ANOTHER LAX College Kid ends up in RIver

I agree with you on this one slop. There have been too many of these “situations” happening mostly in the winter for them all to be accidents. I hope they can figure this out.

Bassman

Wouldn’t a few security cameras down by the river help out in a case like this??? Maybe this should have been done a few years back. It doesn’t seem like it would take much to get this done.

I heard this on the news last night. After reading the article in the paper, this one just doesn’t add up. If this kid had been in the water for 15 minutes and swimming in this cold water, I highly doubt he would have come out alive. I do believe there is something going on about all the other guys that have drowned, but this one sounds almost “staged”. I am sure we will find more out in time. My .02

I can guarantee you this wasn’t staged. I have some close friends to this family and there is still a lot of details that haven’t come out yet….

I’m just gonna sit back and see what comes of this…but something isn’t right.

That is another thing, this happened this past weekend? Why did the police not let this information out earlier? It seems to me that maybe they are trying to hide that maybe we do have something more than just drunk kids “falling” in the river. I too am curious about the rest of the story, because I also agree that there is more to it than what we have heard so far.

I’ve been over .20 plenty of times in my day and have never had an urge to jump into the river, especially at 30 degrees.

I’m going to give my theory here. Anyone who knows the LAX area knows that if you leave the bar scene, Riverside park is the nearest access to water. If what we’ve heard is true, and he pulled himself out near Gunderson Lutheran Hospital, then there is no way he fell in at Riverside Park. Gunderson is nearly down by the 7th St. Landing. With the Cold water temps, there is no way he could’ve made it a mile down river, then down the back slough that runs by Gunderson.

My theory is that he ended up by the bridge at the north end of Houska Park where the slough off the main channel begins..He then would’ve been close enough to see Gunderson Hospital as the report states.

So this begs the question? How does he get lost from his friends, walk nearly 2 miles the wrong direction, lose his shoes, cell phone, jacket, money, and end up in the river???? Did we mention they haven’t found his truck yet either?

His blood alcohol was over twice the legal limit of .80. I’m not saying that this would be enough for him to black out but alcohol does effect everyone differently. He may not have been a seasoned drinker which might be why he doesn’t remember.

The authorities have been searching the river down here at Dubuque for over a month now for a young man who just disappeared after a night of drinking in East Dubuque so this sort of thing isn’t isolated to the LAX area. The dogs they are using led them to the river but after weeks of seaching they still have not turned up a body.

Eyehunter

I agree with you Slop! And it’s not just the Lax area either. It’s happened up here in Eau Claire and even over in the Twin Cities area. The cops think it’s just guys going out and getting drunk and falling into the river! Why is it just college GUYS? There have been too many of them to be just accidents now! Anyone can see there’s a pattern here…or am I the only one?

If something seems strange about the story, here’s my theory as to why: a kid got drunk, did something stupid, and now he’s having trouble keeping his story straight.

Here’s my theory on the identity of the River-Pushing Killer: the spirit of Charles Darwin roams the banks of rivers everywhere. Don’t get filthy drunk and wander around the river alone at night or he might get you. (Just so people don’t misunderstand me I should mention that I definitely don’t have a problem with getting filthy drunk)

Just my opinions. You got a copy of the email mentioned in the Tribune article, Slop?

John

How did he know he had lost $20. Everytime I am in that drunk, I have no idea how much money I have in my pockets. I think maybe it gets stolen

Seriously, this does seem a little scary. With the loss of his truck, are they sure he did not go Dukes of Hazzard off a bridge somewhere, or are they thinking it was stolen? Seems like there are a few too many questions out there right now.

Glad to here the kid is alright. I think this story will continue to play out, but we may never know the real story.

One more thing. Slop, you mentioned that they haven’t found his truck. The Tribune article says he reported taking a cab to the bars…

The kid goes to school in Madison and isn’t a “seasoned” drinker???

I have the email yes, but I don’t feel I should post it.

You are correct about the Cab, but it still doesn’t explain his truck missing either Just more pieces to this 8 year puzzle.

