Death – Obituary – Accident and Crime News : Body of Missing Illinois Teen Brissa Romero Found in Retention Pond
VERNON HILLS, Ill. — The body of Brissa Romero, a 17-year-old Illinois teenager who had been missing for over a week, was discovered in a retention pond in Vernon Hills, a northern Chicago suburb. Authorities have confirmed that Romero’s death was accidental.
Divers from the Lake County Coroner’s Office retrieved Romero’s body from the pond on Tuesday afternoon. An autopsy was conducted on Wednesday morning, revealing no significant injuries. The preliminary findings suggest that Romero’s cause of death was consistent with drowning.
Romero’s disappearance occurred after she left for a holiday party in Vernon Hills on December 4. It is believed that she mistakenly drove into the pond after approaching a T-intersection. Her 2008 Nissan Rogue was found near the pond’s edge, prompting search and recovery efforts by the Countryside Fire Protection District.
Video footage from a nearby fast-food restaurant captured Romero driving in the area shortly before her cell phone’s last communication with the cell towers. Authorities have stated that there is no indication of foul play at this time.
Romero had been an employee at Raising Cane’s, a fast-food restaurant chain, which was hosting the holiday party she was attending. Her family had held out hope for her safe return, but the discovery of her vehicle and backpack in the pond was a tragic indication of her fate.
The youngest of five siblings, Romero had recently graduated from Barrington High School and was studying to become a sonogram nurse at Harper College. She was juggling two jobs to fund her education.
The community has been deeply saddened by Romero’s untimely demise. Authorities are now focused on supporting her family during this difficult time. As the investigation continues, friends, family, and community members are mourning the loss of a young life taken too soon.