Illinois
Missing Illinois dad Dan Davis found dead after months of ‘agony’ for family searching for him
A missing Illinois father was found dead more than three months after a car crash in which he refused medical treatment and was later dropped off at work by police before disappearing.
The body of Daniel “Dan” Davis was discovered at around 3 p.m. on Monday in a wooded area next to train tracks along the border of the Chicago suburbs of Blue Island, the Chicago Police Department confirmed.
The 59-year-old’s cause of death is still under investigation.
His daughter, Wendy Davis, confirmed her family received word that her father’s remains had been found after “three and a half months of agony” searching for the beloved patriarch
“It’s an eerie feeling – thank god this terrible chapter of constant unknown is finally over,” she wrote in a heartbreaking Facebook post Tuesday.
Witnesses last spotted Davis wandering around the entertainment complex where he worked at a bar at about 1:15 a.m. on Nov. 25. He had been involved in a car crash hours earlier, but refused medical attention, People reported.
“Daniel Davis was evaluated by paramedics and refused medical treatment. Sheriff’s police did not detect any observable signs of impairment or injury,” a Cook County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson told the outlet.
Police feared Davis may have suffered a head injury in the wreck, which left his car totaled.
“Davis was given a ride to his workplace at approximately 12:30 a.m. due to the fact that his vehicle was undrivable,” the department said.
Home security footage later captured Davis appearing disoriented as he walked through the Chicago suburbs and exited a local church at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 26.
“Since his disappearance, sheriff’s police K9 units have assisted in the search at the request of Merrionette Park Police and will continue to assist in any way possible,” the Cook County Sheriff’s Office added.
Wendy said the footage appeared to show her father’s face drooping, noting that he also tripped over a curb and had his sweatshirt on inside out.
“We’re watching that footage and we noticed some symptoms that are not normal to Dan,” his daughter told People in December.
She said footage from before the crash showed Davis trying to enter homes in his neighbors’ apartment complex, sparking fears he had a medical episode before the accident.
“The accident definitely didn’t make it better,” she told People. “He probably got a concussion in the accident, too. We don’t know for sure.”
In the wake of her father’s body being found, Wendy thanked law enforcement and the community for helping in the search and said she is now starting a “new terrible chapter without my smarter, goofier, and relentlessly selfless other half.”
“This is the news we’ve all been expecting in a way, but nothing really prepares you for it. I’ve never laughed harder with anybody than I have with my dad. And I can’t wait to do it again someday,” she wrote in her post.
“Not a single gesture went unnoticed. I am so glad dad is so loved,” she concluded.
Article Summary
- In an annual May ceremony, friends, family and supporters of law enforcement honored two Illinois police officers who died in the line of duty in 2025.
- The event included a squad car processional and interfaith church service, ending in a ceremony at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial outside the state capitol.
- Seven historic honorees and one K-9 historic honoree were also included.
This summary was written by the reporters and editors who worked on this story.
In a ceremony at the state Capitol, family, friends and supporters honored the lives of two law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2025.
The ceremony honored Officer Krystal Rivera of the Chicago Police Department and Detective Tim Jones of the Park Forest Police Department. Held annually on the first Thursday in May, the event is a tradition to honor law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty the previous calendar year.
“Today, as we remember your brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, coworkers and friends who lost their lives in the line of duty, let us not remember them as indestructible superheroes that we may envision as children,” state Attorney General Kwame Raoul said. “Let’s remember them as human beings, in all their vulnerabilities and susceptibilities, who chose to take on the risk of the ultimate sacrifice to make others’ lives safer.”
This year’s memorial also included seven historic honorees who died from 1852 to 1936 and one K-9 honoree, Bear, who died in 1987.
“These officers represent the very best of what it means to be a public servant,” said Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias. “They came from different communities, different departments and different backgrounds, but they were united by a common goal: to protect people they may never meet, to run toward danger while others run away and to always put service above themselves.”
In an emotional address, Giannoulias also spoke of “fellow Greek American” CPD Officer John Bartholomew, who was shot and killed while on duty in April. Bartholomew’s visitation and funeral services are set to take place this weekend.
State Treasurer Michael Frerichs also gave a short speech, speaking on his family history with law enforcement and loss: “I’m invited here today because it’s my title. I come here today because of family.”
Frerichs encouraged families of fallen officers to apply to the Fallen Heroes Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to children who lost a parent in the line of duty.
The event included a squad car procession at the state fairgrounds and an interfaith church service at the Cathedral of Immaculate Conception, ending in the ceremony at the Illinois Police Officers Memorial on the grounds of the state Capitol.
The mayor of Springfield, Misty Buscher, and the families of two 2025 honorees — Illinois State Police trooper Corey Thompsen and Chicago Police officer James Crowley — also spoke. Gov. JB Pritzker, Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Comptroller Susana Mendoza were unable to attend.
Crowley’s sister Beth Carter gave a critical address, calling for reforms to the beneficiary system that she said left her with legal issues when her brother, a former police officer who was permanently injured while on duty, and her mother died within a month of each other.
Thompsen’s parents and brother also called for legislative reform. Thompsen was hit and killed by a driver who was later issued two tickets for an expired license and failure to yield. His family asked lawmakers to enact stricter consequences for crashes resulting in death and to communicate with other states about such events.
“If someone causes a crash that kills another person, there needs to be more of a consequence than two paid tickets for $500 each. We feel that the state of Illinois should notify the other state where the original license was issued, reporting that a fatality is caused by this person with an expired driver’s license,” Thompsen’s brother Ryan said. “As the state’s attorney told us, you won’t find any satisfaction here in the courthouse. How true that was.”
The Illinois Police Officers Memorial Committee, formed in 1987, organizes and maintains the monument located on the grounds of the Capitol. The memorial is self-funded and underwent a renovation and re-dedication in 2021.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service that distributes state government coverage to hundreds of news outlets statewide. It is funded primarily by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation.
DELAVAN, Wis. — A Delavan police officer has resigned immediately following his arrest on stalking charges in Illinois.
Joshua Bittner faces charges stemming from contacting a woman against the orders of the Winnebago County, Illinois, Sheriff’s Office. The woman detailed a long pattern of harassment in court documents obtained by TMJ4.
Before being hired by the Delavan Police Department in 2023, Bittner was an officer in Beloit. He resigned from that position while the police department investigated his behavior.
Bittner’s resignation takes effect immediately.
Watch: Delavan police officer resigns after arrest on stalking charges in Illinois
Delavan police officer resigns following arrest
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