Mysterious Disappearance In Braidwood: Golf Cart Found

BRAIDWOOD, IL — The Braidwood Police Department's highest priority at the moment involves finding 60-year-old Braidwood resident Patrick Husch. The local handyman who lives with two other people vanished over the weekend.

Joliet Patch spoke with Braidwood Police Chief Todd Lyons at Monday afternoon's emergency command post established along Coal City Road.

Around noon on Sunday, Husch's roommates notified police that Husch was missing, and that a golf cart he was driving was discovered on a natural trail path at Shadow Lakes.

Authorities have had no success in finding Husch as of Monday afternoon.

"We don't know anything right now. We're just searching for him," Lyons told Patch.

Lyons, who became Braidwood's chief in 2019, said unfortunately, Husch did not use social media so police have struggled to find a good photograph of Husch to publicize.

"We don't have a good picture," Lyons said. "He's a local handyman, and he doesn't have social media where we can grab access to photographs."

On Monday, about 20 people were assisting in the search for the missing Braidwood resident. Emergency rescue personnel have brought out scent dogs and a couple of boats on the water to search the area's lakes.

Drones are also being used, Lyons said.

Lyons said Husch's roommates reported him missing after discovering the golf cart.

"They found the golf cart searching for him," Lyons said. "Where they found him is a walking path."

The two roommates told Braidwood police they last saw Husch around 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

"When they woke up (Sunday) they noticed he was gone, and he had taken the golf cart," Lyons said. "That's what sparked their search."

Monday's search was taking place in the area of Coal City Road and Illinois Route 129.