Josh Szostak – The Video
Josh Szostak spent the evening of December 22nd, 2007 celebrating a friend’s birthday. He was laughing and talking inside the Bayou Cafe . None of Josh’s friends can explain what happened shortly after midnight or why Josh and a friend went outside. After a few seconds outside, the friend returns to the bar and Josh stays outside.
Was Josh drugged? You decide. Click here to watch the video recorded by a surveillance camera mounted across the street.
** watch the timer in the upper right hand corner of the screen
00:08:35 – Josh walks out.
00:10:06 – Josh is standing on the sidewalk in the lower left hand portion of the screen. He doubles over.
00:10:22 – Josh takes off his sweatshirt and shirt.
00:11:34 – Josh walks away from the bar.
Josh’s car was parked near the apartment where he planned to spend the night. A camera (300 feet south) at 67 N. Pearl Street records Josh alone – standing, looking around. He staggers and walks out of view. Josh is not seen on any other surveillance cameras (a police report verifies this). The Hudson River is 2 miles in the opposite direction. His body was recovered from the Hudson in April 2008.
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I saw last night you had a post about “Pearl St” tonight i can’t find it. I did’t see if anyone connected the Brian Shaffer disappearance (columbus ohio) – he disappeared out of a business who bordered Pearl St. In fact I believe the only exit not covered by a camera (the service exit of Ugly Tuna) emptied onto Pearl St. In Columbus, Pearl St runs parallel, one block west, to our “main” street (High St).
Is it just me or has everyone missed the strange guys dressed the same:
** watch the timer in the upper right hand corner of the screen
9:40 – Right hand side, two guys come into view and stop dead on their tracks, like they spotted something(Josh).
9:49 – They move over to the edge parallel to Josh’s location.
9:52 – 10:07 Say a few words, completely focused in on (Josh) the entire time, tall one goes over to confirm it is, while looking around as if someone might spot him, soon as he gets close enough, immediately turns around goes back and confirms with short guy, both walk away same direction (Josh) ended up leaving (right).
“ERIE” don’t you think???
Closer examination of the video reveals to important charaterisitics of Josh’s behavior. The first is between 9:40 and 10:10. It looks as if he told his friend he was going to make a call or send a text message and may have been looking for a cellular signal. By 10:10, the “doubling over” element is clear: he is bending down to remove something from his lower pant pocket with his right hand, or he was putting something in his pocket with his right hand.
It would be helpful to determine if he was wearing cargo pants and if indeed he was using his own cell phone or possibly someone elses.
His posture outside the bar would not raise much suspicion. He is able to stand in a single spot for a long duration without staggering or falling over and he does not make a scene with anyone who walks by him. When he takes off his sweatshirt it appears he is looking for something. Cash, lighter, cigarette, someone’s phone number, etc. It also appears from his body language that he may be waiting for a friend to either come out of the bar as he waits a certain amount of time before leaving. If he was done for the night and his friend said so long, he may have been more inlcined to shake his hand or tap him on the back when they seperated at the begining of the tape.
It is possible his friend said I’ll be out in five minutes and try to leave with you, if not don’t wait for me or something like that. A passing police cruiser would not have looked twice at Josh judging by the orderly secen outside the bar and Josh’s regular appearing behavior.
I’m amazed how many victims leave by themselves after altercations in bars and sometimes are put out of bars by staff. i also notice a number of anecdotal accounts where van drives up and victim doesn’t remember after that, so it would seem they are being tazered then put into van. I’m relieved dogs showed Dan Zamlen went right into water as he was missing for over a week so god knows what really happened. Thanks Kristi.
After watching this video very closely it looks as if josh told his friend to go ahead back into the bar, then he used his cell phone to try to call or, more likely, text someone. It looked as if he was watching and waiting for someone. Bars can get very warm especially after drinking and with layers on, so he was most likely very warm, possibly sweaty and a good chance he was dehydrated from the heat and alcohol. He walked out by the street almost immediately and waited near the curb facing toward the street, this would make it seem as if he was waiting for someone who was either coming from across the street or in a vehicle, most likely from his left as he would have crossed the street and waited on the other side if they were coming from the other direction. His behavior, posture, and ability to stand make me believe that he was not drugged, or not feeling the effects, and may have been intoxicated but not to the point where he would not have been able to safely walk to his car. I do hope that these cases are solved, and that the recent case of the young man missing in Iowa doesn’t have to be another case added to this venue.
