A Chicago man has been charged in the death of a pregnant woman whose body was found this summer floating in Lake Michigan near Waukegan, Lake County authorities said Friday.

       The sheriff’s office announced that Robert Drummond 21, of the 4300 block of South Berkeley, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 19-year-old Yarianna Wheeler.

       Wheeler’s body was recovered Aug. 15 from the lake after a fisherman spotted her about three miles southeast of Waukegan Harbor. Wheeler, who was seven months pregnant, was wearing a pink dress, was identified later that month following tips from the public, dental records and a police composite sketch.

       In August, authorities said it appeared that Wheeler’s body had several sharp-force injuries.

       At the time she was last seen alive, Wheeler, who had been a Bellwood resident, was living in Chicago.

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       Police quickly identified a person of interest after Wheeler was identified, the sheriff’s office said. A search of her residence led detectives to Chicago’s Oakwood Beach, where Wheeler is believed to have met the person of interest, police said.

       Authorities recovered some of the dead woman’s belongings at the beach on Aug. 30, and police said the beach was a likely crime scene. Sheriff’s detectives used a drone to photograph the beach area before turning over their findings to Chicago police.

       CPD detectives subsequently arrested Drummond.

       Sheriff’s Lt. Christopher Covelli said Friday that police believe Drummond and Wheeler were in a dating relationship.

       “I am incredibly proud of the tenacious efforts of our detectives throughout this investigation,” Sheriff John Idleburg said Friday. “Through their hard and diligent work, they quickly identified a person of interest, discovered the likely crime scene and worked with Chicago detectives to further the investigation. We will always do everything in our power to be the voice of victims who are unable to speak for themselves and hold those who victimized them accountable.”

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