A former owner of the iconic “Home Alone” home was found d£ad from a suspected su!cide at an Illinois nature preserve days after he was hit with child p0rnography charges.
John Abendshien’s body was discovered in the Lake Forest Open Lands: Derwen Mawr Nature Preserve in Lake Forest just before 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 22, NBC Chicago reported.
The 79-year-old was identified the next morning and “asphyxia in a manner consistent with being self-inflicted” was ruled the preliminary cause of d£ath, according to the outlet.
Police have opened an investigation into his d£ath.
“This is believed to be an isolated incident with no threat to the community at this time,” the Lake County Coroner’s Office said.
Abendshien was the longtime owner of the famed house featured in the beloved 1990 Christmas film.
Abendshien had lived in the “Home Alone” house while the movie was being filmed.
He later released a memoir, “Home but Alone No More,” detailing life inside his home that was turned into the iconic Christmas movie backdrop.
His family sold the five-bedroom home in the Chicago suburb of Winnetka back in 2012 for $1.585 million, according to Chicago Agent Magazine.
Earlier this month, the Lake County State Attorney’s Office launched an investigation into Abendshien over alleged child p0rnography possession.
Officials had received multiple cyber tips reporting an online account linked to Abendshien being used in the possession, manufacture, or distribution of child s£xual abuse material, officials said.
The Lake Forest Police Department executed a search warrant at his home on April 16 and seized electronic evidence.
Abendshien was later charged with seven felonies: three counts of possession of child s£xual abuse material (Class 2 felony) and four counts of possession of child s£xual abuse material (Class 3 felony).
He was released with conditions after he attended a detention hearing on April 17.