Body of 24-year-old woman found in Illinois River identified

Posted on March 19, 2025
The incident remains under investigation. (Photo courtesy: Getty Images)

By WMBD TV

PEORIA – A woman who was found dead in the Illinois River earlier this week has been identified.

The Illinois State Police Crime Lab was able to identify the woman as 24-year-old Alexsus Nellum, of Peoria Heights, Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood said.

The crime lab was able to get a positive ID from her fingerprints, Harwood said.

Sheriff Chris Watkins said his deputies were called to an area near Mosaic Fertilizer in the 8700 block of Cargill Road at 2:30 p.m. Monday on a report of a body in the river. When they arrived, they found the woman who was retrieved from the river by a firefighter from the Pekin Fire Department, which brought their boat.

Watkins said the woman appeared to have been in the water for at least 24 hours.

This incident remains under investigation by the Peoria County Sheriff’s and Coroner’s Offices.

WMBD TV can be reached at [email protected].

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