Body Recovered from Fox River 2-18-09 (Jeff Hoss) Valley View, IL

[annalyzer]

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=273058

Body recovered from Fox River in Valley View

By Josh Stockinger | Daily Herald StaffContact writerPublished: 2/18/2009 1:05 PM | Updated: 2/18/2009 1:33

St. Charles firefighters pulled the body of a man from the Fox River this morning, officials said.

It was recovered about 10:44 a.m. along Riverside Drive, south of Irwin Avenue in the Valley View area of unincorporated St. Charles Township.

Kane County Sheriff's Lt. Pat Gengler said a sheriff's deputy went to the scene as part of a follow-up investigation to a missing person's report made Tuesday in St. Charles.

"(The deputy) saw the body floating in the river," Gengler said.

Gengler said the man has not yet been identified, and authorities are looking into any connection between the death and the missing person's report.

Coroner's officials remain on the scene along with sheriff's investigators and St. Charles firefighters.

"We're treating it as a death investigation at this point," Gengler said.

[annalyzer]

http://cbs2chicago.com/local/st.charles.fox.2.938215.html

Feb 18, 2009 3:59 pm US/Central

Body Of Missing Man Found In Fox River

ST. CHARLES TWP, Ill. (STNG) ―
The body of a 47-year-old St. Charles man was pulled from the Fox River in Kane County Wednesday.

Jeff H. Hoss, who lived at 35W453 Riverside Dr. in St. Charles was reported missing by his roommate Tuesday, according to the Kane County Sheriff's office.

Sheriff's deputies conducting a follow-up investigation into the initial missing persons report located a body at approximately 11:50 a.m. Wednesday in the Fox River near 35W453 Riverside Dr. in St Charles Township, the sheriff's office said.

The body was later positively identified as Hoss.

The sheriff's office is classifying this as a death investigation. An autopsy is scheduled for Thursday.

[packy]

Thanks for the update, Annalyzer. Hopefully they will do a follow up so we know what happened to him.

My condolences to Jeff's family and friends.

[sarahhod]

Autopsy today on body found in Fox River

February 19, 2009

From Staff Reports

VALLEY VIEW -- The body of a man found in the Fox River Wednesday has been identified as a St. Charles Township resident who had been reported missing the day before.
Kane County sheriff's deputies said the body of Jeff H. Hoss, 47, was found in the river near his home at 35W453 Riverside Drive about 11:50 a.m. The location is in the unincorporated Valley View area north of St. Charles.
Hoss' roommate contacted the Sheriff's Department on Tuesday to report him missing.
On Wednesday, deputies were conducting a follow-up investigation to that report when they found his body in the river.
There was no information immediately available Wednesday on whether authorities believe Hoss had drowned or had died from some other cause.
The Sheriff's Department at this point is classifying the incident only as a death investigation, and an autopsy is scheduled for today.
The area where the body was found was not frozen over Wednesday, and while the outside temperatures during the day were a relatively mild mid-40s, the river water remains extremely cold at this time of year. Authorities in the past have warned about the danger of hypothermia for anyone who enters the river when temperatures are this cold.
Hoss' roommate was not at home late Wednesday afternoon, but a next-door neighbor said the two men moved to the small, riverfront rental property a few weeks ago. The neighbor -- who asked not to be named -- said the two men had come from Wisconsin and were starting their own handyman business.
With the river just steps from his front door, Hoss often could be seen fishing out in the Fox, the neighbor said. A lot of people fish in the area, he said. The water near Hoss' home is fairly shallow but can be dangerous and paralyzing when the weather is cold, he said.

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/couriernews/news/1437704,body-found-Fox-River_AU021809.article

[annalyzer]

http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/stcharlessun/news/1440607,2_AU19_Coroner-found-River-drowned.article

Coroner: Man found in Fox River drowned

February 19, 2009

FROM SUN-TIMES NEWS GROUP REPORTS
A St. Charles area man whose body was pulled from the Fox River on Wednesday morning drowned and there were no signs of trauma to the body, according to preliminary autopsy results.

The man, identified as Jeff H. Hoss of the 35W400 block of Riverside Drive near St. Charles, was reported missing by his roommate Tuesday, according to the Kane County Sheriff's office.

Sheriff's deputies conducting a follow-up investigation into the missing-person report located the body at about 11:50 a.m. Wednesday in the Fox River near his home in unincorporated St. Charles Township, the sheriff's office said.

An autopsy Thursday ruled Hoss' death a drowning, indicating there were no signs of "obvious trauma." Toxicology samples have been sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis, the Kane County Coroner's office said.

