Bingo...
These people don't want to accept reality. They think it's a serial killer or some evil curse.
I'm willing to bet most of these occurred when drunk college kids have to take a leak, stand on the rivers edge to go, get swept in, and drown...
Can't see the obvious (sigh)...
That's a possibility. But the fact that authorities have indicated there may have been foul play begs the question of a perpetrator and possible serial killer.
Gotta disagree with ya on this one, Buddy. I think there is serious malfeasance going on here. Granted, those cliffs along the Mississippi in the LaCrosse area are seriously high, and you would NOT survive a fall into the river from that height if you were 'shakin' it off' and took a mis-step. ;)
But these kids were missing from their various groups of friends for hours before they were even reported missing. It needs more flat-foot footwork than the LaCrosse cops have been giving it.
I'm not willing to wait for an Ann Rule novel...though I may just e-mail her about these cases. If anyone can get to the bottom of it, it would be her. She's the one who cracked Ted Bundy and The Green River Killer in WA. (Or was it OR?)