Giancola, Richard Lloyd

GIANCOLA, CARLSON, COLLINS, WHITE

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 3/23/2011 at 08:45:56

The Grinnell Herald-Register; May 3, 1984

GIANCOLA DEATH RULED A DROWNING

Preliminary autopsy results list drowning as the cause of death of a man whose body was pulled from Arbor Lake here Monday afternoon.

Richard Lloyd Giancola, 43, of 1837 Sixth Ave., Grinnell, was found in the lake by two fishermen at about 1 p.m. Monday.

Police Chief Jim Ahrens said an autopsy was performed on the body Monday evening, and that there were no indications of foul play in connection with the death.

Ahrens said a test for blood alcohol is also being performed, and that results will not be available until late this week or early next week.

Ahrens said the body was spotted some 50 ft. north of the lake's spillway. The fishermen, Rod Carlson and Randy Collins, reportedly noticed the back of a green sweatshirt and hair, then contacted police.

Giancola had not been seen since Saturday night when he and a companion, Luke White of Grinnell, were at the lake. Ahrens said White reported that the two had been drinking and decided to spent the night at the lake. White fell asleep, and when he awoke, Giancola was no longer at the scene.

Authorities were speculating that Giancola had fallen into the water and drowned.

At the scene with Grinnell police were members of the Poweshiek County Sheriff's Department and a team from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Ahrens said the DCI involvement was "routine" in cases where the cause of death is not immediately apparent.

Robert Carney, M.D., the county medical examiner, was also called and ordered the autopsy.