UPDATED WED MORNING JULY 17TH DANVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASE
Danville Police along with the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources are resuming their search this morning for the 12-year-old juvenile who went missing while swimming in the Vermilion River. Additional resources and equipment have been brought in to aid the teams with their search.
We are asking the public to stay clear of the area and allow the Law Enforcement Teams to conduct their search of the water. It is important that members of the public stay away from the riverbanks in this area to avoid interference with the use of our equipment and to limit any further risk to members of the public.
We will continue to issue updates as they become available and when there is new information to provide.
The investigation into this incident continues and no other information is being released at this time.
Anyone who has information regarding this incident is asked to call Danville Police at (217) 431-2250. Or you can call Vermilion County Crime Stoppers at (217) 446-TIPS
THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASE
On 07/15/24, around 8:11pm two juveniles notified Danville Police that a third juvenile had gone missing in the Vermilion River near the 100 block of Commercial Street. Danville Police immediately responded to the scene and began looking for a 12-year-old male juvenile who had reportedly been swimming near the riverbank when he was overcome by the current and pulled under the water. Danville Police searched the riverbank and were unable to locate the juvenile.
At approximately 8:16pm, Danville Police requested the assistance of the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team. Vermilion County Deputies arrived at the scene and assisted DPD with searching the area. The Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team responded to the area with their boat and attempted to locate the juvenile. Around 10:14pm, the search efforts had to be suspended for safety reasons due to the inclement weather.
On 07/16/24, around 8:00am, Danville Police along with the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Department Dive Team, and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has resumed the search for the missing 12-year old juvenile. Boats and divers have been deployed at the scene and are searching the area. Members of the public have also assisted in the search but they are being cautioned not to enter the river due to unsafe conditions.
