In Loving Memory of Ulises “Miguel” Segura Dorantes

In Loving Memory of Ulises “Miguel” Segura Dorantes

With heavy hearts, the community of Elgin mourns the loss of Ulises “Miguel” Segura Dorantes, 53, whose life came to a tragic end after he had been missing since late November. His passing brings sorrow not only because of the circumstances, but because of the long weeks of uncertainty his loved ones endured while hoping for his safe return.

On Tuesday evening, at approximately 5:40 p.m., the Elgin Fire Department responded to the area of the Fox River near the 100 block of North Center Street in South Elgin to assist the South Elgin Fire Department after information was received that a deceased individual had been located near the dam. Authorities carefully removed the body from the river, and the Kane County Coroner’s Office later identified him as Miguel Segura Dorantes.

Miguel had been reported missing to the Elgin Police Department on November 29. For nearly three months, family and friends carried the weight of unanswered questions. Every phone call, every notification, every passing day likely held a mixture of hope and fear.

The coroner has determined the preliminary cause of death to be drowning. Toxicology samples were collected and sent to a forensic laboratory for further analysis. While authorities continue their work, those who loved Miguel are left to grieve a loss that feels both sudden and prolonged — sudden in its finality, prolonged in the long stretch of uncertainty that preceded it.

A Life Beyond the Headlines

Miguel was more than a missing persons report. He was a 53-year-old man with a story — years filled with experiences, relationships, and moments that shaped who he was. To those who knew him, he was a familiar face, a voice, a presence that occupied space in their daily lives.

Perhaps he was someone who enjoyed simple routines — a morning coffee, a familiar walk, conversations with neighbors. Perhaps he carried responsibilities quietly, showing up for work, for family, for friends in ways that often go unnoticed until absence makes them painfully clear.

Now, the places he once stood feel different. The riverbank where he was found is no longer just part of the landscape; it is a place marked by remembrance.

The Pain of Waiting

There is a particular kind of grief that comes with a missing loved one. It is suspended between hope and dread. It stretches across days and nights. It leaves families clinging to faith while bracing for the unknown.

For Miguel’s loved ones, the months since November have been filled with that uncertainty. And now, though answers have come, they arrive wrapped in heartbreak.

A Community Reflects

Elgin stands in quiet reflection. The Fox River flows as it always has, steady and indifferent, but for many it now carries a different meaning. It reminds us of how fragile life can be and how quickly circumstances can change.

Miguel’s passing is a solemn reminder to hold our loved ones close — to check in, to reach out, to cherish the time we are given.

Rest in Peace

To the family and friends of Ulises “Miguel” Segura Dorantes, may you find comfort in the memories that belong only to you — moments of laughter, shared meals, private conversations, and ordinary days that now feel precious.

May Miguel be remembered not for how his life ended, but for the years he lived and the connections he formed.

Rest peacefully, Miguel.

You are missed.

You are remembered.