East Moline, Ill. (KWQC) - Late Tuesday night, the East Moline police confirmed that a vehicle found submerged in the Mississippi River at Empire Park on Tuesday afternoon belonged to a missing man from the Quad Cities area.
On Thursday, the results of the autopsy and the identity of the body found inside the vehicle were released.
On Thursday afternoon, Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson officially identified the body as 92-year-old William Weber of East Moline.
Weber was found wearing the same clothes he was last seen in.
Although the autopsy conducted on Thursday was inconclusive, Coroner Gustafson stated there was no evidence of foul play.
At around noon on Tuesday, Police Chief Jeff Ramsey announced that the United Search Corps had informed the police about locating a vehicle underwater at Empire Park with a body inside.
The nonprofit dive group had been in the Quad Cities area since Monday, searching waterways for Weber, who had been missing since March 29.
By Tuesday evening, Weber’s family confirmed that the car found in the water belonged to him.
The police, in coordination with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the East Moline Fire Department, and Cantrell’s Towing Service, removed the vehicle from the river.
The car, a Silver 2012 Chevrolet Malibu with Illinois Purple Heart specialty plates 2610 PR, was confirmed to belong to Weber.
A deceased body, presumed to be Weber’s, was found inside the vehicle.
The cause of death and the confirmed identification of the body were pending an autopsy scheduled for later in the week, according to Coroner Gustafson.
Chief Ramsey expressed his condolences, saying, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Weber’s family during this difficult time. We appreciate the community’s support and thank United Search Corps and Chaos Divers for their expertise and volunteer efforts that led to this discovery. The Illinois State Police also provided assistance in this incident.”
According to a police media release, on Tuesday at approximately 11:48 a.m., Doug Bishop from United Search Corps in Portland, Oregon, contacted the East Moline Police Department.
Bishop reported they were searching the Mississippi River for Weber, a missing person from East Moline, and had located a submerged vehicle near the boat ramp of Empire Park at 751 North 20th Street.
Another dive group from Harrisburg, Illinois, was also assisting.
Officers and investigators from the East Moline Police Department responded to the report.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the East Moline Fire Department, and Cantrell’s Towing Service worked together to remove the vehicle from the river.
Once the vehicle was out of the water, it was identified as Weber’s, with a body found inside. An autopsy was scheduled for later in the week, according to Coroner Brian Gustafson.
The East Moline Police Department continues to investigate this incident.
Anyone with information related to this case is urged to contact the East Moline Police Department at 309-752-1555.
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