Plainfield man found dead Friday of apparent gunshot wound in Crest Hill forest preserve

A 19-year-old man from Plainfield was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound on a walking path in Theodore Marsh Preserve in Crest Hill on Friday, according to the Will County Forest Preserve.

He was the second person to have been found dead at a forest preserve this week.

Two people who did not know each other walking on a Theodore Marsh path west of Gaylord Avenue and north of Theodore Street came across the body at the same time, according to a statement from forest preserve spokeswoman Cindy Cain.

They called out to the person lying on the ground about 20 yards off the trail. When there was no response, one of the walkers called 911.

A handgun was recovered at the scene, Crest Hill police said.

Crest Hill and Will County Forest Preserve District police responded to the call at about noon Friday.

The Will County Coroner’s Office pronounced the man dead at the scene.

He had died of an apparent gunshot wound, forest preserve Police Chief Tracy Chapman said.

An autopsy is scheduled for Saturday, according to the forest preserve, and the investigation into the death is ongoing.

The coroner’s office had not identified the 19-year-old as of early evening on Friday.

The discovery of the body came after David Nelson, 19, of Lyons was found dead of an apparent drowning on Wednesday in the Des Plaines River near the Will County Forest Preserve District’s Isle a la Cache Museum Romeoville.

Nelson had been visiting the museum and was reported missing when forest preserve police were called and conducted a search that led to the discovery of his body in the river.