The Hinsdale Seventh-day Adventist Church community is mourning the loss of one of their own, now that an extensive week-long search for 28-year-old Gabriel De Sagun has tragically concluded.
On July 20, De Sagun was listed as missing and endangered after not returning to his family home in Naperville, Illinois. Numerous local and regional public safety partners, K9 teams, drones, boats, sonar technology and aviation assets were deployed in the search for him. De Sagun was found deceased in the east quarry of Elmhurst, Illinois.
In a statement released July 27, Elmhurst Police Chief Mike McLean extended his condolences to Gabriel’s family and loved ones.
“While this is not the outcome anyone hoped for, we are grateful for the efforts of the first responders and community volunteers who dedicated countless hours to this search. I also want to thank our mutual aid partners and the many members of our community who shared information, offered support, and kept Gabriel and his family in their thoughts throughout the past week. We respectfully ask that Gabriel’s family be afforded privacy as they grieve.”
Some who knew De Sagun shared in Facebook comments that they remembered him as kind, smart and a light to many people.
After search efforts ended, the Hinsdale church shared their gratitude for those who prayed, shared information or supported the search efforts. “Please continue to lift Gabriel’s family and loved ones in prayer, asking God to surround them with comfort, strength, and peace as they grieve this heartbreaking loss.”
“Our Hinsdale church family became deeply invested in Gabriel’s story,” said Bill Kasper, Hinsdale Seventh-day Adventist Church senior pastor. “We prayed for his safe return and shared information through social media, hoping that in some small way we could help bring him home. Although this is not the outcome any of us wanted, we will continue to pray for Gabriel’s family as they grieve and face the difficult road ahead. This tragic loss reminds us all how deeply we long for Jesus to return and make all things well.”
Elmhurst Police Department said the investigation remains ongoing in coordination with the DuPage County Coroner’s Office. No additional information is available for release at this time.
Katie Fellows serves as the Lake Union Conference assistant communication specialist.