An autopsy revealed the preliminary cause of death for a north suburban man, the previous owner of the movie-famous “Home Alone” house, who was found dead in a Lake Forest nature preserve.
According to the Lake County coroner’s office, 79-year-old John Abendshien of Lake Forest was found dead around 5:47 p.m. Wednesday at the Lake Forest Open Lands: Derwen Mawr Nature Preserve.
A preliminary autopsy found he died from “asphyxia in a manner consistent with being self-inflicted.”
The discovery comes days after Abendshein was taken into custody, facing multiple felony charges of possession child pornography.
He had been released with conditions following his detention hearing earlier this month.
The circumstances surrounding his death remain under investigation by Lake Forest Police Department.
Abendshein had been the owner of the movie-famous “Home Alone” house, located at 671 Lincoln Avenue in suburban Winnetka, for decades, telling NBC Chicago in 2025 that he lived at the home during filming of the iconic 1990 movie. In 2012, he sold the property.
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