The body was found floating about 20 feet from the shoreline and was later positively identified as Hoss, the coroner's office said.

Sheriff's police and the coroner's office continue to investigate.

[greghoss]

My brothers name is Jeff A. (Allen) Hoss, sure wish they would get it right. We still have questions about the coroner saying his death is an accidential drowning, water around 40 degrees and shallow enough to stand up in? Also, his last contact as we know was Fridan afternoon but the coroner listed his death as Wednesday (date and time found)? I thought technology was more advanced to be able to tell when he died and how long he was actually in the river. Hopefully we can get some help to find closure. This is extremely hard on our family!

[AmyE]

My condolences go out to Jeff's family and friends. :1222423:

[packy]

My brothers name is Jeff A. (Allen) Hoss, sure wish they would get it right. We still have questions about the coroner saying his death is an accidential drowning, water around 40 degrees and shallow enough to stand up in? Also, his last contact as we know was Fridan afternoon but the coroner listed his death as Wednesday (date and time found)? I thought technology was more advanced to be able to tell when he died and how long he was actually in the river. Hopefully we can get some help to find closure. This is extremely hard on our family!

Welcome, greghoss. I am so sorry for your loss.

It does seem questionable about the length of time between when you last heard from him and when he was found. I hope that they did talk to people who live in the area where he was found.

[greghoss]

Thank you. The detective did say they will talk to neighbors this Saturday. This just doesn't add up: his cell phone started going straight to voice mail Friday night, his "roommate" turned in a missing persons report Tuesday saying he last saw my brother Thursday or Friday (he wasn't sure), the roommate found my brothers fishing pole and chair by the river Tuesday and then left it there. The police did a search after a Second report by another person and found his fishing pole and chair still there and his body 20' from the shore! I know my brother and his roommate did not get along and did argue daily, both were not working and out of money so I DO NOT believe the Roommate! I just pray for closure for my family and especially my mother.

[sarahhod]

Greg, My sincerest condolences to you, your family and friends at this devastating time.:1222423::1222423:

I sure hope you get some answers to your questions very soon. I have to agree something seems very amiss here.

RIP Jeff.:1222423:

[sarahhod]

Drowning as cause of death

Published: 2/20/2009 12:01 AM

An autopsy of a man found in the Fox River Wednesday showed that the cause of death was drowning. No obvious trauma was noted during the autopsy of Jeff Hoss, according to a statement released by the Kane County coroner on Thursday. Hoss' body was recovered around 11:50 a.m. Wednesday on the 35W500 block of Riverside Drive in the Valley View area of St. Charles Township. Hoss, 47, was reported missing from his St. Charles home by his roommate. Police said they found no immediate signs of foul play and were treating the case as a death investigation. Toxicology samples will also be analyzed as part of the autopsy, according to the coroner.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=273515&src=5

[sarahhod]

Autopsy revealed man found in Fox River drowned

By Erik Schelkopf - eschelkopf@kcchronicle.com[/URL]


ST. CHARLES – Preliminary results of an autopsy indicate that a man found floating in the Fox River on Wednesday had drowned.

Jeff H. Hoss, 47, of 35W453 Riverside Drive in the Valley View area of unincorporated St. Charles Township, lived directly across the street from where his body was found. The body was found floating about 20 feet from the shoreline.

Thursday's autopsy also did not reveal any obvious trauma. Toxicology samples have been sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis.

His body was found at about 11:50 a.m. Wednesday by a deputy after Hoss’ roommate on Tuesday reported him missing to the Kane County Sheriff's Office.

Pat Gengler, spokesman for the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, said the investigation into the death continues.

His office has been conducting interviews as part of the investigation. Gengler did not elaborate on who was being interviewed.

[url]http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2009/02/19/94920661/index.xml (http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2009/02/19/94920661/index.xml#readcomments)

[Amusedtdth]

Welcome Greg and please accept my condolances on your loss. This is a very hard time for you I'm sure but if you truly believe there is more to the story then do not give up. You only get answers when you ask the questions, sometimes over and over.
God bless.

