Get Breaking News

Receive special offers from wataugademocrat.com.


Originally published: 2012-10-27 14:35:03
Last modified: 2012-10-27 14:35:27

ALE finishes probe into ASU student death

by Kellen Moore

Alcohol Law Enforcement agents have completed their investigation into the circumstances surrounding the drowning death of ASU student Tyler Blalock last month, Assistant Special Agent in Charge Brad Putnam said Friday.

Putnam said the information was provided to office of District Attorney Jerry Wilson on Thursday. He would not answer any other questions about the information gleaned.


“It’s in the hands of the DA’s office,” Putnam said.


Neither Wilson nor the assistant district attorneys could be reached Friday afternoon.


Appalachian State University released a statement Oct. 5 stating that Blalock had become “very intoxicated” at an off-campus party and bar before he drowned in the campus creek Sept. 29.


Police believe Blalock attended a party off-campus around 8 p.m. Sept. 28 and later purchased beer at a local store.


Around 11:30 p.m., he left the party with friends for a nearby bar, police said. Blalock left the bar around 2 a.m. and was last seen walking toward campus.


Police believe Blalock was alone when he fell at the edge of the creek in Durham Park and hit his head on a rock around 2:30 a.m. His body was found shortly before 8 a.m. that morning.


Blalock had another man’s driver’s license in his possession that “bore a strong resemblance to him,” according to the statement.


ASU Police Chief Gunther Doerr said earlier this month that he would not release the names of the establishments Blalock is believed to have visited while ALE was still investigating.