UPDATED 7:24 p.m.
PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria County Coroner has completed an autopsy on the body found Saturday morning at Laura Bradley Park.
Coroner Jamie Harwood says Michael Shropshire, 35, Peoria, died from drowning in the park’s creek. Toxicology exams, as required, are pending.
Walkers in the area found Shropshire’s body around 9:45 a.m. Saturday, and called police.
Harwood says while no foul play is suspected at the current time, it’s not clear how or why Shropshire ended up there. “Shropshire had no evidence of inflicted or perpetrated trauma on his person,” said Harwood.
Peoria Police said in a news release earlier Saturday that officers conducted a search of the park using both a K-9 and a drone for evidence, but what if anything was found was not released.
If you have any information that could help Peoria Police in the investigation, contact Peoria Police Department at (309) 673-4521, tip411 (anonymously), or Crime Stoppers(anonymously) at (309) 673-9000.
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PEORIA, Ill. – Police are investigating after a body was found in Laura Bradley Park.
The discovery was made around 9:45 a.m. Saturday, when walkers in the area called police after seeing a body by a bridge over a creek. Peoria Park District Police Chief Todd Green tells WMBD Radio News the body is believed to be that of a male, but the age is unknown. What also is unknown is how long the body might have been there, discovered laying in a creek.
Peoria Police, Peoria Park District Police, and Peoria County Sheriffs deputies were on the scene. Officials say the Peoria County Coroner is in possession of the body.
Peoria Police say in a news release a search of the area for evidence was conducted by officers, a K-9 and a drone. No word on any discoveries.
Coroner Jamie Harwood was part of the investigation and unavailable for comment. Police say an autopsy is expected.
This story will be updated when more details become available.
