River Drowning“Serial Killer or Urban Legend”
This presentation will present all the facts and
similarities in the 7 cases of College age males
who have drowned in the La Crosse Area between
1997-2004
General Statistic for Drowning
1) Males account for 92% of
drowning victims ages 15-19.
2) Alcohol use is a major factor in
adult and adolescent drowning.
3) Incidents of drowning occur 3
times greater in rural areas.
4) In water temperature below 42
degrees life expectancy is less than
5 minutes
La Crosse Cases
1) Charles Blatz – Age 28, Missing 09/27/1997,
Recovered – 10/03/1997
2) Anthony Skifton- Age 19, Missing 10/05/1997
Recovered –10/10/1997
3) Nathan Kapfer – Age 20, Missing 02/22/1998
Recovered 04/04/1998
4) Jeffrey Geesey-Age 20, Missing 04/10/1999
Recovered May 24, 1999
5) Jarod Dion –Age 21, Missing 04/10/2004
Recovered April, 15, 2004
Two other cases Richard Hlavaty (July 1997), and Patrick Runigen
(March 2001).
Hlavaty/Runingen
Richard Hlavaty- Reported missing following a
witnessed altercation downtown, was chased into the
river by a group of people along with his brother.
Brother made it, Richard drowned. Autopsy was done
cause of death drowning/ Manner accident. BAC .27
Patrick Runingen- Reported missing after being seen
at the Nut Bush bar, was found in the river by the
French Island beach, physical evidence indicated that
subject had fallen through the ice. Autopsy was done
Cause of death drowning/ no signs of altercation or
trauma, Manner of death accident-Bac .240
Charles Blatz
1) Missing 09/27/1997- Water Temp 66 degrees
2) Recovered 10/03/1997 (7th St Boat Landing)
3) Autopsy done Milwaukee County ME
Findings: Consistent with drowning
No evidence of antemortem trauma
Postmortem Injuries
Toxicology- Alcohol .31
Cause of Death: Drowning
Manner: Accident
Anthony Skifton
Missing-10/05/1997, Leaving a Party/Case of beer. Water Temp 65
degrees
Recovered: Swift Creek, near Hood St bridge
Autopsy done MRCO- Dr Lindsey Thomas
Findings: Apparent Drowning
No injuries or other causes of death
Toxicology: Alcohol .23
Cause of Death: Drowning
Manner: Accident
Nathan Kapfer
1) Reported Missing- 02/22/1998, Water Temp 37 degrees
2) Recovered- Mississippi River, 4/4/1998
3) Autopsy Done-MRCO-Dr. Lindsey Thomas
Findings: Pulmonary Congestion
Watery gastric contents
Mastoid petrous ridge hemorrhage
No injuries of Trauma noted
Toxicology: Alcohol .22
Cause of death: Drowning
Manner: Undetermined
Jeffrey Geesey
1) Reported Missing- 4/10/1999, Water Temp 49
Degrees
2) Recovered- Running Slough –5/24/1999
3) Autopsy done-MRCO Hastings, Lindsey Thomas
Findings: Probable drowning
History of previous suicide attempts
scars of left arm from previous attempt
Toxicology- Alcohol .42
Jared Dion
1) Missing 4/10/2004, Water Temp 47 degrees
2) Recovered 4/15/2004, off riverside park
3) Autopsy done MRCO Lindsey Thomas
Findings: Cold water drowning
No injuries or trauma
4) Toxicology – Alcohol .27
Cause of death: Drowning
Manner: Pending
Commonalities
Into the Darkness Website
1) All Caucasian males between the ages of 18-27.
As stated in a previous slide males account for
92% of all drowning, in the demographic area
listed the largest population are Caucasian.
2) Lived in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana
or Chicago (the extended area surrounding Lake
Michigan from Minneapolis to Lansing Michigan)
These areas are all the areas with high population
of colleges students, near large bodies of water.
Commonalities Continued
3) All but one were students or had recently graduated.
Age group of 18-27, statistically the chances of
someone being a student or recent graduate would be
high.
4) Most were high achieving
What is “high achieving”, what are the standards,
and how would a “serial killer” know this?
5) Most were in good physical condition or were
athletes.
Chances are most of us were in “good physical
condition” when we were 18-27.
Commonalities Continued
6) Last seen out drinking with friends or at a party.
This one I will agree with, all the reports I have
read states subject was drinking.
7) Were under the influence of Alcohol.
Wouldn’t this one be explained by number 6
8) Became separated from friends they started the
evening with.
This too would be obvious, if they were with their
friends they would not have “disappeared”
Commonalities Continued
9) All disappeared between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 4
a.m.
Wouldn’t these hours correspond with bar times.
10) Were reported missing by friends or family
Who else would report you missing
11) The closed cases were all determined to be accidental
drowning, or suicide.
Not correct out of the 5 in La Crosse, 2 were
undetermined and 3 were accident. If there are no signs of
any foul play, these cases are not going to be ruled a
Homicide, which leaves only accident, suicide or
undetermined as manner of death.
Commonalities Continued
12) All but two of those found drowned were found in
Mississippi river, Red Cedar River, or Lake Michigan.
These would be the largest bodies of water
located near college communities.
13) All disappeared between the months of September
and April.
Would this not correlate with when school is in
session.
Serial Killer
1) There are no physical injuries or trauma to the bodies,
cause of death is drowning, autopsy shows that they were
alive prior to entering the water.
2) There is no evidence of robbery, sexual assault, no motive.
3) Homicide by drowning is rare (less then 5%)
4) No reported attempts from “victims’ who have escaped
even the most prolific serial killer does not have a 100%
success rate.
Conclusions
After completion and review of all these tragic cases it is the
opinion of the La Crosse County Medical Examiner, that
these deaths are due to several factors, with those being
the following:
1) Alcohol use by all the victims, out of these 5 victims, only
2 were of legal drinking age. They all had at least 2 times
the legal limit, with one being 4 times the limit.
2) Depression in at least 2 cases
3) Poor or unsafe design of the levy, allowing unsafe access
to the river.
4) Lack of enforcement of existing ordinances
Personal Solutions
1) Personal Responsibility
2) Avoid excessive alcohol
consumption
3) Stay with your friends
4) Be familiar with your surroundings
Other Solutions
1) Fence along Levy to prevent someone from falling
in.
2) Cameras in the park for monitoring activity
3) Enforcement of park hours (closed from 11 p.m. to
7 a.m.)
4) Enforcement of all liquor laws
Is There a “Serial Killer”
Yes I believe all the evidence suggests that there is a
KILLER amongst us.. And these men are dying at
the Killer hands along with Thousands of other
victims every year, and that Killer has a Name, his
name is Al Cohol.
Thank you for your time and consideration.