NBC15:

Some of the circumstances surrounding Benjamin's death seem mysterious--and his family says they have questions about what happened to him. "He would have had to leave the bar, get something to eat and walk over a mile past his house just to reach this point," described his brother, Shane.

To get to the quarry, Shane says he would have had to have walked way past his residence--in the dark. "He would have had to walk down the street here, no sidewalk, no lights, no houses, no reason to come here," said Shane. "Stumbled all this way, a mile past his house down this gravel road and through some really thick brush."

Family members say he knew his way home--and he wasn't depressed--so it seems unlikely that he'd have wandered to the area intentionally. That's why they think this may not have been an accident.

"This was not a slip and fall accident, this was not a suicide obviously, he was, you know, the target," said Joshua Fuder, another of Benjamin's siblings.

They say they're hoping the official investigation yields some answers for them.

They want to know if Benjamin might have been drugged.

Shane says they're having a third party conduct a toxicology report.

"We've decided not to cremate him yet," he said. "We're going to wait until we can do our own toxicology report and have someone else we supplied go over the evidence and the body and stuff. So we don't want to, you know, we're trying to stay objective trying to do this right so we don't regret anything down the road."

Benjamin Fuder is the second UW-W student in 14 months to be found deceased in the quarry.

According to the Walworth County Today, "The body of 20-year-old Mark J. Wegener, a UW-Whitewater student, was found at the bottom of the quarry May 30, 2011. Police say he left a party about 1 a.m. May 29, 2011, and was not seen again until his body was discovered. Authorities at the time said Wegener apparently fell from a 70-foot ledge. His death was ruled an accident. An autopsy revealed Wegener had a blood-alcohol content of 0.106, which would be above the legal limit to drive."

Police believe the only similarity between the two incidents is that both victims appeared to be alone.

According the same paper, there is a dirt lane, which runs under power lines, that leads to the quarry's north rim. There are posted signs advising people not to enter without permission. The road to the bottom of the quarry is gated and locked after hours. While there is no fence around the rim of the quarry, a worker told the paper that there have been no reports of people partying at the quarry or hanging out after hours. He also said that while there is a small pool of water at the bottom of the quarry, it is continually pumped and not suitable for swimming. He said the quarry is operated by Whitewater Limestone, a subsidiary of BR Amon and Mann Brothers of Elkhorn, Wisc.

Whitewater Police Chief Lisa Otterbacher confirmed to the paper that there have been no reports of incidents at the quarry.

On October 10, 2012, the Walworth County Coroner’s Office ruled the death of Benjamin Fuder an accident. According to a Press Release from the Walworth County Sheriff's Office, the cause of death was "due to a fall from the rim to the floor of the limestone quarry. The death was due to traumatic head trauma along with significant other conditions, which were the presence of ethanol, cannabinoids and psilocin. The Walworth County Sheriff's Office has concluded this investigation and finds no evidence of any criminal behavior associated with this death and agrees with the Walworth County Coroner’s Office that the manner of death was accidental."

Anyone with information should contact Walworth County Sheriff's Office Detective Troy Pagenkopf at 262-741-4426. 


About Benjamin Fuder

Benjamin Robert Fuder was filled with such passion and enthusiasm for life that he entered the world six weeks premature when he was born on May 15, 1991. In just twenty-one short years, he filled this world with so much laughter and cheer that he will be forever remembered by all those that he influenced. After graduating from Edgerton High School in 2009, Ben enrolled at UW-Whitewater, where he was a junior. Ben planned to use his boundless energy and creativity to pursue a career in elementary education.

Ben was known for his sense of humor and strong work ethic. He loved spending time with family and friends, participating in sports, fishing, playing video games, watching movies, swimming, and being outdoors. Ben was an accomplished tennis player during his high school years and competed in the state tournament both as a junior and a senior.

Benjamin is survived by his parents, Bradley and Chantal Fuder; two older brothers, Joshua (Amanda Korell) and Shane Fuder; older sister, Mariah (Aaron) Lewis; grandparents, Pat and Nancy Collins; and two grandmothers, Patricia Graham and Marilyn Fuder. He leaves behind 14 aunts and uncles and 17 cousins from France to California. Ben is also survived by his girlfriend of nearly 4 years, Kelli Aide, as well as a strong group of childhood friends from Edgerton, and many other friends from college and work.  (Excerpt from Obituary. Gazette Xtra.com).

Friends say there was never a dull moment when they were around Benjamin Fuder; he just had a way of making everyone smile. He will be deeply missed.



Sources 

Video Report. (2012, August 1). Missing UW-Whitewater Student Found Dead. WMTV News. Retrieved August 2, 2012 from: http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/Missing-UW-Whitewater-Student-Found-Dead-164205766.html

Milam, Stan. (2012, July 31). Investigation continues in Sunday death of UW-W student. Walworth County Today. Retrieved August 2, 2012, from http://walworthcountytoday.com/news/2012/jul/31/investigation-continues-sunday-death-uw-w-student/

DeLong, Katie. (2012, July 30). Missing UW-Whitewater student found dead at quarry. Fox News. Retrieved August 2, 2012 from: http://fox6now.com/2012/07/29/missing-uw-whitewater-student-found-dead-at-quarry/

Press Release. (2012, October 10). Walworth Co. Sheriff's Department. Retrieved November 17, 2012 from
http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/Missing-UW-Whitewater-Student-Found-Dead-164205766.html
Staff Article (2012, July 30). UW-Whitewater student's family, friends look for answers. Channel 3000.com. Retrieved August 2, 2012 from: http://www.channel3000.com/news/UW-Whitewater-student-s-family-friends-look-for-answers/-/1648/15843878/-/dbfdgk/-/index.html

Staff Article. (2012, July 29). Missing UW-Whitewater student found dead in quarry. Associated Press. Retrieved August 2, 2012 from: http://m.host.madison.com/wsj/news/state_and_regional/missing-uw-whitewater-student-found-dead-in-quarry/article_e23823f4-aeef-59fd-a5f9-2eaac280145f.html

10/19/11: Thomas "T.J." Murray, 23, Spring, TX

TJ Murray
MISSING SINCE 10/19/11

TJ Murray is still missing.

Thomas "TJ" Murray, 23, was last seen the night of Saturday, Oct. 19, 2011. After umpiring a Little League baseball game, he visited several bars, including On the Rox Sports Bar and Grill at 592 Sawdust Road in Spring, Texas. He was out with high school buddies, including a friend in the military who was going to be shipped overseas.

