I’ve written about the mysterious disappearance and death of Jake Cefolia, a former United Airlines executive. He first went missing last year, and then his remains were found over a year later. There’s now an update to the story that probably explains quite a few things… and it involves child porn.
Continue reading: Child Porn Twist In Death Of Former United Airlines Executive
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
@ shoeguy -- "Obsessed" with this story? I've shared four updates over the course of 16 months since the airline connection was interesting. And the main reason I've shared the updates is because of the number of readers who have contacted me asking what the latest is with this story, so clearly I'm not the only one who has found this to be interesting.
In fairness, I do have a general interest in crime stories, and it's the main genre of TV I watch. So perhaps that's why I've taken some interest in this story. But I'm "creepy" for following this story, really?
I hope the children and their families find peace and heal. This is horrific. It just goes to show you Jake Cefolia was a mentally deranged pedophile that took the coward’s way out. I hope (and got a feeling I’m right on this) but his final days/hours were pure torment. He deserved nothing but the absolute worst end to a pathetic waste of a life. The world is a better place without him and people like him.
I will second being weirded out by the number of times you’ve posted about this. Just FWIW. Obviously a first world problem
Based on what he’s accused of, I do feel sorry for his family but not for him.
Not going to comment on the story and why I don’t think it belongs in a travel blog. It is your blog.
My only comment is regarding this: “The only thing that still seems a bit strange is how much gas he put in his car before going to Glen Forest Preserve.”
I may look weird that someone that was going to kill himself filled the tank. However, if he was used to always fill the tank regularly I think that just adding the gallons needed to get to his destination never crossed his mind in such a desperate moment. I personally never stop at a gas station to add $10 to my tank. If I go to a gas station I fill up the tank always. It may sound weird in his case but I assume he had a routine and he just followed it until the end. Very very sad story.
So he was mentally ill and he deserved "the worst end" to his life, "torment"?
Nice
The OMAAT crowd really goes for these types of stories. Surprised the passenger breastfeeding a cat inflight wasn’t covered.
Ben,
Instead of tabloid journalism like this - maybe stick to your swim lane..... how about something about how overnight, without fanfare, United appears to have extended another year elite status and PP?
Yes, your blog and you can write about whatever you want - but, sometimes (IMHO) stories like this might not be in line with what your readers are interested in hearing about. Furthermore, since - as a function of clicks - are you prepared to share your income from these stories with the families or people you write about, especially when the report first (shoot first?), research and question later approach to online social media/blogging these days is not always accurate and sometimes peoples lives are made worse?
-m
The fact that he downloaded and didn't have physical contact might suggest that he needed to go to a mental hospital, not prison.
@shoeguy: I unfortunately have to concur with your comment. Ben says he shared only 4 updates. In my opinion that 4 updates too many:-(.
This is material for Dateline not OMMAT
I don't know where else to post this even though its slightly off topic. But this is the only recent United post I see. I really want to know if anyone is able to use their pointsplus ever on United. I am a 1k member sitting on hundreds of them. I am still never given upgrades on waitlists for EWR-LAX flights (I still don't know how I am so far down on the list considering my status, club card, and when I booked). I keep trying to find skip the wait list for future flgihts and have flat out found zero. From my experience, it seems like a gimmick with no actual value at all. Does anyone out there have any experience using pointsplus? I'd love to hear more or even see an article. Does anyone actually think 1K is worth it?
They extened elite status again? I'm curious about this. But my elite status seems to get me nowhere. :/
Edit: My 1k card now says 1/2023 instead of 1/2022 expire. But I am still not convinced I get much for it.
You clicked on it and read it! Exercise some self control and don't read it if it offends you. sheeshh people. Pathetic!
Ben - I do agree with the others. The weird obsession here is the TYPE of crime story this is. Yes, I can skip over your blog and not read about this if I chose to, but I've also grown to count on your blog for being a leader in information about miles and points. When I see stuff like this I question whether you're still the best of the bloggers for supplying the information that is most important to me
And if you really want sensationalism and hyperbole you should try Live and Let's Fly. At least Ben is not that bad
Let's face salacious stories get clicks and if you have a website it's all about clicks. That being said I vastly prefer this kind of reporting that's actual news and not some kind of progaganda.
