Kane County Coroner identifies skeletal remains found in Elgin

ELGIN – On Oct. 9 at approximately 10:14 a.m., Elgin police officers were dispatched to a wooded area near the 500 block of Trout Park Boulevard and Sherwood Avenue for a report of a body found in a nearby body of water.

Police officers located skeletal remains, which were subsequently recovered and taken to the morgue by the Kane County Coroner’s Office for further examination.

The Kane County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy on the body on Oct. 12, however preliminary findings are pending further studies.

A forensic odonatologist—a highly skilled dentist who uses their expertise to help identify unknown remains and trace bite marks to a specific individual—examined the remains on Oct. 13.

48-year-old Carl Ahrens was positively identified as the deceased victim on Oct. 15, via dental records and partial fingerprints.

The Kane County Coroner’s Office states that Ahrens’ last known residence was “in and around the homeless community of Elgin.”

Elgin Police detectives, the Kane County Coroner’s Office, and the Kane County Major Crimes Task Force are still actively investigating the incident.

According to an obituary posted on the Laird Funeral Home website, Ahrens is survived by his two children, his parents, his sister, and other family members.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, Oct. 30 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Laird Family Funeral Home located at 120 S. 3rd Street in West Dundee.

The Elgin Police Department is asking anyone from the public that may have further information that may assist in the investigation to please call 847-298-2600 or send an anonymous text to 847411 and include “ElginPD” at the beginning of the narrative.