Authorities in Putnam County have confirmed the recovery of a body from the Illinois River on October 5, 2025, after a swimmer went missing Saturday evening. According to officials, the incident began when Marshall County deputies received a report of a man entering the river from their side and heading toward Putnam County. Witnesses said the swimmer disappeared underwater and didn’t surface. The following day, emergency services located and recovered the body. The deceased was identified as 48-year-old Joshua A. Ellis of Princeton.
The Putnam County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Illinois Department of Conservation, the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office, the Henry Fire Department, the Lacon-Sparland Fire Department, the Peoria Fire Department Dive Team, the Henry Police, and the Putnam County Death Investigator.