His father, Tom Murray, called TJ around midnight expecting him to be home already. TJ said he was leaving his truck at On the Rox and would be riding with friends to Rookies Sports Bar & Grill. Rookies is located at 305 Sawdust Road--the same road as On the Rox--and just 0.2 miles away.

While at Rookies, a friend reportedly called TJ's brother, James, to say that TJ was about to get into an altercation and to pick TJ up. While James was on his way, TJ was kicked out of the bar. TJ's friend had gone to the restroom and when he came back out into the bar, TJ was gone. The friend assumed TJ had left.

TJ called his father around 12:30 a.m. TJ said he had been locked out of Rookies and separated from his friends. He told his father he didn't intend to drive home and would leave his truck at Oak Ridge High School. TJ is a graduate of Oak Ridge High School, where his father has worked for 31 years as a physical education teacher.

James then arrived to pick him up, but TJ was nowhere to be found. He has not been seen since.

The next day, TJ's brother and father searched the area for any signs of TJ. His truck was still parked in On the Rox's parking lot. Soon after his disappearance, TJ's cell phone was found in a ditch near the bar. Officials would not say where it was found or if any other calls were found on the phone after Tom Murray's last call to his son. Investigators say surveillance video shows TJ in at least one of the bars that night. But cameras didn't catch whatever happened after he left. Foul play is expected in TJ's disappearance.

TJ's father, Thomas Charles Murray, Sr., has said hopes that someone knows something. "God willing, we get our son back," he said.

TJ's mother, Janelle Murray, told KHOU.com that her son is a fighter who survived leukemia after being diagnosed when he was only 5 years old. He also survived a bad car accident. “I’m just staying positive until we hear something,” she said. Sadly, just 9 months after TJ's disappearance one of his younger brothers drowned while swimming in a river.

Murray is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and he weighs 140 pounds. He has blonde hair and blue eyes. He was wearing khaki shorts, a red T-shirt with white lettering on it, and a dark baseball cap.

Anyone with information about TJ's whereabouts should contact Detective Keith Funderburk, Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, at 936-760-5876 or dispatch 936-760-5800.


Case Details

Name/age: Thomas "TJ" Charles“ Murray Jr., 23
College: Sam Houston State University, Junior, Consumer Science major
Physical Description: 5’6”, 140 lbs., blonde hair, blue eyes
Residence: Huntsville, Texas apartment
Last seen wearing: shorts, red t-shirt with white lettering
Last Seen: 10/19/11, Rookies Sports Bar & Grill at 305 Sawdust Road in Spring, Texas.
Status: Missing
Investigating Agency: Montgomery County Sheriff's Office, 936-760-5876 or 936-760-5800.
Links: https://www.facebook.com/bringTJhome


Posted: 01/27/12. Updated: 6/7/2019.

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.

1/20/11: Devon Minor, 18, Beaver Falls, PA

Devon Minor

Devon Minor, 18, a freshman in engineering at Geneva College, about 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, Pa., was last seen at about 10:30 p.m. on January 20, 2011 at a restaurant-style campus cafeteria, Brigadoon, eating some french fries. His school ID was used as he left the dining area late that evening. Then he simply vanished.

Minor's family members were immediately concerned. The young man was described as responsible, having never missed school or work for so long before. And while he had gone off for short periods of time--hours, and once for a full day--he had never been gone for long. Adding to the alarm was that Minor's keys, wallet, iPod, laptop, phone, and his winter coat were left behind in his dorm room.

According to the Pittsburgh Tribune Review, earlier that day, Minor, "spent part of the day...in his Pearce Hall dorm room watching DVDs with his roommates as a fierce snowstorm swept through Beaver Falls."  Where he would be headed without a winter coat, or why, was unknown.

Friends and family said that Minor was a good kid who kept to himself. He was a devout member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Germantown with his family, and sung in the church choir. Minor, a native of Clifton Heights, Pa., near Philadelphia, was raised by his aunt after his mother died when he was a toddler. He graduated in 2010 from La Salle College High School in Montgomery County. While he was described as being quiet and a bit of a loner, it was not said to be in a way that would indicate he was depressed. In fact, at least some family members have said that he was not prone to depression (NewsWorks, 5/5/11). His grades were also good, he had no trouble at school or with the law, and there was no evidence of any girlfriend issues.

Police said early on that there was no evidence that Minor was the victim of foul play.

Friends did express concern about a recent Facebook post in which the young man wrote that he was having a problem and no one could help him, but family members were never sure whether the report about the post was true.

On January 25, 2011, his dad, John Macon Jr., told CBS Philadelphia that he hoped his son was just taking a break from everything.

“I just think that he just got a little overwhelmed and I really truly believe he needs time to reflect,” Macon Jr. said. “I really don’t suspect foul play at this point. I don’t want to be naive to the fact that something could happen. This is a crazy world we live in.”

According to recent news reports, Minor had discovered the identity of his father a few weeks prior to his disappearance, but family members didn't think the finding factored into his disappearance. (NewsWorks, 5/5/11).


The Search for Devon Minor

After Devon Minor was reported missing, campus security sent out an e-mail alert to the 1,400 students who attend Geneva College to be on the lookout for the missing student. Dozens of local police and firefighters, state police and the FBI also began searching for Minor. Multiple ground and aerial searches were conducted, including searches of the Beaver River, which runs alongside the campus. Many of the searches were hampered by poor weather.

A large outpouring of support for Devon Minor and his family came from the Geneva College community and from his hometown church. Prayers were left for Minor's family on the Facebook page, "Praying for Devon Minor,” and on the Geneva College website, "Prayers and Message for Devon." A prayer service held on Jan. 27 at Mt. Zion Baptist Church of Germantown in Philadelphia. Donations were also provided to help his family travel to and from their home in Philadelphia.

On Friday, May 6, nearly five months after he was reported missing, police in Pennsylvania recovered the body of Devon Minor in the Beaver River at the Townsend Dam. A worker at the dam was doing routine duties when he spotted Minor's body floating in the water at the dam. The dam is located in the neighboring city of New Brighton, Pa., a neighboring police jurisdiction, and is about 3 miles from campus.

Police were able to confirm Minor's identity using a student identification found in a sweatshirt pocket. Charles R. Jones, Jr., chief of the Beaver Falls Police Department has said that the "autopsy has revealed the manner of death was drowning, but the cause was suicide." (Huffington Post, 5/6/11).

Family members are not convinced. According to NewsWorks, “The family does not believe it’s a suicide,” said Minor’s aunt, Tammy Horton. “We believe it was accidental.” Horton said Minor was a runner and when his body was found, “he had on his track sneakers and his jogging attire." (News Works, 5/5/11). Horton also told NewsWorks that the autopsy was not complete yet, and the suicide ruling was still a theory.

