Private Eye Looks At Elmhurst Missing Person Case

Elmhurst IL

14 January, 2021

11:13 AM

Description

ELMHURST, IL — The family of Jake Cefolia hired a private investigator shortly after the Elmhurst resident went missing in early August. The investigator is Robert Pavelchik, who has been a police chief in Darien, Willowbrook and Villa Park. He is listed as working for Gold Shield Detective Agency, a national firm. Cefolia, 49, a United Airlines executive, was last seen Aug. 6. On Aug. 24, Pavelchik emailed Elmhurst Police Chief Michael Ruth for the police report on the missing person case, which the police released, as it did for Patch. Pavelchik also wanted the report of the criminal investigation into Cefolia, including the search warrant that police executed at Cefolia's home. The police have acknowledged to Patch that Cefolia was under criminal investigation. In response to Pavelchik, the police declined to release the criminal investigation report or the warrant. A city attorney cited the state's open records law in the denial. "(A)ll requested records pertaining to a criminal investigation are being withheld as the release of any part of the records would interfere with pending or actually and reasonably contemplated law enforcement proceedings," attorney Peter Pacione said in a letter to Pavelchik. Patch left an email message for Pavelchik on Wednesday, but he did not return it. It is unclear whether Pavelchik is still being retained by the family. Patch obtained Pavelchik's email to the police chief through a records request. Patch also sought any public records requests from United Airlines or any of its representatives, including private detectives, about the Cefolia case. The city did not produce any such requests. On Wednesday, Patch reported that Cefolia, who was United's senior vice president for worldwide sales, is no longer considered an employee of the company. A United spokesman said Cefolia's replacement has not been named. Cefolia's car was found at Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Lemont not long after he went missing. Searches have been conducted at the park, apparently yielding no clues. To this day, Elmhurst police have not issued a news release or a photo of Cefolia. According to the missing person report, Cefolia was drinking excessively and broke up with his girlfriend in the days leading to his disappearance. He also was said to have fantasized about going off the grid.