Missing, possibly suicidal man found when helicopter crew spots fire

Police used air and ground searches to find a possibly suicidal man after he walked away from a northwest suburban home on Friday night.

Lake County sheriff’s deputies were called Friday night to the 28000 block of Lamphere Road in unincorporated Island Lake about a possibly suicidal man who was missing, a statement from the sheriff’s office said.

Jason R. Christensen, 32, of McHenry, had been visiting a friend at the Lamphere Road address when he left on foot. “Information provided by friends indicated that Christensen had made suicidal statements prior to leaving,” police said.

A ground search was started along with a crew in the AIR-ONE Emergency Response Coalition helicopter. The aircrew, using infrared cameras, spotted a small fire near the home, police said.

Ground crews were directed to the area and Christensen was found a short time later, police said. He was taken to Centegra Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry for observation.