Chicago has seen a string of cases in which bodies have been recovered from roughly the same area within a relatively short period of time. Places such as Schaumburg, Aurora, Elk Grove Village, Palatine, and other suburbs around Chicago have all had cases where human bodies were retrieved from waterways. Now, online sleuths have grown convinced that there may be a serial killer lurking in the community.
Law enforcement agencies were quick to respond to the claims in an effort to address the predictable public panic such a possibility could cause. Chris Covelli, Deputy Chief and Public Information Officer for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office and the Lake County Major Crimes Task Force, told NBC Chicago, “No knowledge or recent investigations we’re actively working that appear to be a serial killer. We always encourage the community to go to law enforcement when they have questions about community safety or any active investigations.”
Still, a report by IBTimesUK revealed that there have been 11 separate police investigations this year alone in the Chicago area involving bodies found in waterways. Reportedly, what authorities described as a “suspicious person” was also found in a waterway in suburban Palatine. Illinois State Police later confirmed that officers were attempting to stop a person matching the description at around 6 a.m. Monday when he entered the water in Palatine.
According to another report by NBC Chicago, the situation became even more complicated when the “suspicious person” entered the water and died shortly afterward. Palatine police officers and Illinois State Police followed the individual to the 1200 block of East Twin Lakes Drive. Authorities said he “entered a nearby body of water and did not resurface.”
Officials were eventually able to recover him from the water and transport him to a hospital, but he was pronounced dead shortly afterward. Authorities have not yet provided many details regarding that investigation and have urged the public to remain patient.
Online communities have since launched their own parallel investigations, speculating about a connection between the various drowning deaths. On Facebook, the speculation has shown little sign of slowing despite repeated reassurances from law enforcement.
In another announcement posted on June 12 by NBC Chicago’s Facebook page, one user had already dubbed the alleged figure “The Great Lakes Killer.” Another wrote, “So countless bodies keep showing up, and no one suspects anything. Seems like a trend to me, or wtf is going on. It doesn’t make sense to me idk. Prayers for all the souls lost.” Others, however, are not convinced by the theories. One user wrote, “People need to understand & respect the power of nature. Lake Michigan isn’t just another lake. They don’t realize that this lake shows no mercy. It will consume the biggest ship on a bad day. She is capable of destructive waves, fierce undertows, and rip tides.”
Authorities are facing growing pressure from the public to provide answers because, right now, it is becoming clear that people will come up with their own explanations if official answers are not provided.
Published: Jun 18, 2026 12:49 pm