HARDIN CO., Ill.—The red SUV found in the Ohio River earlier today has been loaded up on a flatbed truck to be processed for evidence.
Family of missing woman Chrissy Williams have been advised by ISP troopers at the scene something that prompted Williams’ sister Tami Jackson to turn to the crowd on the riverbank at Rosiclare today and scream “We found her!! We never gave up!!”
However, we don’t know what ISP said to her, and further, we don’t know for sure if there was a body inside the truck.
Williams has been missing since December 2, 2013. She was last known to be at the home of the parents of Scotty Miller, boyfriend of one of Williams’ friends, Briannah Davis, shortly after 9 p.m. that night. Video surveillance at ROC One-Stop in Rosiclare showed the red SUV driving out of Rosiclare shortly thereafter, but the video was not detailed enough to show whether it was Williams, or someone else, driving the truck.
In a case such as this, the truck would not be opened up at the scene. Instead, the county coroner would be called, and the truck would be taken to a location where the vehicle could be opened and contents examined. If there is a body inside, only the coroner can declare the person deceased, regardless of the condition. At that time, a determination of the crime scene—the riverfront where the vehicle was found—would be declared.
Yesterday, Hardin County Coroner Jessica Cullum told our staff that she was scheduled to be out of town today and tomorrow. We haven’t learned whether she’s been called back, but we’re trying to find that out.
We don’t know where the truck has been delivered, but we’re increasing our staff at the location and will bring that information to you as soon as we learn it.
The riverfront
Our sources today told us that there was a search team in place on the river, running sonar, that team placed there by family of Williams. When the sonar returned a ping, out in the middle of the Ohio but further upriver (CORRECTED from earlier) from the public access boat ramp shown in this screenshot, Illinois State Police were notified and assembled a dive team. It was believed at that time that it would take blivets (air bladders) to raise the vehicle from the water; but ISP divers were able to hook onto the truck, and it was towed to the riverbank.
Those present when the truck was brought partially up the riverbank were forced to move away from it, and many grew physically ill, vomiting in the wake of the smell actual vehicle (we’d been told it had to do with a smell, then later, the same sources said no, that wasn’t it. It was just the very presence of the scene.)
Television stations are reporting that family has said there is a body in the truck and that the body is that of Chrissy’s. At this point in time, there is NO way of officially confirming that.
Stay with us, as we have more information on the way with the increased team presence in Hardin.