Dan Pirfo Confirmed Dead
This just in. Forensics experts confirm that the body recently found in Fall Creek Gorge is that of Dan Pirfo:
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the death of Dan Pirfo,” said Susan H. Murphy, Cornell vice president for student and academic services. “Our thoughts and prayers go to his family and his many friends. During this time, the university is offering support and counsel to all who have been touched by this tragic event.”
Pirfo, 19, from Washington, D.C., was reported missing April 25 after having last been seen April 24 in his Mews Hall residence on campus. An extensive ground and aerial search for the missing student was carried out by Cornell University Police and the Ithaca Police Department, with support from other agencies. Pirfo’s body was discovered by three fishermen May 10 at the base of Ithaca Falls on Fall Creek near campus.
The positive identification of the body was announced today by the Tompkins County medical examiner and the Ithaca Police Department, which is handling the investigation.
Read more at the Cornell News…
Update:
Todd Carlson, Residence Hall Director of MEWS, writes:
A candlelight memorial gathering for Dan Pirfo ‘08 will take place at 10:00 pm this Saturday on Rawlings Green, North Campus, Cornell University.
Open to All.
Update 2:
The Ithaca Police Department have ruled Dan A. Pirfo’s leap into the gorge accidental, saying that “injuries on the body were consistent with a fall into the gorge.” Sounds like BS to me–students typically don’t accidentally fall into the gorges. Without a full justification, I feel that the IPD is ignoring evidence to the contrary. Or maybe Pirfo’s catholic.
Update 3:
For more information on Dan Pirfo’s death, please see the following resources:
- Where is Dan Pirfo?
- Dan Pirfo Still Missing
- More on Dan Pirfo
- Dan Pirfo Confirmed Dead
- Dan Pirfo Revisited in Candid Photos
| This entry was posted on Thursday, May 12th, 2005 at 2:55 pm and is tagged with cornell university police, dan pirfo, ithaca police department, fall creek gorge, residence hall director, candlelight memorial, cornell news, tompkins county, evidence to the contrary, aerial search, thoughts and prayers, candid photos, academic services, tragic event, county medical, ipd, medical examiner, rawlings, gorges, forensics. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback. |
17 Responses to “Dan Pirfo Confirmed Dead”
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So I guess you are a forensic scientist? Suicidal people do not brace for impact during a fall. That is one way to speculate as to whether the fall was intentional. I believe other students have fallen into the gorge while intoxicated and trying to take short cuts through wooded areas near the fraternity houses.
I think you’ve been watching too much CSI, anon. There are plenty of reasons for the IPD and Cornell to want to label the death accidental, including government accountability and suicide statistics, the feelings of the family of the deceased, and public opinion. So, it’s possible that this death will go uncounted as a suicide regardless of the actual circumstances of death.
Regardless of the cause of his death, it’s only been a couple of days. Anything’s possible, and I ask to give him a few more days before speculating what no one was there for, it seems. Let the police do their job.
Family members and friends will be reading these sites I’m certain- give them more time to cope. I went to school with Dan back in Washington. He was always nice to me. And though that may not solve this mystery or be worth 2 cents to anyone else, that’s how I’ll remember him. I just think the focus is on the wrong thing right now.
So you are implying that Cornell has the Ithaca or Tompkins County District Attorney in their back pocket? Where is your evidence? As to whether a person can “fall” into the gorge, do YOU know where he entered the gorge? Can you prove with even the slightest certainty that he leapt from a bridge? Why couldn’t a person be walking near the edge where there are no fences? Thankfully the internet provides an outlet for your “theories”. Seems like you have an axe to grind with authority of any kind.
I personally feel that the death was indeed accidental. I’ve spent a lot of time with suicidal people, and Dan did not match the description. He simply did not. He partied to hard, and that is all we may ever know.
However, to question whether the DA is in the pocket of CU is absurd: of course he is. He’s an alum who still comes back for guest lectures, discussions, events. Notice how he never, ever prosecutes sexual assault cases against Cornellians. He lets the JA “handle” them.
That the DA does not prosecute all rapes does not mean much. Rape is difficult to prove in court especially if it is date rape. I know numerous people in the DA’s office in New York City. They would rather prosecute just about any other type of crime. Besides, why would Cornell cover up something they are not responsible for?
I’m not going to comment on a conspiracy theory or that Cornell is or isn’t covering something up. I’m just saying that it may be in many people’s best interests to label these sorts of things as accidental deaths. If you’re really curious, file a FOIA request.
FOIA who? Cornell? CUPD? Both are immune to it as quasi-private institutions.
