Vanessa Richardson

On February 16, 1997, 20-year-old Patrick McNeil braved the below-freezing temperatures to join his friends at the Dapper Dog. One of his roommates was bartending that night, so they thought maybe they'd get some free drinks or heavy pours. Patrick was a junior at Fordham. He was majoring in accounting, but had always felt a pull toward law enforcement.

On February 16, 1997, 20-year-old Patrick McNeil braved the below-freezing temperatures to join his friends at the Dapper Dog. One of his roommates was bartending that night, so they thought maybe they'd get some free drinks or heavy pours. Patrick was a junior at Fordham. He was majoring in accounting, but had always felt a pull toward law enforcement.

The drinks flowed a little too freely that night. Around midnight, Patrick took a tumble in the bathroom. Perhaps he decided he'd hit his limit and should head home. It was a school night after all. Everyone had class the next morning. Patrick told his friends he was tired and that he'd take the subway back to campus alone. By this time, the Dapper Dog had become a nuisance in the neighborhood.

The drinks flowed a little too freely that night. Around midnight, Patrick took a tumble in the bathroom. Perhaps he decided he'd hit his limit and should head home. It was a school night after all. Everyone had class the next morning. Patrick told his friends he was tired and that he'd take the subway back to campus alone. By this time, the Dapper Dog had become a nuisance in the neighborhood.

It was basically an off-campus frat house. Neighbors would frequently report excessive noise and public drunkenness. So when witnesses saw Patrick stumbling out of the bar and down Second Avenue, they didn't bat an eye. But unbeknownst to Patrick, someone was following him. As he made his way home, a van that had been double parked on 2nd Avenue tailed him. When Patrick stopped, the van stopped.

It was basically an off-campus frat house. Neighbors would frequently report excessive noise and public drunkenness. So when witnesses saw Patrick stumbling out of the bar and down Second Avenue, they didn't bat an eye. But unbeknownst to Patrick, someone was following him. As he made his way home, a van that had been double parked on 2nd Avenue tailed him. When Patrick stopped, the van stopped.

When Patrick turned onto East 90th Street, so did the van. And that was the last time anyone saw Patrick alive. Four days later, Detective Sergeant Kevin Gannon was assigned to Patrick's case. Over the 16 years of his career, Gannon had worked his way up from beat cop to the head of the robbery unit. Just two days before Patrick went missing, he was promoted into the Missing Persons Squad.

When Patrick turned onto East 90th Street, so did the van. And that was the last time anyone saw Patrick alive. Four days later, Detective Sergeant Kevin Gannon was assigned to Patrick's case. Over the 16 years of his career, Gannon had worked his way up from beat cop to the head of the robbery unit. Just two days before Patrick went missing, he was promoted into the Missing Persons Squad.

Also on the case were the people of Portchester, New York, Patrick's hometown. Off-duty officers traveled to Manhattan to search the streets. Community members set up a command center to take phone calls and print flyers. His parents, Jackie and Pat, hosted a rally where they collected donations and sent out a call for more volunteers. The NYPD dispatched police helicopters.

Also on the case were the people of Portchester, New York, Patrick's hometown. Off-duty officers traveled to Manhattan to search the streets. Community members set up a command center to take phone calls and print flyers. His parents, Jackie and Pat, hosted a rally where they collected donations and sent out a call for more volunteers. The NYPD dispatched police helicopters.

They scoured the East River for clues. They collected tips and possible sightings, but nothing went anywhere. Patrick vanished without a trace. On April 7th, 50 days after his disappearance, Patrick's body was found in the East River in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn near a pollution control plant. It was 12 miles from where he was last seen.

They scoured the East River for clues. They collected tips and possible sightings, but nothing went anywhere. Patrick vanished without a trace. On April 7th, 50 days after his disappearance, Patrick's body was found in the East River in the Bay Ridge section of Brooklyn near a pollution control plant. It was 12 miles from where he was last seen.

After the autopsy, Dr. Charles Hirsch, the medical examiner, concluded Patrick's cause of death was drowning. But the case was left undetermined pending further investigation. That, Dr. Hirsch said, is because it's unclear how Patrick ended up in the water. He could have fallen in, been pushed, or jumped. The toxicology report showed that Patrick had a moderate blood alcohol content in his body.

After the autopsy, Dr. Charles Hirsch, the medical examiner, concluded Patrick's cause of death was drowning. But the case was left undetermined pending further investigation. That, Dr. Hirsch said, is because it's unclear how Patrick ended up in the water. He could have fallen in, been pushed, or jumped. The toxicology report showed that Patrick had a moderate blood alcohol content in his body.

Dr. Hirsch didn't give an exact number, but said the amount was over the legal driving limit, which at that time was 0.10%. There were no other substances present in his body, and he didn't have physical injuries. That led the medical examiner's office to believe foul play was unlikely. But Kevin Gannon disagreed. He worked the case for six weeks. He knew it better than anyone.

Dr. Hirsch didn't give an exact number, but said the amount was over the legal driving limit, which at that time was 0.10%. There were no other substances present in his body, and he didn't have physical injuries. That led the medical examiner's office to believe foul play was unlikely. But Kevin Gannon disagreed. He worked the case for six weeks. He knew it better than anyone.

To him, the answer was clear. Patrick McNeil was murdered. Initially, Gannon's theory rested on the water currents. Investigators on the case had speculated Patrick fell into the East River in Manhattan and drowned. Then his body floated down the water into New York Bay, where it was later found.

To him, the answer was clear. Patrick McNeil was murdered. Initially, Gannon's theory rested on the water currents. Investigators on the case had speculated Patrick fell into the East River in Manhattan and drowned. Then his body floated down the water into New York Bay, where it was later found.

Because he was still wearing the same clothes he wore to the Dapper Dog, police speculated Patrick may have died the same night he disappeared. Gannon spoke with the NYPD Harbor Unit, who patrol the river daily. They gave him information about the strength of the water currents on the night Patrick drowned. But it didn't add up.

Because he was still wearing the same clothes he wore to the Dapper Dog, police speculated Patrick may have died the same night he disappeared. Gannon spoke with the NYPD Harbor Unit, who patrol the river daily. They gave him information about the strength of the water currents on the night Patrick drowned. But it didn't add up.