Death of Man Found Near Events Center Ruled Suicide

The death of a 43-year-old Geneva man whose body was found over the weekend at the Kane County Events Center is being considered a suicide, officials said.

The Kane County Coroner's Office will conduct a toxicology report on the body of Casey Gemeny, the Kane County Chronicle reports. County Coroner Rob Russell told the Chronicle that he didn't know whether a full autopsy would be completed.

Gemeny's body was discovered in a tree Saturday in the northeast part of the Kane County Events Center property, said Laurie Metanchuk, Community Affairs director for the Forest Preserve District of Kane County.

The Kane County Forest Preserve police and the Kane County Sheriff's Office investigated Gemeny's death.

Gemeny had a troubled past that included a dangerous, high-speed chase with police on Sept. 24, when Gemeny's address was in Campton Hills. During the chase, Tri-Com Central Dispatch cautioned police that the driver was "armed, dangerous and threatening numerous politicians," according to a Chronicle article published Oct. 2.

Patch commenters paint a picture of a man whose life is much more nuanced than the headlines or police reports might indicate. They said Gemeny leaves behind a daughter and had struggled with alcohol abuse.

"Casey was a father to a beautiful little girl and a great neighbor! I knew he had alcohol issues and that is always a difficult thing to deal with—but he was a very hands-on Daddy whenever he had his little girl, and I'm praying for her and for her loss!" said a reader identified as SUSAN FULLER Paustian.

"Despite what his past mistakes were, he was a person who people loved and cared about, and they are left trying to wrap their minds around this sudden death. I am so sorry for their loss, and I pray his soul is at peace," said Carrie Ann Pann.

"I feel horrible for his daughter. Alcohol is a disease that ruins many life's young and old. Too bad he did not get the help he needed before he put many lives in danger and before he took his own," Pat Fitz said.

"I will honestly say he was a hard worker and amazingly dependable plumber! He did a fantastic job getting our business started and was always just a phone call away when we had a plumbing emergency. Casey was always willing to share a heart-warming story about his love for his daughter and the joy she added to his life. I pray for her and his family during this hard time," said a reader identified as Ericka.

• See a list of Kane County-area resources addressing suicide and grief

Related Articles

UPDATE: Police Identify Man Found Dead at Kane County Events Center