What do you think about the "serial killer" theory in Eau Claire and La Crosse?

[mpaul54701]

Very interesting, I have never heard the serial killer theory before I read this post. I suppose it's possible.

The part about one of the victims calling a friend, terrified, while hiding from "the killer" gives me chills. Wonder if it's true.

2 of the drownings in Eau Claire were in Half Moon Lake -- which is not part of the river and has no current to wash you away!

I'm no FBI agent, but I would think that clues found at one crime scene leading to another would tend to indicate that they are connected. The fact that the Eau Claire Police dept would not comment one way or another also doesn't help dispel the rumor.

Thanks for the links.

[ndheah]

Concerned...since I'm 21, white, college, go to bars...

[everwinter]

I think it's a serial killer or some sort of gang who's possibly drugging these kids at a bar. No way 40 people all with the same background coincedentally happen to just fall into a river.
Not when they have all this in common
1) ALL 40+ are male
2) ALL 40+ between the ages of 17 and 28
3) Vast majority are Caucasian
4) Almost all of the 40+ were college students
5) Almost all had been drinking
6) ALL of the 40+ dead were out on the town, for a social occasion
7) Almost all left friends/family and ventured out alone
8) Almost all went missing during the months when college classes were in session
9) ALL of the 40+ went missing during the late night hours
10) ALL, who have been found, were found in or very near bodies of water
11) None, who have been found, had major trauma to their bodies (GSWs, cuts, abrasions, bruises)
12) None were robbed of anything obvious
13) Most of the autopsy reports show cause of death as "drowning"
14) None showed evidence of struggle, which should be apparent, in a "normal" drowning accident

Plus a mysterious smiley face shows up at 12 of the investigation sites.

I got the above info from this guys blog.
The Sope-Bocks

[Trabbz]

Originally Posted by everwinter

I think it's a serial killer or some sort of gang who's possibly drugging these kids at a bar. No way 40 people all with the same background coincedentally happen to just fall into a river.
Not when they have all this in common
1) ALL 40+ are male
2) ALL 40+ between the ages of 17 and 28
3) Vast majority are Caucasian
4) Almost all of the 40+ were college students
5) Almost all had been drinking
6) ALL of the 40+ dead were out on the town, for a social occasion
7) Almost all left friends/family and ventured out alone
8) Almost all went missing during the months when college classes were in session
9) ALL of the 40+ went missing during the late night hours
10) ALL, who have been found, were found in or very near bodies of water
11) None, who have been found, had major trauma to their bodies (GSWs, cuts, abrasions, bruises)
12) None were robbed of anything obvious
13) Most of the autopsy reports show cause of death as "drowning"
14) None showed evidence of struggle, which should be apparent, in a "normal" drowning accident

Plus a mysterious smiley face shows up at 12 of the investigation sites.

I got the above info from this guys blog.
The Sope-Bocks

Good point. Realistically I feel like most people who are idiot enough to get wasted and go for a late night swim in a swift river probably wouldn't be college educated. Hope that doesn't offend anyone, I didn't even finish college.

[KatWisc7]

Anything's possible, and that whole smiley face thing is really strange, so who knows?

[Hugin]

I don't think there's a serial killer, especially in light of the fact that police intercepted a completely wasted male college student on his way into the river about a year ago...their sense of direction must get completely skewed or something. The kid said he was heading home, which was in the opposite direction. I think it's a combination of testosterone, youth, stupidity and alcohol, not necessarily in that order.

[Geechie North]

wcco.com - Is A Serial Killer Stalking Students?

Here's another view of this troubling story. The patterns (especially time of month and victim profile) are abnormal.