A body found in a car pulled from an Illinois pond has been identified as a missing Army veteran and father who vanished 25 years ago. John Pisano Jr disappeared without a trace in 2001 at age 39 after facing 'lifelong struggles with mental illness,' according to his obituary.
Decades later, Cook County officials confirmed his remains were pulled from a car found in a pond in September, WLS reported. A scuba diving team with the group Chaos Divers made the discovery near Joliet Road and East Avenue in Hodgkins while investigating a separate case.
'Once again, Chaos Divers has found a family answers. Back in Summer 2025, they were diving in Hodgkins, Illinois, next to the Target when they located an unexpected vehicle with remains inside that was not initially tied to a missing persons case in a small retention pond,' the group Illinois Missing Persons wrote on Facebook.
The vehicle was a 1998 Lincoln Town Car linked to Pisano's case, police said. Officials confirmed this month that the remains belonged to Pisano, who would have been 63 years old, but have not revealed his cause of death or the date.
'After six months of waiting, the family now has answers and the person found has been identified as John Pisano Jr who went missing 24 years ago,' Illinois Missing Persons wrote. 'This was actually not the vehicle or person they were searching for at the time. They were in the area searching for another missing person. After 24 years of unanswered questions, one family finally has closure because of their work. That kind of compassion and dedication deserves recognition.'
Chaos Divers shared a tribute to Pisano on Facebook, writing, 'RIP John Pisano, thank you for your service. It was an honor to bring him home.'
Pisano's family remembered him as a proud Army veteran and father who loved music and dancing. 'He carried himself with confidence and charisma, always taking pride in his appearance. He loved music — especially Ozzy Osbourne and KISS — and often joked that he looked like John Travolta,' his obituary stated. 'Whether he was out dancing in his platform shoes and leather jacket or styling his hair just right, John brought energy and individuality everywhere he went.'
Pisano's obituary noted that his mental health struggles were 'a battle he carried quietly for many years.' 'He could be stubborn at times, but beneath that strong personality was a deeply caring man who loved his children immensely,' his loved ones said. 'Family meant everything to him, and his love for his kids remained constant throughout his life. Though his life was marked by hardship and loss, John will be remembered for his spirit, his style, his love of music and dancing, and the deep love he held for his family.'
The Daily Mail has contacted the Hodgkins Police Department and the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office for more information.
