03/16/13: Sunil Tripathi, 22, Providence, RI

Sunil Tripathi

Sunil Tripathi, 22, was last seen around 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 16 leaving his Providence, R.I. apartment near the Brown University campus. He did not have his wallet, identification or bicycle with him, and he did not return home. The quiet, private young man, who admitted to some depression, had been taking a leave of absence from Brown, and he did not have a close relationships with his roommates. Two days after his disappearance, false rumors abounded that the missing student had been involved in the April 15 bombings at the Boston Marathon. Sunil's name has since been cleared, and his parents have been offered an apology. Sadly, on April 23, Sunil's body was discovered in the waters off India Point Park in Providence, R.I.

10/02/12: Jonathan Dailey, 23, Boston, MA

Jonathan Dailey
Source: Facebook

Jonathan Dailey, 23, a North Carolina native who was taking a semester off from graduate-level course work at Boston Architectural College, was last seen by his longtime friend and roommate, Miles Smith, on Oct. 2, 2012.

According to the Boston Globe, Smith last saw Jonathan the evening of Oct. 2 in their apartment on Gardner Street in Boston’s Allston neighborhood after Jonathan came home from work. The pair had some pizza, watched an episode of the “The Office,” and chatted about how their day went. Then Smith went to bed at about 9 p.m. It was the last time Jonathan was reportedly seen.

As days passed, Jonathan’s cell phone was not answering calls. His friends and family grew concerned at not having contact with him. Jonathan was reported missing on Friday, Oct. 5 after he failed to show up to the American Apparel store on Brattle Street in Cambridge where he worked as a sales associate. While Smith said it was not unusual for his friend to step out of their apartment, it was totally out of character for Jonathan to disappear. He also left behind a computer, all his camping equipment, and a number of other items at the apartment.

Jonathan’s parents, Bruce and Donna Dailey, arrived in Boston over the weekend. They worked with Jonathan’s friends to search the places Jonathan frequented, distribute fliers across the city and ask for tips about their son's whereabouts. They worked with missing-person organizations like the Charlotte-based Kristen Foundation and used social media to spread the word about his disappearance. While the search effort mounted, his family prayed for his return and tried to hold onto some hope that he maybe just needed some peace and solitude. Dailey's sister, Robyn, called the experience "emotionally gut-wrenching."

At 7:25 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 9, a week after Jonathan disappeared, a Boston University rowing coach spotted a body in the Charles River near the Boston University Bridge. The location was about a mile from Dailey’s apartment. The body was identified through dental records as Jonathan Dailey.

According to reports, the body was found at the bottom of the river, bound with chains at the ankles and tied to a cinder block. It appeared to have been in the water for several days. Jake Wark, a spokesperson for the Suffolk District Attorney’s office said in a statement, “We will not be discussing evidence recovered at or near the scene of this morning’s recovery effort.” He added that a thorough and comprehensive investigation of the facts and circumstances of Dailey’s death is underway by the State Police.

Investigators are still trying to determine whether Dailey was a victim of foul play or suicide. The medical examiner has not yet determined the cause or manner of death. On Oct. 13, Wark told People magazine, “They are pursuing it as a death investigation. The medical examiner has asked for additional specialized testing, toxicology and so forth.

Police said they are looking at all possibilities behind the young man’s death, from suicide to foul play.

Smith said he could not think of anyone who might want to harm Dailey. “He’s very charismatic, a great friend to all he met.”

Jonathan had no history of drugs, alcohol, or mental illness and he did have a girlfriend.

Dailey’s body was the second body found in the Charles River in two days. On Oct. 1, the body of a 62-year-old man was found at about 8:15 a.m. near the Boston University boathouse. Authorities have said they do not consider his death to be suspicious, nor do they believe there to be linked to Dailey’s death.


About Jonathan Dailey

Jonathan Dailey was born and raised in Charlotte, N.C. and attended Northwest School of the Arts. He played violin and piano, performing in local children's orchestras.

He then went to Appalachian State University in Boone, N.C., where he studied architectural technology and design, alongside friend Miles Smith. Jonathan’s family said he loved architecture and never wavered from that path as a career. The friends both earned their bachelor’s degrees. After graduation, they moved to Massachusetts to attend a graduate program at Boston Architectural College and were roommates. Jonathan’s family says he loved being in Boston.

The friends were in their second year of graduate school at Boston Architectural College and were both taking a semester off. According to his family, Jonathan was not enrolled because of financial reasons.

The friends were close and often bonded by indulging in many adventures. As recently as several weeks ago, they traveled to Maine where they visited a gorge, camped, swam, and cliff-dived. “He’s an Eagle Scout, and we both love adventure, but we always prepare,” said Smith.

Smith described his friend as very creative and intelligent, with an eccentric side.

Jonathan Dailey leaves behind two siblings, brother Kevin and sister Robyn. "We are all in agony, disbelief and shock right now, "Robyn wrote on a Facebook page created in Jonathan’s honor. "Not only from the helplessness of having Jon be missing and the overwhelming grief of knowing he has died, but also because of the horror of not knowing what happened,” she said.

A Web page has been created in Jonathan's honor. A memorial service and celebration to honor Jonathan was held November 4th at Morningstar Fellowship Church in Fort Mill, SC.



Sources

Ballou, Brian (2012, October 9). Body in Charles River identified as missing graduate student Jonathan Dailey. Boston Globe. Retrieved November 1, 2012 from http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2012/10/09/for-second-time-two-days-body-found-charles-river-near-bridge-investigation-underway/7LmtL9LCM9FbihujVfRcQO/story.html

Cavaliere, Victoria (2012, October 13). Death of Boston student found in river probed. NY Daily News. Retrieved November 1, 2012 from http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-10-13/news/34435755_1_death-investigation-facebook-page-architecture-student

Crimesider staff. (2012, October 8). Jonathan Dailey Missing: "Time is of the essence" in search for Boston grad student, sister says. CBS News. Retrieved November 1, 2012 from http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57527924-504083/jonathan-dailey-missing-time-is-of-the-essence-in-search-for-boston-grad-student-sister-says/

Myers, Victoria (2012, October 11). Body found in Charles River identified as grad student Jonathan Dailey. Boston Examiner. Retrieved November 1, 2012 from http://www.examiner.com/article/body-found-charles-river-identified-as-grad-student-jonathan-dailey

Staff article. (2012, October 10). Obituary. Charlotte Observer. Retrieved November 1, 2012 from http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/charlotte/obituary.aspx?pid=160346319#fbLoggedOut

12/05/09: Darrel Dullum, 30, East Helena, MT

Darrel Dullum

Darrel Dullum, 30, of East Helena, Mont. disappeared around 2 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009 after leaving Eagles 4040 Bar in East Helena. (Photos of the area.) Witnesses reported that Dullum appeared to be intoxicated and that he did not get into his vehicle; a bartender had reportedly taken away his keys. He was last seen with two men outside the bar. He then left the bar on foot, intending to walk to his home on the 3200 block of Trerise Road.

