Human Skull is Found at Golf Club

Mar 20, 09:04 AM

Current Headlines: By Andrew L. Wang, Chicago Tribune

Mar. 20--Workers patrolling the fairways Monday afternoon at a golf club in Mundelein made a macabre discovery: a human skull.

The skull, which appeared to be that of an adult, was found about 1 p.m. south of Hawley Street near the 14th tee of the Prairie Course, one of Countryside Golf Club's two courses, said John Galford, chief of the Lake County Forest Preserve Police.

"It was laying there right in the middle of the fairway," he said.

Other bones were found nearby.

The workers, who were uncovering tee areas to prepare the course for the upcoming season, immediately contacted authorities at the Forest Preserve District. Countryside is one of four golf locations operated by the county.

Officials said it's too early to determine if foul play was involved.

Galford said investigators found a partial set of dentures that may shed some light. Two of the false teeth are gold, he said, and a few have a star pattern on them. One front tooth bears a golden "R."

Lake County Coroner Richard Keller said a forensic dentist would examine the remains Tuesday and record any "dental descriptors" for comparison with a multiagency police database.

Some long bones were also found, Keller said.

Investigators plan to look through missing-persons reports.

In February, a resident found the body of Edward J. Fuller, 65, of Alsip, in the smoldering remains of his pickup truck near the course. An autopsy didn't determine the cause of death.

alwang@tribune.com

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