Found Deceased PA - Dakota James, 23, Pittsburgh, 25 Jan 2017 #1

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There still are no (detailed) reports regarding what co-worker(s) may have said regarding that evening. I find this unusual because news media loves that type of reporting.

Have any of DJ's co-workers who attended that evening been instructed to stay silent or not reveal information? The information that was released regarding what DJ was supposed to have been wearing that evening turned out to be incorrect (specifically: jacket and shirt info). Could it be information obtained from co-workers was insignificant or considered unreliable (who was and wasn't 'intoxicated')?
 
Have roofs in the area been checked?

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ChuckMaureen said:
There still are no (detailed) reports regarding what co-worker(s) may have said regarding that evening. I find this unusual because news media loves that type of reporting.

Have any of DJ's co-workers who attended that evening been instructed to stay silent or not reveal information? The information that was released regarding what DJ was supposed to have been wearing that evening turned out to be incorrect (specifically: jacket and shirt info). Could it be information obtained from co-workers was insignificant or considered unreliable (who was and wasn't 'intoxicated')?
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I wondered about this as well. I thought perhaps the employer instructed the employee to remain silent. And if that's the case, someone should say so. A statement such as "the co-worker has declined to comment on the advice of the employer" would suffice and would remove a layer of mystery from this stuff.

I also wonder what his standing was at Duquesne University. And if they have investigated that angle of things, they likely could not release that information as well.

Lastly, has anyone reached out to the mother from this site to refer her to it for information? I find the analysis and speculation on this site to be much more informed and useful than the comments I see on social media threads.

Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
 
ChuckMaureen said:
There still are no (detailed) reports regarding what co-worker(s) may have said regarding that evening. I find this unusual because news media loves that type of reporting.

Have any of DJ's co-workers who attended that evening been instructed to stay silent or not reveal information? The information that was released regarding what DJ was supposed to have been wearing that evening turned out to be incorrect (specifically: jacket and shirt info). Could it be information obtained from co-workers was insignificant or considered unreliable (who was and wasn't 'intoxicated')?
Click to expand...

The other obvious question is why were they even going out for happy hour on a Wednesday, especially what turned into a late night of drinking with a potential hookup around midnight? As a student with a full-time job, that doesn't make a lot of sense either. Were they celebrating something?
 
Following up on my earlier post about DJ potentially entering the door in the Scott/Baker's pass through to either access the garage or the apartment building.

The garage would have filmed the license plate of every car that left. LE would have those leads to follow up on.

The apartment building probably has cameras inside (stairwell, sky bridge, any entrance), and for more than $2,000/month for the cheapest unit, it better. At the very least, this could be ruled out as a possibility and maybe already has.

This got me thinking again about the dog's picking up the scent on the river bank. Is that the only spot they were drawn to? Obviously cadaver dogs wouldn't have picked up a decay scent had something happened at that spot that night. But, what if he did go into the apartment building. What if something happened in there either intentionally or accidentally? What if his body was kept there and taken to the river days or even weeks later?

I would hope LE would be watching tape from every day since DJ's been missing, not just that night.
 
 
Jmd9981 said:
Don't forget James Slack who went missing after a String Cheese Incident concert at Stage AE on the North Shore and was found in the Ohio river near the Carnegie Science Center.

http://www.websleuths.com/forums/showthread.php?157143-PA-James-Slack-25-Pittsburgh-7-Dec-2011
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"James Joseph Slack - 25, of Bridgeville was last heard from in the early morning hours of December 7, 2011 after a concert at Stage AE on the North Shore of Pittsburgh. He was found deceased on January 23, 2012 on the banks of the Ohio River near the Carnegie Science Center, not far from where he had disappeared. Rest in Peace, Jimmy."
 
I've been following this story and thread closely but this is my first time posting. I am impressed with the mature and intelligent discussion here, such a refreshing change!

I find it hard to believe that LE does not have Dakota on camera somewhere after Katz Plaza, no matter what route he took.

Speculating here but perhaps the statement about Dakota being seen near or on the bridge was true and that information was leaked to the media by "a guy that knows a guy".

I'd also like to add that although I am not from Pittsburgh (90 mins. east), I have been there many times for Steelers and Pirates games. I've been on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and it is literally a sidewalk a few feet above the river, no barriers. A person could easily end up in the water.

My thoughts are with Dakota's friends and family, and I pray they have some answers soon.




