Douglas Ottesen (left) has been found guilty of murdering James Cromwell, 57, of Crystal Lake, (right) who was reported missing and later found fatally shot. | Provided Photos

A Kane County jury has found a Pingree Grove man guilty of murdering a Crystal Lake victim in 2024, then attempting to conceal the whereabouts of his body.

Douglas Ottesen, 61, was found guilty Friday of first-degree murder, aggravated kidnapping, and concealment of a death for killing James Cromwell, 57, of Crystal Lake, court records show.

Otteson is due back in court on April 10 for post-trial motions and possible sentencing, records show.

Kane County State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser said when announcing charges in May of 2024 that the Crystal Lake Police Department initiated an investigation on April 4, 2024, for a person reported missing from a residence in Crystal Lake.

Authorities said Cromwell was last heard from on March 12, 2024, and an investigation showed the circumstances surrounding Cromwell’s disappearance were possibly criminal in nature, Mosser said.

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The investigation led to the obtainment of two search warrants at locations in Kane County.

The Kane County Investigations Division responded to the 45W200 block of Illinois Route 72 in Hampshire Township in support of the Crystal Lake Police Department’s search warrant for the property.

The team concurrently aided in executing a search warrant at the 600 block of North Falls Circle in Pingree Grove.

Human remains, belonging to Cromwell, were discovered by the Crystal Lake Police Department in a barn on the property in the 45W200 block of Illinois Route 72, Mosser said.

Kane County Sheriff’s Office Crime Scene Investigators, alongside the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force Evidence Team, processed both scenes over several days.

The evidence team provided additional support at a residence in the 600 block of North Falls Circle.

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The Kane County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy and a comprehensive collection of evidence was conducted at both locations, including two vehicles, authorities said.

The preliminary cause of death was determined to be from a gunshot wound during the autopsy, Mosser said.

She added that Otteson then tried to conceal the body of the victim in the barn where the remains were found.

Kane County Coroner Rob Russell declared the preliminary manner of death as homicide.

Ottesen was detained in the Kane County jail while awaiting trial.