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

 

Jacob W. Anderson

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




Sources

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

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

About Dennis Cornish

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

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

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



Dennis Cornish Memorial Bench



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

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

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

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

01/01/08: Derek Kelly, 31, Bridge Lake, BC, Canada

Derek Kelly

Bring Derek Kelly home.

Derek Kelly, 31, of Langley, British Columbia, was last seen at a New Year's Eve party in the area of Bridge Lake and Highway 24, near the city of 100 Mile House, British Columbia on Jan. 1, 2008.

Derek had made the trip to Bridge Lake, in the Cariboo region of British Columbia, on Dec. 30 with a new girlfriend and some friends and acquaintances. There were at least four and perhaps as many as eight in the party. Those friends returned to the Lower Mainland without Derek and didn’t notify the authorities or his family that he was missing. He was reported missing to the Langley RCMP by his family on January 16, 2008.

An extensive investigation by the Langley RCMP Serious Crime Unit has not located him. Although classified as a missing persons file, the matter is being treated as a homicide, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has said.

The investigation has since been turned over to the North District Major Crimes Unit. Langley RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Peter Thiessen told the Langley Times, “It’s difficult to conduct an investigation from that distance. Combine that with the complexity of the investigation and the different directions it may be going, it requires the North District Major Crimes to take over the file.”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11/09/07: Matt LaCrosse, 25, Bangor, ME

On Friday night, November 9, 2007, 25 year-old Matt LaCrosse met up with several friends at Carolina's Sports and Spirits. They slowly split off and LaCrosse ended up talking to a couple in their 30s who are believed to have been buying him drinks at the bar. He was later escorted out of the bar; it was the last time Matt LaCrosse was seen.On Friday, March 8, 2008, the body of Matt LaCrosse was pulled from the Penebscot River.

The Search and Investigation
Matthew Joseph LaCrosse, called "Matty" by friends was a graduate of Herman High School and had completed some college. He was an employee of the Home Depot and had a MySpace page describing himself as being interested in meeting new people. According to his sister, Brandie DiWitt, LaCrosse didn't own a car, have a driver's license, or have a lot of money. His family believed immediately that something had happened to him; he was used to going out to the bars with friends but he had never disappeared before. Friends and co-workers also agreed it was out of character for Matt to disappear. He also failed to show up for a good friend's birthday party on Sunday and it was out of character for him to skip out on plans.

Friends were also surprised to learn that Matt was kicked out of the bar; he never seemed the belligerent type. In fact, he was described as a big, friendly guy who always had a smile on his face. The bouncer at Carolina's confirms he did escort Matt out of the bar at around midnight. Some witnesses said Matt was perfectly coherent while others said he was too drunk to walk.

The next day Matt was reported missing by a co-worker after failing to show up to his job at the Home Depot.

On Monday, divers searched the Penebscot River, which is close to Carolina's Bar, but found no signs of Matt LaCrosse. A search of LaCrosse's cell phone and financial records showed no activity and he also did not show up again for work. Family members were interested in talking to the couple in their 30s whom Matt had been talking to the night he disappeared, but no one the police had spoken with recognized this couple. About 25 friends and co-workers searched the downtown Bangor area and along the waterfront from 10 a.m. until dusk with no luck.

The following day, Tuesday, the police finished interviewing patrons at the bar and LaCrosse's family, friends and co-workers and entered Matt's apartment where they removed his computer to search for clues to his disappearance.

Police concluded that if Matt were to walk home from the bar, he would cut through a park along the way. Carolina's Bar is situated under a highway overpass with a dimly lit parking lot along railroad tracks. Matt rented a room in a 10-person boarding house at 133 Essex Street about a half mile northeast of the bar. He had lived there just under a year and many of his house mates described Matt as happy-go-lucky, friendly and that he was very likable and got along well with others.

The search continued Wednesday when police, family and friends searched the downtown between Carolina's and his Essex Street apartment, as well as the shoreline of the Penebscot River. They also distributed fliers. Many people in Bangor recognized Matt as he was well known.

A close female friend of Matts who had also been with him Friday night at Carolina's and left before him said contrary to earlier reports, LaCrosse was wearing a navy-blue, long sleeved shirt on Friday, with blue jeans and sneakers.

