Human remains discovered three months ago in a pickup truck in the Mississippi River have been recognized as those of a man reported missing in 2019, according to Illinois authorities.
“The East Moline Police Department continues to investigate this incident as a homicide,” Chief Jeff Ramsey stated in a prepared statement.
The remains were identified as Daniel Claeys, a local guy in his early thirties when his family reported him missing in 2019. The pickup truck was reported stolen in 2017.
The automobile, buried in deep mud, was discovered in September in the Mississippi River near an East Moline boat ramp. Investigators used DNA to determine the identification of the remains.
“Family has been notified and they now have some closure knowing their family member has been located,” Ramsey told reporters Thursday afternoon.
He stated that investigators will continue to work to solve Claeys’ disappearance and death.
