69-Year Old McHenry Man Found in Fox River

A press release from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office:

SEARCH FOR OLDER HANDICAPPED MAN ENDS; BODY MATCHING DESCRIPTION FOUND IN FOX RIVER

Robert Little

Robert Little

An 8-hour search of a mixed use area north of McHenry, Illinois, Tuesday resulted in the finding of a body matching the description of a 69-year-old mentally handicapped man who had been reported missing from his home along the Fox River the previous evening, the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday.

A search helicopter from Air-One Emergency Response Coalition, conducting a sweep south of Ill. Rt. 120, observed what appeared to be a body in the river at the end of a private pier.

McHenry County Sheriff’s deputies were directed by the Air-One pilots to the site in the 500 block of Mineral Springs Drive in unincorporated McHenry, where they located and secured the body.

Roger T. Little had been reported missing Monday at about 8:30 p.m. by his brother, with whom he lived in the 2800 block of north Villa Lane, also in unincorporated McHenry and an area containing private residences, the Chapel Hill Golf Course and farmland.

Responding deputies searched the residence and outbuildings and a complete neighborhood canvass was conducted, followed by an attempt to develop a trail using canines. Assisted by the McHenry Township Fire Prevention District, approximately 25 officers then conducted an extensive ground search of the area using thermal imaging and ATVs while boats equipped with sonar scoured the river, all without results.

Mineral Springs Drive, McHenry

Mineral Springs Drive, McHenry

The search was eventually suspended because of darkness, and resumed at about 8:00 a.m. Tuesday with the assistance of McHenry County Emergency Management Agency (EMA).

The effort again involved canines; search and rescue teams driving ATVs; a sonar-equipped boat scouring the river; and the helicopter.

The body was found dressed in the clothing that had been described to police the previous evening.

There were no preliminary indications of foul play, investigators said, but the investigation is ongoing with the McHenry County Coroner’s Office.

Many different jurisdictions assisted in the search, including the Illinois Department of Natural

Resources; Midwest K-9; New Lenox CERT (Emergency Response Team); Boone County EMA; Will County EMA; Elk Grove Village EMA; Hoffman Estates EMA; Hanover Township EMA; McHenry Township Fire Protection District; Kane County EMA. MESS Canteen assisted in support of the searchers with food and liquids.


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