Stuart V. Heckman 06-06-08

Man found drowned behind boat

Anchorage Daily News / adn.com

Published: June 8th, 2009

PILOT STATION -- A man apparently drowned after passing out in a boat here on Saturday, according to Alaska State Troopers.

Troopers said they got the call about a body floating face-down behind a boat in Pilot Station about 1:40 a.m. Saturday.

Investigators say Stuart V. Heckman, 43, had gone with four others to Saint Marys to pick up a friend, and that while they were there one person bought a bottle of booze for $120.

On the boat trip back to Pilot Station, Heckman and others drank the alcohol, and by the time they docked all were drunk, troopers said.

Heckman and another person stayed behind and passed out in the boat, troopers said. A while later, Heckman's body was discovered floating face-down directly behind the boat. He was wearing a life jacket.

It was not immediately clear what type of boat it was or how troopers thought Heckman ended up in the water.

Efforts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful.

Troopers say alcohol was a factor in the death. Both Saint Marys and Pilot Station are local-option areas that restrict alcohol. The person who bought the booze would not tell investigators who the source was, troopers said.