Super weird that you keep posting about this. Almost as bad as the post you wrote about the male sex act on a plane with a super graphic (and click-baiting) title. Just more of the same here.
It’s only “super weird” if you believe in the stereotype that gay men are sexual predators. Thanks for showing us all what a homophobic bigot you are.
You are not the only one. I have my full balance from the year. Cannot ever use them. I have been buying FC to avoid all the upgrading letdowns. I wish we could turn them into miles. I’m lifetime 1k and the only value is first to be ask for my meal selection. There is a Private Facebook page for IK and above if you are interested. ✈️
Today 30 years ago was the last day for PanAm. This may have been a much better post IMHO. ✈️
This is the least topic I am interested in your blog/website. If you still consider your onemileatatime is a professional blog about travel, covering this topic is very unprofessional and uncomfortable to me. I love to read your reviews on travel and opinions on airline business.
1) Even it is about a United Airlines executive officer, it has nothing to do with the business of United Airlines or any impact on the airline industry. If that is reason you keep reporting this story, then why not figure out any other crime stories on other airline executives? I am sure someone would cheat their families or make any other illegal things or maybe get a traffic tickets or divorce, etc. You can write daily news on this topic as long as the people who involved are in this industry. One good example is that I did not see any other professional blogger or website covers this story.
2) I am sure you received many inquiry messages everyday from your followers. It is completely your discretion on how to response to them. Yes, for sure some readers asked you about this. You could either tell them to Google by themselves or communicate them privately. You DONOT have to keep posting the updates on your website to let every reader know about this. This is simply an excuse.
3) You said you feel sorry about the family but you are not hesitated to tell everyone what you found. You even put the sensitive words in the title of your post so everyone will see that without clicking the link. To me, the feeling of the family is the least thing you have considered.
Hey, it's your blog. Do as you wish. I just don't think it is newsworthy, a bit sensationalist, you said yourself, you posted about this story a total of 4 times. I just don't see how it aligns to a blog about maximizing points, benefits, new service, and real travel worthy news. You often post great and innovative stuff. This though isn't one of those posts.
@tim
He covered something that's interesting to him and some readers, but not interesting to you, therefore he's not great at sharing information about miles and points? I don't follow your line of logic, at all.
That's a good point. Mystery shows/movies/novels always make a big deal out of these "clues", but real life often doesn't work out that way.
If he possessed images of children, he was a criminal. Using insanity (e.g., "mentally ill") as a criminal defense is dependent on the accused being unable to understand the charges). It seems apparent he understood exactly how serious the charges would have been, indicating sanity. He took the easy way out to avoid accountability for his actions.
Who turned him in to begin with? Why investigation him to begin with? Was he downloading it or was he hacked, or download child porn accidentally? it happens, accidentally or planted? Did he think he was looking at Adults videos and download it by mistake? Hackers can download them straight to your computer with out your knowledge, Mistaken identity, and yes it happens. People want to judge before they know the facts. This mans life is already ruined even if he downloaded it with no criminal intent, which you don't know. You know there was a search warrant but your printing this story not knowing what else was found if anything. What was the condition of his marriage? Were they talking divorce? Was she out for revenge and full custody? What he is being investigated for is serious, it's a federal crime, the police and prosecutors can and will use anything against you even before the facts are in, pretty much what you just did. His dead even if the police find out now that they were wrong, they don't ever admit to that so that will never be part of the story.Why did he stop to fill his car with gas? Was he guilty? If he did commit suicide was it because he was guilty, or did the system target him and build a case on a accusation? You don't know do you? But you decided to write this even though he is not here to defend himself. I am not here to judge him, I have seen this happen first hand and what a false accusation can do to someones life. If he was guilty he was sick and needed help but who needs you to be judge and jury.
Thank you for letting us know that the universe revolves around you and that you speak for everyone without asking them if that's the case. You are truly a special person. People magazine should give you an award. Most entitled?
That was my thought too. I thought I watched too much law and order.
Maybe he hadn't considered killing himself at that point.
