Homicide investigation launched after man missing for 5 years found dead in submerged truck

Human remains discovered in a vehicle found submerged in the Mississippi River in September have been identified of a missing man from 2019.

A pick-up truck reported stolen out of East Moline in 2017 was found by a dive team on Sept. 15, 2024, submerged in the Mississippi River with human remains inside, according to a news release by East Moline Police Chief Jeff J. Ramsey.

The remains were identified on Dec. 9 as Daniel. L. Claeys by the Illinois State Police Crime Lab through DNA analysis.

Claeys was reported missing out of East Moline in 2019, according to the news release. Claeys would have been 31 years old at the time he was reported missing.

The East Moline Police Department was notified of a vehicle being found in the Mississippi River near the boat ramp at Empire Park in East Moline on Sept. 15, 2024. The vehicle appeared to have been in this location for a long time as it was buried deep in the mud, the news release said.

The vehicle was removed from the river and found to be a pick-up truck that was reported stolen out of East Moline in 2017.

Upon closer inspection of the vehicle, suspected human remains were observed inside. An Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigator responded and processed the vehicle for evidence.

Examination and identification of the human remains were conducted through the Office of the Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson along with the Illinois State Police Crime Lab.

East Moline Police continues to investigate this incident as a homicide.

Anyone with information related to this incident, can contact the East Moline Police Department at 309-752-1555, Crime Stoppers at 309-762-9500, or submit a tip through the P3 Tips App.

This article originally appeared on Galesburg Register-Mail: Remains found identified as Illinois man missing since 2019