Illinois Diver Presumed Deceased After He Failed To Resurface After Exploring Famous Shipwreck

Copied!

“Diver Down” Red Flag
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

A red flag with a white line through it waiving in the air is a diver down flag, or scuba flag, and is a flag used on the water to indicate that there is a diver below. Many dozens of law enforcement officers and firefighters from Illinois and Wisconsin spanning at least 10 counties, pulled their emergency boats on shore, with a look of sadness and perhaps, defeat on their tired faces. Not defeated because they didn’t give it their best, but the wrath of Lake Michigan made it very dangerous for first responders to navigate the angry sea.

Paid Advertisement

They were unable to rescue an Illinois man who was scuba-diving with his wife on board the boat. The man, who has yet to be identified, didn’t come up when he was supposed to.

Paid Advertisement

Area Law Enforcement Command Personnel Today
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

At about 11:30 a.m. police were called near Pleasant Prairie and they started the rescue efforts. The Sheriff’s Department soon took over command due to the jurisdictional issues. Sheriff David W. Zoerner, who was at a meeting in Milwaukee with Federal Law Enforcement responded from Milwaukee to the command center at the board launch.

Paid Advertisement

Zoerner told KCE that the weather was not terrible for the infancy of the rescue efforts, but the waters quickly got worse, and about 5 hours into the rescue attempt, the rescue boats started coming in from their efforts from about six miles out at sea. The Illinois man was exploring the USS Wisconsin.

Paid Advertisement

The USS Wisconsin was an iron-hulled package steamer built in 1881 that sank in 1929 in Lake Michigan off the coast of Kenosha. In 2009 the shipwreck site was added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Paid Advertisement

The rescue mission was converted to a recovery mission this evening and rescue personnel are expected to resume tomorrow morning. “Well, that would be a gift from heaven [If we found the man alive],” said Zoerner. “I mean, of course, there’s always hope.

Paid Advertisement

Fire and Police Personnel Returning From Rescue Today
(Photo by Kevin Mathewson, Kenosha County Eye)

Author

Kevin Mathewson

Kevin Mathewson is a disciple of Christ, husband and a father to two wonderful children. Mathewson was born and raised in Lake County, IL and worked as a police & fire dispatcher from 2005 to 2010 in Round Lake Beach, IL. Mathewson moved to Kenosha County in 2006, later being elected to the position of Alderman of the 8th District in 2012 and 2016. Mathewson is a private investigator, security contractor, journalist, and photographer. He enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, camping and boating. His favorite amendment is the second, followed closely by the first. He loves his country and community.

View All Articles

Copied!

LATEST NEWS

Kenosha CNA Accused of Assaulting Elderly Resident at Care Facility

April 25, 2025 111 Comments

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha woman stands accused of abusing a 73-year-old man at a local care facility where she worked, according to a criminal complaint filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court. Jahnix A. Medina, 27, was charged with one count of physical abuse of an elder person, intentionally causing bodily harm, a Class H felony. If convicted, she faces up to six years in prison, a $10,000 fine, or both. According to the complaint, officers

Maine Man Accused of Violent Robbery in Kenosha; Bail Set at $10,000

April 25, 2025 6 Comments

Kenosha, Wis. — A Maine man is facing felony charges in Kenosha County after allegedly assaulting a woman and robbing her of a necklace in a violent altercation last fall. On Wednesday, Court Commissioner William Michel II set bail at $10,000 cash for Lewis A. Covington, 32, who is charged with robbery with use of force and substantial battery—both with domestic abuse enhancers. According to the criminal complaint, the incident occurred on October 12, 2024, when

Village Administrator Lawyers Up Amid DNR Wetland Investigation

April 24, 2025

Salem Lakes, Wis. — The Village of Salem Lakes’ top administrator is under scrutiny after the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) launched an investigation into potential illegal wetland disturbances on municipal property. The property in question is zoned C1. Lowland Resource Conservancy (C1) zoning is intended to prevent the destruction of valuable natural resources, including wetlands, shorelands, and areas subject to flooding. This is among the most restrictive zoning in the County. Cassandra Hiller, the

Kenosha Alderman Accused of “Playing Cop” Again, Raising Concerns Over Overreach: Video

April 23, 2025

Kenosha, Wis. – Alderman Rollin Pizzala is facing renewed scrutiny after being spotted once again engaging in actions that appear to be outside the scope of his duties as a city legislator. On Thursday afternoon, a tip-off to Kenosha County Eye (KCE) reported Pizzala actively patrolling the 43rd Avenue neighborhood north of 60th Street, raising concerns among residents about his actions. Pizzala was reportedly “inspecting” properties in the area for code violations, such as property maintenance,

Racine Officer Shoots Armed Suspect During Home Invasion: Investigation Underway

April 23, 2025

Racine, Wis. — An officer with the Racine Police Department shot and injured a suspect during a tense encounter inside a residence Tuesday night following a reported armed home invasion. The incident occurred in the 1100 block of Hamilton Street and has triggered an outside investigation, officials confirmed. According to a news release from the Kenosha County Sheriff’s Office, Racine officers responded to the scene on April 22 after receiving reports of a home invasion involving

Kenosha Man Accused of Strangling Girlfriend, Causing Severe Facial Injury

April 22, 2025

Kenosha, Wis. — A 56-year-old Kenosha man is facing multiple criminal charges after allegedly assaulting his live-in girlfriend, choking her and striking her in the face hard enough to require stitches and cause temporary vision loss. Allen S. Meyer was charged in Kenosha County Circuit Court with substantial battery, strangulation and suffocation, and disorderly conduct — all with domestic abuse enhancers. The alleged attack occurred on March 21 at Meyer’s upper unit residence on 17th Avenue.

