| Missing Chicago man's body found By KEVIN P. CRAVER Shaw News Service BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Wis. -- The search for a Chicago man missing since April 14 ended Friday afternoon with the discovery of his body. Authorities will not reveal the identity until an autopsy is performed today (Saturday). But identification found on the body is that of 54-year-old William Miscovich, his brother Perry Misso said Friday. Miscovich's remains were found 2 miles over the Wisconsin border in Walworth County, Walworth County Deputy Coroner Ron Wilson said. Wilson said a state highway employee picking up litter along Route 12, about a mile south of Pell Lake Road, found the body about 50 feet off the road. Misso said Miscovich's 1999 Harley-Davidson Dyna Convertible was found about 75 feet away. Walworth County Sheriff David Graves could not be reached for comment regarding the report, but department staff said a press release will be issued after the autopsy. Friday's discovery is a sad ending for family and friends who searched for him, cousin Rick Lantini said. Lantini and his fellow investigators with Intelligence Group International, a Denver-based investigation firm, scoured the area from Elgin to Miscovich's home in Williams Bay, Wis. He was checking up on several leads phoned in after the story ran in Friday's Northwest Herald, when he received the call. "My partners and I checked every bar, every restaurant, every gas station up Route 20, 47 and 12," Lantini said. "I was hoping for a better result, I really was. I was praying and praying for a better result. We were working on this every day for a better result." Miscovich was last seen April 14 at Booker's Backyard sports bar in Elgin, where he met up with a brother and co-workers from Machinery Movers and Riggers Local 136 in Chicago for lunch and a motorcycle ride. He headed to his Williams Bay home, and called fiancée, Mary Ann Strenski, at about 4 p.m. She asked him to pick up some vegetables for dinner, but he never arrived. The family posted filers at biker bars along the route he took out of habit -- Route 20 to Route 47, which becomes Route 12 in Wisconsin. Misso offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to his brother's return. Lantini and Misso rented a helicopter for 3 hours last week, traveling major roads and videotaping the search. They watched the film several times, looking for broken fences, skid marks or any sign of what happened to Miscovich. Wilson said a motorist on Route 12 would have had a hard time seeing Miscovich because of heavy vegetation and a sloping road shoulder. Misso described his brother as a gentle man who loved to fish and ride motorcycles. Miscovich was a journeyman rigger who helped set up trade shows at McCormick Center in Chicago. He loved escaping to Williams Bay with Strenski. Misso said little after learning the news, but said despite the tragedy, he takes comfort in finding his brother. "After the third day, I wasn't sure. After time went by, I just hoped there was no foul play. My worst fear would be that I would never hear or know," Misso said. Miscovich leaves behind four children and seven grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are pending. |