Missing Pastor's Body Found In His Car At Brandon Road Bridge

ROCKDALE, IL – A car belonging to missing Chicago pastor Rev. Warren Beard was found in 8-foot-deep murky Des Plaines River water Tuesday, and Will County Coroner Laurie Summers appeared at the Tuesday night news conference to confirm that the body found in the driver's seat was positively identified as the 53-year-old church pastor.

Beard was pronounced dead inside his submerged car at 6:20 p.m. His car and his body were discovered in the Des Plaines River about 150 yards west of the Brandon Road Bridge in Rockdale, in proximity to the Brandon Road Locks and Dam, which is overseen by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Beard, assistant pastor at New Israelite Missionary Baptist Church, waslast seen about 9 p.m., Tuesday, July 2, in Joliet in the 400 block of North Broadway Street.

"Rev. Beard is 'big-hearted, honest, the epitome of a family man,'" son Shane Beard said last week.

Hours after crews began searching the Des Plaines River near the Brandon Road Lock and Dam late Tuesday morning, Rockdale police confirmed to Patch that a vehicle was found in the water. Rockdale Deputy Police Chief Rob Baikie said the vehicle was found Tuesday afternoon.

Meanwhile, Rockdale's Fire Chief David Brady issued a press release notifying Joliet Patch that on Tuesday at 11:04 a.m., the Rockdale Fire Protection District was dispatched for a reported vehicle that had entered the Des Plaines River — one week ago — on July 2, at approximately 10:47 p.m.

Authorities were contacted by the Brandon Road Lock Master after reviewing routine security footage.

According to the Rockdale fire chief:

On Tuesday morning, authorities met with representatives from the Brandon Road Locks who shared footage of a vehicle traveling south on Brandon Road, and is seen the leaving the roadway and falling into the water. The vehicle’s make and model could not be identified using the footage.

Rockdale Fire Protection District along with resources from MABAS Division 15 Water Rescue, Rockdale Police Department, Will County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, and Illinois Department of Transportation were at the scene conducting a search of the area where the vehicle was estimated to enter the water according to the video footage.

Boats with sector and side scan capabilities were searching the Des Plaines Riverbed. In addition, a specialized remote operated vehicle with sonar capability was also part of the search.

Divers were conducting guided searches with the scans and sonar.

Agencies currently assisting at the scene include Minooka Fire, Troy Fire, Elwood Fire, Wilmington Fire, Morris Fire, Wilmington Fire, Braidwood Fire, Rockdale Fire, and Plainfield Fire. New Lenox and Manhattan Fire Protection Districts provided area coverage as rescuers continue the search. Rockdale Police and Will County Sheriff are assisting with scene security and traffic control.

Residents were asked to avoid the area during the operation.

This is a developing story. Check back with Patch for updates.
Footage from the scene from Joliet Patch: