A Peoria Heights woman was identified this week after her body was found in an Illinois River. The Peoria County Coroner's Office confirmed the deceased as 24-year-old Alexsus Nellum of Peoria Heights. Her identification followed an examination of fingerprints conducted by the Illinois State Police Crime Lab, reported 25 News Now.
Local authorities handled the discovery near the Mosaic Fertilizer facility on Cargill Road, where Nellum's body was found by an employee on Monday afternoon. Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood highlighted the challenges faced during the body's recovery. "It was fairly windy yesterday, and the currents were high in the river. So that was of the utmost importance," Harwood told 25 News Now.
The investigation into the circumstances of Nellum's death is ongoing. "Understandably, there are a lot of questions surrounding this case, and we are working with the Peoria County Sheriff's Office to answer them, specifically for her surviving family and for public interest," Harwood said in a statement obtained by PJ Star. Peoria County Sheriff Chris Watkins previously indicated that it appeared Nellum had been in the water for at least 24 hours before being found.
As the community grapples with this pattern of tragic findings, authorities are asking anyone with potentially helpful information to contact Detective Hoffman at 309-657-5532 or submit tips through CrimeStoppers and the Peoria County Sheriff’s Office mobile app, as per 25 News Now.