@Kristi Piehl
Kristi, have you heard about Jacob Eichelberger, the Fargo, ND teenager who survived a walk in sub-zero temps last month? I mention it because he had inexplicably taken off his jacket and shoes, and it reminded me of how Josh had taken off his jacket/shirt in this video. What is it that these kids are getting drugged with? “Normal” drunk people in the upper-Midwest in the winter time don’t take their clothes off outdoors!
http://publish.portland.indymedia.org/en/2009/04/390433.shtml
Sorry, wrong link. Here’s the correct one:
http://footprintsattheriversedge.blogspot.com/2010/01/fargo-teen-hospitalized-after-being.html
Re: Josh Szotak video.
Upon a closer examination of this video, you will note that the two scantily clad “Party Girls” make what appears to be full contact with Mr. Szotak. Specifically, the girl in the darker-colored dress appears to touch him with her left hand. Please be advised that through a pre-loaded “epi-pen syringe” utilizing a 31 guage needle, 5.4 mm in total length, could deliver in the hands of a skilled individual, a dose of between 20-40 international units in less than a second. What is more, the same female subject is seen moments later tucking something into the top of her dress. Additionally, both female subjects can be seen exiting the bar to the viewer’s left, at which time they are furtively observing Mr. Szotak, while he makes his way to the right edge of the scene. Also, in the case of Mr. Shaffer, didn’t he also “talk” to two women at the top of the escalator in what proved to be his final moments on video? Just a thought. Two additional considerations, the first of which would be that the above referenced operation smells an awful lot like the old “STP” drop, gag & drag technique used by the Slovak secret police many years ago circa 1988-1993. Secondly, the entire “Smiley Face Killer” phenomenon is being poiseted by certain well-meaning media types as “a gay killing spree” directed at young gay men. The evidence does not bear that out whatsoever. This series of killings does bear a remarkably sinister covert operational quality. This case is repleat with cunards, McGuffins and subterfuge and outright systemic mis-direction. Bio-med… Pre-med… Physicist… Linguists… are just some of the occupations these victims have in common. We’ll speak again.
i watched the video a few times. i am trying to be helpful. the young man appears to be under the influence of a substance called ghb (the date rape drug). when it was legal, i was a HEAVy user. one rule while using the drug, you cannot drink..it makes 1 beer seem like 2, 4 like 8, ect ect. as the drug starts to take effect…you exhibit extemly bizarre behavior…i.e taking off his sweatshirt clumsily..and kinda stumbling around. you do this to appear normal…but it is obvious there is something wrong with you, hence the look by the police. this is usually slipped into someones drink unknowingly. i have had experiences where i would blackout for hours, eventhought i managed to drive, but would find myself in strange places instead of driving home. it is a bizzare drug, and i am glad it has been banned, but i understand it is still available. i post this just to be helpful…please take it for what iti si worth. thanks, paul
@monique777
Your right the killer or killers are using a police scanner. They know what to look for because the police are telling them. That is crazy. I think it may also be someone in the shipping industry like a tug boat operator
while i was watching the video there is a police officer that walks into the bar from the right off the screen. he walked right by the 2 fellows that are of curiosity. he was in the bar for about 2 minutes. b4 leaving and walking back in the direction that he came from, right by the 2 men again
At 9:43 of the surveillance video, 2 men are seen entering from the right. They are intently watching Josh. When he starts to walk left of the camera, one man starts to follow him, but then Josh turns around and the man then turns and walks away. Then at the point where Josh doubles over the other man reacts by turning around and walking away. To me the two men seen entering the shot from the right at 9:43 are clearly stalking him.
Well, just some thoughts here. Everyone is trying to find the common denominator. I clearly see the denominator as the person him or herself. Obviously they fit into this social group, accepted by those around them. Francis, also the girl might be a guy. Never know…maybe split personality. Maybe a team. Impersonation of a police officer isn’t out of the question either. Who else better to trust or obey. Power and control. ~~~ But the FIRST thing I thought of when I heard this story on Coast to Coast AM when I heard they killed along I-94 stretch across the country is a truck driver or a traveling salesman. Now, a salesman sounds more likely. However, a truck driver is not out of the question. Think of it this way… there are all types of truck drivers these days. (I know because I have been on the road with my husband for years across the country off and on, worked at a truck stop eerily on I-94 and now I work in a bar in our local community.) I have seen them all. There are young truckers out there who like to party all the same as the other kids out there. It could be somebody from an influential society who could fit right in the scene and good looking decided to go driving for a career. It happens. They take him hostage for days and be through the area again and drop him off. But the most interesting to me is that this happens during the winter months and drops off during the summer. Not really a truckers dream to travel in snow unless there’s loads worth their time.