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If you slip and fall into a river, what are the chances of drowning? It was warm on the 25th and the water temperature was above 40 degrees. I can't find a temperature gauge close to town but the nearest I found is on the Allegheny in Franklin, PA. The river was also running high and fast.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?...od=&begin_date=2017-01-24&end_date=2017-02-22

Here is an interesting article about falling into a body of water that is 41 degrees, very close to the temperature of the river that evening.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/airplane-1549-hudson-hypothermia/

Here is a video of people jumping into the river near the point on Ohio River in the middle of winter. Note they aren't being whisked away...

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/12/11/seventh-annual-polar-plunge/

Looks like Allegheny was running at about 6 feet(Franklin, PA) at the time of the polar plunge Dec 11 and around 8 feet on Jan 25.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?...od=&begin_date=2016-12-11&end_date=2017-02-22
 
pa_chick said:
I've been following this story and thread closely but this is my first time posting. I am impressed with the mature and intelligent discussion here, such a refreshing change!

I find it hard to believe that LE does not have Dakota on camera somewhere after Katz Plaza, no matter what route he took.

Speculating here but perhaps the statement about Dakota being seen near or on the bridge was true and that information was leaked to the media by "a guy that knows a guy".

I'd also like to add that although I am not from Pittsburgh (90 mins. east), I have been there many times for Steelers and Pirates games. I've been on the Three Rivers Heritage Trail and it is literally a sidewalk a few feet above the river, no barriers. A person could easily end up in the water.

My thoughts are with Dakota's friends and family, and I pray they have some answers soon.




Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Welcome to Websleuths, pa_chick! I agree websleuths is a great community!!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
 
Jmd9981 said:
If you slip and fall into a river, what are the chances of drowning? It was warm on the 25th and the water temperature was above 40 degrees. I can't find a temperature gauge close to town but the nearest I found is on the Allegheny in Franklin, PA. The river was also running high and fast.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?...od=&begin_date=2017-01-24&end_date=2017-02-22

Here is an interesting article about falling into a body of water that is 41 degrees, very close to the temperature of the river that evening.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/airplane-1549-hudson-hypothermia/

Here is a video of people jumping into the river near the point on Ohio River in the middle of winter. Note they aren't being whisked away...

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/12/11/seventh-annual-polar-plunge/

Looks like Allegheny was running at about 6 feet(Franklin, PA) at the time of the polar plunge Dec 11 and around 8 feet on Jan 25.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?...od=&begin_date=2016-12-11&end_date=2017-02-22
Click to expand...
I think if you were asked to leave a bar then the chances are somewhat higher. Imho

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Jmd9981 said:
If you slip and fall into a river, what are the chances of drowning? It was warm on the 25th and the water temperature was above 40 degrees. I can't find a temperature gauge close to town but the nearest I found is on the Allegheny in Franklin, PA. The river was also running high and fast.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?...od=&begin_date=2017-01-24&end_date=2017-02-22

Here is an interesting article about falling into a body of water that is 41 degrees, very close to the temperature of the river that evening.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/airplane-1549-hudson-hypothermia/

Here is a video of people jumping into the river near the point on Ohio River in the middle of winter. Note they aren't being whisked away...

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2016/12/11/seventh-annual-polar-plunge/

Looks like Allegheny was running at about 6 feet(Franklin, PA) at the time of the polar plunge Dec 11 and around 8 feet on Jan 25.

https://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?...od=&begin_date=2016-12-11&end_date=2017-02-22
Click to expand...

Hey, I'm in that polar polar plunge video! Wooo. But seriously, someone would be lucky if they ended up in the river at that exact spot. It's a somewhat small portion of bank along the rivers without a sheer edge. Trying to get out of the water in most other parts of the river would be like trying to climb out of a half filled pool with no ladder. IMO.


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The parts of the riverway that I walked are steep along the edge. It would be very hard to get up out of because it's a vertical climb. One part on the North Shore between the two bridges had a slanted entry with rocks, so in theory it might be easier to get out there.

I have always heard, all my life, that that river has a bad under current. If you do fall in under the best circumstances, it could be dangerous. Particularly if it happens at night, when you might be disoriented, or when you might have had too much to drink.

I stand by what I said a few posts ago. There are plenty of entries that are not protected. Particularly down by the stadium on the North Shore.

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Trying to climb out of a body of water with a current, at night, fully clothed (shoes and jacket alone would present a huge problem), possibly intoxicated, and in a state of shock from the cold water seems like a nearly impossible task for even the strongest swimmer.... IMHO


Central Pennsylvania
 
FB post from DJ's mother today. Maybe Grindr has been ruled out?