Like I said, i’m just gonna sit back and wait for the “facts” to be published in the news

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How did he know he had lost $20. Everytime I am in that drunk, I have no idea how much money I have in my pockets. I think maybe it gets stolen

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Man, if I had even half the money that has been stolen from me at the bars I’d be able to retire!

How many college kids fell in drunk from 1970-1990? Sure doesn’t seem like many. the other thing is how most (though I haven’t kept an evidence file or anything), it always seems like they take out their wallet, take off their hat and shoes, etc. I mean who’s taking off anythign to “fall in” to the river?

I’m not sure you’ll get anymore “FACTS” from this case!

“This case highlights the need for continued work by the Alcohol Task Force, which was organized to seek ways to reduce excessive drinking in the area, Kondracki said.

“The Alcohol Task Force initially came out with ordinance recommendations, but we now have a good number of recommendations that go beyond ordinances,” he said. “They go to address education, (alcohol and other drug abuse) issues and public safety in general.”

Sounds like they know what happened in this case!

Sounds like a job for Mulder and Scully.

Why would they admit anything different to the public even if they believed it? Would basically bring about a bit of panic, and look at some of the responses already at this site. Most act like it is out of the realm of possibility.

I can see someone drunk walking down the the river and falling in. But, I don;t see anyone heading down there and taking of their shoes, hat, wallet, etc. that has been found on the shore in most of these cases.

I got my BA at Winona State, and lived there for seven years. I also spent a fair amount of time on Third Street in LAX. It seems a little strange that this many male college students have turned up in the river dead, but I am not certain foul play is to blame.

I lived in Winona when the rumors about a serial killer started up, and I remember thinking then and now that (a) there was more than one night where I found myself swimming on the beach at Latsh Island in Winona at three a.m. after the bars closed, and walked around the river in LAX after the bars closed, and that (b) I did this even after a girl I knew drowned on Latsch Island swimming after a night in the bars (there were other people with her, and foul play was definitely not involved). In short, drunk college guys like I was are going to do stupid things when alcohol is involved, and the presence of water will make the likelihood of a bad outcome more likely . I need to see some hard evidence before I believe that a serial killer(s) is at work in Lacrosse.

There were also a few nights when I couldn’t remember how I got home, how I got where I woke up, or where my money went, but I never suspected foul play. Now, off to my Thursday AA meeting.

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I have the email yes, but I don’t feel I should post it.

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I bet it is the same e-mail that went around our office here like a wild fire yesterday!

Something is very fishy

I’m sure thats’ true…but how many times did you try swimming after drinking during the winter time? It seems alot of these have happened during this time of year! I know I’ve had a few in my time as well, but never had the urge to take a dip in the river or lake during late fall/winter/early spring! And especially alone! A dare is one thing…other people are around and you want to be cool, but no one was around! (Supposedly)

I agree with Slop Bass. I know the people in La Crosse, and have heard more of the story than has been released. It doesn’t sound like the usual drunk kid. There are reasons the Police and task force are not releasing more info, but I won’t give any details. Let’s hope this is all resolved.

I AGREE ABOUT THE FOUL PLAY,(NOTHING TO IT) I MYSELF GREW UP HERE IN LACROSSE AND THE DRINKING AGE WAS 18 THEN AND WE TOOK GOOD ADVANTAGE OF IT , ONE THING I SEE THAT IS DIFFERENT IS THAT WE WERE ALL WAYS RESPONSIABLE FOR OUR ACTIONS AND OUR PARENTS SHOWED US WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN YOU ARE STUPID AND PUNISHED US WHEN WE DID SOMETHING DUMB AND LIFE THREATING. THE RIVER HAS BEEN HERE FOR EVER AND NOW WITH THESE UNPUNISHABLE KIDS HERE WE HAVE A PROBLEM? CAMERAS ON THE SHORELINE?, FENCE OFF THE RIVER?,HAVE MORE COPS DOWN BY THE RIVER AT BAR TIME? COME ON IT’S ALLWAYS SOMEONE ELSE’S FAULT MY KID WENT SWIMING WHEN HE WAS DRUNK, EVEN IF I WAS DRUNK AND WAS GOING FOR A SWIM (WHICH HAPPENED QUITE A FEW TIMES)I WOULD TAKE MY HAT OFF, WALLET OUT, SHOES OFF ECT. I’M NOT SAYING THAT THIS KID WENT SWIMMING THIS TIME OF YEAR, BUT HE COULD HAVE SLIPPED ON THE ICE, BROKE THE ICE OR WHAT EVER BUT I REALLY DON’T THINK WE HAVE A KILLER AROUND UNLESS YOU CALL BEING DUMB A KILLER.

