Throughout this thread there has been mention of, parahrasing, "so many college-aged men in Pittsburgh end up in the river" and "Smiley Face Killer" or "serial killer" or " meet-up gone wrong" and yet, no one as of yet has provided a list of names who ended up in a Pittsburgh river that coincide with the claims and presented explicit evidence to support the suggestions.
Who are these mysterious killers who seem to evade surveillance cameras, eyewitnesses and leave behind no evidence or clues?
A most recent case similar to DJ's is that of Paul Kochu. PK had been out with friends drinking, to the degree where emotions (as per roommates) set in later in the evening. PK left his friends in the bar and returned home. He later injured his hand on a broken glass and contacted his friends at the bar asking for assistance. The friends arrived to home and that is when they experienced PK was "emotional". The friends then left and returned to the bar. Sometime afterward, PK took his keys and wallet and left the house. He was reported as "missing". PK is later seen on surveillance video walking haphazardly toward the general direction of the 10th Street Bridge, which crosses the Monongahela River. PK's
father believed that Paul may have been heading toward Duquesne University to see his cousin (who was living in the dormitories there). Based on the direction he was seen traveling in the video, his father also suggested that he may have been heading toward UPMC Mercy Hospital (also in the same direction, one block east of DU). To get to DU or UMPC, PK would have had to have crossed the 10th Street Bridge (crosses the Monongahela River). The Three Rivers Heritage Trail also runs under that bridge along the river. Three months later his body was found in the Ohio River in WV. COD: drowning. No evidence of foul play was found. It was never suggested nor any evidence found that would indicate that PK had used a "social app" the evening he went missing.
Occam's Razor: in essence, the simplest or most obvious explanation is the most likely scenario.
Both men had been drinking, to a degree where it presented a problem for them: PK was emotional and was seen on video staggering. DJ had been refused further drinks and exhibited behavior ("ate someone else's pizza", assumed implication he wasn't invited to do so or the behavior was unexpected, why else mention it) after having bar-hopped throughout the evening.
Both men were walking in the direction of a bridge. Both men were inebriated (with all due respect to DJ's mother, when a bartender refuses to serve a drink the customer is likely exhibiting behavior that would suggest the person should not have more alcohol).
Regarding surveillance video of DJ: we do not *know without doubt* that LE does not have in their possession video of DJ approaching, near or on the bridge. LE has claimed the last image of DJ they have shows him on Scott Place. Mayor Peduto stated, "it ends at that bridge", regarding where DJ is last seen.
DJ's body was found, with his wallet, some cash and his phone still in his pockets. We can safely assume to rule out a robbery attempt.
After a prolonged evening of drinking, it would not be unusual to assume DJ could want to walk to the river's edge and relieve himself. DJ's brother believes otherwise. Well, DJ had been living in Pittsburgh since August 2015. That's a long enough time living in an away-from-home environment to pick up routines and habits that might be different than what would be considered as "typical" by family or friends 'back home'.
I am not ruling out foul play at this point, but to date nothing has been reported that would suggest it.
