Missing Round Lake Park man's body identified
Round Lake Park Police Chief George Filenko identified the body discovered under a large evergreen tree Sunday morning as that of Stephen R. Krizanovic, a 37-year-old Round Lake Park man who was reported missing early last month.
Filenko said it appears Krizanovic may have had a medical incident and crashed into the evergreen tree on his bike, but the exact cause of death is still pending tests.
Lake County Coroner Howard Cooper said during his office's autopsy Monday afternoon doctors found tattoos that confirmed the body belonged to Krizanovic. Cooper said he is still far from naming an official cause of death.
The body was discovered by a woman who was walking in the area of Sandy Point and Lake Shore drives Sunday morning.
"It's an isolated area in a gated community, and the tree is away from the normal foot traffic," Filenko said Monday. "It just happened to be a nice day yesterday, and the woman was taking a walk when something caught her eye."
Filenko said the tree's branches were so thick he couldn't see through them even from a foot or two away.
Filenko said Krizanovic was last seen about 6 p.m. March 3 leaving his home on the 500 block of Grandview Drive. Filenko said police received a report of a domestic dispute at the home that night. Filenko and another officer responded to the call, but by the time they arrived, Krizanovic already had left on a bicycle.
Krizanovic's girlfriend came to the police station to report him missing on March 8. Filenko said detectives led a thorough search, but they were at a disadvantage because Krizanovic hadn't brought his phone with him and the search was not initiated until he had been gone for five days.