I'm angry because promises were made and I feel they were just blowing steam up my *advertiser censored* so I would keep quiet. I've tried that method and it hasn't gotten me far.
I've watched you do water searches and see you stand around in your tight little groups and talk but not even look at the water. How's that working for you? I saw you put in your sonar machine and put a diver in the water. Did it really take all of you to stand on the side and watch someone else work? Shouldn't at least some of you been walking the streets and asking more information about cameras or talking with people instead of talking your BS and making jokes and smiling while my son is still missing? Why is it that searchers off the street are getting more information from detectives than the family? It's funny I had to find out from a stranger that you had already ruled out a major app on my sons phone. Really, what did you find? Because that communication that was promised sure isn't happening! Where are you Mayor? Where are any of the officials that said that they would help me? I could go in about the f'd up parts about this case but I'll get my *advertiser censored* chewed out again for bringing to light the lack of help we are receiving. Why not just ask for help? If you can't help me, let someone else come in and look into these cases in Pittsburgh.
 
BA1973 said:
FB post from DJ's mother today. Maybe Grindr has been ruled out?

I'm angry because promises were made and I feel they were just blowing steam up my *advertiser censored* so I would keep quiet. I've tried that method and it hasn't gotten me far.
I've watched you do water searches and see you stand around in your tight little groups and talk but not even look at the water. How's that working for you? I saw you put in your sonar machine and put a diver in the water. Did it really take all of you to stand on the side and watch someone else work? Shouldn't at least some of you been walking the streets and asking more information about cameras or talking with people instead of talking your BS and making jokes and smiling while my son is still missing? Why is it that searchers off the street are getting more information from detectives than the family? It's funny I had to find out from a stranger that you had already ruled out a major app on my sons phone. Really, what did you find? Because that communication that was promised sure isn't happening! Where are you Mayor? Where are any of the officials that said that they would help me? I could go in about the f'd up parts about this case but I'll get my *advertiser censored* chewed out again for bringing to light the lack of help we are receiving. Why not just ask for help? If you can't help me, let someone else come in and look into these cases in Pittsburgh.
Click to expand...
I can understand her being upset that more isn't being done. Last week they sent out a boat when something suspicious was floating in the water. Sometimes I think that may be the river searching is like looking for a needle in a haystack, although some previous disappearances ended up found in West Virginia.

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Others on this forum discussed the idea of DJ perhaps trying to hit up another bar before returning home. It turns out there is a bar with a door right next to the camera he was spotted on at Katz Plaza. Backstage Bar, which closes at midnight on Wednesdays as per Google. It's hard to tell from the camera angle, but DJ could have been heading straight for it. If not, then he would have been spotted on the parking garage entrance/exit camera immediately after the Katz camera.

Authorities did say he was spotted at least one more time, right? They just haven't said where.
 
BA1973 said:
FB post from DJ's mother today. Maybe Grindr has been ruled out?

I'm angry because promises were made and I feel they were just blowing steam up my *advertiser censored* so I would keep quiet. I've tried that method and it hasn't gotten me far.
I've watched you do water searches and see you stand around in your tight little groups and talk but not even look at the water. How's that working for you? I saw you put in your sonar machine and put a diver in the water. Did it really take all of you to stand on the side and watch someone else work? Shouldn't at least some of you been walking the streets and asking more information about cameras or talking with people instead of talking your BS and making jokes and smiling while my son is still missing? Why is it that searchers off the street are getting more information from detectives than the family? It's funny I had to find out from a stranger that you had already ruled out a major app on my sons phone. Really, what did you find? Because that communication that was promised sure isn't happening! Where are you Mayor? Where are any of the officials that said that they would help me? I could go in about the f'd up parts about this case but I'll get my *advertiser censored* chewed out again for bringing to light the lack of help we are receiving. Why not just ask for help? If you can't help me, let someone else come in and look into these cases in Pittsburgh.
Click to expand...

The pain of missing a loved one, the frustration of days and days passing by without finding a clue, the desperation that envelopes one's being when one's torn between not giving up and attempting to feel 'normal'... all understandable and heartbreaking emotions, but at the point when those feelings morph and merge in to an anger directed at agencies who have helped and continue to help in ways in which they are trained to do so does not encourage their cooperation

Even 'professionals' exhibit human emotions and when someone beats up on them there is the possibility they might shut down or shift focus to any of many other cases in which they must address in their job.

It is difficult for loved ones to remain polite and humble in such circumstances, and I hope the professionals involved in this case maintain their professionalism while still maintaining their human compassion and understand there is a mother fighting back against the likely reality she has lost a son and her release of anger is a mixture of wanting 'something done now' and a survival technique.

I also hope the professionals shift from the typical play book and expand the communication channel to the family: keep them informed, show them all video in your possession that shows DJ and help put their mind at ease that you are doing all you can... if your are, indeed, doing all you can.
 
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