The remains of 22-year-old Illinois resident Cheyann Klus, who disappeared five years ago after a night of partying in Chicago, are found – as her devastated family broke the news on social media
- Cheyann Klus was 22 when she disappeared in Chicago in December 2017
- Her family said Sunday that her “daughter, sister and aunt” had been found
- The Cook County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that she was identified from dental records
- Klus was last seen on the night of December 1st in the Hermosa area of Chicago
The remains of an Illinois woman who disappeared five years ago after a night of partying in Chicago have been found, police confirmed Tuesday after her devastated family broke the news on social media.
Cheyann Klus was 22 when she was reported missing by her father after failing to return to Downers Grove in December 2017.
Her family posted on social media on Sunday that her remains had been found. She was identified from dental records last week, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
Her sister Mariah Klus posted on Facebook: “As her immediate family [father, sisters, brothers, nephews] In grief, we ask for privacy as we mourn the unbearable loss of a daughter, sister, aunt and loved one.
Cheyann Klus was 22 when she was reported missing by her father in December 2017 after failing to return to Downers Grove
Twelve days after Klus’ disappearance, an emergency call was made from her phone, which pinged a cellphone tower at the Mallard Lake Forest Preserve (pictured), 20 miles from her boyfriend’s house and 18 miles from her home
“We plan to hold a private memorial service for Cheyann between us, but we hope everyone can find comfort in knowing that she was found and buried with respect.”
In 2017, investigators learned that Klus was traveling to Chicago, where she was last seen on the night of December 1 in the 2100 block of North Kilbourn in the Hermosa neighborhood.
Friends said Klus left home to stay with boyfriend Brian Biddle, where there was an “all day, all night private party”.
Speaking to the TV show Crime Watch Daily in 2018, Cheyann’s friend Chad Chanapai said, “From what I understand she took her laptop and maybe some clothes, and that’s about it.”
‘[Biddle] said she was her normal self and that they drank and partied late into the night,” Chanapai said.
The next day, Biddle, 38, reportedly woke up and was gone. Biddle was never a suspect or person interested in her disappearance – and cooperated with police.
Twelve days later, a 911 call was reportedly made from her phone, which pinged a cellphone tower at the Mallard Lake Forest Preserve, 20 miles from her boyfriend’s house and 18 miles from her home.
Cheyann Klus in photos from her social media profile. Her family posted on Facebook on Sunday that her remains had been found. She was identified from dental records last week, the Cook County Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
The 948-acre park was searched on December 22, 2017, but Klus was not found and plans were made to try again in better weather.
More than 100 employees and dog teams searched the area a second time, but Klus was not found.
The Cook County Sheriff’s Office did not provide information on where or how Klus’ remains were located.
A statement said: “The Sheriff’s Office worked closely with the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI to successfully identify the remains of Cheyann Klus from dental records last week.
“The sheriff’s office will continue to work with the Chicago Police Department to investigate the circumstances of her death, but we are grateful to be able to help bring some degree of closure to Klus’ family.”