Missing Chicago pastor’s remains, car pulled from Des Plaines River in Will County, officials say

ROCKDALE, Ill. (WLS) — The remains of a missing Chicago pastor were identified inside his car, which was pulled from the Des Plaines River in the south suburbs Tuesday, officials said.

The Will County coroner identified human remains found in the car as Warren Beard, who was last seen in the Joliet area visiting a friend around 9 p.m. last Tuesday.

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Warren Beard, 53, was the assistant pastor at New Israelite Missionary Baptist Church, a married father of five, and is beloved in his church community.

His family went to Rockdale after his vehicle was discovered in the water Tuesday afternoon, hoping for news about their missin gloved one.

The vehicle was found after a car was seen driving into the Des Plaines River last week near the Brandon Road Lock and Dam in the south suburbs, Rockdale fire officials said.

Rockdale crews responded just after 11 a.m. for a reported vehicle that had entered the river last Tuesday near Route 6, just after 10:45 p.m., officials said. Brandon Road Lock officials saw the vehicle while reviewing routine security footage.

The vehicle was seen on video traveling south on Brandon Road, before driving into the water, Rockdale fire officials said.

Rockdale officials said the footage showed the car drive around barricades blocking a bridge in the area, which was up at the time.

The vehicle appeared to slip into the water through a gap in the raised bridge, officials said.

Divers and sonar were being used to search the riverbed for hours Tuesday.

Authorities said murky water and rain have made the search and rescue difficult.

“The Des Plaines River, unfortunately, is a very, very murky body of water here in the area. Just my experience in working with the local water rescue team, divers go into the water, you can put your hand in front of the water, you really can’t discern where your hand’s at because the water is that cloudy and muddy,” Channahon Fire Chief John Petrakis said.

Beard’s aunt said Tuesday has been a day of anguish, following a horrible week.