EAST PEORIA, Ill. – Crews from Fon du Lac Park District Police recovered a Peoria man’s body from the Illinois River.
The victim is only identified as 31-years-old. The identity and more information are expected to be released from the Tazewell County coroner following an autopsy scheduled Monday.
Fon du Lac Park District Police Chief Michael Johnson told the Journal Star the man jumped a fence at the U.S. Coast Guard station in East Peoria around 11 a.m. Friday.
Johnson said an embankment near the fence is steep and the man may have stumbled on rocks before falling into the river.
The victim is suspected of shoplifting from the nearby Walmart in East Peoria and running from the scene.
It took about two hours for the Fon du Lac marine unit to recover the body along with a neck brace the man was wearing.
Johnson said authorities would normally call the Peoria Fire Department’s dive team for a river rescue but they were told there would be a two hour wait.
The Tazewell County Coroner’s Office, East Peoria police and Fon du Lac Park District police are continuing their investigation.
