Island Lake toddler's death appears accidental

A 2-year-old Island Lake boy wandered from his home Sunday night and drowned in the lake, police said.

Mason Mack's death appears to be accidental, Island Lake Police Chief William McCorkle said Monday. No one was in police custody, and no charges had been filed, he said.

Mason's father called police to report the boy missing about 10:30 p.m. Sunday, McCorckle said. As officers were driving to the scene to investigate, the father found Mason in a shallow part of Island Lake, McCorkle said.

The boy had unlocked the front door, walked outside and wound up in the water, which is directly behind the family's house, police said.

Police officers performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Mason was then flown by emergency helicopter to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, where he was pronounced dead at 3:25 a.m. by the Cook County medical examiner's office.

An autopsy conducted Monday established the official cause of death as drowning.

Mason's family was “very crushed” by his death, McCorkle said.

Island Lake police requested the assistance of the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, Deputy State's Attorney Jeff Pavletic said, and that unit sent evidence technicians and detectives to the scene.

It is believed to be only the second drowning in the lake, village Trustee Connie Mascillino said.