SMILEY FACE KILLERS UPDATE WITH KRISTI PIEHL

PART 1





PART 2





PART 3

PIEHL: Smiley Face - This is the day

From Investigative Reporter, Kristi Piehl

It's October 15th. This is the day the petitions were going to be delivered to the FBI.

More than 10,000 people signed petitions asking the FBI to launch a formal investigation into the drowning deaths of 40 men. As you know, there is a belief that the deaths are connected and perpetrated by people now known as "The Smiley Face Killers." Parents of several victims worked over the summer to collect the petitions.

So why aren't the petitions being delivered today? When this date was discussed, it was several months ago. It was before the troubling economic times and before election coverage dominated the local and national news.

The parents are going to wait to deliver these petitions to the FBI. They hope their delivery will create more public pressure for the FBI to take a look at the drownings. If the petition delivery is not front page news, they are concerned the petitions, that they worked so hard to gather, will not make the kind of impact they are hoping for.

I'll let you know when there is a new time table.....

PIEHL: Smiley Face: Petition Update

From Investigative Reporter, Kristi Piehl
The deadline is passed, but the petitions are still coming in. That's the word from Chris Jenkins' father, Steve.

I've blogged before that Bill Szostak, the father of a drowning victim, is trying to pressure the FBI to launch a formal investigation into the drownings of 40 men over the last decade. The calls by three Congressmen have not helped so Szostak believes the best way is the power of the public.

All summer, Szostak and Jenkins have gathered signatures for a petition that will be delivered to the FBI in October. Even though the deadline for the petition drive was Sept. 15, they are still accepting and soliciting petitions. Right now, they have more than 9000 signed petitions. Their goal is 10,000.

At the Chris Jenkin's 5K run and fundraiser in October, Chris' friends and family will be gathering more petition signatures.

As for the "Smiley Face Killer" investigation, there is still an active one by Bill Szostak with the assistance of Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte in Albany, NY. I'll keep you posted.....

PIEHL: Smiley Investigation: Advice From Parents

Many of the emails that I've received ask about the pattern of the drownings. The majority take place between September and April.

Police officials say this is because it's when schools are in session and college parties are in full swing.

The retired NY Detectives actively investigating the connection between the drownings and the Smiley Face Killers have a different explanation. They say the victims are killed or placed in the water in colder weather because fewer people would be outside to witness the crime. Because of the ice on the water, the Detectives say the killers know it will take months before the body is discovered. When the body is in the water longer, nearly all of the forensic evidence is washed away.

While there is disagreement about what happens to the men, we do know that these drownings continue to happen. Now that it is fall, parents of the young men who have drowned, tell me they fear that the pattern will begin again. There are ways to keep your sons and brothers safe. It's pretty simple---drink responsibly and don't leave bars or house parties alone.

PIEHL: 'Smiley Face Killers' - Your Questions

Almost everyday, someone emails me a question about the Smiley Face Killer story or a missing persons case. If one person has a question and sends it to me, then there must be more people thinking the same thing.

Here are the answers to a few questions that I've recently received.

1. "I thought I heard an arrest was about to be made. Any word on that?"

The FBI has said agents are not investigating these drownings and blame the cases on alcohol. While some of the drowning cases are classified by the local police departments as "open", my information is that one or two could considered "active."

The father of one of the victims is involved in an investigation in Albany, New York with retired NYPD detectives, Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte. Bill Szostak has told me, that through his work, he believes he knows what happened to his son and has nearly enough information that he could get a conviction in court. Since Szostak isn't licensed in law enforcement, no official action could happen without the involvement of the Albany Police Department. Szostak tells me that his son's case was closed just hours after Josh's body was pulled from the water.

Of the cases that Gannon and Duarte believe are connected, only Chris Jenkins' is classified as homicide. Right now, the homicide investigation in Minneapolis is open. Police have identified suspects and turned data over to the Hennepin County Prosecutor. Last July, attorneys determined there was not enough evidence to put together a criminal case.

2. "What about Brandon Swanson?"

Brandon Swanson disappeared near Marshall in May. Dedicated search crews are spending some weekends looking for him. Swanson's car was recovered, but there hasn't been any sign of him.

There is no reason to believe that Swanson's case is related to any others. However, many people have asked me about it because Swanson fits the general description of other men who have disappeared or been found drowned.

3. My son heard that the body of a missing boy was recovered "on the banks of the Mississippi River in St. Paul... why is there nothing in the news?"

The missing St. Paul boy that this person is referring to is Joey Kaiser. He was last seen leaving his home on his bike in May. His bike was found in the Mississippi River, but there hasn't been any sign of him.

A body was recovered in the Mississippi this week near the area where Kaiser went missing. St. Paul Police tell us that it will take DNA tests to determine identity. There are dozens of people missing in St. Paul and officers are NOT currently connecting the recovered body to Kaiser's case.

