Body of missing person recovered from Lake Michigan in Waukegan

A body of a person was recovered Sunday morning from Lake Michigan in Waukegan, according to fire department officials, but authorities would not say whether it was the that of the same person reported missing Saturday night.

Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper on Sunday evening said a male "under 20 years of age" was at his office and the family has been notified. He added that an autopsy is scheduled for Monday morning and more information would be forthcoming at that time.

Fire Marshal Steve Lenzi said firefighters were called to assist police just before 10:30 p.m. Saturday to search for a missing person along Waukegan Municipal Beach.

A ground search was conducted for approximately two hours before it was called off due to conditions, according to Lenzi.

"There was not enough information to warrant a dive," Saturday night, he said.

The search resumed at 9 a.m. Sunday as divers from the Waukegan Fire Department searched the harbor channel with assistance from side scan sonar units provided by Lake and McHenry counties' specialized response teams, according to the fire department.

The body was located and recovered by the dive team a few minutes past 11 a.m., according to Lenzi. The body was in the harbor channel area in about 15 feet of water, he said.

"The body was found in the area we were searching," Lenzi said.

The recovered body was turned over to the Lake County coroner's office, but Lenzi said he could not say whether it was the person reported missing.

"We are not able to make a final verification the subject is one in the same until they make the call at the coroner's office," he said.

Waukegan police Commander Joe Florip said there would be no updates until after the coroner's news release.