MANHATTAN, IL – After a month long investigation into the case of Anthony W. Fehrenbacher, the Manhattan man found drowned in a pond near Coal City, investigators have ruled his death a suicide.
According to investigators from the Grundy County Sheriff’s Department, the body of the 47-year-old was discovered by a fisherman at the CECO Club on June 10th, following his reported disappearance on May 26th. Authorities recovered Fehrenbacher from the water, noting the presence of what has only been described as an “apparatus” that allowed him to sink to the bottom of the lake.
“Suicide is a very difficult manner of death for families and friends to accept or believe,” Grundy County Sheriff’s Investigators said in a statement Thursday. “Generally, we don’t release information on suicides however due to the media attention and the fact Fehrenbacher was reported missing, we feel the need to let the public know we found no foul play surrounding this death.”
A forensic examination conducted on June 11th, 2023, confirmed that Fehrenbacher’s cause of death was drowning. Toxicology results later found therapeutic levels of prescribed medication.
After thoroughly examining the evidence and conducting multiple interviews, Grundy County Detectives found no evidence pointing to any conclusion other than Fehrenbacher taking his own life. The extensive investigation was conducted by Grundy County Sheriff’s Office, Grundy County Coroner’s Office, and the Manhattan Police Department.
They emphasized that no foul play was involved in his death.