Students at the close-knit college are shocked and saddened by the discovery of Minor's body. In an official statement from the college, President Ken Smith wrote, "We are deeply saddened by Devon's passing. This is a painful time for Devon's family, friends, our community, and so many others. It is a time to recall the words of Christ Jesus: 'Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.' As we mourn the loss of Devon, we pray for a comfort and peace that only the Lord can provide."

"Everybody here is hurting a bit," student Ryan Thompson, 21, told the Pittsburgh-Tribune Review. "It's going to take time to heal."

According to the paper, "Students took time from clearing out their dorms on the last day of the semester to hug each other and pray for Minor. Some were wearing red memorial bracelets and ribbons to honor him."


Case Details
Name/age: Devon Minor, 18
Last seen: 1/20/11, Geneva College, Beaver Falls, PA
Physical description: African American male, 6'0" tall, 165 pounds, black hair, brown eyes.
College/major: Engineering
Hometown: Clifton Heights, PA
Investigating Agencies: Beaver Falls Police Department (724-846-7000)


Sources

Cobbs, Patrick. (2011, May 5). Search ends for missing student Devon Minor. NewsWorks. Retrieved May 5, 2011 from http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:4mktQGJHSb4J:www.newsworks.org/index.php/neighborhoods/roxbourough/item/18992-search-ends-for-missing-student-devon-minor+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us


Lohr, David. (2011, May 6.) Devon Minor's Body Found In Pennsylvania River. Huffington Post.

Retrieved May 29, 2012 from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/05/devon-minor-body-found_n_858321.html

Ramirez, Chris Ramirez. (2011, May 6). Missing Geneva student found dead. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Retrieved May 6, 2011 from
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:zpGn8vsDUkkJ:pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/www.wtae.com/news/29033666/s_735588.html+&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Published: 1/26/11 6:22 PM.  Updated: 5/9/11, 5/29/12.

03/12/11: George DeLany, 21, Wayland, NY

George DeLany

On Sat., March 12, at around 3 p.m., George DeLany, 21, a native of Frederick, Md., stepped out of his residence in Chili and told his roommates he would be right back. He drove to a Mobil Mart to buy $25 worth of gas at 3:04 p.m. before driving south on Interstate 390.

DeLany, a junior majoring in political science at Rochester Institute of Technology, lived in a suburban off-campus apartment in Chili, N.Y. with other RIT students.

He was officially reported missing by his roommates on Mar. 15 after he failed to return.

George DeLany's remains were found in deep brush in rural Wayland, NY, approximately one hour from his apartment. It is believed that he suffered hypothermia after his car got stuck in the snow and he walked outside for quite some time. There was no indication of foul play, but questions linger as to why George traveled to Wayland that day.

04/17/09: Jelani Brinson, 24, Anoka, MN

On the evening of April 17, 2009, Jelani Brinson, 24, called his mother, Alyce Hamilton, on her cell phone. Hamilton, who was at the Mad Jack's Sports Cafe in Brooklyn Park, MN, never heard the phone ring over the din of the crowded restaurant, and Brinson didn't leave a message.

Jelani Brinson disappeared later that night.

Amazingly, three of Brinson's friends say they were all at Mad Jack's that night, and that Brinson probably made the call to his mother from inside the restaurant. Mother and son never bumped into each other.

"It's just eerie that we were both there and never saw each other," said Hamilton.

The friends, as it turns out, could be the last people to have seen Brinson.

After leaving Mad Jack's, they all went to a friend's home located on the 600 block of Kennedy Street near the Anoka County Fairgrounds in Anoka, MN. Friends say that at about 10 p.m, just five minutes after they arrived, Brinson abruptly left the residence without saying goodbye; and there weren't any problems prompting him to leave.

Hamilton, an emergency room nurse, called police late Saturday afternoon after her son missed work and failed to visit his daughter. He also had not picked up his car.

She told the media, "I keep calling his cell phone to see if someone might answer, but it just goes into voice mail. I don't know what to think, but I don't think it's good."

The authorities looked into the possibilty that Brinson may have hopped a slow-moving train. Hamilton said it would be totally out of character for Brinson to take off without calling someone first or to not call her back.

"If I call, he will call me back," she said. "Even if I don't leave a message, if he sees that my numbers come up, he's always called me back."

His girlfriend, Dena Anderson of Eagan, agreed that the disappearance was out of character. She said Brinson had never not shown up to watch their daughter and had always communicated to her if he wasn't able to watch her.

Police said that Brinson had a clean record and that there was no immediate sign that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the disappearance

"We're trying to sort out relationships between him and other people and their intentions," said Police Chief Phil Johanson.


Clues found during search for Jelani Brinson

Hamilton and dozens of others began searching the morning of Sunday April 19 with police and three search dogs. Brinson's winter hat and one of his new Adidas tennis shoes were found on the other side of a neighbor's wooden fence near railroad tracks, just across the street from where he was last seen. The other shoe was found south of the tracks in an industrial area near Hwy. 10 and St. Francis Boulevard in Anoka.

Search dogs tracked Brinson's scent from near his friend's home in Anoka to an area about 1.5 miles west. The scent trail ended about 100 yards behind the Outpost Bar. His family viewed the bar's security tapes but didn't see him, Police Chief Phil Johanson said.

See a map of the area

The following afternoon, police and fire rescue crews began searching in and around the Rum River in Anoka.


Jelani Brinson found

At about 1 p.m., on Saturday, April 25, 2009, an employee discovered the body of Jelani Brinson floating in a shallow pond at the Greenhaven Golf Course in Anoka. There were no no apparent signs of trauma to the body,

The location is about 1,500 feet from where Brinson was last seen--across the street and over some railroad tracks from the home on Kennedy Street. Brinson's body did not have on shoes, yet Brinson's socks were clean. Investigators say this means Brinson didn't walk into the pond on his own; he was placed there.

The Anoka County medical examiner's office conducted an autopsy and reported that the cause of Jelani Brinson's death was inconclusive. No marks, signs of injury/trauma, or foul play were found during the examination, and there were no narcotics or alcohol in his system. The autopsy also ruled out anatomical causes such as a heart attack or a brain aneurism, and even drowning. The autopsy revealed that Brinson died before he entered the water.

Brinson's wallet was found on his body, which seems to rule out robbery as a motive. Investigators have not found anything else to go on.

Sheriff's Lt. Paul Sommer said there were no signs of a fight where where Brinson's tennis shoes and hat were found, and his friends have cooperated with the police.

