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

[enelram]

After reading loads of articles online about people who "walk away from their life", I believe he did just that- voluntarily disappeared
due to what he viewed as a downward spiraling life (in his eye).
- His dream job was being re-shuffled due to the economy and I'm guessing he had or was due a huge pay cut. Wonder what his credit card debt was and his other monthly bills- house, car,
insurance etc.

- his gf #1 had just dumped him, seemed not that interested in local gf #2

-he was already divorced and probably stuck
w/ large child support payments and possibly alimoney.

- the criminal investigation may have been the
straw that caused him to run.

In short, his life was crap, in his view.

Add in he had a possible drinking problem" according to his ex-wife and this alone will cause depression and a dark outlook on life.

the only question for me is whether he ran to start a new life elsewhere or to totally end this one with suicide. We may never know.

 

[CaliMar]

After reading loads of articles online about people who "walk away from their life", I believe he did just that- voluntarily disappeared
due to what he viewed as a downward spiraling life (in his eye).
- His dream job was being re-shuffled due to the economy and I'm guessing he had or was due a huge pay cut. Wonder what his credit card debt was and his other monthly bills- house, car,
insurance etc.

- his gf #1 had just dumped him, seemed not that interested in local gf #2

-he was already divorced and probably stuck
w/ large child support payments and possibly alimoney.

- the criminal investigation may have been the
straw that caused him to run.

In short, his life was crap, in his view.

Add in he had a possible drinking problem" according to his ex-wife and this alone will cause depression and a dark outlook on life.

the only question for me is whether he ran to start a new life elsewhere or to totally end this one with suicide. We may never know.

Entirely possible. This article from a Canadian source tells some statistics on suicide:

"Job losses increase the risk of suicide two- or three-fold, and men who are single, widowed or divorced are more likely to kill themselves. Relationship breakdowns like divorce are more likely to lead men to suicide than women, possibly because women tend to have close same-sex friendships throughout their lives, while men’s same-sex friendships fade after 30.

“What’s common is that many people felt they had a sense of predictability, meaning and purpose [in their jobs, marriages or role as a father.] There’s a sense that the carpet is being pulled out from under their feet, and a sense of alienation. Suddenly they feel completely rejected and misunderstood,” says Whitley"

The suicide gap: Why men are more likely to kill themselves

Although it seems likely that this was a suicide, I keep coming back to a few things. First, he had children that he loved and that seems like something that might hold him back from self harm. Second, in the police report his girlfriend Wendy told police he wanted to go into the forest to be alone. I think that's a huge clue, and I think he did that--- that's why we found his phone at home. He intended to go to the preserve to be alone. Third, it was also reported that he saw a therapist, maybe not recently but at some point. That could have been a potential available lifeline for him if he started to spiral.

I'm now leaning toward thinking something happened to him. Not a planned disappearance, but a forced one.

 

[Cubby]

I just looked at the map and there are four golf courses just about 10 minutes south of Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve off of Route 83 and Archer Ave. Cog Hill Country Club, Ruffled Feathers Golf Club, Glen Eagles Country Club and much smaller Mid Iron Club.

There is an intersection with a light at Route 83 and Bluff Road. He could have started drinking before heading to the golf outing and made a stop at the FP knowing it was a private area he could relieve himself, all the while planning on heading back down Bluff to 83 and further south to the golf outing.

I'm still thinking alcohol related accident while on foot as my top theory.

 

[sfomspphl]

Observations reading the full Scribd report...

- At least twice elsewhere in the docs it's mentioned there was no communication after 8/6 - so I'm inclined to believe the 8/8 communication with his son on the handwritten page was in error

- Car spotted (presumably by traffic camera) driving westbound at Commonwealth and Butterfield at 9:23 am (this is not the gas station, but just west of it and just after the 9:15ish gas stop) - that direction is toward highway 83, which could take him south to the preserve

- SF girlfriend, not his ex wife, was source that said he had a therapist

- Realtor says he told her he was headed to SF to break up with girlfriend. But girlfriend says broke up weeks earlier and Jake wanted to reconcile.

- United colleague was confused by the 'it was Wendy's fault' (his girlfriend comment) implying they didn't speak at length about it

- Realtor's husband worked at United - both he and his wife the realtor have known him for many years

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bruce-josephs-334906/

- Used a Chase credit card (United mileage partner) at the gas station, and that was the last transaction on that particular card


Separately...

The forest preserve has a model airplane field that's popular with aviation enthusiasts, although he didn't park near that and it has its own parking area.

Where he did park - Cass / Bluff Road - is near the Des Plaines river - not sure if there are secure fences - there are two railroad tracks between the preserve and river.

 

[rainynights]

- Realtor says he told her he was headed to SF to break up with girlfriend. But girlfriend says broke up weeks earlier and Jake wanted to reconcile.

SBM for focus

I tend to believe the gf's version of events. Why would he fly all the way to SFO and spend the night - only to break up with her on her birthday?

Circling back to the car photos, I also noticed he parked near a wooden pole, steering wheel is turned to the right, and he was pulled up on the grass a bit. Was this a car ditching spot, either for him, or someone else? Was he meeting someone there? Was he pulling in there in order to turn around, but got interrupted somehow? MOO

Photos of missing United Airlines executive Jake Cefolia’s abandoned car show face mask, clothing item left behind
خرائط ‪Google‬‏‏

 

[sfomspphl]

I agree Wendy the GF is most credible on that relationship status front, but interesting he decided to tell a different version to his close friend, one that implies it was his decision to break off.

Since he separately said "it was Wendy's fault" to his coworker on the 6th, I wonder if he also told the coworker he initiated the breakup.