Usually it’s an adamant NO from any driver from the southern drivers. Obviously, a long lonnng shot but who will see this page and something will click. Hope this helps for this investigation.
Noticed that several people outside were smoking. Is it possible that he borrowed a cigarette from someone that could have been laced with a drug?
That could explain the hot flash and doubling over pain.
After watching this video there is some question need to be asked,since video is not a best quality is hard to see what is that I’m looking for.If it comes to drugs they had to be administrated to him while he was drinking,I work as a Security Guard and I had been working in a residential facilities twice I observed two female resident’s miraculously escaped rape drug which was sliped into the drink while they were out partying coincidently happened in winter season, they had a state of mind to come home but it looked that drug made the heart bit elevated sweating was present and it look like body temperature was rising so my victims were striping from clothing.If it posible that all crimes are connected it is posible for large group is involved in it.There is one movie which comes to mind and have similar outcome, crimes are related but not comited by a same person, all is done by a internate I guess you could call game. The movie is called The Horsemen with Dennis Quaid.What bothers me the most about that video is people pasing by back and forth and no one is even concerned that the guy is maybe in need of help,what is more disturbing if I’m not mistaken there is police cruiser pasing by right before video is ending.
@Jay Jay, I noticed the 2 guys too. They both appear from the right side of the frame once the friend leaves, and while Josh’s back is turned. If you look at their shadows on the sidewalk, the approach tentatively. Then, the guy that walks toward him waits until his back is turned and Josh is walking away to approach him. When Josh turns around and looks up, the guy turns back around, says something to the other guy, and they both leave the frame much quicker than they entered. Is there any video that is earlier? I would like to see if these guys left the bar earlier.
In watching the video of Josh and when I saw the police car drive by I immediately got a chill and had to stop the video for a minute. I do not know why but I feel somehow a policeman is involved in this. Some of the other victims were walking alone and ended up dead. If you were drunk and a cop came by and offered to take you home because he could see you had been drinking I think many people would get in the car. Sure would be hard to find a cop killer and the cop (or cops) know it. And by the way I have nothing against policemen but is just such a strong feeling that I have.
He is obviously being identified by multiple people, don’t know what happened inside the bar, but his friend(?) brought him out. There are too many things that could be going on, if the police have told you that this is simple after the video here, i would suspect they are suppressing ongoing larger investigation or worse. The inside video is really needed, the only reason police wouldn’t be interested would be involvement or fear of loss of future employment opportunities. I might add that being brilliant, christian, wanting peace, speaking russian and aramaic would be enough for him to be targeted, interrogated, tortured.
I question if something is going on at college campuses on some secretive studies that these students are discovering and when they do they are murdered. Someone mentioned that medical type occupations were common among them. There have been murders of college girls that had the same in common like the Yale student and one in California I believe. I pray that all of these families can find out what is going on and this can be stopped. I keep seeing articles on new human genome studies that gives me bad vibes.
@Danielle
Danielle,
While both the Interstate trucking and traveling salesman scenarios contain the element of mobility, and hence satisfy the wide geo-spatial groupings of these murders, please bear in mind that almost 13 years have elapsed from the time of the first cluster discoveries. Consider the fact that on at least 7 occasions victims were reported missing at nearly the identical time in 5 different locations with 2 of the locations nearly 1,000 miles apart. In your scenario, Danielle, a trucker/salesman would have to exit the interstate, find or locate a previously selected bar and/or private party or bash, and then isolate the victim, drug him, presumably allow the victim to leave the party or bar, allow the victim to succumb to the drug and then attack the victim and place him in a waiting semi-truck or vehicle. While this is certainly within the realm of possibility, consider the following factors: 1) the wide-spread geographical distribution of the crime scenes, 2) the methodical pre-selection of targeted individuals precludes the likelihood of a truck driver given the rather chaotic time constraints imposed upon interstate truckers, 3) no crime scene information that is publically available suggests or points to the presence of a tractor/trailer truck combination, 4) the mere physicality of many of the victims would suggest that 3 or more people would be needed to carry out the assaults, 5) as of 1999 all interstate shippers have installed “low-jack” technologies and software that make the tracking of these trucks very easy. Admittedly, independents might circumvent this stricture, 6) “traveling salesman” might fit the bill but a 13 year run covering 2.8 million square miles seems to stretch crudility, if not statistical certitude to their very limits. However, with the pre-positioning of storage and/or refrigeration units along the route of distruction, and the assailant’s ability to maintain total cover and/or situational awareness, the trucker/salesman scenario is possible but unlikely given the fact that as far as we (the public) know that no forensic evidence has been recovered that would sustain or support either scenario.
