Found Deceased IL - Jake Cefolia, 49, jogging, car found, SVP of United Airlines, Chicago, 6 Aug 2020

[MntnHiker]

This article United Airlines Executive Still Missing, 20 Days Later | One Mile at a Time

says this: "however, he was seen on video getting gas at around 10AM, and was also seen on video entering Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, wearing hiking boots and khakis (which isn’t typically what you’d wear if you’re going on a jog)"

BBM

That's where I got the info about him being seen entering the preserve and that he must have entered on foot because in a car, you would not see that he had on hiking boots.

I know national parks have entrance cams; I haven't personally witnessed any at a local preserve kind of area, but I guess it's possible they do. Otherwise, I'm not sure what video would pick him up entering unless it was a nearby traffic cam or business cam (if there are any even nearby).

 

[Orgona]

After thinking about this further with all the lay offs and maybe seeing that even more is coming and a criminal investigation against him I can easily see JC getting in a bad place mentally.

 

[MntnHiker]

I have never been to Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, but I don't believe I have ever seen any camera at an entrance to a forest preserve. I think the "confirmation" of Jake being seen entering the FP is rumor. His car was found on a street near the FP, but not in an actual FP parking lot.

He could have parked on the side of the road and had an Uber pick him up and bring him to another location. Super easy to do.

I was going off of this article from page 10: United Airlines Executive Still Missing, 20 Days Later | One Mile at a Time

It said this: "On Friday, August 7, Cefolia missed a corporate event; however, he was seen on video getting gas at around 10AM, and was also seen on video entering Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, wearing hiking boots and khakis (which isn’t typically what you’d wear if you’re going on a jog)"

 

[pikachu1322]

I don’t think I mentioned anywhere in my post “miraculously“. Where have you seen that? Of course with a court order. IANAL but I think if someone have to pay alimony or child support and fails to do that it should be easier to get one. I’m not saying that is the case here, because I have absolutely no way to know and definitely IANAL. Indeed loved one can have access too.

Adults have the right to disappear unless they themself send LE to a wild goose chase. Like making someone believe you are kidnapped and need help.
But in this case I still have the feeling this is not a “let’s go and build a new life somewhere else” kind of case. Only time will tell, or not.

Because of what he was wearing to me this could be an off the grid adventure went terribly wrong.
I do hope one day his loved ones will have answers.

Not sure how else to take this.

 

[Cubby]

I was going off of this article from page 10: United Airlines Executive Still Missing, 20 Days Later | One Mile at a Time

It said this: "On Friday, August 7, Cefolia missed a corporate event; however, he was seen on video getting gas at around 10AM, and was also seen on video entering Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, wearing hiking boots and khakis (which isn’t typically what you’d wear if you’re going on a jog)"

I believe the source for the information in this article was the find Facebook page. No official source has put out a timeline other than he was last seen at his home on August 6th and reported missing on the 8th.

I'm not directing my comments at you so to speak. I'm just pointing out where these business travel sites seem to be picking up their information.

 

[Orgona]

Not sure how else to take this.

OK, I see you are new here, so that must be the reason. There were cases on this forum where people made a phone call to make believe they are kidnapped. One lady was found in her own vehicle booth, she committed suicide after such call. IIRC a teenager was found alive hiding somewhere after such call and investigation. So it was a reference to cases like that. Unless one does something like that, adults have a right to disappear. But I don’t think he disappeared himself to begin a new life. I hope this helps.

 

[TappaTappaTappa]

So, jumping off the location mentioned above, gravel parking lot adjacent to the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, I think his vehicle would have been found here in this picture.
Google Earth Link


Google Earth
#googleearth

Which begs the question, why there and not in the lot? Was it full? I do notice the bus route right there. Was his car dropped there by himself or someone else? Is there video of him entering the preserve?
View attachment 261994

According to information given to the searchers, they said his car was located on the street near the Bluff Rd entrance. That would make me think it’s this area, only because it is very common for people to park at that spot, & the FP police stated the same in regard to them finding his car there. I’ve parked there a number of times if the main lot was full, & 10 am on a Saturday the main lot would surely be full. As far as video goes, I’ve never noticed any cameras, but I also never thought to look for them in the past. Maybe I’ll take a walk around there tomorrow to see if I spot any.

