An early-morning recovery on the South Branch of the Chicago River shook the Pilsen area Monday, after police pulled an unidentified man’s body from the water and launched a death investigation.
Officers and dive teams converged on the riverbank near Halsted Street, taping off part of the area as detectives worked the scene and crews brought the body to shore.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, officers found the remains around 8:30 a.m. in the 2200 block of South Halsted Street, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The outlet reports that Area 3 detectives are handling the case and that the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office planned an autopsy.
CBS Chicago reported that the Chicago Fire Department assisted in the recovery and that icy conditions on the river made the response more difficult. The station also noted that authorities had not identified the man and did not offer a timeline for when an official identification might be released.
Investigation Underway
Officials have not released the victim’s name and did not say who first spotted the body, according to the Sun-Times. The medical examiner’s autopsy is expected to determine the cause and manner of death while detectives continue to search the riverbank for any evidence connected to how the man ended up in the water.
River Recoveries and Context
This is not the first time bodies have been pulled from the South Branch in the area. In November, officers recovered the body of a 25-year-old man from the river in Pilsen, CBS Chicago reported. The South Branch separates Pilsen and Bridgeport and can be especially treacherous in cold weather.
As of Monday afternoon, police had released no further details. Officials said they expect to provide more information after the man is identified and autopsy results are complete, while detectives continue processing the scene and reviewing what they gathered during the recovery.