Officially, Kaiser has not been classified as "endangered." His family told the media that Kaiser was angry and was dealing with some mental health issues when he biked away from his home in May.

PIEHL: New developments 'Smiley Face Killers'

Another Congressman wrote a letter to the FBI Director requesting a formal investigation. This time it's from Rep. Sam Graves of Missouri. This letter is the third from an elected official to Director Robert Muller.

In a new development, the Medical Examiner concluded his report for Tommy Booth. He is the young man who was found drowned in Ridley Township, PA. After seeing our report on Good Morning America, the detectives went to the bar where Booth was last seen and found smiley face graffiti. Since then, the PA detectives have worked with the retired NY detectives who first looked into a link between the drownings. The Medical Examiner concluded that the cause of Booth's death was "Undetermined." While this is not the result Booth's loved ones would like, the cause was not ruled "Accidental" which is the case in the majority of the drownings.

PIEHL: Smiley Face: A new controversy

Albany, NY is the location of the latest Smiley Face controversy. Again, it's the police against the parents. As I reported in an earlier blog, Bill Szostak believes that he knows what happened to his son Josh.

Albany Police closed the case hours after Josh's body was found drowned. Bill has been working with retired NY Detective, Kevin Gannon. As you first read here, they believe that there is enough evidence to tie Josh's drowning to the Smiley Face Killers and dozens of other drownings across the country. Bill won't reveal all the evidence, but a smiley face was found spray painted on a tree near the river.

In past and current newspaper articles and radio interviews, the local investigators have accused Bill of painting the graffiti himself. The Medical Examiner ruled Josh's death accidental with no signs of foul play. The Police say they are confident in that ruling and their own work.

They've also said that if there is new information or evidence, they would like to see it. To date, the Albany investigators say they've never been given anything new in the case from Bill or Kevin Gannon. Bottom line: the official investigation into Josh Szostak's death is closed while the unofficial one is wide open, active and (I'm told) gaining ground.

PIEHL: Smiley Face Update: New Case?

A 2005 disappearance is getting new attention because of the Smiley Face Killer theory. It's a story of another college-aged man walking out of a bar and vanishing. Unlike many of these missing person cases that I've been reporting on and blogging about, this man's body has never been recovered.



Keith Ryan a 22-year-old from Springfield, Illinois was last seen on April 12, 2005. After a night of drinking in Peoria, Ryan told his friends that he needed some fresh air. He never returned. According to reports, surveillance cameras captured him walking alone on city streets.

His father, a retired Decatur Police Department Detective, has always suspected foul play. He is now considering that his son's disappearance is connected to 40 others across the country.

Ryan heard about the Smiley Face Killer Theory that we first reported in a 5 Eyewitness News Investigation in April. Since then, he's searched along the river for signs of a smiley face.

According to a new article in a Peoria newspaper, retired New York Detective, Kevin Gannon is now working with Ryan. The two are trying to gather police reports to piece together new evidence. In the article, Roger Ryan says, "I sent (Gannon) an e-mail the day I saw an article about the 'Smiley' case murders. He's interested in it and is going to try and connect" his son's case with the others.

Peoria detectives also heard about the Smiley Face Killer theory and considered it in the Ryan case. The newspaper reports that the Peoria detectives determined that there is no evidence to suggest a connection.

Families circulate 'Smiley Face Killers' petition around country

From Investigative Reporter Kristi Piehl


Two months after a 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS investigation into the mysterious river deaths of as many as 40 young male college students around the country, the families of possible victims have begun circulating a nationwide petition urging the FBI to take a closer look into the case.

"We request that Robert Mueller, Director of the FBI, order his agency to conduct a full and thorough investigation into the deaths of these young men," the petition states. "We believe that insufficient resources have been applied to these cases thus far to bring them to conclusion."

Since our investigation first aired in April, two congressmen have called on the FBI to take a broader look at the cases.

Dubbed the 'Smiley-Faced Killers' case, two retired New York City detectives believe that the deaths of dozens of young men around the country may be connected.

The detectives believe that the killers leave smiley-face graffiti behind at the scene of their crimes.

The case that brought the story together for the detectives was when the 2002 death of Chris Jenkins in Minneapolis in was ruled a homicide in 2005. Jenkins' father Steve is one of the family members helping to distribute the petition.

Read the petition

Families ask that signed petitions be sent to:
Steve Jenkins
8124 Foxberry Bay
Savage MN 55378

Follow our investigation from the beginning.

Possible Smiley Face Killers Victim Nicholas Garza's Body Found

Posted at: 05/28/2008 10:26:47 AM
Updated at: 05/28/2008 10:42:46 AM
PIEHL: Body found in Vermont


Kristi Piehl - Investigative Reporter
The body of Nicholas Garza was recovered in Otter Creek on May 27th. Garza is the Middlebury College student who has been missing since February. I've talked with his mother before and she fears her son may be the victim of homicide.

