The coroner has released the identity and cause of death for a 30-year-old man who was found dead along the Des Plaines River in Libertyville after being reported missing, as his family says they will “desperately miss” him.
Julian Newman, 30, of Evanston, was found dead and recovered by emergency crews along the shoreline of the Des Plaines River near West Oak Spring Road around 7:30 p.m. Friday, according to Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek.
An autopsy performed Monday showed that Newman’s death was consistent with drowning.
Newman was reported missing and searches began Thursday afternoon following a report that he left his home in Evanston.
He was reportedly last seen near Lake Minear Beach, 600 West Oak Spring Road, and heading towards the Des Plaines River Trail, which is east of Minear Lake.
The initial searches on Thursday summoned a response from Lake County Forest Preserves police officers, along with K-9s from the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Mundelein Police Department, Waukegan Police Department and Arlington Heights Police Department.
Officers, K-9s and specialized search and rescue firefighters were seen searching near Minear Lake and along the Des Plaines River Trail Thursday afternoon and into the evening.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said the sheriff’s office also assisted with a drone unit and an inland boat.
Newman was not found on Thursday and searches resumed Friday morning.
Boats and swift water technicians from departments across Lake and McHenry counties were requested just after 10 a.m. Friday through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS).
Equipment and personnel gathered at the Oak Spring Road Canoe Launch and in the parking lot of Lake Minear Beach as they searched both the Des Plaines River and Lake Minear.
At least nine specialized swift water rescue technicians were at the scene.
Crews were also using ATVs on the river trail to search.
An additional request for sonar technicians through the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System (MABAS) was made at around 12:10 p.m.
The searches along the Des Plaines River concluded at around 1 p.m., and crews transitioned to searching Lake Minear using side-scan sonar.
The searches on Lake Minear concluded at around 4 p.m. Friday.
Multiple K-9s continued to search along the shoreline through Friday afternoon and evening before Newman was located and recovered.
An obituary for Newman said he deeply valued family and was a lover of languages and travel. He earned a Master’s Degree in International Trade from the Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
“He was an ardent explorer, spending time in countries as diverse as Kazakhstan, Russia, Hungary and Japan. A principled advocate for those on the margins, for many years he tutored immigrants in English through volunteer work with the Heartland Alliance,” his obituary said.
His obituary said that he studied Russian and English as an undergraduate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and was a competitive chess player throughout his life.
“He was a keen cyclist and someone who loved to read and grapple with complex ideas. Cooking and gardening had become recent passions.”
“We are saddened to share that the man who was reported missing after leaving his Evanston home has been found deceased,” the Lake County Forest Preserves said in an update.
“Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with his family and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” the forest preserves said.
“We are deeply grateful to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office, local fire and police departments, K-9 teams and all emergency responders whose tireless efforts, professionalism and collaboration supported the extensive search,” the forest preserves added.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office responded to the scene to take possession of Newman for the autopsy.
His family said in his obituary that Newman was often serious yet “had the best smile” and his “laughter was contagious.”
“We will desperately miss all that and so much more,” the his family said.
Banek said the incident remains under investigation by the Lake County Forest Preserves Police and the Lake County Coroner’s Office.
A funeral service is set for Tuesday afternoon at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston with an interment at Memorial Park.