Remains found in Barrington-area preserve identified

Human remains found in a Barrington-area forest preserve March 7 were positively identified Monday as those of a Barrington area man who disappeared in early October.

Robert D. Nelson, 47, of the 28500 block of North Drive in unincorporated Lake County was last seen at around 11:30 a.m. Oct. 7 at a bank where he was transferring funds into a family member's account. He was officially reported missing at about 8 p.m. the same day.

Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said the cause of death could not be determined due to the incompleteness of the skeletal remains. Identification was made through a comparison of dental records.

Keller said death likely occurred shortly after Nelson's disappearance.

The condition of the remains is consistent with interference by animals in the forest preserve, and there was no evidence of any human tampering, Keller said.

According to family members, Nelson was going through a divorce at the time of his disappearance and had two children, ages 16 and 11.