Donald D. Adams, 07/11/03

By TATABOLINE BRANT, Anchorage Daily News, July 12, 2003

Body found in lake; no foul play suspected

TAKU: A police officer grew suspicious after finding the victim's belongings on shore. The body of an Anchorage man was discovered Friday morning in Taku Lake, Anchorage police said.

Donald D. Adams, 44, is believed to have drowned, said police spokesman Ron McGee. Officer Gerald Wesley found Adams a little after 7 a.m., McGee said.

Wesley was checking on a trail adjacent to Taku Lake in South Anchorage when he spotted a bike with a trailer attached to the back abandoned near a picnic table, McGee said. Adams' wallet, other personal items and beer cans sat nearby. The scene seemed suspicious, so the officer started searching the lake, McGee said.

The Anchorage Fire Department was called to assist in the search. Battalion Chief Gary Bullock sent a dive team to the lake along with a few other units to help search the surrounding area, AFD spokesman Tom Kempton said.

No dive was necessary. Police discovered Adams' body in the water near Campbell Creek Trail, which runs along the northern edge of the lake, police and fire officials said. He was fully clothed, McGee said.

The fire department removed the body from the water. McGee said that an autopsy will be performed but that no foul play is suspected.

It was not immediately known how long Adams was in the water. Family members told police they last saw him Thursday night, McGee said.

Daily News reporter Tataboline Brant can be reached at tbrant@adn.com or 257-4321.