3rd Body Recovered From Des Plaines River In 2021

Joliet IL

13 April, 2021

10:48 AM

Description

JOLIET, IL — For the third time this year, the Joliet Fire Department has recovered a body floating in the Des Plaines River. Tuesday's recovery occurred at 7:30 a.m. in the 23800 block of Youngs Road. Employees at one of the large companies that work along the Des Plaines River made the discovery, according to Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey. Blaskey said the location where the body was found is closer to Channahon, and probably about five miles downstream from downtown Joliet. A Joliet Fire Department boat was launched for recovery operations. The Joliet Police Department is handling the investigation, Blaskey said. Joliet Patch has previously reported that the body of 26-year-old Joliet resident Dorien Smith has not been found in the Des Plaines River. In January, Smith, according to Joliet police, is believed to be the man who jumped into the frigid waters near the Bicentennial Park. The bodies of two other Joliet men who drowned in Joliet's canal waters were recovered in the middle of January and early March. Blaskey said he did not know the identity of the person recovered Tuesday, other than to say it appeared the person was in the water for a very long time. The Will County Coroner's Office will be responsible for identifying the person, Blaskey said.