Body In River Was Missing Joliet Man

JOLIET, IL - A dead body discovered on Monday morning floating in the Des Plaines River between Joliet and Channahon has been positively identified as a man who had been missing for the past several weeks. The Will County Coroner's staff announced the man was Joliet resident Michael J. Hollins, 42.

However, Tuesday's autopsy was apparently inconclusive. The cause and manner of death were not immediately known.

As a result, the death probe will require more police investigation as well as waiting for the toxicology lab tests to come back before issuing a death certificate. The Illinois State Police is in charge of the investigation, the coroner's office announced.

Logs at the Will County Jail show that Hollins was incarcerated in downtown Joliet from May until August 2017. Joliet Police officers arrested him on charges of unlawful possession of controlled substances and resisting arrest. At the time, he was living in the 1300 block of Gregory Avenue.

The unexpected news of Hollins' death has spurred several close friends to react with grief and sadness on his Facebook page. Here are a few examples of comments that people left:

"We have bumped into each other over the years, hung out, talked. You were a blessing to me and I hope I was one to you. Gonna miss you brother. I thought about you a lot and hoped all was well. It is now for you my friend. See you on the other side."

"This is so very sad 4 me ..My ❤ is extremely heavy rite now. I just can't wrap my head around this. Ik da lite will shine on this REAL SOON!!! 2 da families & friends I give my unconditional luv, support, & condolences."

"Rest Easy Lil Beno man this is crazy. Gone but never forgotten."

On March 17, the Joliet Herald-News newspaper interviewed Hollins' sister who reported her brother missing nearly three weeks earlier. The paper also reported Hollins got out of prison in late December after serving time at Vandalia's penal institution for a drug conviction.

The sister filed a missing persons report with Joliet Police on March 1, the paper said. The sister also told The Herald-News in this article that her brother had struggled with depression for years.

Main image via Patch files, image of Michael Hollins via Facebook