CHICAGO – Authorities are investigating the death of a 90-year-old woman whose body was recovered from a lagoon in McKinley Park on Chicago’s Southwest Side on Wednesday morning, October 1, 2025. The discovery has prompted a death investigation by the Chicago Police Department.
Discovery and Recovery
The woman was found unresponsive in the water of the McKinley Park lagoon around 6:45 a.m.. The Chicago Police Department’s Marine Unit was dispatched to the scene to recover the body from the water. Emergency services pronounced the woman dead at the scene. The specific circumstances leading to her being in the water are currently unknown. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office has not yet released the woman’s identity, and autopsy results are pending.
McKinley Park and its Lagoons
McKinley Park, located in the 2200 block of West Pershing Road, is a popular Chicago park that features several bodies of water, including the lagoon where the recovery took place. While often a space for recreation and community gathering, the park’s lagoons have unfortunately been the site of past grim discoveries. In 2016, separate investigations were launched after a severed head and bags of body parts, followed by human ashes, were found in the same McKinley Park lagoon. These past incidents highlight a troubling history associated with the park’s waterways, though authorities have not indicated any connection between those events and the current discovery.
Ongoing Investigation
Chicago police detectives are leading the death investigation into the circumstances surrounding the 90-year-old woman’s demise. While the immediate recovery was handled by the CPD Marine Unit, which is responsible for all bodies of water within the city, including various ponds and lagoons, the broader investigation will seek to determine how the woman ended up in the water and the cause of her death. At this time, officials have not released further details about the case or speculated on whether foul play is involved, emphasizing that more information is needed pending the autopsy and ongoing inquiries.
The news of this recovery is part of a broader stream of daily news originating from chicago, reflecting ongoing events within the city. The circumstances remain a developing story, with CBS News Chicago and other local outlets committing to providing updates as they become available.
This incident underscores the ongoing efforts of law enforcement in the city to respond to emergencies across its waterways and public spaces. The Chicago Police Department’s Marine Unit plays a crucial role in such operations, from search and rescue to recovery, serving as first responders to maritime incidents across Lake Michigan, the Chicago River, and various lagoons throughout the city.
Community Impact and Unanswered Questions
As the investigation continues, questions linger about the woman’s identity, her last known whereabouts, and the events that led to her discovery in the lagoon. The community awaits further information from authorities as they work to piece together the narrative of this tragic event. The ongoing investigation is a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of life and the need for thorough examination of all circumstances surrounding a death.
Authorities urge anyone with information pertaining to this case to contact the Chicago Police Department.
