Car found in river at Empire Park belonged to missing 92-year-old man, autopsy scheduled for later this week

EAST MOLINE, Ill. (KWQC) – East Moline Police confirmed Tuesday evening that a vehicle found Tuesday afternoon submerged in the Mississippi River in Empire Park belonged to a missing Quad Cities man.

Police Chief Jeff Ramsey said United Search Corp. had contacted police around noon Tuesday to inform them that they had located a vehicle with a body inside underwater in Empire Park. Chief Ramsey said the nonprofit dive group had been in the Quad Cities area since Monday, searching the waterways for Weber, who had been missing since March 29.

The family of William Weber, 92, of East Moline, said Tuesday evening that the car belonged to him.

On Tuesday evening, police confirmed that the vehicle found was Weber's.

In coordination with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, East Moline Fire Department and Cantrell Towing Service, the vehicle was removed from the river and was identified as the Silver 2012 Chevrolet Malibu with Illinois Purple Heart 2610 PR special plates belonging to Weber, police said. in a press release.

A deceased body was found in the vehicle, believed to be Weber's, according to police. The cause of death and confirmed identification of the body found in the vehicle are pending an autopsy scheduled for later this week, according to Rock Island County Coroner Brian Gustafson.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with Mr. Weber’s family as this has been a difficult and distressing time for them,” Chief Ramsey said. “We are here for family and know the community is too. We thank United Search Corps and Chaos Divers for their expertise and volunteer research efforts in this case that led to this discovery. Illinois State Police also assisted in this incident.

The following emerged from this investigation, according to the police press release.

At approximately 11:48 a.m. Tuesday, the East Moline Police Department was contacted by Doug Bishop of the United Search Corps in Portland, Oregon, police said. Bishop said they were searching the Mississippi River for a missing person case in East Moline involving Weber.

Bishop said they located a submerged vehicle in the river near the boat ramp at Empire Park, 751 North 20th Street, and believed it was related.

Another dive group from Harrisburg, Illinois, was also helping, Bishop said. Officers and investigators from the East Moline Police Department responded to investigate the report. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources, East Moline Fire Department and Cantrell Towing Service removed the vehicle from the river.

Once the vehicle came out of the water, police said they identified it as belonging to Weber. A body was also found inside the vehicle and an autopsy is scheduled for later this week, according to Coroner Gustafson.

The East Moline Police Department continues to investigate this incident, police said. Contact the East Moline Police Department at 309-752-1555 for any information regarding this case.

This is a developing story. TV6 will provide updates on-air and online.

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