James "Jim" Burfisher Drowning Mystery

From: http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/jim-burfisher-chicago-river-drowni...

Family Searching For Answers to Chicago Man's Mysterious Death
Have info? Call Det. Ortman at 312-744-8261

Updated: Wednesday, 14 Jul 2010, 11:12 AM CDT
Published : Monday, 12 Jul 2010, 8:39 PM CDT

By Tera Williams, FOX Chicago News

Chicago - On Sunday, June 13th, James "Jim" Burfisher was found dead in the Chicago River.

One month later, his mother is still left searching for answers about exactly how he died.

This one hits home for us, because that grieving mother is one of our colleagues here at FOX Chicago.

Surveillance video shows Jim Burfisher buying a few things at a downtown 7-11; less than 48 hours later, his body was found by kayakers floating near Wells and Wacker.

Although an autopsy confirmed the 28-year-old drowned and there was no trauma to his body, exactly how he ended up in the river remains a mystery.

"He was just a very sweet person," said his mom, Deborah Carpenter-Burfisher.

Carpenter-Burfisher is General Sales Manager here at FOX Chicago. She said her son was looking for a new job, that he was athletic, outgoing, had a great group of friends, and was not someone who would take his own life.

Although Chicago Police are still investigating, Carpenter-Burfisher and her husband hired Andrew O'Conner, a private investigator.

Using credit card records, O'Conner created a timeline of Thursday, June 10, which was the last day Burfisher's family saw him. The family had an early dinner with Burfisher and his younger brother.

After dinner, Burfisher played basketball, went to the grocery store, and stopped at home.

His trail ended at a 7-11 near his apartment, where at 12:38am, surveillance video shows him -- still in his basketball clothes -- buying a bottle of water and two chocolate chip cookies.

The video shows him walking out the door, north on to Wells Street. The private investigator guesses that Burfisher walked across the Wells Street bridge towards home. He didn't show up for a golf game on Saturday, or his brother's graduation on Sunday.

"I feel that something happened on that bridge," said Carpenter-Burfisher. "You know he's gone no matter what happens, but my husband and I would like to see if we can't find out what happened."

The family said Chicago police have told them they are looking at surveillance video from city cameras in the area. Toxicology results still haven't come in.

Belmont area detectives are still working on this case; if you have any information, please call Detective Ortman at 312-744-8261.

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• Burfisher
• unsolved
• case
• crime