By 1st Sergeant Chad Hill
Public Relations Officer, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Department

KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — Kosciusko County divers have recovered the potential drowning victim from Lake Tippecanoe.

Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Deputies, with the assistance of Indiana Conservation Officers, used an underwater remotely operated vehicle to assist in locating the missing Chicago man from almost two weeks ago.

Kosciusko County Coroner Ciriello stated that John J. Forbes Sr., 70, Chicago, was located shortly after 9 p.m., in approximately 70 feet of water by two sheriff’s department divers in close proximity to the original area that he was believed to have been last seen on July 8, at approximately 5:24 p.m.

According to an initial report by Indiana Conservation Officers, Forbes was swimming on Lake Tippecanoe from a Tri-Toon boat with his wife, son and family friend, when he went under the water and never resurfaced, near the address of 6769 North Kalorama Road, Leesburg.

Ciriello stated that the victim was being transported to the Northeast Indiana Forensic Center for a formal autopsy that should be performed sometime tomorrow.

Ciriello stated that incident was assisted by the multiple agencies during the duration of the search.