JUST MY .02 TAKE IT AS YOU MAY

Weren’t some of the other drownings at cold times of the year as well?

I’m not saying it’s a killer, who knows, but there is an awful lot of wierd coincidences to just brush under the rug.

I’M NOT SAYING TO BRUSH IT UNDER THE RUG, BUT I THINK A KILLER HERE IS A LITTLE FAR FETCHED.

AS FOR THE THE OTHER ONE’S I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A COUPLE IN THE COLDER WEATHER BUT NOT THIS TIME OF YEAR(THE RIVER IS COVERED)A COUPLE IN THE SPRING WITH THE HIGH WATER(MAKES SENSE) BUT I DID SEE A REAL DUMB A$$ A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO OUT ON THE ICE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE CHANNEL JUST NORTH OF THE CASS ST BRIDGE TAKING PICTURES OF SOME EAGLES.

911 WAS CALLED AND PEOPLE WERE HOLLERING AT HIM, HE MADE IT TO THE PETTIBONE BEACH WHERE A OFFICER HAD A TALK WITH HIM.

TO ME, I SEE ALOT MORE DUMB THINGS BEING DONE THAN IN THE PAST,MAYBE I’M JUST GETTIN SMARTER (HA HA, BRAIN CELLS DO NOT GROW BACK).

So GARVI, let me ask you this…If you’re out drinking and someone finds you dead in the street or alley, should the cops just consider you DUMB because you were drunk and didn’t listen to your parents about being out late and not investigate? How about if this happened for several times over the years…should they just say it was because they were drunk and didn’t listen to mom and dad?

I’m not saying there is a serial killer out there, but no one exactly knows what is happening. But to blame it on Unpunished kids is a little far fetched.

Just my .02 worth!

Well this happened to a kid in when I was in college a couple years ago. This kid happened to be a very good friend of mine. I think it is funny reading some of the assumptions. The Unpunished children one caught my eye because the opposite assumption was made when my friend went missing and we found his stuff by the river. The rumor was that his parents were too strict and was afraid of what they were going to do to him because he received an underage at the bar that night so that is why he did it.

I guess my point is there were a lot of unanswered questions when this happened to my friend and there are a lot of ones here and no committee is going to solve this problem because regardless of what rules went into place bartenders are not going to cut someone off once they hit .8 or .16 for that matter.

I am currently a student at winona state. Personally i don’t know anyone who heads down to the river after a night of drinking. In my 4 years i’ve never ventured down to the river after a night out, maybe because Hardees is always calling my name. Even when completely trashed you still have a sense of direction. One thing to keep in mind is that alcohol is not always the only drug involved. Marijuana, pain killers, and many other drugs are also added into the mix of the alcohol. I’m not saying that this is involved in this case, but its something to keep in mind.

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I guess my point is there were a lot of unanswered questions when this happened to my friend and there are a lot of ones here and no committee is going to solve this problem because regardless of what rules went into place bartenders are not going to cut someone off once they hit .8 or .16 for that matter.

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I would hope if they were .8 the bartender would cut them off, if they were still alive at that point.

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I would hope if they were .8 the bartender would cut them off, if they were still alive at that point.

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I personally have worked at a College Bar when I went to school (Red Carpet at St. Cloud). On a Saturday night in a busy town, they have all they can do to serve people, and cannot take the time to check if anyone if over .08. I agree it is the bartenders responsibility, but to ask them to check 300 people a night, is unrealistic. And most people will order 10 drinks at a time, especially as the night rolls on, so how do you check every one of their friends?

I hope it all comes down to young people, drinking to excess, and doing dumb things, and not a “serial killer”, but I am leaning on just plain stupidity.

Don’t mean to start any arguments, just my .02.