Joliet Drowning Victim Identified As Man, 39

ROCKDALE, IL — The Will County Coroner's Office has identified the body recovered Tuesday evening from the Des Plaines River near Brandon Road Locks and Dam as 39-year-old Joliet resident Robert Britton.

Britton's body was pulled from the water at 8:56 p.m. It took authorities about three hours to get to the body near the 1100 block of Brandon Road. Illinois State Police are now investigating the death.

Earlier Tuesday evening, the body remained in a difficult area of water for rescue crews to get to, about 900 feet t0 1,000 feet from the bridge along Brandon Road, according to Rockdale Police Chief Robert Dykstra.

Joliet's Police Department announced last Saturday that it was seeking the community's help in finding Britton, who was last seen wearing a black t-shirt, black jeans, and possibly a black Ecolab coat. Police said he went missing from the 0 to 100 block of North Broadway Street.

Rockdale's polcie chief said the family of the missing Joliet man notified police early Tuesday afternoon that they believed they spotted their loved one's body in the river near the Brandon Road Lock and Dam spillway area.

"We wish to extend our condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Britton. This incident remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police District 5 Lockport," Joliet police posted on Facebook Wednesday afternoon.

This marks the fifth body recovered from the Des Plaines River near Joliet so far this year.

On Sept. 10, the body of 42-year-old Joliet resident Quintin L. Bass was discovered in the canal near North Bluff Street and West Jefferson Street, not far from the broken Jefferson Street Bridge. Joliet police said his body was spotted by a boater.