The recent discovery of a body in the Decatur woods has concluded a search that started earlier this month. The Macon County Coroner identified the body as that of Donald E. Twaits, a 30-year-old man from Decatur, who had been reported missing since October 11. Local authorities had been searching for Twaits due to concerns about a medical issue he had, which they believed could prove to be life-threatening. This information comes from an article published by WANDTV.
According to a report by FOX Illinois, an autopsy carried out on October 24th at the McLean County Coroner's morgue in Bloomington established the preliminary cause of Twaits' death to be cold exposure/hypothermia. In a statement obtained by FOX Illinois, Macon County Coroner, Michael Day, indicated that "there was no evidence of internal trauma, altercation, or assault." Results from toxicology screens, however, are still to be completed before a final determination can be made.
The Decatur police found Twaits' body in the woods near N. Oakland Avenue and West Hickory Point Road, after extensive searches in the area. The news of his discovery brings a tragic end to the hopes his family and friends must have held, to find him alive.
With the preliminary results pointing to cold exposure as the cause of death, the community is left to ponder just how Twaits came to be found in such a condition. To fully understand the circumstances that led to this fate, more details are awaited eagerly, as toxicology reports are set clearly to provide a broader picture of Twaits' final days. The loss reverberates through the Decatur community, exemplifying once again the fragile barrier between existence and the hereafter.