The story is interesting as he was a top airline executive that simply went missing for over a year no apparent reason at the time. Any person who goes missing (with family members no less) is a cause of interest. I think that writer did his job in reporting the facts of the story, and it is in the public's interest to hear about this.
The full details are finally being released by the local authorities and we have a better picture of the pending case against the individual. We as a people, need to be aware that crime goes through every entire facet of society, and we as a people need to become more aware of friends, families, places and our surroundings. Thank you for continuing to update us on the story with your reporting Ben Schiappig.
Not sure why this story needs to be on a travel blog. The guy is dead, his family is suffering. How does dragging his name through the mud about what are only allegations assist people wanting to read about travel. Guy wasn't convicted of anything. It is bad enough some media outlets dig up muck like this, but for a travel blog to cover it and then speculate about the reason for a suicide? Kinda pathetic. Let this family grieve. I like you and believe you are better than this type of content. Please don't go the route of some other "travel" bloggers.
Soo glad you are here to pass judgement on people who were only be investigated and where the allegations were not proven. You are an inspiration to us all.
Oh boy... I love it when people try to force their own judgement onto others. The family has to live with the truth regardless of who knows about it. But that's the thing about the truth..it is often uncomfortable, but if you don't like it, just look the other way or put your head in the sand. I have heard this helps. Meanwhile, the rest of us can learn from it, if we so choose.
It’s astounding how hissy and pure nasty many of the OMAAT readers can be. They want the benefit, for FREE, of all the painstaking work that Ben does, but they want that work delivered to them EXACTLY as they want it, with no deviations whatsoever. And if, God forbid, there’s a deviation that offends them for some purely subjective and idiotic reason, instead of just S-ingTFU and moving on, they go on the verbal warpath and attack! What a bunch of obnoxious, entitled jerks. Suck it up, jerks, there’s more to the world than what you can perceive or handle in your narrow windows of consciousness. You should get on your knees every day and thank God that for NOTHING, you are able to tap into millions of dollars’ worth of Ben’s travel experiences and insights. You want to know what’s creepy? You ungrateful mooches. You’re the things that are creepy, and disgusting. Ben should put up a paywall, and 99% of you self-righteous, whining, entitled, cheap, selfish, freeloading jerks would slither away. And good riddance. The site would be significantly improved by your disappearance. Sheeesh.
@NYGuy24: "drag his name through the mud"? So basically we should all just not hear about pedophiles in respect of dishonoring their name. How Freedom works in America, right? We are Free do do as we want without having our names put in the press. Let me send you a bucket of sand to bury your head.
Writing about perpetrators of terrible crimes and the shame it brings on the perpetrator’s families might discourage others from getting involved in similar things.
This guy deserves no favors and if he wanted his family spared the shake and embarrassment he shouldn’t have downloaded sexual images of children.
I think that the criticism about this post is unjustified. It is legitimate for a travel blog to report on the disappearance of a top airline executive. As a decades-long United market captive, reporting on their executive team is useful and relevant for me.
There was no indication about the salacious nature of the story when Ben/Lucky reported on it the first few times, and I imagine many people were hoping that any updates to the mystery would be posted here as well. Totally human nature to want to know more about this mysterious disappearance and therefore a service to provide information when it became available. That said, given the details, it is hard not to feel bad for the family and it would have been reasonable not to release this information to the media.
However, given that it was out in the media already, it is hard not to think that the criticism here is at least a little misguided, if not straight-up prejudice.
Dude, assuming you know someone’s position is just flat out wrong. Judge much?
Agree. He probably catastrophized his future without knowing there is help out there.
We may never know. Maybe he was going to meet someone in a common place that he knows well. Maybe that someone was little Billie’s psychotic and protective father. And maybe there was an altercation or premeditated plan to “cover it up”. Interesting how narratives and directors play in our minds…
Wowza. This statement shows the pure evil in your mind. I used to think like you but then I woke the hell up.
The fact that this has so many posts and replies displays newsworthiness. Ben wins again!
Or putting a focus on mental wellness and how lacking we are as a society to educate people - all people.
Thanks, Lucky, for posting this. I've followed the story with great interest and now I/we have some sort of rational closure.
