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Illinois coroner identifies body pulled from creek as missing Chicago-area man

By Nic Flosi
Published  February 4, 2026 1:24pm CST
Missing Persons
FOX 32 Chicago

The Brief

    • A body recovered from Jelkes Creek in West Dundee has been identified as a missing Elgin man.
    • The Kane County Coroner says the preliminary cause of death appears to be drowning.
    • The investigation is ongoing while toxicology testing is underway.

KANE COUNTY, Ill. - A body pulled from a creek in Chicago’s northwest suburbs this week has been identified as a 52-year-old Elgin man who was reported missing in January.

What we know:

The Kane County Coroner’s Office said the body of an adult man was recovered from Jelkes Creek in West Dundee on Monday. The man had been reported missing by his family on Jan. 22.

An autopsy conducted Wednesday positively identified the man as Joseph L. Johnson Jr. The preliminary cause of death appears to be drowning, pending toxicology results.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear how Johnson ended up in the creek.

What they're saying:

"Kane County Coroner, Dr. Monica Silva, and her staff, extend their deepest condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Joseph Johnson Jr.," the coroner's office said in a press release.

What's next:

The investigation into Johnson’s death remains ongoing.

The Source: The information in this story came from the Kane County Coroner’s Office.

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