I suppose at this juncture, I should introduce into our discussion the following reality. There exists in the United States, as well as in Canada, and 4 or 5 western European nations, a phenomenon commonly referred to as “Gang Stalking” or the systematic targeting of individuals for harrassment. It has been profferred that both the “government” and private security corporations have carried out these operations against whistle-blowers, witnesses to corruption, political dissidents, or other individuals who have found themselves on the wrong side of the power pradigm. Given the singularity, and highly integrated nature and the prolonged precision of these sustained murders, I would suggest that the perpetrators of “Gang Stalking” have created a “Graduate School” for its more violent and malevolent practioners. It must be said, that these kinds of attacks were common in Germany and Eastern Europe leading up to WWII, however, in a modern Democracy such as the USA, such attacks must bear at least a partial seal of official acquiescence if not outright sanction. Enough for now…
To: Jason #16, #20, #27, Curious #19, #22, #23, Jay #28, Kncrnd #39, and gary #43: Great posts.
Here’s my read of the scene, with a timeline of events (order being more important than accuracy):
8:00 A man is smoking, standing alone under the “79″ awning to the right (because it’s a no smoking bar?).
8:19 Two men, one in dark sleeves, the other in light sleeves, leave the bar and exit view to the right.
8:21 to 8:23 Dark sleeve man possibly makes eye contact with smoking man, who appears to possibly watch them continue down the sidewalk to the right. Smoking man also appears to possibly watch Josh exit the bar.
8:30 Josh exits bar, followed by two women who go immediately over to chat with smoking man, as if they know him. Smoking man and the two women eventually turn in general direction of Josh and also the two strange men who will be entering scene from the right.
8:47 Man exits bar and stands beside Josh.
9:39 Man standing beside Josh re-enters bar after apparently exchanging words with Josh.
9:43 Two strange men enter view from right (having about same hair color and builds as men who left bar at 8:21). Josh has his back turned toward them.
10:02 Josh turns and might be looking directly at the one man of the two strange men that is approaching him, who turns at that moment and walks the other direction. But also at 10:02, the other man standing to the rear turns his head toward the street, as if toward a noise — horn, someone yelling. Perhaps some distraction aborted their approach.
10:09. The two strange men walk out of view right.
10:40 Smoking man reenters bar while the two women remain under “79″ awning, talking and apparently using cell phone.
11:06 Another man in dark sleeves exits the bar alone and walks past the women, and they appear to watch him go by.
11:38 Josh walks toward and past the two “79″ women, and one of them appears to dial on her cell phone.
11:47 A new pair of people enter view from right to stand next to the two “79″ women; this new pair appears to watch Josh and eventually appear to possibly exchange words with the two “79″ women.
12:16 The new pair appear to be watching Josh, and one of them also appears to be using a cell phone.
12:48 Josh walks out of view right.
12:55 The new pair start off down the sidewalk, and appear to be following behind Josh to the right and out of view.
@Faith
I live in the town next to La Crosse, Wisconsin where we have just added another river death today. 10 I believe now. I watched the video you shared and I totally wonder about that police car too. Here in Wisconsin many are saying the police are involved. This has to stop. There are young women that go to college and drink as well as these young men. Yet it’s all men.
@CyPhy
Its almost as if the drug made them feel hot. Like it alters their senses to where they don’t feel the cold, which would explain why the kids might be going in the water. because they want to cool off. like the way josh was taking off his clothes, or the kid was walking around in sub zero temps without a jacket or shoes.
I got the impression Josh was drugged, too. It seemed to take effect after he came out, because he didn’t seem clumsy with strange behavior when he first came out with his friend. Later, at 10:10, you can see him stumble like he was really drunk or drugged. Then he takes his coat off, and that makes no sense, especially when it’s freezing out. He also seems very clumsy about it, even dropping it(?), and it gets worse from there. At 11:00 you can see him trying to put his coat back on, which again makes no sense unless you consider he was drugged and getting those hot/cold flashes someone mentioned is an effect of that date-rape drug. Also, from what I saw, it looked like he was really having a hard time putting his jacket back on. It looked like he was trying to put it on backwards. Then he put his hood on, as if he was really cold, when a few moments before, he was so hot, he took it off.
