Identity of Man Found Dead in DuPage River Released

The Will County Coroner’s Office has released the identity of the man found floating in the DuPage River.

William Klem, 44, was pronounced dead at 2:33 p.m. Monday after a fisherman found him floating face-up in the DuPage River around 100 yards west of the Route 59 bridge in Shorewood. He was found fully clothed and partially submerged in the water.

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At the time of his death, Klem was believed to be homeless, according to the coroner’s office, but a past address showed him to be a Shorewood resident at one point.

An autopsy was performed on Klem Tuesday and the preliminary cause of death appears to be from drowning. Positive identification was made through tattoo comparisons and a hospital identification band.

The body was removed from the river with assistance from the Troy Fire Department and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources police.

A final cause and manner of death is pending an investigation by the Shorewood Police Department.