The man whose body was discovered in Grasmere Lake in Washington Park on March 31 has been identified as Brian Wichek, a longtime United Airlines employee.
Michelle Weiss-Samaras, spokeswoman for the coroner’s office, said that an autopsy on the 37-year-old Wichek has been completed but the cause and manner of death have yet to be determined.
She said that determination will be made after further tests and studies.
Burt Wichek, Brian’s older brother, said Brian worked for United Airlines in customer service for about 12 years, transferring to Denver in 2000.
“He had a great sense of humor. He’d take the shirt off his back for you. He had no enemies. He was an all-around terrific guy,” said Burt Wichek of his younger brother.
“His death is absolutely tragic,” added Wichek.
Brian worked for United until about July 2008, when he left the company knowing he was about to be furloughed, said his brother.
Brian moved from Denver back to Raleigh, N.C. and lived there with Burt Wichek and his family until returning to Denver in May 2009.
Burt Wichek said that Washington Park was one of his brother’s favorite places, and he is mystified how his brother ended up in the lake.
“We are trying to put it together,” said Burt Wichek.
He said the coroner’s office told him his brother’s body may have been in the lake as long as eight weeks and may have been frozen for much of that time.
The coroner has found no evidence of bruising or blunt trauma on his brother’s body, Burt Wichek said.
Although the two brothers were very close – with their birthdays only 14 months apart – Burt Wichek said he last talked to his brother last summer.
He said that he assumed that because his brother was unemployed he may have stayed more to himself than usual. Burt Wichek said he was able to keep track of his brother through others in Denver.
Burt Wichek said that authorities are trying to back-track and put together his brother’s last moments and interactions with other people.
Brian Wichek joined the Army out of high school and spent time in Iraq during Desert Storm with the Army.
A funeral service and burial is planned for Brian Wichek at Fort Logan National Cemetery on April 16.
Wichek’s body was spotted by city workers carrying out water quality tests in the lake. The body was about 20 feet from shore in three feet of water.
The city employees called 911 about 10:34 a.m. on March 31 and divers from the Denver Fire Department retrieved the body. Denver homicide detectives responded to the scene.
Grasmere Lake is located at the south end of the park, one of the largest in Denver.
Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com
