ROCKDALE, Ill. — Authorities confirmed that the body pulled from the Des Plaines River on Tuesday afternoon was a Chicago pastor who went missing a week ago.
Confirmation was initially made from the vehicle’s license plate. A body was also found in the vehicle and it was later confirmed by Will County Coroner Laurie Summers that it was Warren Beard.
“It’s been a long day for all. We have positively identified the decedent as Warren Beard from Chicago, Illinois,” Summers said during a news conference.
A statement from the Rockdale Fire Protection District said the agency was contacted by the Brandon Road Lock Master shortly before noon after a review of security footage from a week earlier showed a vehicle going into the water in Rockdale at about 10:47 p.m. on July 2.
Rockdale, a village in Will County, is a few miles to the southwest of Joliet. Beard went missing in Joliet a week ago after visiting with friends. His black 2023 Honda HR-V with Illinois tag DY20511 was captured by a roadway camera at the intersection of Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue shortly before the vehicle was seen on the security footage going into the water.
Officials said the footage showed the vehicle was traveling on a closed road heading toward a bridge that was raised. The vehicle traveled through a narrow gap between the road and the bridge itself, falling about 70 feet into the water.
Tuesday’s massive response included divers and boats using scanning technology to search the Des Plaines riverbed. The vehicle was found about 250 feet from where it seemingly went into the water.
Agencies at the scene include Minooka Fire, Troy Fire, Elwood Fire, Wilmington Fire, Morris Fire, Wilmington Fire, Braidwood Fire, Rockdale Fire, and Plainfield Fire. New Lenox and Manhattan Fire Protection Districts are providing area coverage as rescuers continue the search. Rockdale Police and Will County Sheriff are assisting with scene security and traffic control.
Chicago police have taken the lead on the case as Beard was missing out of Chicago.