Those two guys dressed in similar colors that were watching him in the video are DEFINITELY suspicious. They seemed there for one purpose… to stalk him. The one started approaching him (maybe to follow him?) as he turned around and looked like he might be walking off to the left, but then when he turned around and it became apparent he wasn’t leaving, the guy backed off. They had NO interest in the bar or anyone else around there. They were definitely only paying attention to Josh. It looked like they knew the drug was going to take effect and they were there to take advantage as soon as it did.
Those two girls dressed in dresses that approached had odd behavior. They approached the bar just as Josh was coming out, BUMPED INTO him, and then turned around to leave! That makes NO sense. Then when they are making their exit, they start to walk in Josh’s direction, but when the one sees him there, she grabs the other by the arm, and they go a different way, as if they didn’t want to be near him. Then when they are crossing the street, you can see one handing the other something. Very strange behavior that raises my suspicions!
The police car was mentioned above by Susan. She said it gave her the chills when it passed by. I wasn’t observing the cars passing the first few times I played the video, but after I did search for the point when it passed, I realized it was at a time that I felt panicky, also. It was the point where Josh was really displaying the effects of being drugged. The feeling was intensifying at that point, and then he walked off. I really question the police involvement (or lack thereof) in this. I think independent investigators need to pursue this. If the families cannot afford it, I think a donation should be set up for this sole purpose, because there is something very sinister going on that we need to stop! This video just rips your heart out, knowing what happens next.
did anyone else see the cop car go by….He looked like he was druged…
Who is the guy standing and conversing with Josh from 8:52 to 9:30 on the tape? Has that been determined? Those two guys who come up from the left at 9:40 are definitely perps. Maybe not the only perps, but it is obvious that their only reason for being there is to watch Josh. The cop car goes by at a much slower speed than the rest of the cars on that street. Very suspicious, maybe not on its own, but in combination with what we know about the totality of LE involvement with these cases.
Wow, the behavior of those two guys who come from the left is really interesting. I also think you can deduce that Josh can barely walk ten feet without stopping and fiddling, and staggering. I find it hard to believe he could naviagte the two miles in the other direction.
Police car creep at 12:01 is totally suspicious. Officer definitely noticed the victim, whom then proceeded to walk in the same direction the police car was traveling, 40 some seconds later. I see a public intoxication arrest, easily controlled and handcuffed in the back seat, followed by something nefarious for some nefarious reason, then disposing of the body in a body of water. This would be an applicable template for each one of these cases. Opportunity. Ease of person control. Knowledge of evidence. Means. I’m not saying anything, I’m just saying something outloud.
8:30-A cop (or cop impersonator) enters from the right side of the screen and enters the bar.
8:35-Josh leaves bar and two girls run into him at the door. Instead of proceeding inside, they turn around, almost approach Josh, then cross the street.
8:59- The two girls leave screen at bottom left
9:43-two guys appear from the right side of screen and watch Josh
10:08 -the two guys leave the way the came.
10:45-the same two girls enter from the RIGHT side of the screen now and enter the bar.
11:04-the cop comes back out and leaves to the right
12:03-police car goes by slowly
Josh leaves to the right of the screen
Okay I think the two girls are “runners” and are keeping an eye on Josh and reporting back to both the two guys and the “cop”. They run into Josh, leave the scene to the left but show up again on the right. I think they went over to the two guys off the screen and said that Josh was outside. Then less than a minute later the two guys come check it out.
After the guys leave, the two girls come back from the right this time and enter the bar. They were probably sent to go tell the cop inside that Josh was outside. About 20 seconds after the girls enter the bar, the cop comes back out, leaves to the right.
So this cop was in the bar a total of about two and a half minutes.
You’ve got both a cop on foot, and a cop in a car withing feet of when and where Josh disappeared.
I realize this could be a security guard or cop impersonator, or a cop.
I remember listening to an interview a couple years ago with Josh’s dad in which he talked about these surveillance videos. He said that in his own investigation, not the police,he had identified multiple people that had drugged Josh inside the bar and then managed to kidnap him after he walked outside. Would be nice to see the view from inside the bar too but we don’t have it. He said that many people were involved in the kidnapping, which we can all see from the outside videotape, and that he had found out some of their identities. I will search around for the interview but haven’t heard any updates since.
@iceman
I was thinking the same thing about seeing the videos from inside the bar. How horribly frustrating for Mr. Szostak to have the identities and not be able to prove it.