A missing United Airlines executive was found dead in a forest preserve near Chicago

• Jacob Cefolia was found dead at a forest preserve near Chicago on Friday.
• The United Airlines SVP of worldwide sales had been missing since August 2020.

The body of Jacob Cefolia, a United Airlines executive who had been missing since August 2020, was found at a forest preserve near Chicago on Friday.

The DuPage County coroner said in a statement that his office had responded to a report of a deceased person in the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, a 2,500-acre expanse of hills, forest, and trails about 20 miles from the center of Chicago.

Dental records and an examination of the body "positively identified him as Jacob Cefolia, 50/yo from Elmhurst," the coroner said.

The coroner added that an autopsy was performed on Saturday, but the cause and manner of death were still under investigation.

"We were sad to hear the news about our former colleague Jake and our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time," a United spokesperson told Insider. "And we remain grateful for the support and prayers that so many of our employees - including Jake's coworkers - have shared with one another and on his behalf over the past year."

A United spokesperson told Insider last year that Cefolia had last been seen on August 6, which prompted an extensive search. ABC7 Chicago reported at the time that his vehicle had been found at the preserve, where he was known to run a 9- to 10-mile route.

Cefolia had been with the airline since 2007, progressing through various roles before becoming senior vice president of worldwide sales in August 2018.