CANTON — A claim that a St. Lawrence University student who drowned in the Grasse River after a night of heavy drinking might have been the victim of a nationwide gang of serial killers is absurd, according to Canton's police chief.

"It's absolutely ludicrous," Alan P. Mulkin said after "Good Morning America" on ABC television featured a story Monday morning linking the death of Adam M. Falcon to about 40 similar deaths among college students.

Mr. Falcon, a third-year student and member of the university's varsity men's soccer team, disappeared in November 2004 after leaving Tick Tock Inn in downtown Canton. His body was found in the Grasse River after a massive, five-day search. An autopsy put his blood alcohol content at 0.21 percent. The death of the 20-year-old student was ruled an accident.

"I am sure we did a thorough and competent investigation with the help of numerous state and local agencies and came to the right conclusion," Mr. Mulkin said. "This death was the outcome of alcohol abuse."

The televised report, which originated with a Mineappolis, Minn., television station, was based on a theory offered by two retired New York City police detectives, Kevin Gannon and Anthony Duarte. They claimed a possible link between the death of University of Minnesota college student Chris Jenkins in 2002 and as many as 40 other river deaths, including that of Mr. Falcon.

If the deaths are linked, Mr. Mulkin said, it is not by a gang of serial killers but rather by things that are common in many college towns.

"What do all these communities have in common? Colleges, rivers and booze," the police chief said.