THE FOLLOWING IS A DANVILLE POLICE DEPARTMENT RELEASE
Today’s date, July 19, 2024, approximately 12:20 pm, law enforcement personnel located a body in the Vermilion River approximately one quarter mile downstream from where Danville Police Department responded to a report that 12-year-old went missing while swimming on Monday night, July 15, 2024, at approximately 8pm.
Law enforcement personnel from Danville Police Department, Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office (VCSO), and Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) were involved in the search as well as community members trying to assist. IDNR as well as VCSO’s Underwater Search and Rescue Teams were instrumental in the recovery.
Danville PD’s Chief of Police Christopher Yates advised, “Members of both Illinois Department of Natural Resources and Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office’s Search and Rescue teams worked together on a very difficult task that was both mentally and physically exhausting due to the sensitive circumstances. I appreciate their dedication, skills, and efforts to make this recovery. There are risks in what they do but they worked through it to help bring some closure to a tragic event. Our thoughts and prayers are with the victim’s family, friends and our community.”.
The Vermilion County Coroner notified the next of kin and an autopsy has been scheduled for tomorrow with pending forensic identification.
