
Body Found on May 2024 Floating in an Illinois River Has Been Identified
More than 8 months ago a body was discovered near the U.S. 20 Bypass in the Rock River and today we found out the identity of that person.
Discovery of the Body in Rock River
On May 12, 2024, at approximately 5:39 p.m., a fisherman spotted a body floating in the Rock River north of U.S. Bypass 20 and immediately called 911.
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Emergency personnel recovered the body of an adult male, who was pronounced deceased at 7:20 p.m., according to the press release. The cause and manner of death were initially undetermined following an autopsy.
Months of Investigative Work
With no immediate leads or identification of the body, the Winnebago County Coroner’s Office, Winnebago County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police launched an extensive effort to determine the man's identity.
According to a report from the Winnebago County Coroner, investigators used fingerprints and palmprints uploaded into state and national databases but produced no matches.

A DNA sample was submitted to the Illinois State Police Crime Lab, generating a DNA profile that also failed to produce a match. But to keep the investigation going, officials entered the case details, including dental records, DNA data, and photographs, into NamUs, a national missing persons database.
It wasn't until late December 2024 that a non-law enforcement individual reviewing the NamUs case noticed a detail about the decedent’s clothing, leading authorities to a firearms parts manufacturer in Lake Zurich, Illinois.
Identification of Herbert Huff
Investigators contacted Outerwild which was formerly DRG Manufacturing after learning the decedent was wearing a company-issued sweatshirt given as a Christmas gift to employees.
The company provided a list of former employees, allowing authorities to compare latent palmprints which led to an identification of the decedent as 34-year-old Herbert Huff, confirmed on January 27, 2025.
His family has since been notified.
I want to acknowledge the tireless efforts of the Winnebago County Coroner’s Office, the Winnebago County Sheriff's Office Detective Bureau and the Illinois State Police Division of Forensic Services for their work to identify the body found last May. The process has been lengthy and complex, but through dedication and collaboration, we were able to bring closure to the family. -Winnebago Co. Sheriff Gary Caruana
Winnebago County Coroner Jennifer Muraski added her condolences for the family and friends of Huff saying "While no words can ease their pain, I hope this identification brings them some sense of peace as they begin to heal."
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