County coroner ID’s man who reportedly drowned in April

A recent missing-persons report has led to the identification of a man who drowned months ago in the Fort Sheridan area, according to the Lake County Coroner’s Office.

In a statement released on Thursday, Sept. 17, the coroner’s office said a man who was found dead on April 17 along a shoreline in Fort Sheridan Forest Preserve has been identified as Modesto Leyva-Garcia, a 61-year-old resident of Highwood.

Spurring the update, according to the coroner’s office, the Highwood Police Department received a missing-persons report regarding Leyva-Garcia on Sunday, Sept. 13, and the following day notified the coroner’s office that Leyva-Garcia matched the description of the individual found in April on the suburban beachfront.

The county and Highwood police reportedly worked together to locate and notify the family of Leyva-Garcia.

The coroner’s office then confirmed on Wednesday, Sept. 16, the body was that of Leyva-Garcia, whose death was ruled a drowning in April.

Highland Park and county first responders responded to the scene in April following multiple reports of a body in the water. The county coroner’s office also responded.

At that time, “despite multiple scientific attempts,” the coroner’s office could not determine the man’s identity and released a description as well as images of his clothes and belongings.

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