The search for a missing 60-year-old duck hunter concluded grimly on November 4, 2023, when his body was found in Fourth Lake in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, near Lake Villa, Illinois.
Patrick Serzynski had been missing since October 30, 2023, when he set out on a duck hunting trip and did not return.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office identified Serzynski and said that the preliminary autopsy results were consistent with drowning. He was last seen preparing for a day of hunting at his duck blind, a structure used by hunters to conceal themselves from waterfowl. After he failed to return, his boat and personal effects were found later that day at the blind, but Serzynski was nowhere to be seen.
Dive teams and rescue boats from several fire departments conducted extensive searches throughout the lake. Despite their efforts, they were unable to locate him for five days.
Serzynski, an electrician for 38 years who retired in 2022, was an avid outdoorsman. He had celebrated his 30th wedding anniversary with his wife, Kimberley, in September.
Officials have not released specific details about the conditions that led to Serzynski’s death but say that there is no suspicion of foul play. The Lake County Coroner’s Office continues to investigate the cause of the drowning.
During this difficult time, the Lake Villa community and the larger hunting community have expressed condolences to the Serzynski family.
