Body Pulled From River Identified, Matched to Teen Seen Jumping From Cass Street Bridge

The body pulled from the Des Plaines River Saturday afternoon was identified as a Joliet teen seen jumping from the Cass Street bridge eight days earlier.

Lonnie Jones, 19, was captured on video as he leaped from the bridge April 10, police said. He was reported missing April 13, according to Will County Coroner Patrick O’Neil’s office.

Jones’ body was identified through dental records. An autopsy performed Sunday revealed that he drowned.

A police officer spotted Jones’ body floating Saturday and it was taken from the water at the Railroad Street boat launch south of Interstate 80 on the river’s west bank.

Jones was holding a Bible when he plunged from the bridge, police said. The last entry he made on his Facebook page, posted just hours before jumped, was a Bible verse reading, “And he said unto them, Go ye into the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”

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