"The coroner couldn't say why he died. That's what makes this investigation so difficult," says Sommer. "It is particularly frustrating because normally in a situation like this we expect certain things to be apparent. If he's found in a pond, you'd think he drowned. He did not. Or if he was dumped there, you'd think you'd find an anatomical cause of death or a drug overdose. That was not there either. We have very little to go on."


About Jelani Brinson

Alyce Hamilton said her son, who graduated from high school at Fourth Baptist Christian School in north Minneapolis, was recently promoted at the local Sprint store where he worked. He and girlfriend, Dena Anderson, have a 9-month-old daughter, Zion, who he was crazy about. The couple lived apart, but he cared for his daughter two days a week. Anderson said Brinson talked about marriage often.

He was active in his church, and his faith makes it unlikely he would have harmed himself, Hamiliton has said.

Brinson's parents were divorced, and he had been living with his father, Donnie, who was helping him to care for his daughter. Donnie Brinson was watching his grandaughter on the night his son disappeared.

Read Jelani's blog

A family statement released by Brinson's godmother Mamie Singleton, said, "The Brinson and Hamilton Families are deeply saddened by the lost of their beloved son, Jelani Dante Brinson. Jelani was 24 years old and very involved with his spiritual growth and development. He was a beloved son and brother. He was also a devoted father to his 9-month old daughter. Jelani had a loving relationship with the mother of his daughter. He was loved by his many friends and relatives. We will miss him dearly. The circumstances of Jelani’s passing are not completely clear. We do know that he had a joyous spirit that was manifested by frequent laughter and numerous acts of kindness. He is survived by his parents, Mr. Donnie Brinson and Ms. Alyce M. Hamilton, his brother, Mr. Jamari L. Brinson, and sister, Kai Z. Brinson, his daughter, Zion Melissa Grace, and Zion’s mother, Dena L. Anderson. Funeral arrangements will be announced early next week. We are deeply grateful for all of the love and support we have received—and thankful for all of our blessings."

The day before Brinson's body was found, his girlfriend Dena learned she was pregnant with their second child. She has since named the child, a little boy, Jelani Donte Brinson Jr.--after his father.

"It's so sad that he didnt' know about his little son," Hamilton said through tears. "Two children will never know their father. And for what?"  (Star Tribune, 04/09/11).

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is should call the sheriff's office at 763-427-1212.


Facts of Interest

Name/age: Jelani Brinson, 24
Last seen: 4/17/09, 10:30 p.m., Anoka, MN
Recovered: 4/25/09, 1:00 p.m., Greenhaven Golf Course, Anoka MN
Physical Description: black, 5'9", 150 pounds, hair in cornrows.
Last seen wearing black shirt, black hoodie and blue jeans.
Investigating Agency: Anoka County Sheriff, 763-427-1212.

Published: 4/21/09. Updated: 4/14/11.

05/08/10: Antonio Battle, 25, Thomson, GA

Antonio Battle

Antonio Edward Battle was reported missing by his family shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday, May 8. The 25-year old Augusta man had gone to a party with some friends earlier that day and had not returned.

Authorities combed a large area around Cedar Rock, Union Church and Three Points roads from about 9 p.m. Saturday, May 8 until 4 a.m. on Sunday, May 9. About eight hours later, family members discovered some of Battle's jewelry near Childers Creek. His body was then found in the vicinity. According to WRDW.com:

"When he gave me his phone, he was going to come back and get that phone." Battle's sister Darlene Hudson said. "He never showed up and he never called."

After Hudson never heard back from her little brother Friday, she knew something was wrong.

"This morning I had to go find him," she said. "I called everybody and we just went looking for him. All the family came together and just found him."

The family's search ended in a creek just outside of Thomson, his cousin Sara Walker said.

"I was hoping that we'd find him alive," Walker said. "But when we found him it was straight shock to the whole family."

"We haven't been knowing what to think or what's been going on," said another cousin of his Shawan. "We just been praying that you know whenever they found him that everything was going to be OK."

The coroner said that there were no visible markings on the victim's body and that he was found lying in a creek bed less than 30 feet from the shoulder of Cedar Rock Road shortly after noon Sunday.

Investigators said there was no evidence to indicate how he met his death. The body is being sent to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation crime lab near Atlanta for an autopsy. The GBI and the McDuffie County Sheriff's office is handling the investigation.

Friends told family members Battle fell out of a car into the creek, but the family doesn't believe it because Battle's jewelry was found nearly a half a mile away.

"Something happened, but nobody is telling," Hudson told WRDW.com. "If somebody knows anything they need to come out and say what happened to Antonio because what they said, it doesn't make sense."

About Antonio Battle

Family members tell News 12 Battle that was a funny person and was always the life of the party. They also said he leaves behind a child and had another child on the way. He and his girlfriend lived in Augusta, Georgia. Prior to that, Battle had lived with his mother on Pine Avenue in Warrenton.

"The whole family going to miss him," Walker said.

"I would never think he would go before me, but I guess what happened, happened," Hudson said about her younger brother.

Anyone with information should contact the McDuffie County Sheriff's Department at (706) 595-2040, the GBI office at (706) 595-2575 or the Georgia State Patrol at (706) 595-2622.


Case Details

Name/age: Antonio Battle, 25
Last seen: 05/08/10, Thomson, GA
Recovered: 05/09/10, Childers Creek, Thomson, GA
Residence: Augusta, GA
Hometown: Warrenton, GA

03/02/10: Jonathan Dorey, 22, Richmond, VA

Jonathan Dorey is missing.

Jonathan "Jonny" Dorey, an exchange student attending Virginia Commonwealth University was last seen March 2 leaving his campus dormitory at the Gladding Residence Center with his mountain bike at 11:19 a.m. Since then, neither Dorey or his mountain bike has been seen.

It appears that the last class Dorey attended was Tuesday morning (3/2), and he last used his cell phone that morning. The phone is apparently turned off.

The last purchase he is known to have made also was Tuesday morning at a 7-Eleven.

VCU police Capt. Grant Warren said, "We wish we had more to go on."

Dorey, who is from Guernsey, a small island in the English Channel, attends Great Britain's University of the West of England and was on an exchange to VCU. He was studying geography.

Dorey was reported missing on March 4 by friends. His friends and family say it is out of character fot he young man to leave without telling anyone where he was going.

Police said they do not suspect foul play.


The Search for Jonathan Dorey

During the search for Dorey, University police have worked with Richmond police, the FBI, the U.S. Marshals Service, the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management and the American Red Cross.

