The true story behind Luke Homan’s death

Luke Homan’s case remains a point of dispute in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The 21-year-old college basketball player disappeared after Oktoberfest in 2006 and was found in the Mississippi River three days later. Officials ruled the death an accidental drowning. Questions about timing, injuries, and the route to the water have kept the case in public view.

Oxygen schedules Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice, Season 1, Episode 2 titled Luke Homan, at 2:00 am ET. The episode follows retired detectives and experts as they reexamine the 2006 death in La Crosse.

Luke Homan was found in the Mississippi River three days after he vanished (Image via Unsplash)

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The true story behind Luke Homan’s death

Luke Homan, a junior at UW-La Crosse and a former walk-on at Milwaukee, went out with friends during Oktoberfest on September 29, 2006. He did not return home. On October 2, his body was recovered near the shore of the Mississippi River. Local authorities ruled the death an accidental drowning, with acute alcohol intoxication cited as a major factor, according to Oxygen.

The docuseries team reexamines why that outcome is disputed. The river is about a half-mile from the student bar district, and that distance shapes the route questions raised by family and friends. The show uses those basics to frame its review of timing and movement.

The river sits away from the student bar district often mentioned in the case (Image via Unsplash)

Also read: Luke Homan's case - A detailed case overview about the 2006 murder ahead of Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice

Early search notes included a K-9 alert to a van associated with a band that had performed nearby. That alert did not lead to charges and was later deemed inconclusive. The point appears as a lead that surfaced, drew attention, and then faded as the file closed.

Outside specialists looked at autopsy photos and reports. Former FBI dive team leader Bobby Chacon estimated that Luke Homan had been in the water for roughly 3 to 12 hours, based on body condition and debris level, not about two days as initially theorized. According to Oxygen, that shorter window is central to questions about when and where the body entered the river.

Toolmark and footwear analysts studied a mark on Luke Homan’s forehead. They said it could be consistent with pressure from a boot, which would suggest restraint. That remains an opinion and is presented as such on the program.

Analysts considered whether a forehead mark matched a boot impression (Image via Unsplash)

Surface injuries on the head and hands also drew debate. Investigators on the show said the marks looked more like pre-water trauma. Local officials had earlier described similar marks as travel abrasions from movement in water. Both readings are recorded, and the disagreement is noted on air, according to Oxygen.

With those opinions in hand, the show’s investigators and Homan’s mother met with the La Crosse Police Department and requested a review. As reported by Oxygen, the family was awaiting an official response at the time of the episode. The program does not change the manner of death and labels the key points as alleged or disputed.

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Where to watch Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice

Oxygen lists Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice - Luke Homan at 2:00 am ET. The series first aired in 2019 and focuses on one case each hour tied to the smiley face theory.

Outside the live schedule, Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice is available for purchase as a digital download on Amazon Video, Apple TV, and Fandango at Home.

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Also read: Smiley Face Killers: The Hunt for Justice - The true story behind Dakota James' death

Edited by Preethika Vijayakumar