Dullum was reported missing at 7 p.m. on Saturday. His 1998 black GMC pickup was located in a parking lot to the south of the Eagles.

Dullum's estranged wife, Brandy Dullum, who he had been separated from for a year-and-a-half, said his disappearance was out of the ordinary. “He runs like clockwork, that’s why this is so weird to me,” she told Alana Listoe of the Helena Independent Record in December 2009.

Dullum is the father of two sons, Darren, 6, and Alex, 5.

Searches were conducted on Saturday and Sunday, and on Monday, a helicopter search was performed near Dullum's home and throughout all of East Helena.

On Friday, December 11, 2009, a baseball cap belonging to Dullum was found near a residence on the 100 block of East Pacific Street. The hat was identified by Dullum's parents.

Nearly two months later, on Saturday, February 6, 2010 Dullum’s body was found encased in ice on a sand bar in Prickly Pear Creek. Dullum's cell phone and wallet containing his identification were found on the body. The creek, which is near Main Street Park off Clark Street, is about two miles south of Dullum's home, two blocks southeast of the Eagles Bar in East Helena, and about 20 feet from where his hat was found. The area had been previously searched using dogs and divers; the dogs had shown an interest in the spot where Dullum was found, but the ice made it very difficult to search.

"But you go and look at that ice and how thick it is, it was unbelievable," East Helena Police Chief Dale Aschim told Eve Byron of the Helena Independent Record. "There were six to eight inches, and on the sides of the creek it was definitely over a foot thick."

Lewis and Clark County Coroner Mickey Nelson confirmed on February 10 that drowning was the cause of Dullum’s death, stating that there was no evidence that anyone else was involved. However, questions remain about why Dullum was near the creek.

12/30/11: Ian Burnet, 22, New York City, NY

Ian Burnet
Missing since 12/30/11
from New York, NY

Ian Burnet is still missing.

Ian Burnet, 22, was last seen on December 30, 2011 at the apartment of two female friends on 139th Street and Riverside Drive in New York City. Ian, who was described as very independent, planned at spend a week in the city ringing in the new year.

Ian was a student at Virginia Commonwealth University where one of the women went to school, but he was not romantically involved with either of the women, said his father, Mark Burnet. He boarded a bus bound for New York from his home in Richmond, Virginia on December 26 and his parents last heard from him on December 28 by text.

At about 4 p.m. on December 30, Ian texted one of the roommates to say he'd be stepping out for the evening. It is unknown where he was going, but the roommate did not think anything seemed out of the ordinary.Ian took his driver's license, MetroCard and credit cards with him, but left his iPhone behind at the apartment. Mark Burnet has said this was not unusual, as his son only used the phone occasionally for texting and "didn't carry it with him at all times"(1).

No one has seen or heard from Ian since that text and there has been no activity on his credit cards.

Authorities do not believe foul play was involved.

About Ian Burnet

Ian is an engineering student on full scholarship at Virginia Commonwealth University with a 4.4 GPA and is well known for his wit, warmth and intelligence. He is taking classes in electrical and computer engineering, math and physics.

Prior to college, Ian was the valedictorian of his high school class at New Kent County High School in 2008. He also became an Eagle Scout in 2007. He had been living on his own for several years by the time of his disappearance.

He has no history of problems with drugs or alcohol, however according to The Charley Project, he has a history of depression and has attempted suicide once in the past. His loved ones fear for his safety. His brother believes he could have taken his own life.


The Search for Ian Burnet

Ian’s disappearance has sparked an outpouring of support that has resulted in a Facebook page nearing 1,400 members after only two days. Hundreds of volunteers have posted fliers across New York City and New County, Va. Ian comes from a warm and loving home; his parents' only wish is to know that he is safe and they are praying for his return.

Ian is a white male, 5’8”, 131 lbs., with green eyes and curly dark brown hair.

If you make contact with him or have any information about his whereabouts please contact the
New York Police Department, 30th Precinct (451 W 151st St.) 212-690-8842. Ask for Det. Sanchez, Det. Davis, or Sgt. Greene.


Case Details

Name/age: Ian Hunter Burnet, 22
Residence: Richmond, Va.
College: Virginia Commonwealth University
Last Seen: 12/30/11
Physical Description: 5'8", 131 lbs., green eyes, curly dark brown hair
Investigating Agency:  New York Police, 212-690-8842


Sources

(1) Velez-Mitchell, Jane. (2011, January 10.) Interview with Mark Burnet. Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell. Retrieved July 10, 2012 from http://www.findianburnet.com/

(2) Bryn, Alix. (2012, January 10). Candlelight vigil held Tuesday for Ian Burnet, 22, still missing. WTVR.com. Retrieved July 10, 2012 from http://wtvr.com/2012/01/10/candlelight-vigil-tuesday-for-ian-burnet-22-still-missing/

05/20/12: Nathan Bihlmaier, 31, Portland, ME



Nathan Bihlmaier

Nathan Bihlmaier, 31, traveled from Cambridge, Mass., to Portland, Me., with two classmates to celebrate their upcoming graduation from the exclusive Harvard Business School. Bihlmaier, who was to earn his MBA degree on May 24, disappeared after being asked to leave the the Ri Ra Irish Pub on the Portland waterfront on May 20.

Bihlmaier and his friends spoke several times by phone in an attempt to meet back up with each other. Bihlmaier, who was still near the bar, described the area, but friends were not able to find him. They last heard from him around 12:15 p.m. 

When Bihlmaier still hadn’t returned to the hotel by 9 a.m. the next morning, friends reported him missing.

Michael Sauschuck, Portland’s police chief, told The Boston Globe that Bihlmaier had been asked to leave the pub after a customer reported that he was acting inappropriately. The paper reports, "Scott St. Ours, the security manager at the Portland pub, offered [several times] to procure Bihlmaier a taxi from a nearby cab stand, but Bihlmaier declined because he was staying at the Hilton Garden Inn across the street."

