Local Police Search Ponds for Missing Man

Local authorities on Thursday used a helicopter and sonar equipment to search ponds in Island Lake as the search continues for a missing McHenry man, the Daily Herald reports.

Michael A. Babincsak was last seen on May 29. He is described as being 6’1” tall, 270 pounds with brown eyes and brown/grey hair and was last seen wearing a white t-shirt and grey sweatpants. Babincsak walks with a limp and has an alcohol dependency, according to a sheriff’s office press release.

The search Thursday was concluded around 2 p.m. and Babincsak was not located in any of the search areas, police said.

A family member, Mark Bianchi, told police that Babincsak used to fish at the ponds that were searched on Thursday.

“I’ve known him over 35 years, and I kind of know what he does,” Bianchi told the Daily Herald. “I heard he was dropped off in the area around the same time he went missing, so I was hopeful they would find him back there.”

If you may have any information on Michael or may have seen him, contact Sheriff’s Office Detective Ed Maldonado at 815-338-2144.