ROCKFORD Eight bodies have been found in Winnebago County and nearby communities in a span of roughly eight weeks, but authorities say the deaths have no connection.
The discovered remains, already more than the Winnebago County coroner s office would handle in a typical year, have investigators hustling to identify the bodies and determine causes of death.
So far, authorities have determined one person died of an overdose, another by suicide and a third death led to homicide charges. The cause of death has yet to be released or determined in five other cases, but foul play is not suspected.
The unusually high body count fueled speculation on social media of an active serial killer, and posts on Reddit drew hundreds of comments and one on Tik Tok garnered nearly 400,000 likes and 8,500 comments.
Winnebago County Coroner Bill Hintz addressed rumors claiming Rockford might have a serial killer on the loose
The rumors also come after Rockford marked its deadliest year on record in 2020 and has been named the 11th most dangerous city in the United States
Hintz did acknowledge that the number of bodies found so far this year is notably high and that the county averages about four bodies found a year
Reum’s body was spotted in the river south of Lowell Park at about 8 p.m.
“With the help of dental records, we were able to confirm it was Patrick,” Lee County Coroner Jesse Partington said. “There was no sign of foul play or anything of that nature.”
An autopsy was conducted Friday morning, the results of which are expected in about two months. Toxicology test results are expected back in two weeks.
Search teams look for Patrick Reum, 28, reported missing in December rrstar.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from rrstar.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.