PEORIA — A man pulled from the Illinois River this week has been identified by local authorities as 45-year-old Damien Gulliford of Peoria.
Cause of death confirmed
Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood confirmed on Wednesday that Gulliford died from acute drowning. Officials stated there was no evidence of trauma on his body, and foul play is not currently suspected in his death.
The announcement came just one day after his body was recovered from the water, giving investigators and the coroner’s office limited time to confirm his identity to the public.
Gulliford was discovered in the Illinois River near the 400 block of SW Water Street on Tuesday morning around 9:14 a.m., according to the Peoria Police Department.
The location sits along a stretch of the riverfront in downtown Peoria, an area that sees regular foot traffic and is close to several businesses and public walkways.
Investigation into the circumstances continues
While the cause of death has been determined, several key questions remain unanswered. Coroner Harwood said that authorities are still working to determine how and where Gulliford entered the river before his body was found. That part of the investigation remains open, and officials have not released a timeline for when those details might be clarified.
Local police have not indicated whether any witnesses have come forward or whether surveillance footage from the area is being reviewed as part of the effort to piece together his final movements. The Peoria Police Department has not released additional information beyond the location and time the body was discovered.
The Peoria County Coroner’s Office typically handles these types of investigations in coordination with local law enforcement, working to rule out foul play while also determining the sequence of events that led to a death. In this case, officials have already ruled out trauma as a factor, narrowing the investigation to focus primarily on the circumstances surrounding how Gulliford ended up in the river.
Residents in the area near SW Water Street may notice continued investigative activity as authorities work to close out remaining questions in the case. No further public statements have been made since Wednesday’s confirmation of Gulliford’s identity and cause of death.
This story may be updated as more information becomes available from the Peoria County Coroner’s Office or the Peoria Police Department.
