Coroner Releases Cause of Death for Man Who Didn't Pay Tab, Jumped Into Fox River

ALGONQUIN, IL - The coroner on Monday released the preliminary cause of death for a 29-year-old Carpentersville man who jumped into the river after skipping out on his restaurant tab in Algonquin last week. Drowning claimed the life of Ernest Prentic who was found floating in the Fox River in Carpentersville, according to preliminary findings from the Kane County Coroner's Office.

Prentic reportedly jumped into the Fox River after fleeing Nero's Restaurant, at 300 Eastgate Court in Algonquin, at about 9:20 p.m. Thursday after he failed to pay his bill. Witnesses said they saw him go into the river near Route 62 and North River Road in Algonquin and was swept over the dam at the Route 62 bridge.

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Divers and officers immediately started searching for him and multiple fire departments from surrounding communities also responded to assist at the scene.

• Search Underway for Man Who Went Over Fox River Dam in Algonquin

Police on Saturday morning sent out the following statement regarding the discovery of Prentic's body:

The subject reported as jumping in the river was found in the river, deceased, and positively identified as Prentic, Ernest 29 y/o from Carpentersville,IL. The body was turned over to the Kane County Coroner’s office. This matter is still being investigated by the Algonquin Police Department.

Authorities did not indicate when or where Prentic's body was found. But they did post the following update, after posting a photo of Prentic earlier in the day and requesting the public's help in locating him, on the Algonquin Police Department Facebook page Friday evening:

The Lake and McHenry County Scanner Facebook page reported a water recovery occurred on Friday afternoon not far from where Prentic reportedly jumped into the Fox River.

Toxicology samples have been sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis. The incident remains under investigation.