The man who once owned the Winnetka house where “Home Alone” was filmed was found dead, apparently by suicide, Wednesday at a nature preserve, according to Lake Forest police.
John Abendshien, 79, was reported missing by his wife at 3:50 p.m. Wednesday, police said. Lake Forest officials found him nearly two hours later using drones and a police dog.
Abendshien was found dead at Derwen Mawr Nature Preserve behind a residence in the 300 block of West Westminster Avenue, according to officials.
Autopsy results indicated that Abendshien died from severe oxygen deprivation that appeared to have been self-inflicted. The circumstances surrounding the death remain under investigation by the Lake Forest Police Department and the Lake County coroner’s office.
The Lake Forest Police Department took Abendshien into custody April 16 after discovering the previous “Home Alone” homeowner had engaged in possession, manufacture or distribution of child sexual abuse material.
Abendshien was released after his hearing but that investigation continued.