Body of missing Chicago pastor found in vehicle in Des Plaines River – NBC Chicago

The body of a missing Chicago pastor, last seen last week, was found in the Des Plaines River in Rockdale along with his vehicle, according to the Will County coroner.

The Rev. Warren Beard of New Israelite Missionary Baptist Church was last seen July 2 in Joliet, when his vehicle was spotted on a license plate camera around 10:30 p.m. near the intersection of Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue.

Firefighters confirmed a vehicle was located in the Des Plaines River shortly after 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, nearly four hours after authorities were notified of video footage showing a vehicle entering the river Tuesday evening.

Although authorities did not initially confirm the identity of the body found, Beard’s family told NBC Chicago that the remains found inside the vehicle were those of Warren Beard. The Will County coroner later confirmed that the remains belonged to Beard.

Beard, who was an assistant pastor and Sunday school teacher at the church, was 53.

“He was a great person. One of the greatest men I’ve ever met in my life,” said Pastor Chenier Alston. Alston worked with Beard for 18 years at the church.

Police said at a news conference Tuesday night that a fisherman near where Beard’s vehicle entered the water heard a loud noise, but saw nothing as he approached where the noise was heard.

On Monday, community members filled the Auburn Gresham church, gathering to pray.

“Reverend Beard is a very important person to us,” Alston said.

Alston called Beard Tuesday night around 8:30 p.m.

“He was jovial, he was happy, he was joking around like he always does. And the phone call ended with, as we always end it, ‘I love you,'” Alston said.

It was the last he, or anyone in Beard’s family, heard from him.

“We are all hurting right now,” said Beard’s aunt, Theresa Boss-French. “We all know that Rev. Warren Beard is not someone who would just disappear without saying a word to his family.”

His family said the father of five often traveled to Joliet because he had friends in the area. But he did not return home Tuesday night and did not arrive Wednesday morning to work with the affordable housing preservation association.

“That’s not like him,” Alston said. “He wouldn’t have abandoned his family and gone home.”

Police say there is no indication of foul play during the investigation.