Out of respect for Bihlmaier's family, Ri Ra officials have declined to describe in detail what actions caused Bihlmaier to be asked to leave.

Bihlmaier, described as likable and gregarious, left the bar without incident at 11:30 p.m. According to the Bangor Daily News, St. Ours witnessed him turning west on Commercial Street at that time. He noted that Bihlmaier wasn't staggering; he was walking straight, speaking clearly and his eyes were not glassy. In fact, on a scale of 1 to 10, he judged his intoxication level to be a 2.

Bihlmaier's friends were initially unaware that he had left the bar. They later spoke to him several times by phone in an attempt to find each other. In the final call around 12:15 a.m., Bihlmaier said he was in front of a large, official-looking building that he didn't recognize. Police now believe that the building may have been the US Custom House on Commercial Street, a short distance from the bar. Yet, his friends were still unable to find him.

Not long after that call, at 12:54 a.m., Bihlmaier's mobile phone stopped sending signals.


The Search for Nathan Bihlmaier

When Bihlmaier hadn’t returned to the hotel by 9 a.m. the next morning, friends reported him missing. Investigators learned that his car and belongings were untouched, and banking and cell phone records indicated no activity.

While friends and family searched for Bihlmaier and distributed fliers, investigators focused their search on the waters of Portland Harbor, where they found one of Bihlmaier's tan flip flops.



Photo Credit: John Patriquin, Press Herald
"Portland police dive teams Monday, May 21, 2012
as they search the waters near the State Pier for Nathan Bihlmaier."

On Tuesday, May 22, just before noon, police divers recovered Bihlmaier's body from the floor of Casco Bay in Portland Harbor, fairly close to the shore. Authorities identified his body by his clothing – a black windbreaker, blue pants, a gray T-shirt and a blue webbed belt – which witnesses and security cameras confirmed he was wearing when he went missing.

The area where the body was found was a short distance from the Ri Ra Irish Pub where Bihlmaier was last seen, but because of the tides, it may be impossible to tell where he entered the water.

Michael Sauschuck, Portland’s police chief, told The Boston Globe that there were no signs of an altercation or foul play. The cause of death has since been determined as accidental drowning.

It remains unclear whether the phone stopped transmitting because its battery was drained or because it was underwater.

According to The Boston Herald,  Nathan Bihlmaier's wife, Nancy, who is pregnant with the couple's first child, "had come to Portland to assist police efforts to find him, including handing out fliers around the city."



Nathan and Nancy Ho Bihlmaier

The missing man's parents, Cheryl and Steven Bihlmaier, also flew in from Kansas on Sunday.

Harvard Business School spokesman Brian Kenny told David Hench of the Press Herald that the family was “very upset, stressed. I think we were all holding out hope he was alive.”


About Nathan Bihlmaier

Dennis Hoey of the Portland Press Herald reports, "Bihlmaier grew up in Osborne, a small farming community of about 1,400 people in north central Kansas." He worked at the community pool as a lifeguard, became an Eagle Scout, and excelled as a student at Osborne High School. According to the paper, "He graduated from Osborne High School in 1999. After graduating, he enrolled at Kansas University. He just completed a two-year program at Harvard Business School, where he was expected to graduate with a masters degree in business administration."
Bihlmaier was very passionate about health care, and had started work as as director of Accountable Care Solutions at Optum, a hospital and health care agency in the Greater Boston area. He had worked there for about two months. Boston is about two hours from Portland.

Kenny said Bihlmaier "was thrilled about the prospects of being a new father" and started a blog in which he wrote about what it meant to be a father for the first time. (Portland Press Herald, 5/22/12). He had planned to break the news about his wife’s pregnancy when his parents flew in for his graduation.

The paper also reports that the tight-knit community within the Harvard Business School is also reeling from the tragedy. "Bihlmaier is a popular student and some 18 to 20 fellow students drove to Portland to offer support to his wife and parents," reports the paper.

“This is a very sad day for all of us at Harvard Business School,” the school said in a statement. “There is a tremendous sense of community here, of camaraderie among students, faculty, and staff. We are all in a state of shock and grief, and our hearts and prayers go out to Nate’s family at this terrible time.”

Nathan Bihlmaier was honored at the graduation commencement ceremony on May 24.


Case Details
Name/age: Nathan Bihlmaier, 31
Hometown: Osborne, Kan.
Residence: Cambridge, Mass.
College: University of Kansas graduate, and Harvard School of Business
Last Seen: Ri Ra Irish Pub and Restaurant, 72 Commercial Street, Portland, Me.
Last Wearing: a black windbreaker, blue pants, a gray T-shirt, a blue webbed belt, tan flip flops
Recovered:  05/22/12 Portland Harbor, Portland, Me.


Sources

Byrne, John A. (n.d.). The Tragic death of a Harvard MBA. Poets and Quants Web site. Retrieved November 9, 2012 from http://poetsandquants.com/2012/05/23/the-tragic-death-of-a-harvard-mba/

Hench, David. (2012, May 23). Missing student's body headed to Augusta for autopsy. Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from http://www.pressherald.com/news/police-press-search-for-student_2012-05-22.html?pageType=mobile&id=1

Hoey, Dennis. (2012, May 22). Small town in Kansas worries after native son disappears. Portland Press Herald. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from http://bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?&articleid=1061133397&format=&page=2&listingType=Loc#articleFull

Koenig, Seth. (2012, May 25). Harvard student asked to leave bar for ‘bad behavior,’ not drunkenness. Bangor Daily News. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/25/news/portland/harvard-student-asked-to-leave-bar-for-bad-behavior-not-drunkenness/

McShane, Larry. (2012, May 22). Body of Nathan Bihlmaier, missing Harvard Business School student, discovered. New York Daily News. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from:
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/desperate-search-nathan-bihlmaier-missing-harvard-business-school-student-turns-leads-article-1.1082518

Schworm, Peter. (2012, May 22) Body of missing Cambridge man found in water. Boston Globe. Retrieved May 29, 2012 from http://www.boston.com/metrodesk/2012/05/22/body-missing-cambridge-man-found-water/0iezRvtiAuAYA36gJ6fUMK/story.html?p1=News_links

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

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

Franco Garcia

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

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

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

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

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

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

03/05/11: 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.

04/25/10: Josh Blahna, 26, Kensal, ND

Josh Blahna

Twenty-six-year-old Josh Blahna was last seen on Sunday, April 25, 2010. Blahna disappeared after he blew a tire and pulled off the road just outside his mother's rural home about 10 miles northwest of Kensal, ND.


