Police investigate death of Rock Bridge High School student-athlete

Stuart Eiken, No. 22, in his Rock Bridge High School football uniform in 2008.   ¦  Catherine Szalkowski

COLUMBIA — Investigators with the Columbia Police Department on Sunday were still looking into the death of a Rock Bridge High School student, Stuart Eiken, 17, whose body was found early Saturday morning near McBaine.

According to Police Department spokeswoman Jessie Haden, a motorist called at roughly 7:30 a.m. Saturday saying that Eiken’s body had been found hanging from a water pumping station on Burr Oak Road South.

Because the pumping station is a city facility, Columbia police are handling the investigation.

While Haden said investigators are looking at all possible leads, she acknowledged that the incident appears to be a suicide.

“We don’t have any reason to believe that anyone wanted to hurt this young man,” she said.

Dori Burke, a forensic investigator with the Medical Examiner’s Office in Columbia, also confirmed: “Right now, all indications point to suicide.”

According to previous Missourian reporting, Eiken was a running back on the Bruins’ football team during the 2008 season.

Haden said that friends reported last seeing him sometime after 8 p.m. Friday.

Eiken’s parents, Beth and Brad Eiken, could not be reached Sunday.