FOIL also does not apply to the DA. That leaves the the forensic experts … which isn’t a bad idea, but a lot of work for what will mostly likely be a negligible amount of information, if any at all.
I’ve, too, worked with a city attorney’s offices, specifically juvenile court. Amongst other things, child *** abuse was under their jurisdiction. It was sickening, but parents who abused their children in the worst ways were almost never prosecuted. At most, they would lose custody and possibly have a restraining order. Usually, fathers who raped their daughters were allowed joint custody. That’s the way our system works, I understand that.
However, don’t say that the DA is disinterested, because he has very close ties to Cornell and the J.A.’s office. And why would Cornell “cover up” something they’re not responsible for? Because rapes get national news, even though they are a common fact of life. Each one has the potential to explode (see U. of Colorado) into a national mess. I’m not saying Cornell is doing anything on that scale, but talk to some people who claim to be victims, and they’ll tell you about the run-a-round they’ve been through. Fair process is important, but so is justice.
Conspiracy theories aside, a close friend and fraternity brother of mine committed suicide jumping off the suspension bridge in the early 90’s. It was ruled a suicide, despite the fact that it might not look good for the university, and he was an observant (except for the very end) Catholic.
Accidents do happen- especially with drunken students. I’m sorry, but it is not inconceivable that this poor kid was stupid drunk, and managed to go over the edge while trying to take a “shortcut” anywhere along the gorge. Anyway you slice it, it’s a tragedy for everyone. My condolences to his family, friends, and everyone else impacted by the loss of Dan Pirfo.
Who the hell really cares?! I grew up in Ithaca and lived there through my years at Cornell, if I spent as much time on the computer going over every last detail of each person that jumped, fell, whatever, into the gorge, I wouldn’t have had any type of life. You are all still alive, go on with your lives and just be more careful the next time you get drunk!!
Hey I’ve been hearing rumors that Dan was seen being carried into his dorm by two large men. I was wondering what is all that about? And to Jaime suck my …… You should get life and stay off the computer. Yeah I knew Dan and it hurt to see someone say that. Well I hope you feel the same way when your parents or someone close to you dies. My *** thanks you. And to those with a heart thanks. And be safe when you party.
Jamie, you can easily say someone who reads up on the life of someone who passed one with no life… But all of us can read up on what you wrote and call you someone with no heart and no emotion. Ever been to a memorial of some sort? ever known anyone who died? I only met Dan once. I did go to his memorial since he was a friend of a friend. Seeing his parents and friends speaking there was heartfelt since they missed him so much. I’ll admit to not crying since I didn’t know him well, but your heart is cold and we can all see it.
Jaime why don’t YOU jump the gorge and let people be. You’ll be doing us all a favor. And to all who knew Dan or were touched by knowing about his passing thanks for caring shows ur humane. And my heart goes out to all whose life was taken quickly may they find peace.
To all of Dan’s friends, my deepest sympathies. This sounds like a really unfortunate accident. I don’t know that publicly speculating on the cause of it is the best thing for all of the wannabe forensic analysts to be doing at this point. Let the wound heal a little bit. For the conspiracy theorists, take a look at the simple answer (which you never seem to be able to do): you miss one of the 400 steps going down into the gorge, you fall, and the steep terrain does the rest. Alcohol doesn’t even need to be a factor. It’s not the JA or the DA trying to get something over on the public, it’s gravity. Have some respect for his loved ones and stop turning this into your little crime drama/conspiracy forum.
I am a paramedic and a cornell alum. The fact is that a determination of death is made by the medical examiner in a non-political fashion. If he or she says it is a suicide, it is. No entity has the political power to change this. Will anyone know for sure what happened? The answer is no, it went to the grave with Dan. However, we can look at the clues. I am sure they looked at his room and his e-mail and interviewed his friends etc. to draw conclusions in addition to the physical evidence.
That said, when I was attending and working at CU, there were a number of students who jumped and a number who clearly had accidental falls. There are differences between the two. High heights and drunk students do not mix . . . most of the accidental falls were resulting from alcohol intoxication.
Regardless of what happened, hope he is resting in peace and his family is coping with their grief.
The best thing Dan Pirfo did was this suicide. It has added to the hilarity of many Cornell students ! Oh Pirfo you’re so crazy, I think I want to have your death baby!
Although this will most likely go unanswered, i would like to ask the individual who stated that he was told that two people carried Dan into the dorm sometime that night to respond and tell me where he found that information. I grew up with Dan and he is my best friend, it has been hard to cope with his death, and i sometimes feel as if his death, while not suicidal, may not have been accidental either.