 

[Paige Franklin]

MOO I think 8/8 being the date of the last contact with his son must be a typo. I can't see them taking a missing persons report the same day someone reported having contact with him. Also I wonder if LE running the tags was due to the vehicle being left overnight in a parking lot where they wouldn't expect a car. Like maybe it was just run during a regular patrol of the area.

 

[Cirxe]

MOO I think 8/8 being the date of the last contact with his son must be a typo. I can't see them taking a missing persons report the same day someone reported having contact with him. Also I wonder if LE running the tags was due to the vehicle being left overnight in a parking lot where they wouldn't expect a car. Like maybe it was just run during a regular patrol of the area.

Luckily, there isn’t any waiting period for taking a missing person’s report. Some people mistakenly think there is and don’t report people quickly enough. Or if police don’t want to take the case for some reason, but they’re supposed to take the report.

 

[enelram]

I'm seeing something else here recently and that is "Image" and people's perception of JC is very
very important to him.
The conflicting comments about the gf breakup
says he was protecting his own image.
Maybe after climbing the ladder to success, JC
was too much believing his own press.
I've seen this in other business executives who
are very goal oriented in business.
Once cracks start to appear in their image veneer, things go south.
JC did not have the emotional strength to see through all the potential hardships coming due to many things crumbling in his life.
His drinking was his go to in dealing w/ problems he didn't have the wherewithall to solve. He couldn't cope. So he ran away rather
than face the music.
He was saving face of what was about to come out.
moo

 

[enelram]

since JC has spent considerable time living and working in HK and Japan he is very aware of the
concept of "Face" and it's importance in business and life.
I do believe this is involved in how he viewed his
fall from grace and potential loss of respect from those in his circle.

What Is ‘Face’ In Asian Culture and Why Should We Care? - Doug Casey's International Man

 

[Cubby]

Drinking and addiction goes hand in hand with poor problem solving skills, and I say that as a recovering alcoholic myself. God willing I will be sober 9 years next month.

Undiagnosed mental illness-depression, anxiety, etc. also contribute greatly to addiction/alcoholism as people self medicate with drugs and alcohol. Most people who suffer from addiction also suffer from some forms of untreated mental illness.

I can say from experience people reach the point of no return without even realizing it. Recovery addiction acceptance is a humbling experience. Recently, with all that's happened in the world, I can honestly say, "I have nothing, but I have everything." I think that's why Jakes case resonates with me. My heart breaks that he hasn't or couldn't reach that point of serenity know that material stuff is just that, material. Cunning, baffling, powerful, addiction sucks.

I'm still not convinced he ran and won't be able to until it is confirmed the area his car was found has been searched thoroughly with cadaver dogs. I still strongly think he's not far from where his car was found. It's so wooded he could have easily been missed.

 

[diggndeeperstill]

Dbm

 

[diggndeeperstill]

Dbm- thought I was private. Sorry

 

[Cubby]

Another thought. It's possible the criminal investigation police say Jake was the subject of beginning prior to his disappearance is related to his intoxication while his son was under his care August 6th.

He may have done something that a mandatory reporter would have to report to DCFS.

720 ILCS 5/ Criminal Code of 2012.

Transporting his son from his mother's home to his home or vice versa, even if he wasn't stopped for a dui, would be reported to DCFS.

 

[YaYa_521]

Drinking and addiction goes hand in hand with poor problem solving skills, and I say that as a recovering alcoholic myself. God willing I will be sober 9 years next month.

Undiagnosed mental illness-depression, anxiety, etc. also contribute greatly to addiction/alcoholism as people self medicate with drugs and alcohol. Most people who suffer from addiction also suffer from some forms of untreated mental illness.

I can say from experience people reach the point of no return without even realizing it. Recovery addiction acceptance is a humbling experience. Recently, with all that's happened in the world, I can honestly say, "I have nothing, but I have everything." I think that's why Jakes case resonates with me. My heart breaks that he hasn't or couldn't reach that point of serenity know that material stuff is just that, material. Cunning, baffling, powerful, addiction sucks.

I'm still not convinced he ran and won't be able to until it is confirmed the area his car was found has been searched thoroughly with cadaver dogs. I still strongly think he's not far from where his car was found. It's so wooded he could have easily been missed.

Congratulations, @Cubby! Best wishes on your journey ahead.

 

[crhedBngr]

Drinking and addiction goes hand in hand with poor problem solving skills, and I say that as a recovering alcoholic myself. God willing I will be sober 9 years next month.

Undiagnosed mental illness-depression, anxiety, etc. also contribute greatly to addiction/alcoholism as people self medicate with drugs and alcohol. Most people who suffer from addiction also suffer from some forms of untreated mental illness.

I can say from experience people reach the point of no return without even realizing it. Recovery addiction acceptance is a humbling experience. Recently, with all that's happened in the world, I can honestly say, "I have nothing, but I have everything." I think that's why Jakes case resonates with me. My heart breaks that he hasn't or couldn't reach that point of serenity know that material stuff is just that, material. Cunning, baffling, powerful, addiction sucks.

I'm still not convinced he ran and won't be able to until it is confirmed the area his car was found has been searched thoroughly with cadaver dogs. I still strongly think he's not far from where his car was found. It's so wooded he could have easily been missed.

Thank you for the insight, and my best wishes for continued success!

 

[kelsie]

I really hope they looked up when they were searching the reserve.

 

[Poppyflower]

oops

 

[Poppyflower]

I really hope they looked up when they were searching the reserve.

That was going to be my post. I had no idea until reading and following missing persons here that many people choose to hang themselves.

 

[pikachu1322]

I would think that if the criminal investigation into him was major you would have heard way more about it at this point.