A scent dog tracked Matt LaCrosse's scent from the bar to the State Street Bridge. About half way across the bridge, near a railing, the scent just stopped. The bridge overlooks the Kenduskeag Stream at the mouth of the Penebscot River. This finding led Maine Police dive team to search the mouth of the Kenduskeag Stream and Penebscot River with a boat equipped with special sonar. They found no sign of LaCrosse. Bangor Police Detective Sgt. Paul Kenison said, "there is no way to determine whether LaCrosse went into the stream, and if he did, whether he stumbled, was pushed or went in on his own accord." Police believed LaCrosse had fallen into the stream the night of Nov. 9.

After two months, the Bangor Daily News wrote an article stating that the investigation was still open, however no new evidence had been collected. Matt LaCrosse's brother-in-law stated "In all honesty, at this point we need to find my wife's brother's body. We need closure." The family had a difficult Christmas as Matt had purchased a gift for his sister Brandie which was delivered. He went on to add the Bangor Police Department has done just an outstanding job.

Recovery
On Friday, March 8, 2008, the body of Matt LaCrosse was pulled from the Penebscot River in Stockton Springs, nearly 27 miles downstream from Bangor. The following Sunday, an autopsy was completed and the presumed cause of death was accidental drowning.

A visitation and celebration of Matthew "Matty" Joseph LaCrosse was held on Friday, April 4, 2008. His parents Albert J. and Ellen L. of Carmel, Maine were at the visitation along with many family and friends that was held from 5-8 p.m.

Facts of Interest
Name/age: Matthew LaCrosse, 25
Hometown: Bangor, ME
Residence: 133 Essex Street, Bangor, ME
Physical Description: 6'0", 250 pounds, brown hair, last seen wearing a green thermal shirt and blue jeans.
Last Seen: 11/9/07, Carolina's Sports and Spirits, 16 Union Street, Bangor, ME
Recovered: 3/8/08, Penebscot River, Stockton Springs, ME


Posted 9/25/09

10/31/02: Chris Jenkins, 21, Minneapolis, MN

"I wish everyday I could go back to that naive place in the world where life was so simple. Where people were inherently good, where the sun shined just a bit brighter. It's not simple. There are really bad people out there and they do really bad things."

- Sara Jenkins, sister of Chris Jenkins

When University of Minnesota student Christopher Jenkins disappeared and his body was found in the Mississippi River, his parents, Jan and Steve Jenkins, embarked on a journey of remarkable courage to seek answers and justice. Through their perseverance, the family was able to uncover clues indicating that Chris may have been abducted and murdered. His official cause of death has been reclassified from accidental drowning to homicide. Charges have yet to be filed in his death.

After a 6 p.m. keg party at his home, Chris Jenkins, his girlfriend, Ashley Rice, and a few friends headed over to the Lone Tree Bar & Grill at 528 Hennepin Avenue in downtown Minneapolis. The group arrived at the bar between 10:30 and 11:00 p.m. and parked the car just south of the bar. Sometime around midnight, Chris Jenkins was reportedly kicked out of the the bar. Witnesses said the head of Lone Tree security instructed staff not to allow Chris back into the bar, despite the 20-degree weather outside. Wearing only his American Indian costume--a brown nylon shirt and pants, slip-shoes, and a headband with a red feather--he was put out on the street. He did not have a coat, and his wallet, cell phone, and keys were inside with his friends.

It was the last time he was seen alive.

After little progress was made by local authorities in finding their son, Jan and Steve Jenkins decided to take matters into their own hands. A possible tip indicated that Chris may have been spotted walking north across the Hennepin Avenue bridge over the Mississippi River. The Jenkinses were able to find surveillance footage of the bridge and have it reviewed.

 "There were two surveillance cameras on the Federal Reserve Bank pointing to the Hennepin Avenue Bridge," says Jan. "This was post 9-11, clearly good equipment. We have written documentation from the supervisor that more than one person viewed the tapes from both cameras late on the 31st and early on November 1. Chris was not seen on the tape. We do not believe Chris walked across that bridge. The supervisor told the FBI that it would be almost impossible for a person to sprint across that bridge and not be seen."

They also hired a private investigator, Chuck Loesch. Loesch found witnesses who reported that a gang of at least 10 men had attacked a man in front of Times Square Pizza (across the street from the bar), in what was thought to be a gang initiation. Although, the time of the incident has not been confirmed--it could have been around the time Chris left the bar.