The search for Joshua Blahna

After Josh Blahna disappearance, posters were hung, a Facebook page was created, and Josh's family posted a $10,000 reward for information leading to his discovery. Officials and volunteers were also out searching for the young man.

On Wednesday, April 28, authorities found Blahna’s car near his mother’s farm and tracks leading to the nearby James River. One of Blahna's shoes was found near the river, and it was identified by his mother. The shoe was also not far from his mother's house. Further search efforts by water and air on Wednesday were hampered by cold temperatures and strong winds. Spring flooding had also created high water and strong currents in the James River, making a river search unsafe. Crews were only able comb the banks of the river on all-terrain vehicles.

The following day, searchers returned to drag the river, yet the seven hour search turned up nothing.

On Monday, May 3, The Red River Search and Rescue dog unit joined Dakota Search and Rescue Dogs in the search for Blahna. The search for Blahna was ongoing until May 10, 2010, when Blahna's body was found in the James River by family members at about 11-a.m.

The case perplexed local sheriff, Mike Tufte, who told WDAY News 6, “This just doesn't happen like this here.” The paper reported, "Tufte says it's been more than 20 years since Foster County has had a drowning. That one was accidental, he's not so sure about this one. If there was foul play, Tufte says family members don't know who would be behind it. They tell him Joshua had no enemies."

The body was found in Foster County about nine miles northwest of Kensal, ND. The location was a mile and a half south of where he is believed to have entered the river. After it was recovered, it was sent to the North Dakota Medical Examiners Office for an autopsy.

 

On May 12, 2010, the Foster County sheriff announced that the death had been ruled an accident. Preliminary autopsy results showed that Joshua Blahna drowned.

About Joshua Blahna

Joshua's obituary read:

"Joshua James Blahna is the son of James Blahna and Donna (Hoffman) Mack, and was born on June 11, 1983, in Carrington, ND. He was raised and attended school at Kensal, graduating in 2002. Josh attended Moorhead Tech and recently was farming with his father and brother, Jeremiah, in the Kensal and Carrington areas. Josh worked on wind tower construction near Valley City, ND, and in Iowa, and installed fiber optic underground cable near Jamestown, ND. He was a hard worker.
Josh liked hunting, boating, fishing, was a great downhill skier and had awesome boxing abilities - he was like greased lightening! He worked at body building and weight lifting. He especially enjoyed hanging out with his friends and had a special relationship with his brother, Jeremiah and sister, Casey. Josh was very proud of Jeremiah and Casey, they had many good times camping, cowboying and wrestling. Casey made special gifts just for Josh that he loved.
Josh loved to travel and wanted to see the world. One of his favorite stories he told his friends was about teasing crazy cows- he’d laugh because the cows couldn’t catch him. He loved all animals and couldn’t pass by a lamb or newborn calf without petting it and marveling at how soft it was.
He will be remembered most for his wonderful smile, big heart and his defense of those in need of help. He is home now with Jesus, but will always be here in the hearts of those that loved him. He is a special person who leaves us- On the Wings of Eagles!
Josh will be remembered and deeply missed by his parents, James Blahna and Donna (Bob) Mack, both of Kensal; his brother, Jeremiah, Carrington; his sister, Casey Mack, Kensal; grandmother, Irene Blahna, Kensal; grandfather, Marvin Hoffman, Carrington; special friend, Jennifer Schultes, Fargo, ND; step-brothers, Chris (Lisa) Mack, Williston, ND, and Mike (Jess) Mack, Fargo; step-sisters, Cheri (Perry) Brubaker, Arvilla, ND, and Melissa (Eric) Gauthier, Cavalier, ND; Aunts/Uncles, Jackie (Steve) Blahna-Becker, Minot, ND, Betty Blahna, San Francisco, CA, Suzanne (Rod) Mathwich, Prescott, WI, Christie (Ric) Herman, Moorhead, MN, Cynthia (Donnie) Colvin, Sylvania, AL, Loretta (Harry) Kaatz, Denver, CO, Marlys (Gary) Stangeland, Garland, TX, Marlene (Robert) Smith, Carrington, ND; Cousins, Shauna, Rick, Matt, Erin, Logan, Rhys, Justin, Blaine, Eric, Alicia, Hailey, Chris, Angie, Kenny, Sara, Amanda, Nick, and Amy.
He was preceded in going to Jesus, by his grandfather, Bill Blahna; grandmother, Lucy Hoffman; and Uncle Bill Blahna." (Source: Obituary)

A funeral was held for Josh on Saturday, May 15, 2010 at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kensal, ND with a burial at Kensal Cemetery.


Quick Facts:
Name/age: Joshua Blahna, 26
Last seen: 4/25/10, Kensal, ND
Recovered: 5/10/10, James River, Kensal, ND
Physical Description: 5'9," 150 lbs., black hair, hazel eyes
College: had attended Moorehead Tech

03/13/09: Steven Mbidizo, 27, Bath Township, MI

Stephen Mbidzo

Stephen Munyaradzi Mbidzo disappeared March 13, 2009 a day after his 27th birthday. He last was seen visiting friends at the Village at Chandler Crossings, a large apartment complex at 3839 Hunsaker St in Bath Township, MI.

His mother reported his disappearance to the Michigan State Police post in Mount Pleasant, MI, where Mbidzo resided.

Mbidzo's body, which was found Thursday, April 9 in a remote section of the Grand River in Eagle Township, was identified through fingerprints. The body was found by a riverfront home owner who then alerted police. The body was found naked, wearing only socks, and it was unclear how long it had been in the river. 

"It’s a very, very suspicious death," said Clinton County Sheriff Wayne Kangas.

An autopsy on April 10 was unable to reveal a cause of death. There were no signs of blunt force or other trauma.


About Steven Mbidizo

Mbidzo was born on March 12, 1982, in Harare, Zimbabwe, the son of Louis and Hilda Mbidzo. He graduated from Prince Edward High School in Zimbabwe where he played rugby and enjoyed cricket. He earned an associate degree from Mid Michigan Community College in Harrison and had taken nursing classes at Saginaw Valley State University. He was a talented and award-winning artist, and a member of the MSU African Students Association and the Knights of Columbus.

He leaves behind his parents Louis and Hilda Mbidzo, brother Farai Mbidzo of Mt. Pleasant, MI, sisters Diana Mbidzo of the United Kingdom and Rosalia (Edmond) Muchenje of Zimbabwe, and grandmothers Theresa and Mavis, and fiancee Shingirai Jemwa of Grand Rapids, MI.
A funeral was held on Thursday, April 16, 2009 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 302 S. Kinney in Mount Pleasant, MI. A visitation and prayer service were also held at the Clark Family Funeral Chapel in Mount Pleasant.

