A sombre scene unfolded along Chicago's iconic waterfront this week as authorities launched a major death investigation following the recovery of two bodies from Lake Michigan within a devastating 24-hour period.
The first grim discovery was made on Tuesday morning near the bustling Ohio Street Beach. According to the Chicago Fire Department, a person was pulled from the water and pronounced dead at the scene. The identity of this individual remains unknown as officials work to notify next of kin.
In a tragic and unsettling turn of events, a second body was recovered just hours later on Tuesday afternoon. Chicago Police Department officers retrieved this victim from the waters near the 1200 block of North Lake Shore Drive, a stone's throw from the prestigious Gold Coast neighbourhood.
As of Wednesday evening, the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office has yet to publicly identify either victim. The circumstances surrounding both deaths remain shrouded in mystery, with no immediate indications of foul play reported by investigating officers.
The dual tragedies have cast a pall over the city's famous shoreline, a popular area for recreation and tourism. Authorities have not stated whether the two incidents are connected, but the proximity in both time and location is sure to form a key part of the ongoing investigation.
An autopsy for the first victim is scheduled for later today, which may provide crucial answers regarding the cause of death. The Chicago Police Department continues to investigate the circumstances that led to these twin waterfront tragedies.
