Press-Republican

Local News

November 20, 2008

Police: Missing hiker died of natural causes

INDIAN LAKE — State Police said a California man who went missing while hiking in the Adirondacks last month died of natural causes.

A hunter found Fred Gillingham's body in the remote wilderness near Rock River earlier this week, and an autopsy Wednesday confirmed the 72-year-old's identity.

Gillingham was a longtime and well-known seasonal resident of Indian Lake and was reported missing in mid-October after he ventured into the woods for a leisurely hike and never returned.

State Police said dental records confirmed his remains Wednesday.

His autopsy, which was performed at Albany Medical Center by Dr. Michael Sikirika, determined that the avid hiker died of cardiac arrhythmia due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and focal myocardial scarring.

His death was subsequently ruled as being of natural causes.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local News

Recent Article Comments
Albany Round-up

Photo of the Day
Strange News
Videos: Editor Picks
Pop Music Superstar Whitney Houston Dies at 48 Police: Houston Found Dead in Her Hotel Room Paul Suffers Narrow Loss to Romney in Maine Recording Superstar Whitney Houston Dead at 48 Maine GOP Chairman Says Romney Wins Caucuses Palin Brings Anti-Washington Message to CPAC Obama Scraps Birth Control Mandate US Airmen's Killer Sentenced to Life in Germany Navy Names Ship for Gabrielle Giffords Raw Video: Deadly Blasts in Syria Romney Slams President Obama at CPAC Gingrich: Pres. Obama 'waging War on Religion' 5 Killed in Wrong-way Crash on I-10 in La. Uzbek Man Pleads Guilty in Plot to Kill Obama Denver's Largest-Ever Drug Bust Nets Dozens Marines: No Punishment for Nazi-like Flag Vets Look to Translate Military Skills Into Jobs Raw Video: School Bus Burst Into Flames LA School Reopens Amid Sex Abuse Scandal $25B Settlement Reached Over Foreclosure Abuses