PORTLAND, Maine — The body of a Harvard Business School student was recovered from Portland Harbor on Tuesday, three days after he was told to leave a waterfront bar for being visibly drunk while celebrating his upcoming graduation with two friends.
A Maine State Police diver recovered the body of Nathan Bihlmaier, 31, of Cambridge, Mass., shortly before noon from the harbor bottom near Custom House Wharf, Portland Police Chief Michael Sauschuck said.
Bihlmaier was separated from friends after leaving the Ri Ra Irish Pub — two wharves away from where the body was found — at 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Sauschuck said. He later called his friends to tell them he was lost, with his last communication with them coming at 12:15 a.m. Sunday. His cellphone was shut off about 40 minutes later.
Bihlmaier's death appears to be a tragic accident, Sauschuck said. An autopsy is expected Wednesday.
"We don't have any indication at this point there was any type of crime," the police chief said at a news conference.
A native of Osborne, Kan., Bihlmaier was a University of Kansas graduate, due to graduate from Harvard on Thursday. His wife is pregnant with their first child.
Police have reviewed cellphone records and a surveillance video showing Bihlmaier leaving Ri Ra, Sauschuck said. They are looking for other surveillance video from cameras along the waterfront in an attempt to retrace Bihlmaier's movements and determine where he went into the water, he said.
Ri Ra employees followed state law by asking a visibly intoxicated Bihlmaier to leave, but it's probably worth asking if bars should take additional steps to ensure the safety of their customers, Sauschuck said.
"We think responsible bar owners and employees would take that next step to make sure they're safely on their way," he said.
Ri Ra general manager Samantha Schoolcraft said she had no comment on the events of Saturday night.
"We are cooperating with the police and our thoughts and prayers go out to family and friends," she said.
Harvard Business School Dean Nithin Noria said graduates will feel two emotions at Thursday's commencement: celebration of their graduation tinged with sadness about Bihlmaier's death.
"This is a sad day and one our community will forever mourn," Noria told reporters in Portland.