A bizarre 6-hour, citywide, multi-agency search for a 31-year-old woman described as “despondent” Monday afternoon and evening finally achieved success when she was ultimately located in heavy brush by a drone between the Fox River Trail and North Batavia Avenue just south of the Fabyan bridge.
According to a press release from the Batavia Police Department, the ordeal began at 4:17 PM, when Batavia and Geneva Police Officers were dispatched to the area of the Fox River at the Fabyan Bridge for a report of a despondent subject. Initial reports were that the person was considering jumping into the Fox River.
Officers arrived and began an extensive search of the area around the bridge and Fox River Trail system. Shortly thereafter, the Batavia Fire Department, Geneva Fire Department, and St. Charles Fire Department were summoned to the Fox River where several emergency boats were launched, and a joint search of the river ensued. Ultimately the river search was fruitless and ended at nightfall.
For the next several hours, officers continued to receive information that the subject was despondent. Information obtained through cellular data led officers to search other areas around the city for the person. Other areas included the Braeburn Marsh between Western Avenue, Fabyan Parkway, and Randall Road as well as a large portion of the northwest area of Batavia and southwest portion of Geneva. The Kane County Sheriff’s Office assisted in the search using a drone. Batavia Emergency Services and Disaster Agency (ESDA) also assisted by providing artificial lighting to aid in the search efforts.
Shortly before 10:00 PM, officers made telephone contact with the subject which again led officers to search the area around the Fabyan Bridge. Using drone technology provided by the sheriff’s office, the subject was found safely laying amongst heavy brush between the westside Fox River Trail and N. Batavia Avenue just south of the Fabyan Bridge. The subject was taken by ambulance to an area hospital for medical treatment.
