Remains found in pond ID'd as Army vet who went missing in 2001

Divers looking for a missing person last summer found remains that have now been tied to an unrelated cold case dating back 24 years.

The remains belong to John Pisano Jr., a father who first went missing in 2001 when he was 39 years old, per Chaos Divers and his online obituary. The remains were found in a retention pond next to a Target shopping center in Hodgkins, Illinois, according to the divers.

The Chaos Divers team called the find an "unexpected recovery" and said now, his family has answers.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said on Tuesday, May 26, that Pisano’s cause and manner of death are both undetermined.

The investigating agency, the Hodgkins Police Department, did not immediately respond to USA TODAY’s requests for comment on Tuesday, May 26.

Illinois man had served in the Army

John Joseph Pisano Jr. was a son, a brother, and a father, his obituary reads. He served in the U.S. Army, "carried himself with confidence and charisma," and always made sure he looked good, his obituary continues.

He’d listen to Ozzy Osbourne and KISS, and joked with loved ones that he favored actor John Travolta. He liked to spend time dancing in his platform shoes and leather jacket, and made sure not a hair was out of place on his head. He also played softball.

"He could be stubborn at times, but beneath that strong personality was a deeply caring man who loved his children immensely," his obituary reads. "Family meant everything to him, and his love for his kids remained constant throughout his life."

Chaos Divers said someone created an account on EverLoved, which allows families to raise money and share information with friends and family, to help Pisano's family with memorial services.

According to his obituary, Pisano suffered from a mental illness, which was "a battle he carried quietly for many years."

"Though his life was marked by hardship and loss, John will be remembered for his spirit, his style, his love of music and dancing, and the deep love he held for his family," his obituary reads. "He was loved deeply and will be missed by many. May he finally rest in peace."

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s trending team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [email protected].