Mystery as two students who vanished together found dead weeks apart as boyfriend’s body pulled from Lake Michigan
THE MYSTERY of two missing students has come to a tragic end - as another body found in Lake Michigan has been identified.
After going missing on April 30, Daniel Sotelo, 26, and his girlfriend, Natally Brookson, 22, from University of Illinois-Chicago, have now both been found - dead.
Yesterday the Cook County medical examiner confirmed that it was Daniel's remains which were pulled out of Lake Michigan near Wilmette on May 22.
Natally's body had already been found at Bryn Mawr and Lake Michigan just weeks before on May 2.
The couple both vanished at the end of last month - Natally was last seen leaving work at Friedman Place, while Daniel was at the Roosevelt Red Line stop near Roosevelt Road and State Street.
He had only told his roomate, who dropped him off there, that he was heading up north.
Worried friends and family alerted the authorities to the pair's unknown whereabouts, after noticing they couldn't get in contact.
Daniel never showed up to his graduation ceremony, which his sister Jennifer said was completely out of character.
The 26-year-old had been just days away from graduating with a master's degree in Organic Chemistry at UIC.
And Jennifer said he'd been planning his future of continuing to work at an organic farm in Naperville.
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The grieving sister posted a statement from Daniel's family on Facebook after his body was found.
She : "It is with heavy hearts that we share that Daniel has been found and is no longer with us.
"My family and I were blessed to have had Danny for the short time that we did. He was an absolute light for us all.
"His kindness was reflected in his eyes, and his generosity was conveyed in the way he took care of others.
"His smile had the ability to warm the heart of anyone that came across it. We are fortunate to have witnessed it as many times as we did."
She added: "Losing him is like losing the color from our world. As heartbroken as we are, we are so grateful for the light that he provided us for the past 26 years.
"We hope and pray that his soul rests in peace."
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Natally was an honors student studying psychology at UIC and had previously attended Roosevelt High School.
On a created to help cover her funeral expenses, friends paid tribute to the 22-year-old.
One commented: "She was selfless, loving, and incredibly talented. I was lucky to have such a supportive, and caring friend like her."
Another said: "Natally is one of the sweetest and kindest people I’ve ever met. I wish she didn’t have to go through this, she doesn’t deserve it, even a tiny bit."
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While a third added: "Her kindness, generosity, and joy will live on everybody’s hearts forever. We will miss you, Natally."
An autopsy the day after Natally's body was found came back inconclusive, so the cause and manner of her death are still pending.
