Missing St. Charles man found alive
Editor's note: Spelling of Dane Hagerty's name corrected on Sept. 27.
A St. Charles man missing since Friday was found safe Tuesday in South Elgin.
Dane Hagerty, 43, was spotted by a Kane County sheriff's deputy around 1 a.m. near a fire station at 2055 McDonald Road.
He was standing near a garbage bin, identified himself when asked and said he knew police had been looking for him, according to sheriff's spokesman Lt. Pat Gengler.
He was taken to Presence St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, including cuts. Hagerty was in the same clothes he was wearing when he went missing Friday, Gengler said.
"We're still not sure why he did all of this," Gengler said. "The most important thing is he is alive and reunited with his family."
Hagerty's wife reported him missing when he did not return home from a business trip. His car was found at Otter Creek Bend Wetland Park on Crane Road, with a note that led detectives to believe he was going to harm himself.
A police dog tracked Hagerty to the edge of a pond, where two pools of blood were found.
Deputies think Hagerty might have hidden in a gazebo outside of the search area.
Gengler said investigators intend to speak more with Hagerty and his family.
More than 75 certified search-and-rescue volunteers looked for Hagerty, as well as search-and-rescue dogs. A Homeland Security helicopter was also used.
The sheriff's office also thanked other agencies that helped, including the St. Charles Park District; the Salvation Army, which set up a mobile canteen for searchers; and St. Patrick Catholic Church, which let searchers and officials use its parking lot.