COLES COUNTY, Ill. (WTWO/WAWV) — Update: The Coles County Coroner has identified the man who was found dead in Lake Charleston on Sunday.

Coroner Ed Schniers spoke with Nexstar’s WCIA Tuesday morning and identified the man as Ryan Culver, 26 of Humboldt, Ill. Schneirs added that preliminary results indicate Culver died of drowning; he is awaiting confirmation of this from a pathologist in Champaign.


Original: A dive team found and recovered a body near the dock at Lake Charleston Sunday.

According to a joint release from the Charleston Police and Fire departments, first responders were dispatched to Lake Charleston at 2:45 p.m. Sunday, April 9 with reports of a missing person.

Investigating officials were able to locate the missing person’s vehicle near the lake’s boat ramp. A search was then conducted both in and around Lake Charleston.

At 4:20 p.m. a rescue diver located the body just off the boat dock.

Coles County Coroner Ed Schniers said Monday morning the identity of the deceased is being withheld pending notification of family.

An autopsy is scheduled for Tuesday in Champaign to confirm the cause of death.

The road to Lake Charleston was shut down during the search but has since been reopened.

Assisting during this search and recovery effort was the Charleston Police Department, Coles County Sheriff’s Office, Eastern Illinois University Police Department, as well as the Lincoln Fire Protection District Dive Team.