The coroner identified a Highwood man this week, months after he was found dead floating in shallow water on Lake Michigan at Openlands Lakeshore Preserve Beach at Fort Sheridan on April 17. | Photo: Tanmoy Dalui / Google Maps

The coroner has identified a 61-year-old man months after he was found dead, floating face down in Lake Michigan along the shoreline of a beach in Highland Park.

Lake County Coroner Jennifer Banek said Thursday that her office identified Modesto Leyva-Garcia, 61, of Highwood, as the victim who was found dead on April 17 at Openlands Lakeshore Preserve at Fort Sheridan, 10 Cliff Road in Highland Park.

The Lake County Forest Preserves Police Department, Highland Park Police Department and Highland Park Fire Department responded to the scene around 6:08 p.m.

Lake County Forest Preserves Chief Ron Davis said officers responded to the shoreline after receiving calls for a possible body in the water.

Officers arrived and located a body, later identified as Leyva-Garcia, in shallow water, Davis said.

Fire department radio traffic indicated there were several 911 calls for a body face down in the water.

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Lake County Chief Deputy Coroner Steve Newton said Leyva-Garcia was seen by bystanders floating face down in the water.

The fire department removed Leyva-Garcia from the shallow water and the Lake County Coroner’s Office took possession of him, Banek said.

The coroner released images of clothing that a man, who has since been identified as Modesto Leyva-Garcia, 61, of Highwood, had been wearing in hopes of identifying him after he was found dead in Lake Michigan at Fort Sheridan Beach in Highland Park on April 17. | Provided Photos

An autopsy was conducted at the Lake County Coroner’s Office and Banek said examination results showed the man’s death was from drowning.

Leyva-Garcia was unable to be identified for months despite multiple scientific attempts, Banek said.

The coroner’s office released photos of clothing and a watch that Leyva-Garcia was wearing in hopes someone from the public would recognize it and come forward.

Newton said Leyva-Garcia was believed to have been down at the beach swimming prior to his death.

His shoes, socks, baseball cap and glasses were at the end of the trail that goes to the beach area.

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He had been dead for approximately a day before being found, Newton said.

The coroner’s office was notified on Monday that an individual who matched the description of the unidentified victim had been reported as missing.

They worked with the Highwood Police Department, which took the missing person report on Sunday, to tentatively identify and locate family for the deceased victim.

Positive identification was completed by the coroner’s office on Wednesday.