Missing United Airlines Executive Found Dead in Illinois Forest Preserve

A banal photograph of constabulary tape. (Susan Montoya Bryan/AP Photo)

The assemblage of a United Airlines enforcement who went missing much than a twelvemonth agone was recovered successful an Illinois wood sphere implicit the past weekend, officials said.

DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen said successful a statement that a assemblage was recovered successful the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, located adjacent Chicago, past week.

The coroner’s bureau confirmed the individuality of the assemblage arsenic Jacob Cefolia, 50, of Elmhurst.

“A origin and mode of decease person not been determined and remains nether investigation,” the bureau said, adding that it has nary much details astir the incident.

Cefolia, who was United Airlines’ manager of worldwide sales, was past seen astatine a state presumption Elmhurst, Illinois, connected Aug. 7, 2020. His car was recovered astatine the wood sphere the adjacent day, according to section reports past year.

Investigators astir precocious searched the wood sphere successful April 2021. Local affiliate presumption Fox32, citing accusation obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, reported that officials searched the forested country astir 10 times since Cefolia went missing.

DuPage Forest Preserve Police Chief David Pederson told the Chicago Sun-Times that nary foul play was suspected successful his death. He noted that Cefolia’s driver’s license, backpack, and different idiosyncratic items were recovered adjacent his assemblage past week.

“On behalf of the Forest Preserve District, I would similar to nonstop our sincere condolences to his household and friends,” Pederson said. “We anticipation this astatine slightest [brings] closure to his household and friends.”

A spokesperson for United Airlines, which is based successful Chicago, issued a connection aft his decease was confirmed.

“Our thoughts are with his household and friends during this hard time,” the spokesperson said. “And we stay grateful for the enactment and prayers that truthful galore of our employees—including Jake’s co-workers—have shared with 1 different and connected his behalf implicit the past year.”