Friend says Troy murder victim would do anything for anyone

Posted at: 08/27/2012 11:35 PM | Updated at: 08/28/2012 10:07 AM
By: Dan Levy

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TROY - An autopsy shows that 38-year old Scott Danker died of a gun shot wound to the head at the Taylor Apartments in Troy Sunday afternoon, his lifeless body found on the landing of a second floor stairwell by several young children.

Even though Troy police continue their search for both the killer and a motive, friends of Scott Danker say they have a pretty good idea about a likely scenario.

Danker grew up in Voorheesville. He was the father of two small children, and he was a local businessman. According to friends, he died because his demons finally caught up with him.

"He was a great guy to be around," said Bud Hamilton, a former neighbor and friend of Scott Danker, admittedly still in shock after finding out about Danker's murder. ""He'd do anything in the world for you. Scott would have given you the last dime in his pocket. All you had to do was ask."

Danker ran what Bud Hamilton said seemed like a pretty successful roofing company out of a two-family home in Green Island, where Hamilton and Danker lived in separate apartments.

But Danker also had a past. About ten years ago, while in Key West, Florida, he had at least two run-ins with police. He was arrested in April, 2002 and charged with fraud for allegedly swindling an innkeeper, and in December of the same year, he was charged with possession of a controlled substance.

"He had some demons," Hamilton acknowledged. "He had a drug addiction that he was battling and from what I understand, he was winning."

Hamilton suspects his friend probably had a relapse which is why he wound up at the Taylor Apartments on Sunday, although he says Scott also had good reason to turn his life around.

"He idolized his two kids," Hamilton asserted. "His daughter and his son, he idolized them both."

Hamilton says Danker openly spoke about his drug addiction with him, pointing out Danker knew he had to beat the habit and provide for his children.

"Sorry to say he's not going to be able to do that," Hamilton said.

Two other friends of Danker -- who declined on-camera interviews -- shared similar sentiments that Danker was a "great guy who'd do anything for you." They also acknowledged his difficult struggle with drugs.

Troy Police are saying nothing about a possible motive. There have been no arrests and the investigation is continuing.