▲Jake Sepolia, United Airlines Vice President, found dead 14 months after disappearance (Photo) [Source=Elmhurst Illinois Police Department]
[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] A senior executive of a global company who went missing in the United States under many mysterious circumstances was found dead near his home after about 14 months.
According to Chicago media on the 25th (local time), authorities confirmed the identity of a body found on the 22nd in the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in DuPage County near Chicago as Jake Sepolia (50), Senior Vice President of Global Sales at United Airlines.
The police stated that Sepolia was found hanging from a tree in a dense forest and added, "The area near the scene had been repeatedly searched before."
They further explained, "We recovered his wallet, driver's license, and a backpack containing personal belongings at the scene, and he was dressed exactly as he was when he went missing."
An autopsy was conducted, but the direct cause of death or the method leading to death has not yet been determined.
Investigators at the scene estimated that homicide was unlikely, and the police said they are continuing to investigate the circumstances of the death.
Sepolia went missing after leaving his home in Elmhurst, a suburb of Chicago, on the evening of August 6 last year, and a missing person report was filed with the local police two days later on the 8th.
The mysterious disappearance of a senior executive of a global company attracted media attention, and a large-scale search operation was launched.
Eventually, the police found his car at the entrance of the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, about 30 km from his home.
Subsequently, hundreds of volunteers, search dogs, and nearby police officers were mobilized to search the 10 square kilometer forest preserve, but no results were found.
Sepolia was married and is known to have two children.
He worked at British Airways and Northwest Airlines before joining United Airlines in 2007. He served as Vice President of Sales in the U.S. before being promoted to Senior Vice President overseeing global sales networks in 2018.
United Airlines expressed condolences for Vice President Sepolia and comforted his family in a statement released that day.
The family has not made any statements regarding the incident.
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