Missing Teen's Body Found In DuPage River In West Chicago

WEST CHICAGO, IL — The DuPage County Coroner's Office has confirmed that the body found in the West Branch of the DuPage River is that of Anna DeJong, an 18-year-old woman who was swept into the river on May 15 while walking two dogs. The coroner's office told Patch the preliminary cause of death was drowning.

DuPage County Forest Preserve police recovered DeJong's body in the West Branch of the DuPage River in West Chicago Wednesday morning, according to a news release. The coroner's office conducted an autopsy Thursday.

Two officers found DeJong's body while searching by kayak in Blackwell Forest Preserve, just over five miles south of Winfield Mounds, the site where she was swept into the river.

Forest Preserve District Police Chief David Pederson said in a statement Thursday, "On behalf of the Forest Preserve District, I would like to send our sincere condolences to her family and friends. All of us are truly saddened by today’s news, and our appreciation goes to all of the first responders and volunteers who worked so tirelessly to find her."

Search and rescue crews were joined by volunteers on May 15 and 16 in searching the river after DeJong was seen by a bicyclist getting swept into the current. Crews used infrared-equipped underwater drones and sonar-equipped boats in the search.

A GoFundMe was started to aid DeJong's family after the incident. To date, it has raised more than $64,000.

A friend of DeJong's family told Patch DeJong was "a lovely girl."