07/19/05: Jacob Hobson, 27, Ames, IA

Shortly before 9 a.m., on Tuesday, July 19, 2005 Ames Police received an emergency call from a person who reportedly located a white male unconscious in College Creek between two parking lots on the Iowa State University campus. The area is known as campus town and is in the 100 block of Hayward Avenue.

The body of Jacob B. Hobson was recovered from the creek. Hobson, a senior from Eldora, was majoring in psychology and lived at 4606 Ontario St., #10, in Ames.

A preliminary autopsy showed Hobson died as a result of drowning and blunt force trauma to the head in the early morning hours of July 19. It is believed that Hobson accidentally fell from the creek bridge, hitting his head on the culvert below, and drowned in the culvert, which held a few inches of water. The cause of death was drowning and blunt force trauma to the head. Ames Police say there were no obvious signs of foul play at the scene and no reason to believe the body had been moved, and they believe the death was an accident.

About Jacob Hobson

Jacob Brian Hobson was born July 23, 1977 at Fort Dodge, Iowa. He came into the Brian and Wanda [Aldrich] Hobson home as a very special gift of adoption on February 28, 1978. He attended the Eldora – New Providence Community Schools graduating with the class of 1996, excelling in wrestling and football. He attained the rank of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. He had worked for Steding Construction Eldora, helped his father with farming, worked at Hilton Coliseum, Ames, Iowa, was currently a senior at Iowa State University majoring in Psychology.

Jacob B. Hobson is survived by his parents: Brian and Wanda Hobson of Eldora, Iowa; his brother: Joshua David Hobson of rural Webster City, Iowa; his girlfriend: Sara Sampson of Ames, Iowa; and his paternal grandfather: Carroll Hobson of Eldora. He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents: Henry and Mary Aldrich; and his paternal grandmother: Catharine Hobson.

The funeral for Jacob Hobson was held at the United Methodist Church in Eldora.

03/11/10: William Sinclair, 19, Ithaca, NY

On March 11, 2010, rescue workers from the Ithaca Fire Department recovered the body of William Sinclair, a sophomore mechnical engineering student in the College of Engineering, from the Fall Creek Gorge near the Thurston Avenue Bridge.

He was 19 years old and a native of Chevy Chase, MD.

05/01/09: Gerald Smith, 22, Terre Haute, IN

Gerald Smith, 22, an Indiana State University senior from Avon, IN, was last seen about 1 a.m. Friday, May 1st, according to a news release issued by the university.

Smith had been at the Ballyhoo Tavern at 900 Chestnut Street in Terre Haute, Indiana celebrating the end of a class project. He was last seen around 12:40 a.m.* outside the bar by a professor who offered him a cab ride home. After refusing the professor's offer, Smith began walking south on Ninth Street.

He was reported missing Friday evening.

Gerald Smith's body was found in the Wabash River on Friday, May 8, the day before he was set to graduate. His mother was presented with his diploma during the school's weekend commencement ceremony.

----------------------
The Search for Gerald Smith
Friday (May 1) - Smith leaves the Ballyhoo Tavern at 12:40 a.m. walking south on Ninth Street. (Initial reports had indicated he was last seen at 10:30 p.m. Thursday, but ISU Public Safety officials determined this was not accurate.) After he was reported missing Friday evening, the area of campus closest to where he was seen is searched.
Saturday (May 2) - University officials along with 30 volunteers divided the campus into six sectors and searched between 7 and 9 p.m.
Sunday (May 3) - Two teams focused on searching the areas south and west of campus, including the Wabash River bank. Vigo County Sheriff's Department officers on horseback combed the banks of the Wabash River in Fairbanks Park. ISU Police and more than 24 student volunteers walked between Cherry and Ohio Streets, looking around the southern part of campus. According to ISU director of Public Saftey Bill Mercier, a bloodhound also sniffed a trail from the Ballyhoo to First and Chestnut Streets near the water. Mercier told the Indiana Statesman that photos on Smith's Facebook page led them to believe he frequented the river area, so the search effort was concentrated there.
Monday (May 4) - University public safety officers and student volunteers searched at 3:00 p.m.

Recovery
At approximately 7:30 p.m., on Friday evening (May 8), a local citizen found a body in the Wabash River near Vincennes, IN and alerted authorities. An ID inside a wallet in the pants pocket confirmed it was Gerald Smith who was last seen 50 miles away near the Indiana State University Terre Haute campus a week earlier. Smith's body was still wearing all of the clothes he had on when he disappeared.

Department of Natural Resources officials had been searching near the Wabash River for any sign of Smith during the last few days. Officials discovered the body after a tip from a witness who reported to ISU Public Safety officials that he had seen a man fitting Smith's description near Second and Canal Streets on Friday morning.

An autopsy conducted on Saturday morning (May 9, 8 a.m.) at Terre Haute Regional Hospital by Medical Examiner Dr. Roland Kohr. According to the Indiana Statesman, "ISU director of Public Saftey Bill Mercier said the autopsy revealed that there are no signs of foul play and the cause of death is consistent with accidental drowning."

About Gerald Smith
Friends have described Smith as a good student, very responsible and all-round good guy. "Especially from a student that has a pretty solid reputation as a sold citizen is a matter of concern and doesn't happen very often at all," ISU Police Chief Bill Mercier said.

According to Smith's Google profile, he is a "guy who enjoys scouring the web to learn about the latest and greatest software and hardware releases. My iPhone is my personal assistant. When it comes to my three Windows PCs, customization is the name of the game. I’m a huge fan of Stardock products and anything else that adds to the pc experience. I dabble in HTML but prefer to give my design ideas/thoughts to those who know best. Blogging is something I enjoy because it allows me to share my technical experiences and ideas with the world."

Smith grew up in Avon, IN where he attended Avon High School. In addition to Terre Haute, IN, he has also lived in Overland Park, KS and Kansas City, MO. He is the son of Robin and Billy Hill.

Facts of Interest
Name: Gerald Smith, 22
College: Indiana State University, Terre Haute
Major: insurance and risk management
Hometown: Avon, Indiana
Physical description: 5'7" 160 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes, glasses, light beard. Last seen wearing a red Hawaiian shirt, jeans and brown shoes.
Last seen: Friday, May 1, 2009, 1 a.m., 900 Chestnut Street in Terre Haute, Indiana
Recovered: Friday, May 9, 2009, 7:30 a.m., Wabash River near Vincennes, IN
Cause of death: drowning
Manner of death: accident

Anyone with information about Gerald Smith is urged to call ISU Public Safety at 812-237-5555 or Crimestoppers at 812-238-STOP.

