Missing man found dead in Rock Cut State Park; drowning suspected

LOVES PARK, Ill. (WTVO) – Authorities have recovered the body of a missing Italian man who drowned in Rock Cut State Park over the weekend.

The Winnebago County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as Marin Gherta and said he was in his thirties.

According to authorities, Gherta and his friends drove to Rock Cut to camp on Friday, July 26. Early Saturday morning, his companions discovered that Gherta and their kayak were missing.

The Illinois State Conservation Police began searching the park and Pierce Lake and evacuated the park during the operation.

At 6:20 a.m. Monday morning, police found Gherta’s body about 20 yards from the shore, near the Hickory Hills campground. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The coroner’s office said an autopsy had been completed and the preliminary cause of death was believed to be drowning.

The death is still under investigation.