Body Of Missing Chicago Pastor Recovered From Des Plaines River

Crews shift into position as they search for a report of a vehicle into the Des Plaines River on Tuesday afternoon/JS

The office of Will County Coroner Laurie H. Summers reporting the death of Warren C. Beard a 53-year-old Chicago man who was pronounced deceased at 6:20 p.m., on Tuesday July 9th, 2024. Mr. Beard was found in the DesPlaines River approximately 150 yards west of Brandon Rd in Rockdale. The Illinois State Police is investigating the incident. An autopsy will be performed on Wednesday July 10th, 2024. Final cause and manner will be determined following Autopsy, Police and Toxicological reports.

Beard was last seen July 2nd. His family says he had been visiting friends in Joliet, where he had attended college. Rockdale Police Chief Robert Bake says the vehicle driven by Warren Beard was seen on video surveillance footage last Tuesday night going into the river. The 53-year-old married father of five was last seen in the Joliet area visiting a friend. The Will County coroner says an autopsy is planned today, but it could take several weeks before a cause of death is determined.

Beard was an assistant pastor at New Israelite Missionary Baptist Church on the South Side. His disappearance is under investigation.

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The Rockdale Fire Protection District, along with multiple agencies, are currently searching the Des Plaines River for a vehicle. According to a press release shared with WJOL:

On July 9, 2024, at approximately 11:04 AM, the Rockdale Fire Protection District was dispatched for a reported vehicle that had entered the Des Plaines River on July 2, 2024, at approximately 10:47 PM. Authorities were contacted by the Brandon Road Lock Master after reviewing routine security footage.

Upon arrival, authorities met with representatives from the Brandon Road Locks who shared footage of a traveling south on Brandon Road and is seen the leaving the roadway and falling into the water. The vehicle’s make and model could not be identified using the footage.

Rockdale Fire Protection District along with resources from MABAS Division 15 Water Rescue, Rockdale Police Department, Will County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, and Illinois Department of Transportation are currently on scene conducting a search of the area where the vehicle was estimated to enter the water according to the video footage.

Boats with sector and side scan capabilities are searching the Des Plaines Riverbed. In addition, a specialized remote operated vehicle with sonar capability is also part of the search. Divers are conducting guided searches with the scans and sonar.

The incident is ongoing as water rescue technicians continue to search the area for the vehicle.

Agencies currently assisting at the scene include Minooka Fire, Troy Fire, Elwood Fire, Wilmington Fire, Morris Fire, Wilmington Fire, Braidwood Fire, Rockdale Fire, and Plainfield Fire. New Lenox and Manhattan Fire Protection Districts are providing area coverage as rescuers continue the search. Rockdale Police and Will County Sheriff are assisting with scene security and traffic control.

Please avoid the area until scene operations are completed.

While crews are staging on the section of Brandon Road still closed for construction, Route 6 remains open through the area. Scott Slocum will have the latest on the Scott Slocum Show Wednesday morning on 1340 WJOL.