Body found in frozen Palos Park pond may be missing Chicago man

A body discovered in a southwest suburban Palos Park pond Sunday may be that of a 27-year-old man who has been missing since last fall.

John Michael Cunningham / photo from Palos Park police

The body was found in a frozen pond near the 12700 block of Misty Harbour Lane in Palos Park about 3 p.m. Sunday, according to Cook County sheriff’s spokeswoman Sophia Ansari.

An autopsy Tuesday was inconclusive and the body — a white male — has not yet been positively identified, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

John Michael Cunningham, 27, was last seen “in a fit of work-related frustration” about 10:45 a.m. Oct. 30 in a forest preserve area near 104th Avenue and McCarthy Road in Palos Park, according to Palos Park police.

Cunningham, of the North Side Lake View neighborhood, was visiting his parents’ home when he went missing and was dealing with some personal issues, police said at the time.

“The Cook County sheriff’s police have recovered a body in a retention pond near the Cunningham home. They believe that it is John,” a statement posted on the “Find John Cunningham” Facebook page Monday read.

“As soon as a positive is made funeral arrangements will be posted. Please allow Mr. & Mrs. Cunningham some time alone or until a positive ID is accomplished. As you can imagine, this is a most difficult period.”