'Keep Johnny In Your Prayers': Supporters Gather To Pray for Missing Man

Caption: John and Christine Cunningham, parents of John Cunningham Jr., 27.

Friends, family and neighbors gathered at Our Lady of the Woods Church in Orland Park for a candlelight vigil for a 27-year-old man who has been missing for over a week.

John Cunningham Jr. left his parents’ home in Palos Park without a coat or shoes the morning of Oct. 30. His parents said he was in a distraught state of mind.

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Cunningham Jr. was last seen near 123rd Street and 108th Avenue in Palos Park.Hundreds of police officers and volunteers have searched the Palos forest preserve and found no trace of Cunningham Jr. after a four-day ground and air search.

His parents, John and Christine Cunningham, are offering a $10,000 reward for their son’s safe return. They have also hired a private investigator.

There have been multiple sightings of John Jr. in area since he went missing.

John and Christine Cunningham tearfully thanked a subdued crowd gathered outside of Our Lady of the Woods Church for their time and support during Saturday’s prayer vigil.

Friends and family describe John’s disappearance as being out of character.

“We couldn’t have gotten through this without all of your support,” Christine said. “We love you all.”

“Please keep Johnny in your prayers,” John Cunningham Sr. said.

John, Jr. grew up in the south suburbs and graduated from Marist High School. He moved to the Chicago’s Lake View neighborhood on the North Side, but was visiting his parents in Palos Park when he went missing.

Anyone with information is asked to contact private investigator Paul Ciolino at 847.736.8397 or pciolino@pjcinvestigations.com. Tipsters may also call the Cook County Sheriff’s Police at 708.865.4896.

CORRECTION: Patch incorrectly referred to the name of John Jr.’s mother. We have made the correction and apologize for the error.