Missing United Airlines Exec's House Sold

ELMHURST, IL — Missing Elmhurst resident Jake Cefolia's house was sold Nov. 5 for a price that was 7 percent less than what he purchased it for four years earlier. The Chicago Tribune was the first to report this story.

Cefolia, a 49-year-old United Airlines executive, put his house at 454 S. Rex Blvd. up for sale on June 13. It was under contract Aug. 5. He was last seen a day later, with his car found soon afterward at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Lemont, where he liked to run.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house was originally listed for $589,000. After a few price reductions, it ended up selling for $523,000. Cefolia bought the house for $560,000 in 2016, more than double what it sold for in 1999. It was unclear why he put the house up for sale. He was promoted at United two years before.

Built in 1925, the house covered 2,100 square feet and included a roof deck, according to real estate websites.

According to the Tribune, the sale was made possible with Cefolia's whereabouts unknown because Cefolia granted power of attorney to a relative, Rudy Piedra, in May 2018. A document giving Piedra that power was filed with DuPage County on the day of the sale, the newspaper said.

Elmhurst police have confirmed with Patch they were investigating Cefolia when he went missing. They have not revealed the nature of the investigation.

To this day, Elmhurst police have not issued a news release or a photo about Cefolia's disappearance.

After his disappearance, Patch obtained the Elmhurst police report on the missing person case. According to the documents, Cefolia was drinking excessively and broke up with his girlfriend in the days leading to his disappearance. He also was said to have fantasized about going off the grid.

Cefolia was vice president of worldwide sales at United Airlines, where he led 725 employees. Information about Cefolia has been removed from the section of United Airlines' website about the company's leadership team.