Jake Cefolia had a groundbreaking career success when he worked in different parts of the world and became a senior vice president of Worldwide Sales at United Airlines. Everything seemed to be going well until he was being investigated for downloading child pornography. It became more troubling when he suddenly disappeared in August 2020.
Many questions lingered about what happened to Cefolia who was once everywhere and suddenly nowhere. There were more pressing questions when his remains were found in October 2021, a year after his disappearance.
From his rise to fame, becoming an executive, his family, his disappearance, and death; these are the most important facts about Jacob “Jake” Cefolia.
Truth About Cefolia’s Family and Life Before His Disappearance
He Attended the Same School as Coast Guard Commander Edward K. Beale and Politician Mark H. Berry
Jake Cefolia attended Tara High School in Baton Rouge (class of ’88) and Covington High School in Covington, Louisiana.
He later went to Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University where he earned his bachelor’s degree in management. Many famous people attended the same school. They include the representative of the Arkansas 26th House district, Mark H. Berry.
Others who have attended the same school are Coast Guard Commander Edward K. Beale, the United States Air Force Inspector General and deputy director of operations at United States Central Command, Gregory A. Biscone; and Charles Q. Brown Jr. – the first African American to be appointed as chief of staff and to lead any branch of the United States Armed Forces.
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Jake Cefolia Held Several Positions in Companies Across Countries
Cefolia was successful in his career and held many top positions. In 2018, about 2 years before he vanished, he was promoted to vice president of World Wide Sales at United Airlines, overseeing 725 people.
His career with the United started in 2007 and he oversaw sales in the US, Canada, and Latin America, per PR Newswire.
Before his career in United Airlines, the father of two served as a Northwest Airlines regional sales director right before moving to United Airlines.
In the earliest phase of his career, he worked as a British Airways account manager from 1996 to 1999.
He was married to Kristine and Had Twin Children
Jake was a private man who kept his relationship out of the spotlight. However, he was married and divorced to a woman named Kristine Cefolia.
The former couple had twins – a boy and a girl who also keep low profiles. At the time of the older Cefolia’s death, the twins were teenagers.
Cefolia’s ex-wife and his son drew attention at the time of his disappearance. It was revealed that Katrine called 911 when the former United executive failed to respond to the messages she sent him.
His only son had initially told his mother that Cefolia was very drunk when he went visiting the day before his disappearance.
Away from his family, the former United Airlines executive had a girlfriend in San Francisco before his demise.
What Happened to Jake Cefolia?
On 7 August 2020, Cefolia went missing. Investigations into his disappearance showed that he stopped to buy gas in his Range Rover. The video also showed him wearing hiking boots, cargo shorts, a dark-colored shirt, and a baseball hat on August 7, 2020.
His dressing didn’t give in much since the former executive was into hiking.
The day after his disappearance and in the wee hours of the morning, his car was found parked outside the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Lemont. Authorities didn’t think much of it since there was no report that he was missing.
Well, the search for him started when his ex-wife Kristine reported him missing on the 8th of August. She told the authorities that something was off because he didn’t respond to her messages – something he never did. She further told the police that her son had told her the former exec seemed very drunk on the 6th of August.
There was a Long Fruitless Search
Once there was a realization that Cefolia was missing, a thorough search for him began. scent dogs were used in the search but lost it along the way.
The question of whether he was alive or dead was raised. Many thought he was dead since there was no use of his credit cards and financial accounts and he only made a small withdrawal shortly before his disappearance.
However, there were chances that he was on the run. This was because the day before he disappeared, the police started investigating him for downloading child pornography.
Also, he had divorced his wife shortly before that. This was accompanied by the COVID-19 pandemic which left him more financially stressed.
Cefolia Sold His House in Absentia Months After His Disappearance
In November 2020, three months after his disappearance, Cefolia sold his Elmhurst house. He bought the house for $560,000 in 2016.
Only a few months before he went missing, he listed the house. His disappearance didn’t stop the sale of the property, especially because he gave his relative, Rudy Piedra power of attorney.
Piedra signed the necessary papers and the house which was initially listed for $589,90 was sold at $549,900.
How He Died and Was Found a Year Later
A year after his mysterious disappearance, there was little closure as to what happened to Cefolia. Then, DuPage County Forest Preserve Police made a big revelation. They notified that human remains were found at the Glen Forest Preserve by a contractor.
The remains were found hung on a low-hanging tree. At the scene, there were other personal belongings of the former sales expert and DNA also confirmed that it was him.
Investigations may have led that he died but the details of his death are still a mystery.
