Robert Skoczen
Missing Palos Heights man’s body found
By Bob Bong
The search for a missing Palos Heights man ended Tuesday when his body was found in the Cal-Sag Channel near the Harlem Avenue bridge.
Palos Heights police said they received a tip, reportedly from a barge captain, of a body floating in the channel. It was subsequently identified as that of Robert Skoczen, 64.
Mr. Skoczen had been reported missing on Sunday, December 5.
The Palos Heights Police Department has reached out and received calls from numerous agencies and resources, some from as far as Milwaukee, in an effort to find Mr. Skoczen.
“The Police Department wants to thank the citizens of this and surrounding communities for the calls about possible sightings and the numerous offers of help with the search,” said Deputy Police Chief William Czajkowski in a release.
The Palos Heights Police Department would like to thank the following organizations that assisted in the search: Orland Park Police Department, Cook County Sheriff’s Police, Cook County Forest Preserve Police, DuPage County Sheriff’s Police, Justice Police Department, GAK9 National Training Center, Illinois State Police, North Palos Fire Protection District, and the Palos Heights Fire Protection District. Other volunteers also took part in the search.
The Illinois State Police are conducting a death investigation, but Czajkowski said police do not believe there are any related threats to the community. Police said they do not believe there are any related threats to the community.
Mr. Skoczen was last seen at 10 a.m. on Sunday at 13097 Laurel Glen Court. He was wearing a Boston Red Sox jacket and black pants. Police said he had a medical condition that placed him in danger.
State police issued a “Silver Alert” after he went missing.
Police bloodhounds tracked him to a picnic area near 135th Street and Ridgeland Avenue. On Monday, a search-and-recovery dog was brought in from Milwaukee to aid in the search.
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