Wait, what??? How you tied that all together and managed to insult me is pretty unreal - judge much? Had nothing to do with anything other than the authors continued desire to bring salacious content into an blog that is, I thought, largely devoted to miles and points….. this isn’t the NY Post is it?
Indeed. A lot of true crime shows and podcasts would place importance on this, but in all likelihood he just stuck his credit card in the pump (hopefully he was maximizing his Miles!) and just let it run until it automatically clicked off.
I am continuously disappointed that the concept of innocent until proven guilty is so ignored on this site.
What value is there in trashing Jake and muckraking when there is no opportunity for him to defend himself? Even if he was guilty he no longer is, or never was, a threat to society.
This is pure sensationalism and no better than the trashy tabloids found in low class supermarkets.
I have an unrelated question in this context. Lawyers please chime in.
If someone is already tried as an adult (i.e. some middle school kid with a gun).
And you have pornography of said person.
Are you still considered having child pornography?
If no, does the timing of obtaining pornography of that person (before and after being tried) change what is or isn't considered child?
Just wondering how far can you twist the law in your favor.
If you can twist "A well regulated Militia" into "anyone with a gun", who knows how far you can twist anything.
I appreciate the updates but this seems a little unfair, you pretty much wrote that he was guilty. Plenty of time between the investigation to his body being found for them to actually lay charges if there were any. Plenty of reasons for people to commit suicide dont think it was because of this. Wouldnt they have issued a warrant for his arrest if he was indeed guilty. Im not defending what was or wasnt on his phone, i just dont agree with the media's insistence on guilty until proven innocent, its a dangerous slope.
Lots of time between the investigation till they found his body, if he was guilty they would have issued charges and a warrant for his arrest. Not defending what was or wasnt on his phone just pointing out a fact that he wasnt charged with anything. Even if you are missing or on the run they dont just drop charges or issue warrants because someone cant be found.
It was obvious to a thoughtful person that something this serious was going to be reported. Neither the family, nor United Airlines, did anything to "organize" searches for Mr. Cefolia. Both were obviously given a "heads up" about the impending charges and both were happy to distance themselves from a pervert.
I refer to situations like this as a "successful result". It's too bad other less-thoughtful people didn't take the hint, but instead organized the huge time waster looking for him.
"Innocent until proven guilty" is a concept for the legal system. It doesn't require breathing, thinking humans from putting 2+2 together and discerning a result.
It's a legitimate report from a travel perspective, because of the reaction (or lack of it) by United Airlines to the disappearance of a senior executive. This for me was the biggest "tell" that something serious had been discovered about Cefolia. Most high-profile employers would have been at the front of organizing a response to his missing status in a public park. United noticeably did not do so. That said volumes about what they had clearly been let-in on at the beginning. Completely legitimate for One Mile At A Time to cover.
Well done, thanks for the update because I just finished watching the crime show on Peacock and I was like what the hell did this guy do? He was someone who had everything, now it all makes sense, thank you. I’m sad that a fellow Italian was such a loser.
I found it very interesting that there has been closure to the story. Thank you very much for providing it as I have been so interested in finding out why he disappeared.
You don't owe 'shoeguy' any explanation. It's a legit news story covered by major outlets. Keep up the good work.
Yeah but downloading is illegal and the images are not harmless. Harm was done. If he needed to go to a mental hospital, he should have done so. He had resources.
Excellent factual post. Not hard to join the dots - Jake Cefolia was caught downloading vile images of little girls as young as three, being raped by adult males. That's what excited him. There was clearly a ton of evidence against him, and no point in fighting it.
Cefolia was done, and about to lose all the glittering prizes that made him the envy of so many. What's more, his high profile role with United Airlines meant his disgrace would be very public. His future looked bleak. So he took the coward's way out - and left his poor family to face the burden of his shame.
A reminder to us all that paedophiles don't always look as you might expect them to - they can be handsome, popular, successful men like Jake Cefolia. Good riddance to him - the only good paedophile is a dead one.
Accessing child porn is not a victimless crime. It's perverts like jake Cefolia who create the demand, that gets innocent children sexually assaulted on camera over and over, destroying their lives. Good job law enforcement - go catch a few more Jake Cefolias, and hopefully they'll do the world a favour and top themselves too!