Dane Williams was a surfer and employee of Hurley International who was reported missing on Saturday January 26, 2008. His body was found Tuesday January 29, 2008 in San Diego. The following is a letter from his mother: 

I thought it was about time I stepped in to get a few things cleared up. The press can sure exaggerate on the truth. If this wasn’t my son I’m speaking about, I’d say to myself, “That Poor Family”, why does the press have to sensationalize everything! The true facts that happened to my poor son Dane are bad enough, why in heavens sake are they making it worse for him and my family? In the Orange County Register alone, the headlines read: Alcohol, prescription drugs found in Hurley intern’s body! Well let’s clarify a few things here. Yes, Dane had Alcohol in his system that has always been said from the very beginning. Regarding the prescription drugs, Dane was found to have a small trace of valium in his system, this could have been purposely put in one of his drinks. However, the dose that was found in his system was so insignificant that it held no bearing whatsoever on Danes demise. Here is where it almost gets laughable to me if it wasn’t my son. The register stated that there was “quinine” in his system along with the valium; well quinine is nothing more than tonic water, period! I can’t explain why they had to put that in the paper making it sound as if Dane had Drug (s) (plural), unless they (the press) didn’t do there homework to find out what quinine is.

Now here is what we do know right now: Dane was out with friends at “The Hard Rock Hotel”, on the corner of 6th and K Street. (Not to be confused with Hard Rock Café) to have dinner and drinks after an all day work convention. Dane was not down in the Gaslamp district on vacation, he was at a work event. He left the hotel around 1:30 in the morning of Saturday the 26th. He was seen on surveillance leaving by himself. Dane was found 3 days later, 7 miles away, in one of the worst areas in San Diego. Dane did not walk there, he was dumped there. He was found wrapped in a blood-stained blanket with small cuts on his body. His clothing was damp and he had no personal belongings on him. There were tire and shoe tracks near his body. Believe me, this is more than suspicious. This was not a friendly drop-off. These were not friends of Danes. Something happened bad to Dane. Dane was a wonderful son and brother and a great friend to others.. He loved live and he wasn’t stupid. Something happened and we need to find out what…..No more jumping all over the story from one thing to another just to sell a paper…My son planned to be at work the next day. My son planned on being home just like the other 27,000 people that attended the “ASR Event”. And I’m going to find out what happened and in the meantime, not let his name get smeared all around just to sell a newspaper. Truth is always best………… Bottom line, he did not die from an alcohol or drug overdose, or the mixture of both. The coroner has confirmed this with us and as of this time it is an “undetermined death”. And again, someone knows something, please be that someone that calls Crime Stoppers. Any information at all could be the one key we are looking for….

Please call Crime Stoppers at 888-580-TIPS

Valen Williams
Danes Mother

Let’s all please repost this for Dane’s family and for his reputation. The news is screwed and they will do anything to make a buck by getting more people to watch or read their input. It’s so frustrating for me to hear the things about my friend that are said. I couldn’t imagine the way it makes his family feel at a time like this.

Anyone who can give any sort of information…even if you think it won’t make a difference, please take a moment to call Crime Stoppers. Anything you can offer may be of some help at this time, you just never know.

Surfing World Champion Mick Fanning has just broken his wrist while shredding in Japan. Apparently Fanning was on his first run on an intermediate slope at Niseko Resort on the island of Hokkaido. Man that is always a bummer when you get hurt on your first or second run and you have to go home pissed. For Mick’s sake I hope it was very icy, no pow, and foggy conditions.

For all you Fanning fans out there who are worried about him not competing in the ASP world tour coming up in February, don’t even sweat it. According to Mick’s mom, who we hear makes a mean bean dip, he will be back in full force for the tour as the fracture was pretty weak.

Get well soon Mick and good luck in the ASP!