Missing Man Found Dead Under Ice in Wonder Lake

The body of the 50-year-old man was recovered by emergency crews on Saturday afternoon.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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The McHenry County Coroner's Office has identified the body of a 50-year-old man found dead under the ice in Wonder Lake over the weekend. Emergency crews were called to the area near the 5200 block of West Lake Shore Drive on Saturday afternoon after a law enforcement drone spotted what appeared to be a body underneath the ice about 100 feet off shore. Rescue crews used a specialized ice rescue craft to investigate, and firefighters in ice-rescue suits entered the water to remove the body.

Why it matters

The incident highlights the dangers of venturing onto frozen lakes, especially as winter weather conditions can change rapidly. Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the man's death.

The details

According to the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District, crews were called to assist police with a missing person search. Firefighters in ice-rescue suits entered the water to recover the body of Michael Giba, a 50-year-old resident of Wonder Lake. No firefighters were injured during the recovery effort.

  • On Saturday afternoon around 3:45 p.m., the Wonder Lake Fire Protection District was called to the scene.
  • The coroner's office plans to complete an autopsy on Giba on Tuesday.

The players

Michael Giba

A 50-year-old resident of Wonder Lake whose body was found under the ice.

Wonder Lake Fire Protection District

The fire department that responded to the scene and recovered Giba's body from the frozen lake.

McHenry County Coroner's Office

The office that identified Giba and plans to conduct an autopsy.

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What’s next

The incident remains under investigation by authorities.

The takeaway

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of exercising extreme caution when venturing onto frozen bodies of water, as conditions can change rapidly and unexpectedly, putting lives at risk.