Skeletal Remains of Missing United Airlines Exec Found in Forest Preserve

Remains found Friday at an Illinois nature preserve have been identified as Jake Cefolia, a United Airlines executive who disappeared last year.

According to the DuPage County Coroner’s Office, a forensic odonatologist compared Cefolia’s dental records with the remains and made the match. Cause and manner of death have not been determined as yet, the office said.

Cefolia, a senior vice president of worldwide sales at United Airlines, disappeared in early August 2020. His vehicle was found in a parking lot near Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve. An exhaustive search of 2,500 acre preserve did not yield any signs of the missing executive and the case went cold before the remains were discovered Friday.

CrimeOnline confirmed Cefolia was the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation.

A source close to the investigation told CrimeOnline that electrical workers surveying a remote area of the preserve discovered what appeared to be a human skeleton hanging from a tree. The location was near the area where Cefolia’s SUV was found.

This is a developing story and all information is preliminary. CrimeOnline will provide further updates when more information is available.

Read CrimeOnline’s previous coverage of the Jake Cefolia missing persons investigation.

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