Giraffe figurine was the key clue

When he told a reporter about a giraffe figurine found near an unidentified body earlier this week, Lake County Coroner Richard Keller didn't think the detail would amount to much.

Two days later, Keller said newspaper stories about the mystery -- particularly one that included photographs of the 14-inch-tall figurine -- have led investigators to the man's identity.

"I'm 99 percent sure we know who this is," Keller said Wednesday.

Although they're still waiting to conduct dental comparisons and other tests, authorities believe the man was a 56-year-old military veteran who had lived in Lake County for some time.

Members of the man's Arizona family know he purchased a small giraffe figure at a thrift store and planned to give it to his mother, Keller said. As investigators followed leads, the family read stories about the man's death and saw photos of the giraffe online, Keller said.

Keller hopes he can publicly announce the man's name in a day or two. He was pleasantly surprised investigators were able to solve the case so quickly.

"It's really turned around," he said. "(It's) been incredible."

The corpse was discovered Sunday morning in a grassy area near Eighth Street and Chestnut Avenue. The spot is within the Lake County Forest Preserve District's 560-acre Greenbelt preserve.

The brown and tan giraffe was found near the man's body, along with clothing and remnants of a tent, Keller said.

An autopsy did not reveal how the man died. There were no obvious signs of foul play, Keller said.

The body may have been there about a month, Keller said.

That's about the time the 56-year-old veteran was last seen alive in Lake County -- and also when he last spoke with the relatives with whom he kept in touch, Keller said.

The veteran had been homeless about five years, Keller said. He worked in the area doing odd jobs, such as painting and light construction, Keller said.

Within the last few months, he was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer while being treated at the North Chicago VA Medical Center, Keller said. It's possible the cancer killed him, Keller said.

A few people who knew the homeless man recalled he had a giraffe figurine and called authorities this week as word of the body's discovery spread.