Dorey has been described as an experienced mountain biker. Search efforts have focused on bicycle trails near the James River in Richmond.
On March 16, VCU Police released photos captured by a security camera on March 2 outside of Gladding Residence Center. The surveillance cameras show Dorey leaving the lobby of his dorm with his bicycle.

Dorey's bike is a black single-speed bicycle with an Azonic Steelhead frame, an SDG Bel-Air seat, Race Face lock-on grips, DMR V8 pedals and Kenda tires. It has a black seat with a red stripe down the middle.

Dorey is 6 feet tall, weighs 180 pounds, has brown hair and speaks with a British accent. He was last seen wearing a blue and white plaid jacket with a hood and dark blue jeans. Dorey wears glasses. He was carrying a navy blue Eastpak ruckpak.

VCU and the University of the West of England, Dorey's home university, are offering a combined $10,000 reward for any information leading to Dorey's location.


Belongings found

On March 23, Dorey's backback containing some personal belongings was found near his clothes at Rockett's Landing near Dock and Pear Streets. The items were found by a passerby. The following month, Dorey's parents made the announcement that an empty bottle of gin had also been found at the site.

The area is a popular fishing spot, and the items were reportedly in a hollow area under a large concrete pad beside the north bank of the river. After the discovery, Richmond rescue dive teams searched the nearby James River until 5:30 p.m. and again the following day.

Dorey's parents, Alan and Debbie Dorey, and his brother Simon have flown to the US to help in the search. A Facebook group has also been created to appeal for information; at last count it had 24,635 members.

In April 2010, a witness came forward to say he believed he saw a man fitting Jonny's description swimming in the river on the afternoon Jonny went missing. According to the Charley Project, the weather that day was rainy and mixed with snow.

In September 2011, Dorey's parents planted a tree on the VCU campus in their son's memory. They have stated that they believe he was depressed and committed suicide by drinking a bottle of gin and jumping into the James River.

"Combined with information we got from the Internet sites and writings that we found by the FBI on Jonny's computer - leads us to believe that Jonny died of a suicide or a reckless act as the result of a mental breakdown..." said Debbie Dorey during a brief news conference outside of Harris Hall.
On March 3, 2011, after the one-year anniversary of Dorey's disappearance, a spokesman for VCU Police told NBC12.com that the investigation is still open.

Anyone with information about Jonathan Dorey should contact VCU Police Communications at (804) 828-1196.


Facts in this Case:
Name/age: Jonathan "Jonny" Dorey, 22
Hometown: Guernsey, Great Britain
Residence: Richmond, VA
College: Dorey was an exchange student at Virginia Commonwealth University. He had previously been attending the University of the West of England.
Last seen: 3/2/10, 11:19 a.m., Gladding Residence Center dormitory
Physical Description: 6'0", 180 pounds, brown hair, green eyes. Speaks with a British accent. Last seen wearing: blue and white plaid jacket with hood, dark blue skinny jeans, black shoes. Dorey wears glasses.
Notes: Jonathan Dorey's bike is also missing. It is a black single-speed bicycle with an Azonic Steelhead frame, an SDG Bel-Air seat, Race Face lock-on grips, DMR V8 pedals and Kenda tires. It has a black seat with a red stripe down the middle.
Links: Project Jason, Charley Project
Investigating Agency: VCU Police (804) 828-6409


Originally Posted 3/25/10. Revised 3/16/11.

03/13/10: Greg Hart, 23, Providence, RI

On March 13, 2010, after getting a late start, Gregory Hart, 23, drove his Mustang from Dedham, MA, to the apartment of a friend in Providence, RI. There, he met up with three old college buddies--Will, Zach, and Zach's girlfriend--to celebrate his new job. By 10 p.m., the group was heading out to the Red Room Tavern at One Fox Place in Providence.

At 1:21 a.m., Hart spoke on the phone with Will, who was at the bar that night. The two spoke for 8 minutes, but it has not been reported what was said. It was the last time Hart's phone was used.

Friends say that around 1:40 p.m., Greg just got up and left the tavern without saying a word. Nothing unusual appeared to be going on, but Hart left the bar (FOX 25 / MyFoxBoston.com, March 15, 2010).

Friends initially speculated that while they returned to their apartment, Hart may have gone to an International House of Pancakes (IHOP) on Promenade Street. But Hart's brother, JP, later told the Providence Journal that this wasn't likely. While he and his brother had indeed sometimes walked from the Red Room to the IHOP, it had been in the summer. Family members did not believe Greg would have walked to the pancake house in the rain, and there appears to be no indication that he did so. (Providence Journal).

Cell phone records indicate that, at some point, Hart's friend, Zach, tried calling Greg's phone (along with the police and local hospitals) to find out what happened to his friend.

Hart's family remained uneasy; Greg Hart's car was still parked outside the apartment building where he had left it, and his cell phone had not been answered.

By Sunday when he still hadn't returned for the St. Patrick's Day parade, they became "seriously worried" and they filed a missing person's report. (Boston.com.)


The Search for Greg Hart
Initially, police did not look for the missing University of Massachusetts-Amherst student.

When the police failed to search, family and friends of Greg Hart launched their own search effort. More than 50 people came to the aid of the Hart family, helping to look for Hart and/or post fliers around the area.

On Tuesday, March 16 at around 2:45 p.m., a family friend made a grim discovery just three-quarters of a mile from where Hart had last been seen. Hart's body was found washed up against a tree limb in the rain-swollen Woonasqatucket River in Providence, “half in and half out” of the water (ABC6.com). It was recovered by rescue crews from the Providence Fire Department.


Investigation
From the beginning, the Hart family expressed fears that foul play might be involved with Hart's death. Hart was a licensed and experienced scuba diver and very familiar with the water. There had also been reports that some type of disturbance or altercation had occurred at the bar on the night that Greg Hart disappeared.

"When a sudden death happens in an unusual place under unusual circumstances, it’s suspicious."
- Maj. Thomas F. Oates III, Providence Police Department

But an autopsy conducted by the Rhode Island Medical Examiner's office on March 17, indicated that Hart's death was a drowning and did not appear suspicious.

Yet, police said they would continue to investigate and treat the death as suspicious. "When a sudden death happens in an unusual place under unusual circumstances," said "Maj. Thomas F. Oates III, commander of the department’s investigative division, "it’s suspicious." (The Providence Journal, March 20, 2010).

On March 23, the medical examiner announced that Hart had been "highly intoxicated." The blood alcohol level was not released, but John Hart told the Providence Journal that investigators told him that his son's blood-alcohol level was more than .25. This is more than three times the legal limit of .08 for driving in Rhode Island. According to research by the paper, "most with levels between .21 and .29 would be subject to memory blackouts, staggering, double vision, loss of understanding of surroundings, poor judgment, impaired reactions and loss of balance."

