The DuPage County coroner has positively identified the remains of United Airlines Executive Jake Cefolia after he was reported missing over a year ago.
Human remains discovered at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Lemont, Illinois, have been positively identified as missing United Airlines executive Jake Cefolia.
Here’s what the DuPage County coroner said in a statement Sunday:
“On Friday October 22nd, 2021 the DuPage Page County Coroner’s Office responded to a report of a deceased person in the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. An autopsy was performed the next day. A cause and manner of death have not been determined and remains under investigation. A Forensic Odonatologist has examined dental records and the deceased and has positively identified him as Jacob Cefolia, 50/yo from Elmhurst. Nothing further at this time.”
DuPage County Forest Preserve Chief David Pederson said there were no signs of foul play, and an investigation continues.
Cefolia, who was a senior vice president of worldwide sales for Chicago-based United, was reported missing in August 2020 in a case that grabbed national headlines. His vehicle was found parked at the forest preserve but he wasn’t found despite what officials called an extensive search at the time.
It was on August 8 when his ex-wife reported Cefolia as missing, after failing to respond to numerous attempts to contact him.
Also, His son said that Cefolia was “extremely drunk” during their dinner the night before Cefolia went missing. He did not show up to work the next day and missed an appointment.
Cefolia had reportedly been struggling to deal with the stress of his position amid the pandemic, which forced United to lay off employees and left Cefolia with a 50 percent pay cut.
He had apparently been coping with the stress by drinking heavily and his ex-wife stated that he had at times fantasized about abandoning his career and “going off the grid.”
His wallet, driver’s license, and a backpack, along with clothing that matched the description of what Cefolia was seen wearing the day before he was reported missing, were also identified at the scene, the paper added.
“The human remains were located in a very thick covered brush area, extremely, so you can be 10 feet away and not see it,” Pederson said.
The executive’s remains were found hanging by a belt from a tree in the forest preserve. The area had been searched extensively but Cefolia was somehow missed.
Police reports say that days before Cefolia went missing he was in talks to sell his house, but failed to show up for a meeting with his realtor.
A law enforcement source revealed to the news outlet that the divorced dad of two was under investigation during the time of his disappearance, but wouldn’t share any further details.
According to LinkedIn, Cefolia was the Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales for United Airlines, after nearly 15 years with the company.
Sources: Right Wing Hour, People, NY Post, Yahoo News, Fox Business
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