Body Found Near Busy Road In Collinsville

COLLINSVILLE, IL. (KPLR) – Police in Collinsville, Illinois are looking for clues after finding a body in a ditch near the busy intersection of Route 157 and Beltline.  It was just before 6pm Wednesday when an off duty police officer was jogging in the area, and came across the remains in a ditch fewer than 100 yards from a Burger King restaurant.

Collinsville Police Major Tom Coppotelli says they believe the body had been there since Sunday, though investigators were still trying to put together a more specific time frame.  He says the victim, and African-American male in his early 20’s, had been reported missing Wednesday morning.

Coppotelli says the victim’s identity is being withheld until next of kin can be notified.

Police say there were no obvious signs of trauma to the body, but the death is definitely suspicious.  They aren’t aware of any altercations he was involved in that might have provided a motive for murder.