Sources
TribStar
Indiana Statesman
Indiana State University
WTHITV
http://www.indstate.edu/news/news.php?newsid=1785
http://media.www.indianastatesman.com/media/storage/paper929/news/2009/05/08/Campus/Breaking.News.Body.Of.Isu.Student.Found-3739281.shtml

04/05/09: Dan Zamlen, 18, St. Paul, MN

Eighteen-year old Dan Zamlen, a freshman at the University of St. Thomas left a party hosted by classmates near the St. Thomas campus, reportedly upset about something. He was walking along Mississippi River Blvd near St. Clair Avenue on a trail. The trail had a grassy area next to it and then a wooded slope. He said he was headed to the University of Minnesota to meet some friends and was talking to friend Anna Chappuis on his cell phone who said she would pick him up. It was 2:30 a.m., and although she does not remember word for word what he said, Chappuis says she remembers hearing, "Oh my God. Help." before the call ended abruptly.

Friends and family tried looking for Dan and calling him repeatedly, getting his voicemail each time until about 8:30 a.m. when his phone went dead, which is when they called police.

Dan's body was found in the Mississippi River on May 1, 2009. Police believe he may have gotten too close to the river and slipped. The Ramsey County medical examiner's office ruled the death an accidental drowning and the St. Paul Police Department had closed the case. Police said they were still investigating how Dan, who was underage, got alcohol.


The Search for Dan

Search teams scoured the bluffs and banks of the Mississippi all morning and afternoon on May 1. Helicopters with infared flew overhead, water patrol checked along shore. Friends and family searched in culverts, brush, trees and alleys; and the University of St. Thomas organized a block by block, door-to-door search. Police did find a footprint leading away from the river, in the direction of the road, but they could not say for certain that it belonged to Dan.

Over the 27 days he was missing, more than 1,200 people searched for Dan Zamlen.

Parents express frustration before House of Representatives

Dan's parents testified before the MN House of representatives on 4/15/09 to help enact Brandon's Law, which would require law makers to take reports and investigate missing adults without delay when they are endangered.

During testimony, Dan's parents, Dale and Sally, reported frustration with the police for keeping searchers away from the bluff and also refusing to go search it because it was "too dangerous."

The Zamlen's feel that had the search been expedited, Dan could have been found quickly. Although Dan disappeared in a cell phone dead zone between a tower for Minneapolis and a tower for St. Paul, Dan was very technologically saavy and had an I-Phone. The I-Phone comes with a GPS "ping," making it easier to track one's location. This phone was paid for by Dan's parents and was in his mother's name, yet they were refused access to the information without a court order.

On Wednesday, May 6, 2009 Gov. Tim Pawlenty signed Brandon's Law, which would eliminate waiting periods when adults disappear under suspicious circumstances, or when young adults up to age 21 are reported missing under most circumstances.


Family belives it was an abduction

During the testimony before the House of Representatives, Dale said that he believed Dan was abducted. He said that although the Missing Persons Unit quickly zoned in on the river area, other facts seemed to rule out the river. He noted that 8 bloodhounds had searched the area on Tuesday (4/7) or Wednesday (4/8), and kept stopping in the same place, but did not go near the river. He also said that "side scanning sonar" had been used to search the river as well as infared. He also said that he works as an open pit miner and walked through the area, and did not feel that someone would easily slip there. And if they did, it would leave a mark. Nothing was in the area where Dan was found. He also felt that Dan's training as an Eagle Scout would have prepared him for an accident outdoors.


Dan Zamlen recovered from Mississipi River

On May 1, 2009 at 11:46 a.m, the body of Dan Zamlen was pulled from the Mississippi River near the Ford Motor Co. power plant in St. Paul. The Ford plant is down river from the area where Zamlen went missing on April 5. Workers at the plant found the body while cleaning grates that catch debris in the river near the power plant. A wallet found on the body and also a positive identification by Dan's parents, Dale and Sally Zamlen, confirmed that it was Dan.

The body was taken to the Ramsey County coroner's office. Police did not say whether there were signs of foul play. St. Paul Police spokesman Pete Panos said he believes Zamlen fell down the bluff and into the river.

The Ramsey County medical examiner's office later ruled the death an accidental drowning and the St. Paul Police Department closed the case. At the time, police said they were still investigating how Dan, who was underage, got alcohol.


New information released by police

On February 8, 2010, WCCO reported that the police had released new details to the media, including 400 pages of documents that supposedly detail that friends were worried about Zamlen months before he disappeared. Two friends say Zamlen was deeply conflicted about his own sexual orientation. In the initial police report and witness statements, friends say Zamlen talked about possibly killing himself the night he disappeared." Police say they released the information because the case was ruled an accidental drowning, and the investigation is now complete barring new evidence or information.

However, Dan's parents, Dale and Sally Zamlen, of Eveleth don't believe the case should closed. They cite numerous questions left unanswered in the case, such as how Dan Zamlen got down to the river from the bluffs without injury. St. Louis County Medical Examiner Dr. Thomas Uncini of Hibbing, who performed a second autopsy at the request of the family, said Zamlen did not have injuries that would suggest he tumbled or fell down the rocky or brush-filled slope like the one near where Dan Zamlen was last seen. “It is likely he drowned,"Uncini told the Duluth News Tribune, "but I feel the manner of death cannot be determined and requires more police investigation and/or access to existing police records." So the question that remains is how the case could be concluded when the additional police investigation recommended by the medical examiner was not done. "There are facts that the police didn’t look at; there are questions that are legitimate," said Sally Zamlen.

Also noted is the discovery of baseball with a smiley face on it as well as a sign marked with smiley face graffiti near the bluffs, evidence of a possible smiley face killer. Police say they were not able to connect the items to Zamlen's death, but the family has been in contact with the New York investigators looking into the smiley face killer theory.

In addition to the speculation raised by the graffiti, there appears to be varying accounts reported by witnesses who were at the party that night, including variations on what was said during Dan's final cell phone call. Many are left to wonder why the police are relying so heavily on witness statements when they appear to have so many holes.

