Coroner IDs Body Found In Pond As Brissa Romero

LAKE COUNTY, IL — The Lake County Coroner's Office has identified the body pulled from a pond in Vernon Hills Tuesday as Brissa Romero.

Preliminary results from an autopsy show Romero's death is consistent with drowning, according to a statement released Wednesday afternoon by the coroner's office. The autopsy revealed Romero, 17, of Carpentersville, did not have any other significant injuries.

Romero's body was recovered from a retention pond in the area of Executive Way and Lakeview Parkway in Vernon Hills on Tuesday afternoon, police said. The discovery came a day after Romero's sport utility vehicle was found in the same pond.

Authorities believe Romero drove the SUV through the T-intersection on the evening of Dec. 4, down an embankment and about 60 feet into the pond, police said. Romero, an employee at Raising Cane's in Crystal Lake, was on her way to a holiday party at the Bowlero in Vernon Hills when the incident occurred.

Romero graduated from Barrington High School in 2023, a year early, and was attending Harper College at the time of her death.

In a statement Tuesday, Harper College president Avis Proctor expressed her condolences to family and friends of Romero.

"Our hearts go out to Brissa’s family and loved ones as they cope with this devastating news. Brissa by all accounts had an incredibly bright future, including aspirations to become a sonographer. Words simply aren’t adequate to describe the pain of a life cut short," Proctor said.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help support Brissa's family and more than $6,500 has been raised as of Wednesday afternoon.

Donations can be made here.

This is a developing story. Check back for more details.