Peoria County Sheriff investigates woman’s body found in Illinois River

Posted on March 18, 2025
The incident remains under investigation. (Photo courtesy: File)

By WMBD TV

BLOOMINGTON – The Peoria County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the death of a woman who was found in the Illinois River, the sheriff said Tuesday.

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.

The company is about a quarter mile off where that road intersects with Illinois Route 9.

“Peoria County detectives are currently working with the Peoria County coroner to identify the female and cause of death,” the sheriff said.

The woman, he said, appears to be an adult, and it appears she was in the water for at least 24 hours.

Please contact Detective Lee Hoffman at (309) 657-5532 with any information that could help officials identify the woman. People can also submit a tip through CrimeStoppers or our Sheriff’s App. 

Another woman was found in the lagoon near that company last May. According to Peoria County Coroner Jaimie Harwood’s Facebook, 37-year-old Seiarra (Waddell) DeLasso died from drowning. There were no signs of struggle, trauma, or physical harm.

How she ended up in the river is still being investigated.

WMBD TV can be reached at [email protected].

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