Sad but certainly not unexpected in these circumstances. I hope the increase in CCTV will finally dispel the “smiley face killer” foolishness, and perhaps provide some insight into why intoxicated young men are drawn to the water.
That could well be the case.
At the same time, some aspects of the alleged Smiley Face cases seem strange. For example, I think the serial killer possibility could be dismissed more easily if the fact pattern was:
-
Heavily intoxicated young men are winding up in dead in water while attending parties along the shores of lakes and rivers. The parties tend to occur at picnic areas and unofficial drinking sites.
- Some of the parties feature alcohol mixed with night swims, towel snapping and "skinny dipping" with young ladies in varying degrees of un dress. All fun, but accidental drownings would not be surprising.
But.... the fact pattern behind some of the deaths seems to be:
- Intoxicated young men, some of whom are only moderately intoxicated and a number appear to used to alcohol and thus unlikely to be in a blind stupor even if truly intoxicated wind up dead in rivers etc.
- The men had no stated intention of swimming, going down to the shore to drink, or to frolic with young women etc. The modern bridges in the area tend to have high pedestrian guard rails.
- Some of the victims were athletic and thus less likely to slip from shore or bridges. And if slipping from the shore, more likely to know how to swim..... .