Update: Tragic end to search for missing Falls man

Local News

Related Photos

Afternoon Update sig
John Adams

July 24, 2010

John Adams fell into One Niagara trash compactor on night of July 4

By Nick Mattera Niagara Gazette The Niagara Gazette Sat Jul 24, 2010, 06:26 PM EDT

NIAGARA FALLS — A One Niagara employee who mysteriously disappeared in early July while on the job, has been confirmed dead by Niagara Falls Police Saturday, following an in-depth review of surveillance video obtained by detectives last night.

John Adams, 67, a maintenance worker at One Niagara was last seen on July 4 at around 10 p.m. when he performed a final trash sweep of the Niagara Street complex. Video surveillance reviewed by police shows Adam’s entering an active trash compactor to retrieve a fallen garbage bin and apparently being crushed by the device. The video revealed that Adams died from the injuries suffered and prevented his body from being discovered.

“The footage shows that Mr.Adams fell into a large self-contained dumpster that has a mechanical compacting mechanism that prevented him from being able to escape and made it impossible for coworkers or others to realize what occurred,” a statement from the Niagara Falls Police Department said.

The death as been ruled an occupational accident.

When asked why video footage was not reviewed earlier in the process, One Niagara President Tony Farina said police had sifted through the dumpster at the time Adams was reported missing and found no conclusive evidence of his remains and therefore did not review the tape in question.

Falls Police detectives reviewed video surveillance late Friday, along with officials from One Niagara, Farina said which is when it became clear how Adams had died.

Farina called the conclusion a tragic loss to the One Niagara family.

“The police had taken the dumpster shortly after (Adams) had disappeared and sifted it for possible remains and they came back with nothing, so we hadn’t reviewed that particular tape until (Friday),” Farina said. “It was a very startling and tragic discovery, everybody at One Niagara is deeply saddened by this. We had always held out hope that somehow John would turn up OK and this is a terrible way for things to end.”

Arthur J. Dube, Buffalo area director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration was on site Saturday afternoon to begin an investigation into the death of Adams. When Dube attempted to operate the trash compactor, it malfunctioned and did not operate properly. Dube could not comment or speculate whether the malfunction may have contributed to the death of Adams.

“We are opening up our investigation Today (Saturday), we will have a conference with the building manager, we will start gathering information, gathering evidence, taking interview statements and conduct a full investigation to find out if any OSHA regulations were broken,” Dube told the Niagara Gazette. “We have a six month statute of limitation, meaning we will issue a report in six months.”

The trash compactor—owned by Allied Waste, is not to be used or moved until Monday, while both Falls police and OSHA officials continue obtaining evidence at the One Niagara site.

Following his disappearance Farina and One Niagara owner Frank Parlato Jr. offered a $1,500 reward for information of the whereabouts of Adams. Farina said Adams was a reliable, hard working individual who will be missed.

“My heart goes out to his family and friends,” Farina said.

Text Only | Photo Reprints

Local News

BODY FOUND: Falls police ID missing woman
Falls Police say the body of a woman, found in dense brush in a field off of 102nd Street, is that of 67-year-old Judith Burr.

February 8, 2012 4 Photos
SLIDESHOW: Volunteers Search for Judith Volunteers gathered on 102nd Street in Niagara Falls to search for the missing Judith Burr, 67. Shortly after the search began, the body of Judith was found in the dense brush just east of 102nd Street.
February 8, 2012 1 Photo
NCIDA declines One Niagara's request for tax help
It’s a no-go for a proposed tax break at One Niagara.
At least for now.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Marijuana mystery on Michigan Avenue solved
The mystery surrounding a Michigan Avenue marijuana grow house has been solved.
And a Falls man has been charged with running the pot farm that was found there in July.

February 8, 2012 1 Photo
Crack dealer taken down on Orleans Avenue
Falls Narcotics Division detectives took down an Orleans Avenue crack dealer, literally, on Tuesday.

February 7, 2012 2 Photos
Historic stone chimney move could be costly
City officials are dealing with some sticker shock after receiving an initial estimate for what it might cost to move an historic stone chimney to a new location.

February 7, 2012 1 Photo
One Niagara tax request up for vote
The owners of the One Niagara building may find out today if they qualify for a tax break through the Niagara County Industrial Development Agency.
NCIDA board Chairman Henry Sloma said One Niagara’s application for tax assistance will be discussed during today’s board meeting.

February 7, 2012
Search planned for missing Falls woman
Loved ones are organizing a search party for 67-year-old Judith Burr who has been missing since Friday.

February 7, 2012
Bill would ban offenders on school buses
The New York State Senate passed a bill Tuesday that would ban certain criminal offenders from working on school buses.

February 7, 2012
No new vet for Niagara SPCA
It was one step forward and one step back for the SPCA of Niagara on Monday.
Just 72 hours after announcing the hiring of a new veterinarian for its troubled shelter, the SPCA board changed its mind and decided not to bring Lewiston vet Dr. Grant Hobika on board.

February 6, 2012 1 Photo
More Local News Headlines

Do you think cigarette sales to non-Native American customers should be taxed on reservations?