Good job. It's good to see others that can put the pieces together. I have a list of over 200 similar cases already. It's been just about 20 years of this phenomenon.
Thanks. These disappearances and drownings fascinate, anger, and terrify me all at the same time. They fascinate me because so many, including LE, are quick to dismiss many of them as "accidental" and a result of alcohol when there are indications to suggest otherwise. They anger me for much of the same reason, but also because there is an obvious connection and distinct victim profile, but yet again, they are ruled accidental. They terrify me because I truly believe in many--not all---of these cases--something more sinister than simply falling into a body of water (which is sometimes and inches or feet deep) and drowning and whatever is happening has obviously been able to go on for decades now.
I'd really love to organize my thoughts on this cases, as I have read extensively about these drownings, but it just seems like a massive undertaking.
I will offer this:
If these are all accidents and it is so common apparently for young, athletic, good looking, intelligent mostly white men to get so drunk that they lose their sense of direction and fall into bodies of water, how come it wasn't happening in mass numbers before 1997 when it seems this truly started? Also, why isn't is happening in a much more widespread geographical area? There are cities all across the country that have bar districts/college campuses on bodies of water, yet these types of disappearances and drownings are happening in very specific geographical locations. Also, in all these cases (and you are correct, there are over 200 of them) are you trying to tell me that NOBODY witnessed these "drunk" guys stumbling into the river/lakes OR really witnessed them at all after they seem to vanish, despite many of these disappearances happening in major downtown areas?
Also,
*Many of the victims were not even drunk at the time of their disappearance
*Often time cell phones, wallets, or other personal property is found in the opposite direction of where the body is located. Cell phones particular seem to go missing, and many victims made calls right the night they disappeared, a few stating they were being followed and/or lost.
*Bodies often appear in bodies of water/areas that were searched thoroughly already. In many cases, they body was not in the water as long as the person was missing according to LE.
*There are often connections between victims with names, locations, etc...
*We know that a few textbook examples of these disappearances (Patrick McNeil, Chris Jenkins, Todd Geib for example) WERE ruled homicides or non-accidental drownings ONLY after parents pressured LE and/or hired their own investigators.
While I do know if I buy the Smiley Face Killer theory, I do believe something sinister is going on in many of these cases. After reading about and researching over a hundred of these cases and seeing the connections come crystal clear, I will never just buy that ALL these are young guys getting drunk and accidentally drowning.