Investigation into Death of Former “Home Alone” House Owner
A 79-year-old man, who was previously the owner of the house featured in the movie “Home Alone,” was found dead in Illinois on Wednesday, with suspicions of possible child pornography involvement.
The Lake County Coroner’s Office reported that John Abensien’s body was discovered in the Derwenmaa Nature Preserve, according to ABC 7 Chicago.
Abensien, the original owner of the Winnetka residence at 671 Lincoln Avenue, had recently faced charges related to possession of abusive materials.
Before the discovery of his body, his wife reported him missing, prompting the Lake Forest Police Department to initiate a search, as noted by the Lake & McHenry County Scanner.
Coroner Jennifer Vanek stated that an autopsy revealed Abensien died from asphyxia, likely due to self-inflicted injuries. He had been released from prison just days earlier on April 17 after being charged in a child pornography case.
Law enforcement executed a search warrant at his home on Morris Lane on April 16, following a cyber tip linked to child pornography. They uncovered electronic evidence in a Google Drive account, as well as photos of a child. A recent hearing revealed that the judge opted to release him before trial, citing his age and clean prior record.
During the hearing, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Patrick Windmoller mentioned that Abensien possessed around 100 images featuring naked children aged 7 to 10, along with other images of children in varying states of undress. Some of the troubling finds included an image depicting a child on a morgue table.
Windmoller also stated that images of dismembered women were discovered among the evidence.
Interestingly, Abensien also authored a story about a fake FBI agent stalking, assaulting, and ultimately killing a woman in Wisconsin. Reports suggest that the name of the victim allowed in the article was that of a real individual, adding another layer to this complex case.
After Abensien’s arrest, Lake Forest Police Chief John Burke expressed concern over the disturbing nature of such incidents, vowing to thoroughly investigate and prosecute those involved to ensure community safety.
The United States Department of Justice defines child pornography as a form of child sexual exploitation, noting the severe impact these crimes have on young victims. The agency stated that once such images are on the Internet, the resulting harm is often permanent. This ongoing issue is exacerbated by modern technology, leading to a proliferation of these grim materials across various online platforms.