Furthermore, a toxicology screening at the time of second autopsy uncovered the presence of Gamma-Hydroxybutyric acid [GHB] in Zamlen’s body. GHB is a powerful intoxicant, coined a "date rape drug," because it is easily slipped into someone's drink and can quickly lead to a loss of muscle control or even consciousness when combined with alcohol. While GHB can be produced naturally in the body, Uncini could not exclude the possibility that Zamlen had ingested it. Police reports indicate that Zamlen had been drinking, and while he may have brought his own alcohol to the party, there are indications that he could have purchased some alcohol at the party.

Police say they would not be able to charge hosts of the party in relation to Zamlen's underage alcohol use, because it would be difficult to prove that the hosts had provided him with any alcohol.

According to the Duluth News Tribune, "Sally Zamlen said she’s spent the past 10 months reading and re-reading the statements of her son’s friends and acquaintances. She’s searched the Internet seeking information on forensic pathology and stages of decomposition in a drowning victim. She’s offended that two female acquaintances of her son told police that he was suicidal because he thought he was gay and he told them he was going to kill himself that night. “My son can’t dispute that — he’s dead,’’ she said and added that there is no evidence that her son even talked to the women who made the claim. “I think he got in a vehicle and I personally believe he went into a diabetic coma, and whoever was with him thought he was dead and panicked,’’ she said. “That’s been my feeling since April 5. “I’m going to continue to go through this paperwork and continue to get more opinions and continue to gather more information,’’ she said.

Click here to read Sally Zamlen's response to the information released.


About Dan Zamlen

Dan was a A-student and a 3-star athlete. He ran 10 miles a day, often running to the Ford Plant, U of M, or State Capitol, and according to his father, had the heart rate of a marathon runner. His parents described him as having a "good head on his shoulders." He was an altar boy and catechism teacher, as well as an Eagle Scout. About a year ago, Dan suspected he had diabetes and went to the doctor; he found out he was a Type I diabetic. Being very saavy about technology, he decided to get an OmniPod insulin pump, which carried enough for a 3-day supply of insulin.

About 100 students and relatives gathered Friday evening (May 1) at St. John Vianney Seminary. Rev. William Baer said so much heart went into the search that it was hard to have it end this way.


Facts of Interest
Name/age: Dan Zamlen, 19
Hometown: Eveleth, MN
College: University of St. Thomas, St. Paul
Residence: Brady Residence Hall
Physical Description: 6’1,” 175 pounds, brown hair with blonde highlights, blue eyes, fair complexion
Last Seen: 4/5/09 3 a.m., intersection of St Clair and Mississippi River Blvd., wearing a dark blue and black zip-up fleece with a light blue Hollister polo, blue jeans and brown Dr. Marten shoes. Dan is a type 1 diabetic. He has an OmniPod which is a device to control his insulin. When his insulin has run out, the OmniPod will begin to beep quite loudly.
Recovered: 5/1/09, 11:46 a.m., Mississippi River near Ford power plant in St. Paul, MN.
Cause of death ruling: Drowning
Manner of death ruling: Accident

12/16/06: Nick Rossini, 21, White Bear Lake, MN

Nick Rossini, a 21-year-old stand-out first year cadet at West Point, got into a bit of trouble while home for Christmas break. Late on Friday 12/15, Rossini damaged his mother's car in a drunk driving accident in Crystal, MN after a night of partying with friends. A short time later, he was arrested for drunk driving and called his parents to pick him up. He spent the day with his family, but apparently left again sometime during the night. His body was found in Goose Lake four months later.

Nick is the second young man to disappear from White Bear Lake since Nathan Edberg went missing in 1999.

Last Seen
Nick planned to spend the night with one of his friends in Minneapolis, MN near the University of Minnesota campus in an area nicknamed Dinkytown. That night he remembered he was scheduled to referee a basketball game Saturday morning, so he decided to drive home to White Bear Lake. However, he drove in the opposite direction and, sometime after leaving his friends, ran his mother's 1996 Buick Park Avenue into a parked car. About 5:40 a.m., a Crystal police officer spotted a car with a smashed front end drive past the police station. The officer followed the car and pulled over the driver. Rossini, who was alone in the car, was given a breath test, which showed his blood-alcohol level at 0.15 percent. (He was later charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence). His parents drove to the nearby tow yard to pick up their son and the car. After coming home, Rossini slept until midafternoon. He then went to church with his parents, drove to the Minneapolis Police Department headquarters to file a report about his collision with the parked car, and had dinner with his family about 5 pm. According to some reports, Nick and his parents had some tense exchanges over the arrest, but by the time he went to bed the next night, things were okay. Rossini hugged his parents goodnight about 10:30, and his siblings last saw him after midnight before they went to bed. His family believes Rossini left the house sometime between 2:30 and 5 a.m. Sunday. The only clue to his departure was the unlocked deadbolt of the front door. There were no signs of struggle in the Rossini home. He did not take his wallet, a cell phone, backpack, suitcase or clothes when he left, and he did not leave a note.

A Good Kid
According to the Associated Press, his family believes it is unlikely that Rossini would do "anything rash." Rossini, "a former star student and athlete at White Bear Lake High School, Rossini spent a year at St. John's University before deciding to enlist in the Army. He was spotted by West Point recruiters while still in basic training, and so far has maintained a 3.5 grade-point average at the elite academy--putting him in the top 50 of the 1,000-member freshman class." The Rossinis have since talked to West Point officials who have stated that they will not penalize him for the arrest and they would take him back.

The Search
Authorities have walked the shores and flown over three lakes near the Rossini home without finding signs of a fall through the ice. Search teams went door-to-door and yard-to-yard in nearby neighborhoods, and dogs have also been used. Police, sheriff, fire and other public safety personnel from throughout the Twin Cities, along with friends, neighbors and volunteers from area lakes and trails groups have helped with the search. The search resumed again in the spring, with deputies search White Bear Lake, Birch Lake and Bald Eagle Lake in April before beginning a search of Goose Lake.

Recovery
The body of Nicholas Rossini was found in Goose Lake on Monday, April 16 west of Hwy. 61 and Hoffman Road. He was about ten feet from shore. The lake is about three miles from his family's home. The Ramsey County medical examiner's office said it appeared the 21-year-old from White Bear Lake had drowned. Authorities found the body in Goose Lake on Monday, while they were searching for Rossini. His body was identified through dental records. The body was found in sweatpants, a sweatshirt and jogging shoes.

