Death of missing man found in lake ruled a suicide

The death of a Manhattan man who drowned in a CECO Recreation Club lake has been ruled a suicide.

Grundy County Sheriff Ken Briley and Grundy County Coroner John W. Callahan released the findings of a joint investigation into the death of 47-year-old Anthony Fehrenbacher.

On the morning of Saturday, June 10, a fisherman discovered a body in the water at the members-only recreation club located at 1210 N. Dresden Rd.

Authorities were notified at 6:30 a.m. of the discovery and personnel with the Coal City Fire Protection District were called to assist sheriff’s deputies in removing the body from the lake.

Sheriff Briley, in a released issued on July 14, said when authorities removed Fehrenbacher from the water they, “observed an apparatus attached to him which allowed him to sink to the bottom of the lake.”

Fehrenbacher was last scene walking in his neighborhood on May 26. After not hearing from him, a wellness check was conducted on June 1. He was entered into state and national law enforcement data bases at that time and the Manhattan Police Department began an investigation into his disappearance.

An extensive search, led by his family, took place around the Manhattan area the weekend prior to his discovery in the lake.

A forensic examination was conducted on June 11 and the results revealed he died from drowning.

County authorities say there were no signs of trauma and toxicology showed therapeutic levels of prescribed medication.

“After a thorough investigation and examination of evidence collected and multiple interviews, Grundy County detectives found no evidence to lead them to any other conclusion other than Fehrenbacher took his own life,” the release stated.

“Suicide is a very difficult manner of death for families and friends to accept or believe. Generally, we don’t release information on suicides, however due to the media attention and the fact that Fehrenbacher was reported missing, we feel the need to let the public know we found no foul play surrounding his death,” the coroner and sheriff said in the release.