Remains of missing Illinois man found in pickup truck buried in Mississippi River

EAST MOLINE, Ill. — Human remains found three months ago in a pickup truck in the Mississippi River have been identified as a person reported missing in 2019, Illinois authorities said.

“The East Moline Police Department continues to investigate this incident as a homicide,” Chief Jeff Ramsey said in a written statement.

The remains have been identified as Daniel Claeys, a local resident who was in his 30s when his family reported him missing in 2019. The pickup truck was stolen in 2017.

The car, buried in deep silt, was found in September in the Mississippi River near the boat launch in East Moline. DNA helped investigators identify the remains.

“The family has been notified and now they have some closure knowing that their family member has been found,” Ramsey said Thursday.

He said investigators will continue to work to solve Claes’ disappearance and death.