Kenosha Woman Charged Again for Stealing Family’s Car While Out on Bail for Doing the Same

April 22, 2025

Kenosha, Wis. – A 36-year-old Kenosha woman remains in the county jail on a $7,500 cash bail after being charged with stealing her daughter’s car over the weekend—despite already being out on bail for a similar car theft involving her own mother just months earlier. Kristy R. Delaney now faces a total of ten new charges in a case filed Monday, including five felony counts of bail jumping, misdemeanor bail jumping, misdemeanor theft, operating while revoked,

Kenosha Woman Accused of Tearing Sister’s Ear in Violent Fight

April 22, 2025

Kenosha, Wis. — A 23-year-old Kenosha woman is facing felony charges after allegedly assaulting her sister during a domestic dispute, less than two years after a similar case against her was dropped by the previous district attorney’s office. Katie M. Imbrogno has been charged in Kenosha County Circuit Court with one count of Substantial Battery – Domestic Abuse, a Class I felony, and one count of Disorderly Conduct – Domestic Abuse, a Class B misdemeanor. If

$50,000 Bail Set for Kenosha Man Accused of Distributing Child Pornography

April 21, 2025

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha man is being held in the Kenosha County Jail on serious felony charges after investigators say he shared a graphic image involving a young child over social media. Daniel D. Pichardo-Vilchis, 39, was arrested April 16 following an investigation by the Kenosha Police Department and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). He appeared in court last week for an initial appearance, where Court Commissioner William Michel ordered a

Kenosha Man Jailed After Additional Child Porn Charges Filed

April 21, 2025

Kenosha, Wis. — A Kenosha man is facing serious new criminal charges after being re-arrested last week in connection with a growing child pornography case. Hector A. Tot-Cuc, 25, was first charged on March 31, 2025, with two counts of possession of child pornography. He was released on $10,000 cash bail the following day. But on April 16, at 9:40 a.m., Tot-Cuc was taken back into custody after new evidence led prosecutors to file five additional

Teen Avoids Adult Court After Bringing Loaded Gun to Indian Trail

April 18, 2025

Kenosha, Wis. — In a decision that’s raising eyebrows across the community, Kenosha County Circuit Court Judge Chad Kerkman (D) on Friday rejected a request from prosecutors to waive 16-year-old Jaheem Wright into adult court, allowing the teen who brought a loaded gun to school and made threats to be sentenced in juvenile court instead. Wright, who terrified students and staff at Indian Trail High School in December, took a plea deal and pleaded guilty to

Counselor on Leave Amid Allegations at Westosha Central High School; Parents Demand Transparency

April 17, 2025

Paddock Lake, Wis. — A counselor at Westosha Central High School is currently on leave, and parents are once again demanding transparency from school leadership. Kenosha County Eye has confirmed through multiple sources that the counselor is accused of inappropriate communication with a student. According to individuals familiar with the situation, the counselor allegedly used his or her personal cellphone to communicate with a student and is also believed to have given the student a ride

Authors

13 Responses

Anonymous says:

September 11, 2024 at 5:05 AM

Very sad. His poor wife; waiting, only to never have him resurface.
I also heard the water was choppy enough to sink Lake Co. little dive boat.

2

Reply
1. Anonymous says:
  
  September 11, 2024 at 3:27 PM
  
  It was a Kenosha county dive boat that sank. They got all the guys and some of the gear off first.
  
  1
  
  Reply
  1. Anonymous says:
    
    September 12, 2024 at 5:52 AM
    
    More tax money to be spent on incompetence (dive boat).
    
    Reply
Anne says:

September 11, 2024 at 10:14 AM

How deep is the water where the wreck is?

Reply
1. Anonymous says:
  
  September 11, 2024 at 10:37 AM
  
  100+ feet was mentioned yesterday on the scanner.
  
  1
  
  Reply
  1. Anne says:
    
    September 11, 2024 at 12:26 PM
    
    OK, thanks.
    
    Reply
Anonymous says:

September 11, 2024 at 10:58 AM

225′ deep at the uss wisconsin. i used to fish around there . diver’s need to be very skilled,

2

Reply
Tiovo says:

September 11, 2024 at 11:14 AM

Even an experienced diver, swimmer can’t compete the current of our Great “Lake” Michigan. My condolences to his wife and his family and friends. Sad.

2

Reply
Anonymous says:

September 11, 2024 at 11:46 AM

Too many people underestimate the power of Lake Michigan.

3

Reply
1. Anonymous says:
  
  September 11, 2024 at 3:54 PM
  
  Yes, it is sad. Why risk your life?
  
  Reply
Tim Taddy says:

September 12, 2024 at 7:28 AM

He sleeps with the fishes. May God bless him and loved ones.

Reply