Memorial Day Tragedy

Pensacola Search Heartbroken family of missing Air Force pilot crushed after authorities find his body

by Pat Peterson

Published: Mon, May 26, 2008 - 3:49 pm CST

A pregnant Emily Alley pleads for her husband Air Force Lt. John Alley to come home.

"I can't be a single parent," says Emily. "I can't do this without you, you're going to be a great dad and I need your help."

Friends and family of Alley, and hundreds of complete strangers met at his church Monday morning to organize a massive search for the man, who was last seen at Whiting Field Friday.

"It's gut-renching," says John's father, Dave Alley. "It really hurts. We want to find him."

Authorities found Alley's totalled car Saturday morning on Scenic Highway in Pensacola...but no sign of the pilot. But just as searchers were about to head out and look for him again, a fisherman found Alley's body floating in Escambia Bay near the crash site.

"The injuries he received in the wreck were not life-threatening," says Pensacola Asst. Police Chief Chip Simmons. "The wreck would not have killed him so now there are some obvious questions surrounding his death. We need to find out what exactly happened."

An autopsy will be performed later this week to determine an exact cause of death.

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oconcern Says:

Tue, May 27, 2008 at 6:53 pm

I hope the police do a lengthy investigation. It is a long way from the crash site to the water. Including a steep hill, some thick weeds, a built up railroad track, and a line of rocks about 7 foot high and 20 foot across. Very challanging for anyone to accomplish in a clear state of mind. Very nice young man, will be dearly missed. Love and prayers to his family.

mremann83 Says:

Mon, May 26, 2008 at 9:30 pm

What a strange story. And an even stranger ending. Does anyone know the story of Blair Adams? You all should google it… The strangest unsolved mystery I have ever seen. Nothing else comes close, in my opinion.

DEW26M Says:

Mon, May 26, 2008 at 6:29 pm

True, very true, we may never know, I pray for him and his family. Nothing can feel worse than loosing one you love.

BamaBob Says:

Mon, May 26, 2008 at 6:23 pm

I guess we need to learn more before we speculate too much. It just sounds and looks odd. He could have dozed off at the wheel and gone off the embankment. In a daze he could have fallen into the bay.

Sounds like a very tragic situation…..

DEW26M Says:

Mon, May 26, 2008 at 6:14 pm

I dunno, but by the comments the wife made, he must have been having seconds thoughts about being a daddy. I can only hope that it was an accident, and he didn’t take his own life, over fear of being a father. Cause even a not-so-great daddy is better than NO daddy.

BamaBob Says:

Mon, May 26, 2008 at 5:48 pm

This is a sad, strange story. The video makes it look like there were no skid marks leading up to the impact with the guardrail. What do they think happened?

DEW26M Says:

Mon, May 26, 2008 at 5:39 pm

That’s pretty sad that this man lost his life, and left a wife and unborn child behind. I wonder though, why they suspecting some kinda foul play involved. If indeed that is the case, i hope they find the person(s) responsible for his death.