Body of Naperville diver returned to Wilmette shoreline

A nonprofit deep-water recovery team recovered the body of a diver on Sept. 7 and returned him to Wilmette Harbor, according to local authorities.

Keith Cormican, founder of Bruce’s Legacy, the nonprofit, said that his team was privately engaged to search for Dr. Michael Jones, 54, a Naperville resident and oral surgeon in Crystal Lake who reportedly went missing during a deep-water shipwreck dive on Sept. 5.

Bruce’s Legacy divers recovered Jones approximately 160 feet under water on Sept. 7 about 20 miles off the Chicago-Evanston shoreline, Cormican wrote in a social media post.

Cormican told The Record that a mix up with City of Chicago emergency units caused Bruce’s Legacy to seek a safe space to return Jones to his waiting family — not something the organization had previously done. Cormican and company found Wilmette Harbor, where they were met Sept. 7 by local emergency personnel and Jones’ family.

Wilmette Police Cmdr. Alex Mercado and Wilmette Fire Chief Brian Lambel confirmed their departments’ were on scene for the body’s return. Mercado said the Wilmette PD helped coordinate with the U.S. Coast Guard, which reportedly took charge of the investigation.

In his online post, Cormican thanked Wilmette for its assistance, Great Lakes Search and Recovery for supporting the mission, and volunteers Brad Chown and Jeff Haubrich.

“In all the searches and recoveries I have been involved with over the years, I have never had to (return a body to the shore) before,” Cormican wrote in his post. “…. And a sincere thank you to the Wilmette Police Department and Wilmette Fire Department for all of their assistance once we arrived back on shore.

“Most importantly, our heartfelt condolences go out to Michael’s family and friends. At the end of every search, this is what matters most — bringing a loved one home and giving a family the answers they have been waiting for.”

The Record is a nonprofit, nonpartisan community newsroom that relies on reader support to fuel its independent local journalism.

Become a member of The Record to fund responsible news coverage for your community.

Already a member? You can make a tax-deductible donation at any time.