Her friends contacted me about a week after the Smiley Face Investigation was featured on Good Morning America because searchers found graffiti with smiley faces near the water's edge. The Police Department does not think the spray paint is linked to Garza's case and told reporters it had been there for two years.

Garza went missing in February. He left a college dorm and was walking to his own building about 500 yards away, but never made it. His mother was living in New Mexico, but moved to Vermont to be close to her son's investigation. There is a $20,000 reward for information in the case.



Thank you to all the people around the country and in Canada who have emailed me about Garza's investigation. Since this Smiley Face Killer Investigation broke in late April, thousands of you have become amateur detectives. You've spent many hours on the internet searching for clues that could help retired NYPD Detectives, Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte. Their investigation is ongoing and they have been in contact with Garza's family. Some of your tips have been of assistance to them.

Now that his body has been recovered, the Medical Examiner's work will begin. I will keep you posted. Our thoughts are with the Garza family. Here is a link to the website they've created http://www.nicholasgarza.org/

Smiley Face Killers Update

Kristi Piehl - Investigative Reporter
(from Kristi's blog)


Smiley Face Updates (May 21)

Another Congressman has asked the FBI to take another look at the drownings. Rep. Michael McNulty represents the 21st District in New York. It's the area where JoshSzostak disappeared and was discovered drowned. His father, Bill, is now working with retired Detectives, Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte. I've been told, they've found evidence that points to Szostak's drowning being a homicide and potentially connected to the other cases around the country.

The Albany Police Department stands by its conclusion that Josh's death was an accidental drowning.

I'll keep you updated....

With each day, comes more emails. Each fits into one of three categories....

1. TIPS

People from across the world are interested in the Smiley Face Killers and have done online research. These Sherlock Holmes' tips I forward to former NY Detectives, Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte.

2. KUDOS

This story continues to be talked about on blogs and websites and many people write to say "Thanks" for doing the story or offer support to continue working on the story.

3. GRIEF

This is the category that surprises me. Almost everyday, I get an email from a family who feels their loved one's unexplained drowning fits the profile Gannon and Duarte are investigating. There are so many families suffering and searching for answers. These stories I also forward to Gannon and Duarte.

Thank you for your interest... we'll keep following this story.
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A second congressman has called on the FBI to take another look at the case of the so-called ‘Smiley-Face’ killers after a 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS investigation revealed new details about the case late last month.

"It has come to my attention that recent press reports indicate new evidence linking the drowning deaths of a large number of college-aged men across the country," Rep. Michael R. McNulty, D-NY, wrote in a letter to the FBI earlier this month.

"I am aware that the FBI investigated this matter previously, but it appears that some of these cases may be linked. In light of this new evidence, I respectfully request that the FBI re-open its investigation."

McNulty is the second member of congress to contact the FBI regarding the case. At the beginning of May, Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., R-Wisconsin, made a similar request of the FBI after seeing our investigation on the national news.

The investigation at the end of April presented information from retired New York City detectives Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte regarding the mysterious river deaths of young men around the country.

The detectives believe the deaths of as many as forty young men around the country may be connected, including the death of Chris Jenkins in Minneapolis in 2002. Jenkins' death is the only case to be classified as homicide.

At many of the scenes, Gannon and Duarte discovered graffiti of what appeared to be a smiley face.

KRISTI PIEHL: 'Smiley Face Killers' Update

Kristi Piehl - Investigative Reporter

Since our investigation into the Smiley Face Killers aired, I've gotten hundreds of emails.

First of all, thanks for your interest and all the gratitude and support you've offered. I've forwarded dozens of emails to parents of the young men who drowned and to the retired NY detectives.

Many of you are wondering what is happening in the case now?

The detectives are following up on the leads they've received since this story broke. They got new evidence and new contacts. All the information they've received from the public is energizing their investigation.

They're working with Pennsylvania detectives on the drowning of Tommy Booth. I've reported on this case and talked with his mother several times. The detectives in Pennsylvania are interested in working with Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte. After our story aired on Good Morning America, the detectives in PA found a smiley face on the building where Booth was last seen. Gannon will meet with them soon. Booth's mom is hopeful this will bring her answers.

According to Rep. Sensenbrenner's office, the FBI has not responded to the request to reopen all the drowning cases.

Gannon and Duarte have much more evidence that they aren't reporting. They say that the smiley faces are just one kind of graffiti they've found. People often ask why they aren't releasing everything they've got. They think it could tarnish any possible criminal case. Their goal is to get people arrested. Kevin Gannon promised the parents of the victims that will happen and he's working 6 days a week to make sure that happens.

Check back here for more updates.
(Kristi's latest update from Coast to Coast AM. Her interview starts at 01:18)