[sarahhod]

Created: Saturday, February 21, 2009 11:30 p.m. CST

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Questions surround Valley View drowning



By ERIC SCHELKOPF eschelkopf@kcchronicle.com



VALLEY VIEW – Days after a man’s body was pulled from the Fox River, neighbors living along the normally quiet Riverside Drive want to know what happened.
“I just hope it was a tragic accident,” said Denise Tecuanhuey, speaking Saturday at her home near where the body was found. “I hate to speculate.”
On Wednesday, Jeff Hoss’ body was found floating about 20 feet from the shoreline. The 47-year-old man lived at 35W453 Riverside Drive, directly across the street from where his body was found.
Preliminary results from an autopsy conducted Thursday by the Kane County Coroner’s Office indicated Hoss drowned.
But Tecuanhuey still has questions about what happened.
“I don’t know what happened,” she said. “I don’t know if it was icy on the shoreline and he could have fallen.”
Thursday’s autopsy also did not reveal any obvious trauma. Toxicology samples have been sent to a forensic laboratory for analysis.
His body was found at about 11:50 a.m. Wednesday by a deputy after Hoss’ roommate on Tuesday reported him missing to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.
Pat Gengler, spokesman for the Kane County Sheriff’s Office, said the investigation into the death continues.
His office has been conducting interviews as part of the investigation. Gengler did not elaborate on who was being interviewed.
Hoss’ roommate was not at home Saturday afternoon.
Tecuanhuey, who has lived on Riverside for 23 years, said she didn’t know much about Hoss and his roommate.
“I never saw the guy (Hoss),” she said. “They just lived there for three weeks. I saw them move in.”
She wasn’t at home at the time Hoss’ body was found.
This is the first time Tecuanhuey can remember anyone drowning in that stretch of the Fox River.
And she is looking for some answers as to what happened.
“It is kind of odd for something like that to happen here,” she said.


http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2009/02/21/31690325/index.xml

[nanabillie]

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee295/brycolby/sympathy/withheartfeltcondelences.jpg

[sarahhod]

Son disputes father's drowning was an accident

By ERIC SCHELKOPF - eschelkopf@kcchronicle.com


ST. CHARLES – A coroner’s inquest jury on Wednesday ruled that Jeff Hoss died accidentally when his body was found Feb. 18 in the Fox River floating about 20 feet from the shoreline.

But Steven Hoss, his son, said there is more to the story. He told the jury that he believes Hoss’ roommate, John Newbolds, had something to do with the 47-year-old man's death.

“John is a pretty hot-headed guy,” Steven Hoss told the jury. “I could picture him pushing my father into the river.”

There are no eyewitness accounts as to what happened., and the Kane County Sheriff’s Office has closed the case.

“We don’t have any evidence to support Steven Hoss’ claim,” said Lt. Pat Gengler. “If we develop more evidence later on, the case can be reopened at any time.”

Jeff Hoss and Newbolds lived in the 35W400 block of Riverside Drive in the Valley View area of unincorporated St. Charles Township, across the street from where his body was found.

Newbolds said he did not have anything to do with what happened to Jeff Hoss.

“I tried to help him get off the booze,” Newbolds said Wednesday afternoon in front of the house on Riverside Drive. “I prayed for him every night. He had a drinking problem. That’s what killed him.”

Toxicology reports revealed that Jeff Hoss’ blood-alcohol level was .29 at the time of his death, Kane County Deputy Coroner Lisa Gilbert testified to the jury.

The legal limit in Illinois is .08.

“There were three abrasions to his forehead but no trauma to him,” Gilbert said. “His death was a result of drowning.”

Gilbert said there was no way to know how long his body was in the river. His body was in a frozen state, she said.

“He was in there probably more than 24 hours,” Gilbert said.

Steven Hoss said that even though his father was a heavy drinker, he could function normally.

“My dad wasn’t a clumsy guy,” he said. “He would drink from morning to night, but he could function that way.”

Nor would he ever commit suicide, Steven Hoss said.

“He never gave up his whole life,” he said. “There’s no way he would commit suicide.”

In early February, Jeff Hoss had spend the night at Steven Hoss’ house in Hanover Park.

“He was excited about living by the river,” Steven Hoss said. “He was happy. I haven’t seen him that happy in a long time.”

Jeff Hoss was an avid fisherman. He and Newbolds were starting a handyman service.

He had gone missing on Feb. 13. On Feb. 17, Newbolds reported him missing to the Kane County Sheriff’s Office.

Before reporting him missing, Newbolds said he thought Jeff Hoss was with his ex-girlfriend or with one of his buddies in Streamwood.

“I have nothing to hide,” Newbolds said.

Steven Hoss said he just doesn’t believe his father’s death was an accident.

“I don’t think they did all they could to investigate John,” he said. “I don’t know if they will ever find out what happened to him.”

http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2009/04/15/43523273/index.xml