The Elmhurst Police Department announced Monday that the extensive search for 28-year-old Gabriel De Sagun of Naperville concluded Sunday after public safety personnel located a deceased individual in the water of the east quarry using public safety drone technology.
Following an examination by the DuPage County Coroner’s Office, the individual was positively identified as De Sagun. Authorities haven’t announced the cause and manner of his death.
Since De Sagun was reported missing on July 20, the Elmhurst Police Department, Elmhurst Fire Department and numerous local and regional public safety partners conducted an extensive search utilizing specialized resources, including K-9 teams, drones, boats, sonar technology and aviation assets. Daily drone flights of the quarry continued until the individual was located.
“On behalf of the Elmhurst Police Department, I extend my deepest condolences to Gabriel’s family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” said Police Chief Mike McLean. “While this is not the outcome anyone hoped for, we are grateful for the efforts of the first responders and community volunteers who dedicated countless hours to this search. I also want to thank our mutual aid partners and the many members of our community who shared information, offered support, and kept Gabriel and his family in their thoughts throughout the past week. We respectfully ask that Gabriel’s family be afforded privacy as they grieve.”
The investigation remains ongoing in coordination with the DuPage County Coroner’s Office. No additional information was available for release at press time.
At 7:37 p.m. July 20, police said family members arrived at the police station to report De Sagun missing. It was learned De Sagun was dropped off by a family member to retrieve his car from a parking lot on West Avenue in Elmhurst earlier that afternoon. The family member drove home; however, De Sagun never arrived at their residence in Naperville.
Officers located De Sagun's car unoccupied in a nearby townhome parking lot on the 200 block of N. West Ave. Officers spoke to a resident who provided home security video, indicating De Sagun was last seen walking away southbound on the sidewalk of West Avenue between 2nd and 3rd streets at 2:45 p.m. Overnight Monday, July 20, and throughout the day Tuesday, July 21, Elmhurst police and fire departments searched the area on foot, with police K9s, public safety drones and by boat.