Theories
When Nick vanished, The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension posted Nick's missing poster on its website, including a note about the possibility of a head injury from the car accident. There is no information yet on whether evidence of head injury has been found. From the outset, family members thought Nick must have left to clear his head or go for a jog, because he was embarrassed over the incident and worried about what it might mean for his future. This theory is now gaining ground as Nick's body was found in workout clothes.

Strange Coincidences
Nick Rossini is the second young man to go missing from the small suburb of White Bear Lake, MN since the 1999 disappearance of Nathan Edberg. Edberg was last seen at a bar and his truck was later found empty in a ditch off the highway. Police believe Edberg accidentally drove off the road, but he has never been found. In a strange coincidence, the Rossini home is not too far from Decoy's Bar where Nathan Edberg was last seen. The mothers of both young men also work together at Lincoln Elementary school and live within a few miles of each other. Edberg's mother, Jackie, advised Rossini's mother, Pat, on how to handle the media and was helping the Rossini family cope with the disappearance.

After graduating from White Bear Lake high school in 2004, Nick attended St. John's University, where just two years earlier, student Joshua Guimond disappeared.

Facts of Interest
Name/age: Nicholas Rossini, 20 (from White Bear lake, MN)
College: West Point Academy (West Point, NY), formerly of St. John's University
Physical description: 6'1," 185 with dark blond hair, hazel eyes and an athletic build.
Last seen: 12/16/06, at home in White Bear Lake, MN
Recovered: 04/16/07, Goose Lake, MN
Cause of death: drowning

09/30/06: Luke Homan, 21, La Crosse, WI

On September 30, 2006, University of La Crosse junior Luke Homan celebrated with friends at the annual Oktoberfest celebration in downtown LaCrosse. He was last seen at approximately 2:15 am at The Vibe bar at 322 Jay Street early Saturday morning. His roommates called police Saturday after he failed to show up for a scheduled golf outing. Loved ones spent a horrific weekend searching for Luke. On Monday, it was discovered that he had drowned.

Luke Found

On Monday, October 2, his body was found in 10 feet of water near a levee in the Mississippi River close to the south end of Riverside Park. The autopsy report, completed by Dr. Lindsey Thomas, indicates there were no signs of trauma, no signs of a struggle, no signs of foul play. Homan's blood alcohol content was .32; authorities believe he drowned accidentally.

About Luke Homan

Homan's high school basketball team at Brookfield Central went to state two of the three years he played varsity ball, and Homan set a school record for three-point shots, with 165, and made 16 free throws in one game. In college at UW-Milwaukee, Homan joined the basketball team as a walk on. He played in nine games during the 2004-'05 season when the Panthers advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 before transferring to LaCrosse. At La Crosse, he played in all 28 games for the La Crosse Eagles this past season and helped deliver the school's first 20-victory season in more than two decades.

Aftermath

On 9/22/07, The LaCrosse Tribune reported:

Austin Scott, 19, of Palatine, Ill., is the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse sophomore accused of lying about events leading up to the disappearance and drowning death of fellow UW-L basketball teammate Lucas Homan last fall.

He will spend 48 hours in the La Crosse County Jail after pleading no contest Friday to two misdemeanor counts of obstructing officers.

La Crosse County Circuit Judge Elliott Levine also gave Scott a year on probation after he leaves jail at 6 p.m. Sunday.

"Whether or not he had anything to do with Luke's death, we don't know, and we might not ever know," La Crosse County District Attorney Tim Gruenke said in court Friday. "But he still obstructed the investigation into that death and threw a cloud over it that will remain probably forever."

Homan's body was recovered from the Mississippi River off the Riverside Park levee Oct. 2, 2006. An autopsy showed cold water drowning, with acute alcohol intoxication as a major contributing factor.

A group of Homan's friends said they last saw the 21-year-old from Brookfield, Wis., with Scott at The Vibe, 332 Jay St., about 9 or 10 p.m. Sept. 29, 2006. But Scott told UW-L police he saw an intoxicated Homan leave The Vibe alone about 12:30 a.m. Sept. 30, according to the criminal complaint.

Scott was cited at 9:58 p.m. Sept. 29 for underage drinking near the Radisson hotel, the complaint reported. A blood test at Franciscan Skemp Medical Center registered a 0.33 percent, Gruenke said.

"The number of lies he was telling, all of them seem to be going the same direction -- he doesn't want police to know he was in Riverside Park," Gruenke said. "... We don't know why he lied and that's the mystery here. "Scott told authorities he doesn't know how he got to the Radisson or the hospital, but remembered heading from the hospital back to UW-L's Sanford Hall dorm. He later said he recalled "sitting at The Vibe, I ... would never leave him in the water" but could not elaborate, according to the complaint.

Scott said it was possible he and Homan were in Riverside Park together that night and Homan fell in the river -- his best guess was Homan tripped -- but he could not remember, according to the complaint.

He said he gave investigators a false story of three men arguing with Homan at the Vibe on Sept. 29 because he didn't know what happened, according to the complaint. That led police on a "wild goose chase" for men who didn't exist, Gruenke said.Defense attorney Mark McCabe said Scott admits lying about his birthdate, address and walking home from the bar, but objected to all other facts in the complaint. He stressed Scott has no memory of that night.

"This community is frustrated by eight separate river deaths that have occurred, there's no question about that," McCabe said. "My client is not to blame for all of those prior deaths. My client is not to blame for Luke Homan's death."

Scott apologized to "everyone" Friday and said it was wrong to lie about that night. "My heart goes to out to Luke's parents," he said. "I wish I knew what happened. The Homans would be the first people I would tell."

Patti Homan said she "truly, truly believes Austin knows what happened that night," but asked Levine to spare him from jail."I want for Austin to have a happy, productive life," she said. "The only way he's going to be able to do that is if he actually tells what he knows --even if it's the worst, even if he pushed Luke into the water, even if it's that, I'd wrap my arms around him right now and tell him we'll get through this."

Since Homan's death, city leaders have enacted a public intoxication ordinance and spent about $60,000 on fencing in Riverside Park. A consortium of local medical centers is studying ways to reduce alcohol-related injuries. Three colleges have also launched a safe drinking campaign.

Facts of Interest in this Case
Name/age: Lucas Homan, 21
College: University of Wisconsin, La Crosse (transfer from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee)
Major: Finance
Physical description: 6'3," athletic build (basketball player)
Last seen: 09/20/06, early a.m., The Vibe bar at 322 Jay Street
Recovered: 10/02/06, Mississippi River levee near Riverside Park
Cause of death: drowning
Injuries: no signs of foul play or trauma
Blood Alcohol Content: .32