Body Found Of Former Minooka Soccer Star Who Played At USF

MINOOKA, IL — Grundy County Coroner John Callahan’s Office issued a press release on Wednesday confirming the body of a missing Minooka man was found late Tuesday afternoon.

Callahan said a civilian member of a search team discovered the body around 5 p.m.

Mariano Kotrba, 24, of Minooka was last seen on April 9. Several searches took place over the past week.

Kotrba was pronounced dead shortly before 6 p.m. Tuesday. His death appears to be self-inflicted, Callahan said.

Grundy County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Paul Clampitt told Joliet Patch that a gun was recovered near the body and "no foul play is suspected." A volunteer searcher, working with his dog, went off on his own toward the west of Cemetery Road and made the discovery. Kotrba's body was found along the deer path in the dense woods, about one-eighth of a mile west of the Canadian National Railroad overpass/viaduct along the I&M Canal Trail, Clampitt said. The body was found about 100 yards into the woods, he said.

Callahan said the family is grateful for the outreach of support in the search for their son and brother. "Unfortunately, the outcome isn’t what anyone had hoped and prayed for, but now we ask you give the family privacy and respect during this difficult time," Callahan said.

The death investigation continues with the coroner’s office, Grundy County Sheriff and Minooka Police Department.

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