Sonar divers began searching Slocum Lake in Wauconda Township Wednesday morning as the search for the missing 17-year-old Island Lake boy continues, police said.
Abe Gonzalez, 17, of Island Lake, was seen by his father walking out the front door of their home around 10 p.m. Friday, according to the Island Lake Police Department.
The boy told his father he was going out to get fresh air. Later that evening, Abe was seen at a home in the 26000 block of Morey Street in unincorporated Wauconda attending a party, police said.
He was last seen leaving the party westbound on Maple Avenue from Morey Street by himself shortly after midnight on Saturday. Abe’s cellphone is not working because the battery is dead, police believe.
Sonar technicians from numerous fire departments in Lake and McHenry counties began a search of Slocum Lake in Wauconda Township Wednesday morning with no results so far.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office took over the investigation Tuesday and learned the lake had not been searched yet.
“It [Slocum Lake] is very close to where the young man was last seen, so definitely an area which needed to be searched,” Lake County Sheriff Spokesman Sgt. Christopher Covelli said.
Abe’s father called police around 6:35 p.m. Saturday when the boy never returned home.
“A full canvass of the neighborhood was conducted. We interviewed everyone who had been with Abe earlier as well. Foot patrols were also conducted. Being unsuccessful with these searches, we requested assistance from Lake County Major Crash Assistance Team (MCAT) on Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m.,” the Island Lake Police Department said.
“MCAT has drones that can be used to search off road areas. These drones were used to search wooded and open field areas. This search didn’t produce any results either,” Island Lake police added.
Specialized dogs from the Illinois-Wisconsin Search and Rescue Dogs organization were called to assist. They arrived Sunday afternoon and continued searching until nightfall with no results.
Abe, who is described as being 5-foot-8 with curly brown hair and brown eyes, was last seen wearing a grey hoodie, blue jeans and white shoes.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Lake County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division at 847-377-4250 or submit tips via email to Sheriff@LakeCountyIL.gov.