By Dee Longfellow
For The Elmhurst Independent
The Elmhurst resident who has been missing since Aug. 8 was the subject of an ongoing criminal probe at the time of his disappearance, according to a report published on CrimeOnline (www.crimeonline.com).
The missing person, Jake Cefolia, is a Senior Vice President of Worldwide Sales at United Airlines.
While an Elmhurst deputy refused to confirm or deny to the Independent a week ago that any criminal investigation was pending against Cefolia, Elmhurst Police Chief Michael Ruth did confirm to CrimeOnline that there was indeed a criminal investigation under way before Cefolia, 49, went missing. Due to the ongoing investigation, he could not comment further. Cefolia has not been charged with any wrongdoing, nor is there a warrant for his arrest.
Ruth also confirmed to CrimeOnline that the department had reviewed surveillance footage that appeared to show Cefolia at a local gas station shortly after he was last seen. The footage is grainy, Ruth said, but Cefolia “was not wearing what appeared to be typical running clothes,” according to CrimeOnline.
Chief David Pederson of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County noted that Cefolia’s car had been located by the forest district on Aug. 8 adjacent to the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, in an area where Pederson said people often come to hike or jog. Both Pederson and Ruth told CrimeOnline that Cefolia was known to go running there.
Pederson also confirmed earlier that Cefolia had not been in communication with any of his known contacts since the time he was reported missing.
“We don’t know for sure he’s still at the forest preserve, but at this point there’s been no contact with family or friends,” Pederson told ABC-7 Chicago during the missing persons investigation.
Pederson told CrimeOnline that for two weeks, the law enforcement arm of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County was performing regular daily searches of the preserve, sometimes using cadaver dogs. So far, the searches have not resulted in any substantive evidence. Pederson said further canine searches would continue.
A family member told police Cefolia was seen at his home on Aug. 6 when he “appeared to be intoxicated that evening,” according to CrimeOnline. The police report also indicated Cefolia had been “stressed out lately.” His ex-wife also told police her husband had spoken about “going off the grid.”
The missing executive may also have been distraught about a recent breakup with a girlfriend who reportedly lives out of state, the CrimeOnline report said.
So far, there is no evidence of foul play, but Ruth said that investigators have not ruled it out. There was no indication Cefolia owns any firearms, according to Ruth.
“We would like to find him and reunite him with his family, and [continue with] the other aspects that we have going on,” Ruth said.