Also at that time, police announced that they had found no evidence to suggest Hart had been involved in a fight. However, Hart's family said Hart's body had numerous injuries that suggested he had been in a fight, including: a broken cheekbone, jaw, eye socket, chipped tooth, cuts on his lips and knuckles, injuries to his palm and bruises on both legs in the same location. The family believes he was beaten up, possibly murdered.

Hart's father also said he believes a search should have been launched by the police after they heard about the possible disturbance at the bar.

The medical examiner addressed the family's concerns two days later, stating that any injuries found on Gregory Hart's body were caused after he drowned. His body had been in the fast- flowing Woonasquatucket River for an estimated 2-3 days. The Providence Police Department and the medical examiner maintained that there were no signs of foul play.


Private investigation by Hart family
The Hart family has hired an attorney to investigate the handling of the investigation. Police stand behind their investigation and say it was thorough, but the family has reported that the following areas are of particular concern:

Potential Conflict of Interest
Providence detective, Mark Sacco, who began investigating the case one day before Hart was found owns the property that the Red Room bar sits on. The bar itself is owned by Rebecca Caroll, the wife of Providence police detective, Shawn Carroll. The family of Greg Hart feels that this is a conflict of interest. In addition, there are no records of potential witnesses at the bar (e.g., bouncers, bartenders) ever having been interviewed by the police (ABC6.com).

Possible altercation at the bar
A police report, according to ABC6, says a disturbance of some kind (it is not known when or what type), occurred shortly before Greg disappeared. Hart's body had also suffered the type of injuries that may be indicative of a fight (broken facial bones, chipped tooth, cuts on lips and knuckles, bruising on palm and legs.) There were also two bruises in the same place on each leg, possibly caused by restraining Greg Hart.

Inconsistencies with police reports
The initial police incident report from March 14, states that police found Hart's cell phone and a house key in the bar’s parking lot. The report also states that police called his cellphone at that time and that it rang several times before going to voicemail. A police report two days later said that Hart's phone was found in the water along with Hart's partially submerged body and his driver's license.

Hart's Shattered iPhone
The police returned Hart's iPhone to the family in approximately 5 pieces. Officers told the family that even State Police experts were unable to retrieve any information from it because it had been in the water. However, technicians at AT&T told the Hart family that it had been taken apart in such a way that no information could be retrieved (ABC6.com).

Damaged indicator on iPhone

"This [phone] definitely wasn't in the water, definitely, 100 percent, this was not in the water."
- Alfred Demirjian, data recovery expert

The Hart family was able to take the phone to data recovery experts at TechFusion. The company found that the phone could not possibly have been in contact with water, as stated in the police report. The style of the Apple iPhone that Hart had is equipped with tiny indicators deep in the phone that signal whether the phone had been submerged in water or a liquid. According to Alexander Gessen, a data recovery expert at the company, Apple has installed these indicators in order to help determine whether the phone has been submerged or come into contact with a liquid that might void the warranty. Evidence indicates that the indicator on Hart's phone, something very difficult to remove, had been intentionally scratched off.

Alfred Demirjian, a data recovery expert at the company said, "This definitely wasn't in the water, definitely, 100 percent, this was not in the water." (Boston.com, 11/1/10).

Data Recovery from Cell Phone
TechFusion was also able to rebuild Hart's phone and compare the text messages and phone logs to AT&T's cell phone logs to authenticate them. The data included a log of the last 100 calls and the contents of the final 599 text messages, which indicate that the iPhone was not in the water. The family has declined to release the contents of the recovered data for fear of compromising any criminal case that may come from it.

Length of Time in Water
A white shirt returned to the family seems to be more river-stained than the shirt that Hart was wearing over it. The family has also said that the body itself was not as waterlogged as it should have been after 48 hours in the water.

About Greg Hart
Providence Police Lt. George Stamatakos described Hart as “a nice kid with a great family." Gregory Hart had just moved to Dedham, Massachusetts. He was a cum laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst where he had studied economics and tutored students, and had been accepted into an officer's program to be a Navy fighter pilot. Relatives attributed his success to his hard work in school after receiving below-average grades his freshman year in college. He had just landed a new job at Meditech in Westwood, MA--a job that would give him some real money for the first time, according to ABC6.com--and he was scheduled to begin work on Monday, March 15. He was not typically a late-night partier.

The news has devasted his family. "He's my heart. I can't even function. Nothing's important anymore," said his mother, Marianne Hart, told the Providence Journal. Hart’s father said his son was his “best friend.” Relatives say he was also kind and generous, spending much of last year caring for his mother during breast cancer treatment.

Greg Hart will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

Facts:
Name/age: Greg Hart, 23
College: University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Last seen: 03/13/10, Red Room Tavern, One Fox Place, Providence, RI
Recovered: 03/16/10, Woonasqatucket River, Providence, RI
Residence: Dedham, MA
Physical Description: 5’8,” brown hair. He was last seen downtown Sunday morning wearing a grey leather biker jacket, a green hooded sweatshirt, black pants and black shoes.

01/19/10: Eric Peterson, 24, Lakeville, MN

Eric Michael Peterson
Last seen Jan. 19, 2010,
Bloomington, MN

Eric Peterson is still missing.

Eric Peterson, 24, was last seen on Jan. 19, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Peterson's father says his son had showered at their Lakeville home before heading to 

Bloomington around 1 p.m. to meet up with friends. It is not clear whether he made it to see his friends, but he never returned.

Peterson's vehicle was found on Jan. 21 at 1:30 a.m. by Bloomington Police abandoned in the parking lot at the Aquaport located at 11199 Lyndale Ave., near the Minnesota River. The car was locked and Eric's wallet, car keys, and cell phone were on the front seat. Police and his family are concerned for his safety. 
They have no information as to why Peterson is missing.

The Bloomington and the Lakeville Police Departments together conducted search operations in the area around the Aquaport.

Eric Peterson is described as being a white male, 6'3" tall, brown hair and brown eyes. He has a long scar on his right arm that starts above the elbow and continues down the back side of his forearm. He has a tattoo on left shoulder which depicts a playing card hand of all 4 Aces, with the Ace of Spades foremost. Underneath the cards it says, "Ace of Spades."Eric usually wears carpenter blue jeans and a t-shirt.

If you see anyone or hear anything that might help investigators, please call the Lakeville Police Department at (952) 985-2800 and speak with Detective Adam MacDonald or Chief Thomas Vonhof.