Two bloodhounds with different handlers were also brought in by the Jenkins family on two separate occasions. Both dogs picked up Chris's scent on the sidewalk in front of the pizza joint where witnesses reported seeing the fight. Both dogs followed the scent into the parking garage next to the pizza joint. And both dogs followed the scent right to the same parking stall. Later, blood drops and a red feather, possibly from Chris's Native American costume, were reportedly found inside the garage.

Recovery and Investigation

Almost four months later, Chris’s body was found snagged on some tree branches in the Mississippi River in downtown Minneapolis. The body was on the east side of the river near the spillway of the St. Anthony Falls Hydroelectrical Laboratory at 30 SE 3rd Street. (See Map.) It could be seen from the 3rd Avenue bridge, floating on its back with its arms in front.

Police initially believed Chris either committed suicide or died accidentally after falling into water. But all those who knew Chris felt differently. Chris was a star athlete--a two-time team captain of his lacrosse team. He was set to graduate with stellar grades from the university's prestigious Carlson School of Management, and had job interviews lined up. He was happy, easy going, very responsible, and he had plans for the future.

The Jenkins family consulted with numerous experts, including global experts in water rescue and recovery, renowned forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Baden, and even reviewed their own son's autopsy photos. They learned that the appearance of Chris's body did not fit with the suicide or accident theories held by the police. Most drowning victims are found face down with their arms out toward their sides, their clothing disheveled, and one or both of their shoes missing. This is because one's natural reaction when drowning is to vigorously paddle the feet and arms and swim. Chris's body was found on it's back, arms crossed in front, his shirt tucked in to his drawstring pants and still wearing both over sized slip-on shoes. He also still had on a necklace, a ring on the left index finger and a ring on the right ring finger.

Case reopened, death reclassified as homicide

When a new police chief, Tim Dolan, was hired for the city of Minneapolis, the Jenkins family brought him the leads uncovered by their private investigator and the new evidence they had found. The chief agreed that the case had not been thoroughly investigated. In 2006, Dolan reopened the case.

That same year, an eyewitness to crime (someone in jail and reportedly facing felony charges for another crime) stepped forward to claim he was present when Chris was thrown off a bridge. The inmate told investigators that his acquaintance, after robbing Chris and finding nothing of value, became angry and threw him off the Hennepin Avenue bridge. It is not known whether the eyewitness was involved in the crime, or only providing information to bargain for leniency, but the claim had other problems.

Photo credit: MN Department of Transportation

If a bridge was involved, Chuck Loesch believed, it could not have been the Hennepin Avenue bridge. The physical layout, which includes a steel beam and suspension cables, would have made it nearly impossible to throw someone over without injury. Jenkins was not found to have any broken bones, meaning that the killer would have had to lift a grown man over the high safety railing and throw him 4- to 5-feet out over the support beam, avoiding the vertical cables in the process. The bridge is brightly lit and has heavy traffic, and no one reported seeing anything unusual on the bridge that night. Cameras with a view of the bridge also did not capture anything suspicious, including Chris walking across the bridge.

Loesch, in fact, believes it unlikely that Chris was thrown from a bridge at all. Given the fall and the river's current, Chris's shoes would not have stayed on his feet.

But where Chris entered the water may be significant: If it was further upstream, it would point to a vehicle being involved in the crime. And Chris's family has said they have various reasons to believe Chris was "thrown in the back of a van - abducted, tortured, and eventually murdered."

In 2006, Chris's death was reclassified as a homicide. During a press conference, Chief Dolan offered the Jenkins family a public apology. But in July 2007, Hennepin County declined to press any charges in the case, citing lack of evidence. The case remains unsolved.

Chris's mother, Jan Jenkins, has written a book about the family's struggle for justice. For more information, check out http://www.legacyofcourage.com/.

Case Facts:
Name/age: Christopher Mark Jenkins, 21
Hometown: Eden Prairie, MN
Residence: Minneapolis, MN
College: University of Minnesota’s Carlson School of Management
Major: Marketing and entrepreneurial management
Physical description: athletic (goalie and co-captain of lacrosse team)
Recovered: 02/27/03 at 1650 hours in the Mississippi River near the Horseshoe Dam south of the Third Ave. Bridge just above St. Anthony Falls. Cause of death: Drowning.
Manner of death: reclassified as a homicide
Injuries: none visible
Blood Alcohol Content: 0.07 in deep tissue, .12 in heart
Water temperature: 33 F when found
Air temperature: 35 F when found