Coroner draws national attention

Anchorage Daily News ^ | December 11, 2005 | ANN POTEMPA

[skeptoid]

The audience at Century 16 came to see Timothy Treadwell, the "Grizzly Man" subject who dared danger by getting so close to brown bears he could pet them.

But a half-hour in, the fall blockbuster cuts to a new character, no less dramatic. Cue Dr. Franc Fallico, the unexpected scene-stealer.

Off screen, Fallico is a clean-pressed man who does the state's dirty work. He's Alaska's chief medical examiner, which means he spends his days performing autopsies on people killed in suspected homicides, accidents or by sudden illness.

In fall 2003, Fallico performed the autopsies of Treadwell and girlfriend Amie Huguenard -- both killed by grizzlies in Katmai National Park, southwest of Anchorage. Werner Herzog, the director, asked Fallico to appear in a documentary about Treadwell's years in the Alaska wilderness, videotaping and -- as he saw it -- protecting the bears. Fallico agreed.

He was in only a few scenes, but they were all dramatic. A performer at heart, Fallico seemed undaunted by the task. He stared down the camera, giving a play-by-play of how Treadwell probably died. He tore at his own head with his hands, showing how the bear attacked.

[skeptoid]

While conducting an autopsy, Dr. Franc Fallico takes a call from a national news magazine television show after the release of "Grizzly Man," a film documenting the life of bear activist Timothy Treadwell in which Fallico appeared. Movie critics praised Fallico's performance, and producers have called with offers. "I want to keep my job," he said. "I don't want to be an actor." (Photos by DARON DEAN / Anchorage Daily News)

Fallico lives with his wife, Hisa, and daughter, Marissa, 8, in Anchorage. Because Fallico testifies in emotional criminal cases, the family has received threatening phone calls including death threats, which worries his wife. The couple now has an unlisted phone number. (Photos by DARON DEAN / Anchorage Daily News)

Six more photos at the site. (Click 'more' under the pic.)

[zip]

Odd, I looked at the first 3 pictures then the screen went to a registration page and I couldn't get back to the pictures. I've never had that happen before.

[skeptoid]

ADN gives you 3 peeks and then you must log in. Registration is free and relatively quick and painless.

You can view 6 pics that load on the 'print' page.

[VOA]

bump

[Reactionary]

I think I understand the point of this article. Maybe.

Grizzly Man, since he was eaten by a bear, isn't an idiot. No. The fact that his head was chewed off shows what a committed, briliant eco-fanatic he really was. We should all follow his example.

[thackney]

I think I understand the point of this article.

Timothy Treadwell spent his life trying to prove how gentle brown bears are. He failed during his life, but succeeded in his death.

[jimboster]

The family has received death threats which worries the wife so they have an unlisted phone number, yet they allow the paper to publish a photo of the wife and the little girl. Makes sense.

[DUMBGRUNT]

It is nice to read about someone who enjoys their work.
Thanks for posting.

[JohnCliftn]

Well, yes. Not only is the kind man protecting the cute fuzzy bears, but he offers them his girlfriend and many valuable nutrients.

Note that the bears didn't eat him all up. There was enough left to autopsy. This suugests he did not bathe often, which proves he was a true enviro-whatever.

You can always smell the enviros at truck stops, etc., all over Pennsylvania. Not even Hunters, who've spent 18 days in the blinds, smell that bad. Also, Hunters down from the hills order a cup of coffee and a shower first thing. After the shower the Hunters will set a spell, have a big big breakfast, maybe a couple (never, ever more than two) of cold beers at the place across the road, maybe a couple of hot ones at the girly show behind the tavern across the road. By contrast environuts don't seem to know that tp is for, let alone the shower.

Sorry, I seem to have ranted. It did me good.

[Boazo]

I thought the bear passed the Grizzly man on the trail?