Excerpted from: http://www.myfoxtwincities.com/dpp/news/minnesota/lakeville-man-goes-missing

08/08/09: Braden Andersen, 20, Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Braden Andersen, a 20-year old from McMunn, Manitoba, in Canada disappeared in the early morning hours of Saturday, August 8 in downtown Winnipeg, Manitoba. He was last seen by family and friends walking south on Rorie Street from Bannatyne Avenue at about 2:45 a.m. after attending a family member's wedding in the Exchange District.

Family members reported Braden missing at 2 p.m., around the same time that his wallet and clothes were found on the bank of the Red River near the Alexander Docks. The finding of the belongings prompted a water search, and his body was recovered three days later.

07/25/09: William Bosen, Columbus, OH

19-year old William Bosen attended a birthday party Sat., July 25, 2009 in a neighborhood across from Holt Park on the west side of Columbus, Ohio. When he did not return home and hadn't been heard from for several days, his family feared that something bad had happened to him.

According to friends, after Bosen partied heavily and friends had to put him to bed. At one point during the night, they saw the bathroom light on and figured he was in the bathroom. But the next day when they woke up, the door was unlocked and he was gone. They assume he must have gotten up sometime during the night while they were asleep.

02/02/97: Franklin Gottschalk, 25, Lansing, MI

Franklin Gottschalk is still missing.

Franklin Thomas Gottschalk, 25, was last seen at his residence in Mason, Michigan on February 2, 1997. Gottschalk apparently drove off in his brother's car, a 1977 Oldsmobile Toronado Trofeo, without permission. The car was later found in a parking lot at the corner of Grand River Avenue and Cedar Street in Lansing, Michigan, but .Gottschalk he has not turned up. 

Cyclists later found two bags belonging to Gottschalk on the Shiawassee Street bridge. The bags were missing Gottschalk's black leather jacket, his Detroit Lions coat, his wallet, and a watch his mother had given him. (The Detroit Lions coat was later found in a cornfield in the Mason area.) Divers searched the water beneath the bridge but found no clues. Franklin Gottschalk is still missing and his case remains unsolved.

According to VanceHolmes.com, "the missing student's parents, Adeline and David Gottschalk suspected there may have been a connection between their son and Ryan Getz’s case. In 1998, Adeline Gottschalk said, 'I don’t believe he is voluntarily missing. He would’ve called if he was alive . . . It’s still a mystery to me. Especially since I heard about the Getz boy, it makes me think something is going on.' She prophetically added, 'I hope it doesn’t continue, but if it does, you’ve got to stop and think.' "

About Franklin Gottschalk

Franklin Gottschalk had been an English major at Michigan State University. He was within three credits of graduating, but did not register for the upcoming semester (spring 1997) of classes. According The Charley Project, he may have been depressed at the time of his disappearance.

If you have any information, call the Eloy Police Department at 520-466-7324.


Facts of Interest
Name/age: Franklin Gottschalk, 25
DOB: February 2, 1972
Physical Description: 5'2", 150 pounds, brown eyes, straight brown hair (styled curly for photo)
Scar on left shoulder from bicycle accident. Scar on solar plexus.
Residence: Mason, MI (Ingram County)
Last seen: 2/2/97 Mason, MI, possibly near Shiawassee Street bridge
NamUs: https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/9159


Originally published 6/11/09. Last updated June 7, 2019.

11/05/08: Trevor Boehm, 20, Evanston, IL

On November 8, 2008, the parents of college student Trevor Boehm arrived at the Northwestern university campus for Family Weekend. It was supposed to be a fun visit, but they discovered their son was missing.

According to the university, the 20-year-old hadn't been in his residence hall, attended classes or used his student ID in the dining halls since Wednesday, November 5, four days before he was reported missing.

Trevor’s body was found in Lake Michigan on November 16, 2008.

 

10/20/07: Lee Cutler, 18, Buffalo Grove, IL

Lee Cutler was last seen on Oct. 20, 2007. 

Lee Cutler
MISSING

On the night of October 19, 2007, Lee Cutler, an 18-year old from Buffalo Grove, Ill., gathered with family and friends at a favorite hibachi steak house to celebrate a birthday party. Afterwards, his mom headed home while he played an impromptu game of hackey-sack with friends. He later met his mother at home and asked if he could stay over at a friend's house. The night went well, although Lee was reportedly quiet. The next morning (Oct. 20) at around 9:50 a.m., Lee drove another friend home, and was supposed to be headed to his new job at a Rock America store at a mall in Vernon Hills, Ill.  He never arrived.

Clues in Lee Cutler's disappearance

On October 21, 2007, Lee Cutler's gray 2007 Toyota Corolla was found at parked near a rest stop in Baraboo, Wis., 177 miles away from his home in Buffalo Grove. The wayside rest is reportedly located near a cornfield off Highway 33 in Fairfield Township and a bridge crossing the river. The area was between Baraboo, Wis. and Portage, Wis. The car was locked. After watching the car all evening in case Lee returned, the officers begin investigating the vehicle and the surrounding area.

Inside the car, police found a printed receipt indicating that Lee had visited Kettle Moraine State Forest at 1:41 p.m. on October 20. The forest has a southern unit near Whitewater, Wis. which is on the route between Cutler's hometown and Baraboo, as well as a northern unit north of Cedarburg, Wis. where Cutler has an ex-girlfriend. Cutler enjoyed hiking and had previously traveled to the area with friends. Also in the car were Cutler's clothing, backpack, blankets, and a copy of "Into the Wild," a true story about a young man leaving his life and living in the Alaskan wilderness. A note was also found that was addressed to his mother: "My head is too big for my body, finally I'll get to sleep. I'm sorry mom for being a coward, I love you mom, please be happy."

The next morning, police found many of Lee's possessions in the nearby woods, including his yarmulke, love letters from his most recent girlfriend, Autumn, and his pants. Keys found in a pants pocket fit the ignition of Cutler's car.

A few days later (Oct. 26), divers in Sauk County found Lee's wallet caught in a partially submerged branch in the Baraboo River. The wallet contained Lee Cutler's identification and a small amount of cash. The wallet was found about 300 yards downstream from where his car was recovered. Around this same time, an empty bottle of Tylenol PM was also found near Lee's car. He had been using the medication to help fall asleep.

Barry Frazin, the teen’s stepfather, said Cutler had been going through a difficult time, dealing with his grandmother’s battle with cancer, another friend having cancer, and stresses with school. The friend Cutler had driven home told police Cutler had also recently broken up with his girlfriend. He had been quiet at the sleepover and the next morning during the car ride.

