By David Lohr

(Continued)

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Matthew's wife Kelly, who was four months pregnant at the time of his disappearance, had a difficult time.  During an interview with the Chicago Tribune, she said that even though they had only been married for eight months, everything was already starting to go their way.  "We had been trying to get pregnant since then, and this was our plan," Kelly said.  "It took us a while, and he was so excited because it was a miracle.  I'm beside myself because he would never, never go anywhere without calling, without anything."

Matthew's disappearance remained a mystery until December 20, 2005, when a Department of Streets and Sanitation employee spotted his body floating in the Chicago River.  The location was two miles from his hotel.  His identification was still in his pocket.  The following day, an autopsy was conducted by the Cook County medical examiner's office.  According to the final report, Matthew had drowned, but the manner of his death was listed as undetermined, pending a police investigation.

I spoke with Matthew's wife yesterday and she said she is still no closer to understanding what happened to her husband.  "I still don't know what to think," she said.  "According to the police it was a 'freak accident.'  As far as I know there have been no new leads.  The case is closed."

While the similarities between these two cases are enough to raise eyebrows, they are not unique.  In fact, several other men have disappeared in Chicago, only to be found floating in the Chicago River or on the banks of Lake Michigan.

Looking back to Jan. 1, 2000, there was the reported disappearance of 21-year-old Brian Welzien, a Northern Illinois University student who vanished after a friend dropped him off in front of the Gold Coast hotel.  Three months later, his body was found on the banks of Lake Michigan.  His cause of death was listed as drowning. 

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Contact  David Lohr at           crimewriter74@hughes.net

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