An unexpected discovery along the Green River in Colona has sparked an ongoing investigation after authorities identified the man recovered from the water as 30-year-old Charles Ables. What began as a routine police response quickly evolved into a case that now has local officials working to determine exactly how and why the Colona resident ended up in the river.
The incident unfolded on the morning of February 23. Around 10:56 a.m., officers with the Colona Police Department were called to Nancy Trailer Court for a report of a loose dog. Situations like that are typically handled quickly. But while officers searched for the dog’s owner in an area where he was known to stay, they made a troubling discovery nearby.
From the riverbank, officers spotted a body in the Green River. They immediately requested assistance to recover the individual from the water. The focus shifted fast from animal control to emergency response.
The Colona Fire Department was dispatched at approximately 11:19 a.m. Fire crews arrived within seven minutes and joined police officers in coordinated recovery efforts. The work continued for more than an hour. At approximately 12:48 p.m., the body was successfully removed from the river.
The Henry County Coroner’s Office later confirmed the deceased as Charles Ables of Colona. His body was transported to Peoria for an autopsy, which officials say will determine the official cause and manner of death.
Authorities have not released additional details regarding the circumstances that led to Ables’ death. Investigators with both the Colona Police Department and the Henry County Coroner’s Office remain actively involved as they await autopsy results.
For residents of this small river town, the case has raised quiet concern. The Green River is a familiar landmark in Colona, not a place where tragedy is expected. Now, as investigators continue their work, the focus remains on finding clear answers about what happened in the hours before Charles Ables was found in the water.
