Vanessa Richardson

Police theorized Dakota fell in the Allegheny River near Roberto Clemente Bridge after stopping there to urinate. His body then floated 10 miles down the river, through a dam, then came to rest where the Allegheny turns into the Ohio River. But Dakota's family didn't agree with the police's conclusion. They insisted Dakota had been murdered. But detectives dismissed the possibility of foul play.

Police theorized Dakota fell in the Allegheny River near Roberto Clemente Bridge after stopping there to urinate. His body then floated 10 miles down the river, through a dam, then came to rest where the Allegheny turns into the Ohio River. But Dakota's family didn't agree with the police's conclusion. They insisted Dakota had been murdered. But detectives dismissed the possibility of foul play.

After the case was closed, Dakota's parents, Jeff and Pam, read about the Smiley Face killers online and reached out to Kevin Gannon. When GDI took on Dakota's case, they found that police had either looked over, misinterpreted, or just completely ignored several pieces of evidence. One bombshell came after GDI hired a forensic expert to assess Dakota's computer.

After the case was closed, Dakota's parents, Jeff and Pam, read about the Smiley Face killers online and reached out to Kevin Gannon. When GDI took on Dakota's case, they found that police had either looked over, misinterpreted, or just completely ignored several pieces of evidence. One bombshell came after GDI hired a forensic expert to assess Dakota's computer.

The analysis revealed Dakota's PayPal account was used in a transaction nearly 48 hours after his disappearance, suggesting he was still alive at that time. In many of the cases they study, GDI suspects the killer holds their victim for a period of time before murdering them and leaving their body in water. They believe the PayPal charge proves that's exactly what happened to Dakota.

The analysis revealed Dakota's PayPal account was used in a transaction nearly 48 hours after his disappearance, suggesting he was still alive at that time. In many of the cases they study, GDI suspects the killer holds their victim for a period of time before murdering them and leaving their body in water. They believe the PayPal charge proves that's exactly what happened to Dakota.

And that's not all GDI discovered. Kevin Gannon and Mike Donovan consulted with a private investigator who'd been hired by Dakota's family before his body was found. The PI had done a comprehensive review of the camera footage around Dakota's last whereabouts and near the Roberto Clemente Bridge, where police believe he'd fallen into the water.

And that's not all GDI discovered. Kevin Gannon and Mike Donovan consulted with a private investigator who'd been hired by Dakota's family before his body was found. The PI had done a comprehensive review of the camera footage around Dakota's last whereabouts and near the Roberto Clemente Bridge, where police believe he'd fallen into the water.

The private detective found that only one camera picked up Dakota the night he went missing, the one in the plaza where he was last seen. Not a single camera around the river, nor on the bridge, had spotted Dakota that night. After learning about the camera footage and PayPal transaction, Gannon and his team had even more questions about the police's conclusion, so they dug deeper.

The private detective found that only one camera picked up Dakota the night he went missing, the one in the plaza where he was last seen. Not a single camera around the river, nor on the bridge, had spotted Dakota that night. After learning about the camera footage and PayPal transaction, Gannon and his team had even more questions about the police's conclusion, so they dug deeper.

According to the official report, Dakota's body hadn't suffered any physical trauma. But after consulting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, GDI discovered Dakota's body went through a gap in the dam. How could he possibly have floated 10 miles down the river and squeezed through that gap without any injury to his body? GDI needed more information, most importantly, the autopsy photos.

According to the official report, Dakota's body hadn't suffered any physical trauma. But after consulting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, GDI discovered Dakota's body went through a gap in the dam. How could he possibly have floated 10 miles down the river and squeezed through that gap without any injury to his body? GDI needed more information, most importantly, the autopsy photos.

But according to the James family, the Allegheny County District Attorney didn't allow them to view the full medical examiner's report. They also say that the police who investigated the Patrick McNeil death, which kicked off Kevin Gannon's investigation, rejected his family's requests for the full file until nearly 12 years after his death.

But according to the James family, the Allegheny County District Attorney didn't allow them to view the full medical examiner's report. They also say that the police who investigated the Patrick McNeil death, which kicked off Kevin Gannon's investigation, rejected his family's requests for the full file until nearly 12 years after his death.

According to Gannon, that's typical protocol in an active homicide case, not an accident. Armed with that information, Dakota's mother, Pam, called the district attorney to discuss her son's file. In the meeting, the DA finally agreed to release the entire report to Pam, who in turn shared it with GDI. The file only led to more questions than answers.

According to Gannon, that's typical protocol in an active homicide case, not an accident. Armed with that information, Dakota's mother, Pam, called the district attorney to discuss her son's file. In the meeting, the DA finally agreed to release the entire report to Pam, who in turn shared it with GDI. The file only led to more questions than answers.

Despite the police's initial insistence that Dakota's body was free from injury, the autopsy photos seemed to reveal strange marks around his neck, information that was missing from the written autopsy report. GDI consulted with Dr. Cyril Wecht, a renowned medical examiner, who agreed Dakota may have been strangled.

Despite the police's initial insistence that Dakota's body was free from injury, the autopsy photos seemed to reveal strange marks around his neck, information that was missing from the written autopsy report. GDI consulted with Dr. Cyril Wecht, a renowned medical examiner, who agreed Dakota may have been strangled.

With this new evidence, Pam and Kevin Gannon went to the DA to ask for Dakota's case to be reopened and reexamined. To get traction, Pam took the case to the media, and the medical examiner's office said they'd be willing to reconsider. But as of 2024, Dakota's case remains closed.

With this new evidence, Pam and Kevin Gannon went to the DA to ask for Dakota's case to be reopened and reexamined. To get traction, Pam took the case to the media, and the medical examiner's office said they'd be willing to reconsider. But as of 2024, Dakota's case remains closed.