Red circle: Possible parking location
Yellow X: Main entrance off Bluff Rd.

 

[Cubby]

I wish we had an official source confirm when he was on surveillance getting gas. If it was the evening of the 6th when he was reported to be intoxicated my top theory would be an accidental drowning and not yet found, based on the number of missing intoxicated men who are recovered in water.

If it was the 7th, I'm more inclined to believe he is willingly missing.

 

[enelram]

Here's one article quoting the Police Chief saying the gast station video "appears to be him"
and it was 'sometime' after he was seen in person on Aug. 6th.
BREAKING: Missing United Airlines exec Jake Cefolia is subject of criminal probe [EXCLUSIVE] | News Break

 

[diggndeeperstill]

@Cubby - can you give me a Linkable source to the intoxicated report?

 

[enelram]

I've found several sources not MSM, but travel
newsletters saying JC was seen on video on Fri.
8/7 at 10am buying gas.
The "intoxicated" info came from the Find Jake
fb page.

 

[TappaTappaTappa]

Apparently it was the friends/co-workers he was with on the 6th who reported he was intoxicated that night. As @enelram said, there are multiple non-MSM sources saying LE saw him on camera at 10am at a gas station near his house. Now, I’m not entirely sure why it was necessary to state he was intoxicated the evening of the 6th if he was seen as late as 10am on the 7th, but maybe they were asked what state he was in when they last saw him?

What I’m having bigger trouble with is the absolute lack of any news coverage of Jake missing. I work in retail, 10 minutes from Waterfall Glen, & no one I’ve talked to has heard of this man (I ask people often in case they may have seen him). Even Google searches don’t bring up much as far as MSM goes. Jake has a family member who is in a few of the fb groups dedicated to finding him who says the family were the ones who made & posted hundreds of flyers of him missing. It’s so strange to not hear of anything related to a local man missing.

 

[enelram]

Wonder IF the local PD believes this is a 'staged'
hoax/runaway and that's why they seemed to have dropped the investigation. Although I believe a week or so ago it was announced they
would be bringing in search dogs Sept. 2nd.

 

[Spartygirl]

I wish we had an official source confirm when he was on surveillance getting gas. If it was the evening of the 6th when he was reported to be intoxicated my top theory would be an accidental drowning and not yet found, based on the number of missing intoxicated men who are recovered in water.

If it was the 7th, I'm more inclined to believe he is willingly missing.

IMO- I read he was seen at the gas station on Friday, Aug 7th around 10 AM, --
On Friday, August 7, Cefolia missed a corporate event; however, he was seen on video getting gas at around 10AM, and was also seen on video entering Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, wearing hiking boots and khakis (which isn’t typically what you’d wear if you’re going on a jog)
United Airlines Executive Still Missing, 20 Days Later | One Mile at a Time

 

[diggndeeperstill]

Thanks for his link, enelram. And @Cubby the source to the intoxication is in here. I guess I’ve been having problems keeping fact from fiction or rumor. This article helps.

I wish we had an official source confirm when he was on surveillance getting gas. If it was the evening of the 6th when he was reported to be intoxicated my top theory would be an accidental drowning and not yet found, based on the number of missing intoxicated men who are recovered in water.

If it was the 7th, I'm more inclined to believe he is willingly missing.

Here's one article quoting the Police Chief saying the gast station video "appears to be him"
and it was 'sometime' after he was seen in person on Aug. 6th.
BREAKING: Missing United Airlines exec Jake Cefolia is subject of criminal probe [EXCLUSIVE] | News Break

The police report indicates that a family member was the last to see Cefolia at his home on August 6. The family member reportedly said that Cefolia, who lives alone, appeared to be intoxicated that evening.

....

The report also states that Cefolia “had been stressed out lately” due to work pressures. Cefolia’s ex-wife said that her ex-husband had sometimes fantasized 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 Elmurst Police Chief confirmed that the department had reviewed surveillance footage appearing to show Cefolia at a gas station sometime after he was last seen at his home on August 6. The footage is grainy, Ruth said, but Cefolia “was not wearing what appeared to be typical running clothes.”

