albanyweblog.com
Updated
April 27, 2008
Police closing Szostak case
Autopsy says Latham man's death was the result of an accidental drowning
By DAVID FILKINS, Staff writer
First published: Thursday, April 24, 2008, Times UnionALBANY -- Joshua Szostak, whose body was found Tuesday in the Hudson River, drowned accidentally, officials said Wednesday.
The badly decomposed remains were identified as Szostak's after an autopsy at St. Peter's Hospital, which also determined his cause of death, said Dr. Jeffrey Hubbard, pathologist for the Albany County Coroner's office.
Hubbard said blood and tissue samples will be tested for any traces of alcohol or drugs. The results will not be available for about two weeks.
A boater discovered the body at about 2 p.m. Tuesday near the Coxsackie boat launch and called 911. State Police responded and discovered personal items on the body, including a wallet and more than $400.
Based on the autopsy results, Albany Public Safety Spokesman Detective James Miller said "the Albany Police Department, which conducted the investigation as a missing persons case, will be closing the investigation."
Szostak, 21, of Latham, had been out on the town in Albany early Dec. 23 to celebrate a friend's birthday. The evening began at the Elbo Room on Delaware Avenue, then the group took a cab to North Pearl Street.
But Szostak's friends couldn't find him before they left the Bayou Cafe. A surveillance camera at North Pearl and State streets showed Szostak walking alone just after midnight.
The circumstances surrounding Szostak's disappearance had been a mystery until Tuesday. His cellphone was found at the scene of a state Department of Environmental Conservation car stolen at the Port of Albany. The car was abandoned, with no trace of a driver.
Albany police initially said they believed Szostak stole the car, but later said they were investigating a connection between the car theft and Szostak's disappearance.
Just last week, friends and relatives celebrated Szostak's 22nd birthday, which was actually a week earlier, April 12. On Saturday, at the party for his son at The Crossings in Colonie, Bill Szostak said he was holding out hope that "we can bring him home within the next couple of days."
The father was banking on the success of a special drone plane from Texas that was helping search for his son and Jaliek Rainwalker, a 12-year-old from Greenwich who has been missing since Nov. 1.
The Szostak family had said they believe foul play was involved in their son's death. They could not be reached for comment Wednesday afternoon.
Funeral arrangements for Szostak have not yet been set.
David Filkins can be reached at 454-5456 or by e-mail at dfilkins@timesunion.com.
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