Lee Cutler's case has been featured on Investigation Discovery's Disappeared, which features high-profile missing persons cases. According to the show, while many signs point to suicide, investigators are baffled why Cutler has not yet been found. After a thorough search of the entire area, they are certain that he is nowhere near the state park where his car was found.

Click here to read Disappeared's story on Lee Cutler.


Timeline

Oct. 19 -  Lee Cutler attends a friend's birthday party and spends the night. He is reportedly quiet.

Oct. 20 - Cutler drives another friend home at 9:50 a.m. He is reportedly quiet. Cutler never arrives to work at Rock America in Vernon Hills. Tracking of Cutler’s cell phone indicates it was last used at 12:30 p.m. Cutler visits Kettle Moraine State Forest at 1:41 p.m.

Oct. 21 - Cutler's car is found at a rest stop in Baraboo, Wisconsin.

Oct. 22 - Cutler's yarmulke, love letters, pants, and keys are found in the woods.

Oct. 26 - Cutler's wallet is found in the Baraboo River. An empty bottle of Tylenol PM is found near his car.


If you have information about Lee Cutler, contact Buffalo Grove Police Department, (847)-459-2560.


Facts of Interest in This Case
Name/age: Lee Cutler, 18
Last Seen: 10/20/07, 9:50 a.m., Buffalo Grove, IL
Physical Description: 6 feet, 161 pounds, wearing a dark blue sweater with a red stripe, khaki pants.
Notes: Lee is a senior in high school, and one of three children. He just celebrated his 18th birthday.
Investigating agency: Buffalo Grove Police Department, (847) 459-2560.
NamUs: https://www.namus.gov/MissingPersons/Case#/5310


Posted: October 7, 2007.  Last updated: June 7, 2019

01/13/07: Wade Steffey, 19, West Lafayette, IN

Wade Steffey, a freshman on a full-ride academic scholarship at Purdue University majoring in Aviation technology, was last seen on Saturday, January 13, 2007 at a party at the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity house at 900 David Ross Road on the north side of campus. He left the party around midnight and was on his way to pick up his coat, which he had left in a friend's room at Owen Hall. Police are confident that Steffey was not intoxicated when he left the party. A witness believed to have seen Steffey around 12:30 a.m. outside Owen Hall (1160 West Stadium Avenue) a short walk from his room in Cary Quad (1016 West Stadium Avenue). At about the same time, he placed two cell phone calls to friends who lived in Owen. That was the last time anyone had seen or heard from him. Wade Steffey's body was found Monday, March 19, 2007 in a utility room in Owen Hall. He had been electrocuted.

Initial Investigation
After Steffey went missing, police determined that his bank account had last been accessed on Friday, January 12 at 8:30 p.m. (the day before he disappeared) when he withdrew $50 from the walk-up ATM in the Ford Dining Hall at 122 W. Stadium Avenue. However, police were unable to positively confirm it was Steffey who withdrew the money because the machine's camera was broken. Steffey's identification card, which he would swipe to gain access to his residence hall, had not been used.

The Search
A massive search effort was launched for Steffey or any evidence linked to his disappearance, including his silver Verizon flip phone, clothing, wallet, or any other personal effects. The searches included multi-agency cooperation of the FBI, Lafayette Police Department , West Lafayette Police Department, Tippecanoe County Sheriff's Department, Indiana State Police, Purdue Fire Department, Purdue Police Department and the Indiana Deparment of Natural Resources. The search effort also received help from National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, IN Hope, Team Adam, K-9 teams and ultimately, more than 700 volunteers.

Two major ground searches took place on January 23rd and February 3rd, concentrating on the area where Steffey's cell phone signal was last picked up. Five K-9 searches also investigated a list of areas that police have received tips or suggestions to check, including the Neil Armstrong Hall of Engineering construction site and cars in several parking lots between the Phi Kappa Theta fraternity house and Cary Quad, including Owen Hall. Boats were brought in to search along the Wabash River, helicopters searched by air and sonar was also used to check a retention pond.

Wade Steffey found
Steffey's body was found by a maintenence worker who had been called to a utility room in Owen Hall. The room, which was roughly the size of a one-car garage, housed three electrical transformers connected by high-voltage wires. The body was found near one of the transformers. According to Purdue spokesperson Jeanne Norberg, "It seems likely that Wade somehow entered the room sometime shortly after he was last seen thinking that it was a way to gain entrance to the residence hall. The utility room would have been dark, and he apparently tripped over high-voltage lines that connect the three transformers as he was trying to find his way out." The utility room has both an interior and exterior door. When the utility worker was first called to check the room, she entered using the interior door, which was locked. Police found that the outside door was unlocked.

The building had been searched thoroughly after Wade's disappearance, but campus officials could not say with any certainty that the utility room had been checked and they were uncertain of the last time a school employee had accessed the room. "The location of Wade's body inside the room would have made it difficult for anyone to see him from any of the doorways," Norberg said. Steffey was last seen talking on his cell phone around 12:30 a.m. on January 13 in front of Owen Hall, about 50 yards away from the outside entrance to the utility room. He was reported missing two days later.

Unanswered questions
Purdue University police are investigating how Steffey was able to enter the utility room when it should have been locked. Police are examining the lock to determine if it had been tampered with or whether it was faulty. If you have any information about this case, call the Purdue University Police Department at (765) 494-8221 or the anonymous tip line at (765) 496-3784.

An Academic All-Star
Personal accomplishments: Steffey graduated from Bloomington High School South. When he graduated, he received a number of awards, including Principal’s Scholar Award, Academic Honors Diploma, National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar Award,Presidential Scholar, Conference Indiana Academic Award, National Honor Society, Varsity JETS Team Memberand Purdue Academic Success Award. He was accepted to Purdue University with a full scholarship.

Facts of Interest
Name/age: Wade Steffey, 19 (from Bloomington, IN)
College: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Major: Aviation Technology
Physical Description: 5'10", 150#, brown hair, blue eyes
Last seen: 1/13/07, 12:00 am, Phi Kappa Theta fraternity house (900 David Ross Road), believed to have been seen again at 12:30 outside Owen Hall (1160 West Stadium Avenue).
Recovered: 4/19/07, Owen Hall utility room
Cause of death: accidental electrocution

Sources:
http://www.crimelibrary.com/news/original/0307/2002_wade_steffey.html
http://news.uns.purdue.edu/x/2007a/070320PoliceSteffey.html
http://www.amw.com/missing_persons/brief.cfm?id=42776