Jun 11, 2009 9:23 pm US/Central
Body Found In Water Is Worker Who Disappeared
Forest Preserve Worker Went Out Fishing, Never Came Back
PALOS PARK, Ill. (Sun-Times Media Wire) ―
Officials confirmed Thursday evening that the body found by a dive team in a slough near southwest suburban Palos Park was that of a Cook County Forest Preserve District employee who went missing Wednesday while fishing.
Marvin Coleman, 42, of Chicago, a nine-year serviceman with the district, was reported missing at Bergman Slough on Wednesday, according to a release from the district.
Coleman, who was off-duty, arrived at the slough about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and notified a resident watchman that he was going fishing, according to the release.
At 10:30 p.m., the watchman notified forest preserve police that Coleman was missing and his car was still at the watchman's house.
At 5 a.m. Thursday, Coleman's small blue plastic boat was found capsized on the slough near 11300 Ford Rd. in Palos Park, the release said.
After the boat was discovered, divers from the Palos Fire Protection District were called out and recovered Coleman's body from the slough about 9:45 a.m.
Coleman, of 5335 W. Jackson Blvd., was pronounced dead on the scene, a spokesman for the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said.
District spokesman Steve Mayberry said the cause of death is probably drowning but an official determination is pending results of an autopsy to be performed Friday.
Bergman Slough has an area of about 10 acres and an average depth of three to four feet, with 10 feet being its deepest point, the release said.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2009. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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