On 4/11/2018 at 10:13pm, Sheriff's deputies responded to the Lockport Locks, 2502 Channel Road in Lockport (DesPlaines River) for a found body part. Locks personnel advised that while assisting a ship through the lock they were notified by a deck hand that he observed what appeared to be a leg floating in the water. The Will County Coroner's Office was contacted and took possession of the unidentified remains. A canvass of other remains in the surrounding water was conducted and met with negative results. Lab testing is being completed by the Coroner's Office at this time.
Yesterday, April 12th, the Will County Sheriff's Office SWAT boat conducted a side-scan sonar grid search of the north and south ends of the Lockport Locks. No further remains were discovered.
This morning, the Will County Sheriff's Office and Fire Department personnel from Joliet, Romeoville, Plainfield, and Wilmington have met and created a more comprehensive search for the remains. The search will take place this afternoon (weather permitting) with three teams of boats doing a visual and sonar search of the DesPlaines River and surrounding waterways.
The Sheriff's Office is confirming that the unidentified body part is that of a white male. Until lab results are completed and further information is collected the Sheriff's Office is not speculating on the identity of the remains.
Updates of this investigation will be shared when appropriate. -end-