PEORIA COUNTY (25News Now) – The Peoria County Coroner has identified the body of a woman found in the Illinois River as a Peoria Heights woman.
Alexsus Nellum, 24, of Peoria Heights, was identified through her fingerprints and the Illinois State Police Crime Lab.
Coroner Jamie Harwood thanked the public for their continued attention to this case and said his office and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office is working to answer questions.
The sheriff’s office responded around 2:30 p.m. Monday to an area near Mosaic Fertilizer, at 8710 Cargill Rd. after a female body was found in the river by an employee.
The Pekin Fire Department responded with a boat and retrieved the body.
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said Monday’s windy conditions made the recovery efforts difficult.
”If you were out yesterday, it was fairly windy yesterday, and the currents were high in the river. So that was of the utmost importance,” he said. “I am grateful for the Pekin Fire Department and the job that they did and keeping her where she was because it was difficult, even in the boat that they were in.”
Detectives and the coroner’s office are working to identify the woman and the cause of death.
The sheriff’s office said the woman appeared to be in the water for at least 24 hours before being found.
Anyone with information that could help identify the woman or any other helpful information is asked to call Detective Hoffman at 309-657-5532.
Information can also be sent via CrimeStoppers and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office mobile app.
Timber Hollis Fire Department and Illinois State Conservation Police also responded.
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