@Cubby - can you give me a Linkable source to the intoxicated report?

facts from article-

1. Ex wife reported missing on August 8
2. Family member last to see August 6 when he appeared intoxicated.
3. fantasized about going off grid according to ex
4. Stress out b/c of work according to ex
5. Recent break up with gf out of state
6. Lives alone
7. Spotted on gas station surveillance in attire not for running after last spotted
8. Subject of criminal investigation before he went missing.
9. Car found 8-8 parked in a place not typical for running or hiking .

 

[Spartygirl]

Also found this article about JC being named new VP of Allied Leaderhip Council for GBTA

"Alexandria, VA (June 3, 2019)—The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, today announced Jake Cefolia, Senior Vice President Worldwide Sales, United Airlines, as the Vice President of the Allied Leadership Council (ALC).
"About the Global Business Travel Association
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) is the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organization headquartered in the Washington, D.C. area with operations on six continents. GBTA’s 10,000-plus members manage more than $345 billion of global business travel and meetings expenditures annually."

IMO- he has a huge network of people and places he could go to or be familiar with to "disappear" if he wanted to do so.
I am now wondering if the "criminal charges" could be related to his VP role in the GBTA group. JMO
GBTA Names Jake Cefolia New Vice President of Allied Leadership Council – GBTA | Blog

 

[Spartygirl]

So I read he was wearing hiking boots and pants (not jogging pants) in the video from the gas station. Then his car is located at the preserve, am I the only one thinking he hiked his way out of the preserve to a pre destined spot with everything he needed, or met someone at the end of the trek.

NOPE You are not the only one thinking that

 

[ThatOddMom]

Apparently it was the friends/co-workers he was with on the 6th who reported he was intoxicated that night. As @enelram said, there are multiple non-MSM sources saying LE saw him on camera at 10am at a gas station near his house. Now, I’m not entirely sure why it was necessary to state he was intoxicated the evening of the 6th if he was seen as late as 10am on the 7th, but maybe they were asked what state he was in when they last saw him?

What I’m having bigger trouble with is the absolute lack of any news coverage of Jake missing. I work in retail, 10 minutes from Waterfall Glen, & no one I’ve talked to has heard of this man (I ask people often in case they may have seen him). Even Google searches don’t bring up much as far as MSM goes. Jake has a family member who is in a few of the fb groups dedicated to finding him who says the family were the ones who made & posted hundreds of flyers of him missing. It’s so strange to not hear of anything related to a local man missing.

I fully agree on the lack of news coverage... with his status at United you think it would be a bigger thing for the media.
Im local as well, and plan on heading out to the preserve this week with my husband to look around...this man had to have crossed paths with a camera closer to the forest preserve.
Im so stuck on the fact that he was wearing hiking boots and khakis, when his main purpose of visiting the preserve on most occasions(from what I understand) is running. what was the purpose? did he stage this outfit? did he think it would make a "story" more believable? or was it purposeful and needed? I need to see for myself how much of that forest preserve permits hiking boots

 

[Spartygirl]

Is the Preserve a place you can hike also, not just walking, running paths??
If so, then for him to have hiking boots on wouldn't look strange to others at the preserve.
Only to family was it strange as he normally went there in running shoes and attire.
His phone AND smart watch left at home. Most people these days always have one or both with them.
I think he dressed as a hiker so as not to look out of place at the Preserve and purposely left both phone and watch at home.
JMO

 

[Cubby]

I've found several sources not MSM, but travel
newsletters saying JC was seen on video on Fri.
8/7 at 10am buying gas.
The "intoxicated" info came from the Find Jake
fb page.

Wasn't the intoxicated info also mentioned in the crimeline article?

It was and that is why I consider his being intoxicated credible. The grainy gas station video is also mentioned here, but no date is mentioned. They only mention the grainy gas station video was sometime after he was last seen at home on the 6th. It would be great if a family member or family spokesperson who is willing to become verified would join us and clarify some of these questions.

Missing United Airlines exec Jake Cefolia is subject of criminal probe, police say [EXCLUSIVE]

 

[Cubby]

Weather for Friday August 7th at Midway Airport. Midway is what came up when I chose Lemont, IL.

Chicago, IL Weather History | Weather Underground

I don't hike, but is it normal to wear hiking boots when the weather is in the upper 70's and getting warmer?