An evening walk along the Lake Michigan shoreline in Highland Park turned grim Friday when bystanders spotted a man’s body in shallow water at the Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve. Multiple 911 calls brought firefighters and ranger police to the scene near the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve, where crews pulled the man from the water and turned his body over to the Lake County Coroner’s Office. Authorities say he has not yet been identified and are still working to learn how he ended up in the lake.
What officials say
An autopsy conducted Monday by the Lake County Coroner’s Office found the man’s death was consistent with drowning, according to FOX 32 Chicago. The outlet reports that the coroner’s office has run fingerprint and other tests but has not yet confirmed his identity.
Discovery and response
Lake County Forest Preserves Ranger Police, Highland Park police, and the Highland Park Fire Department responded after several 911 callers reported a body in the water. First responders located the man in shallow water shortly after 6 p.m., Lake and McHenry County Scanner reported.
According to that account, shoes and other personal belongings were found at the end of the trail leading down to the beach. Bystanders told authorities they saw the body floating before crews pulled it to shore.
Victim details
The Coroner’s Office described the man as about 5 feet 3 inches tall and believed to be in his late 50s to early 70s, with gray hair and balding on top. He was wearing light blue drawstring shorts, an olive green Adidas hat, size 7 Nike shoes, a Tahari watch and a silver-colored metal ring, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
Local context
Fort Sheridan’s lakeshore has been the focus of other serious investigations in recent years. In 2022, a deadly confrontation on the beach led to murder charges and, earlier this week, second-degree murder convictions, as reported by the Daily Herald. That history has fueled calls for vigilance in the area and regular patrols by ranger police.
Officials are urging anyone who might recognize the description or have information that could help identify the man to contact the Lake County Coroner’s Office at 847-377-2200 or the Lake County Forest Preserves Ranger Police at 847-968-3404, as listed on the Lake County Coroner’s Office and Lake County Forest Preserves websites.
Investigators say the case remains open and there is no known ongoing threat to the public, according to Lake and McHenry County Scanner.
