March 04--The death of a Chicago man who had been missing for 2 1/2 months before his body was discovered in January was ruled an accident, officials said Wednesday.
John Michael Cunningham Jr., 27, went missing Oct. 30 after leaving his parents' home near 104th Avenue and McCarthy Road in Palos Park. The Cook County medical examiner's office and Palos Park police said in January that a body found near a retention pond in Palos Township by youths playing hockey was identified as Cunningham.
The medical examiner's office said its investigation showed Cunningham died of drowning and hypothermia due to cold exposure, the 23rd cold-related death this season.
Cunningham's father, John Cunningham, said at the time that the family had tried to stay positive even after hearing a body had been discovered near the area Cunningham was last seen.
"We never gave up hope," he said.
