UPDATE (9:01 p.m.) — A vigil was held to celebrate the life of Clarence (Chuckee) Crook. Friends and family got together for a prayer and a release of balloons to commemorate how many people Crook impacted in his life.
UPDATE (4:03 p.m.) — Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood has identified the man who was found on fire early Friday morning.
According to a Facebook update, 56-year-old Clarence Crook was found burning in a yard on the 1900 block of West Wiswall Street. He had no identification on his person at the time of his death but was identified through fingerprints. the coroner said.
Preliminary autopsy results indicated Crooks suffered inhalation of smoke and soot as a result of being on fire. The events leading up to him being set on fire remain under investigation, the coroner said.
Harwood stated foul play has not been ruled out at this time.
This story will be updated when more information becomes available.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The Peoria Police Department is investigating an early morning death near the 1900 block of West Wiswall Street on Friday.
According to a Peoria police news release, at approximately 2:21 a.m. officers responded to a report of a man on fire.
Upon arrival, officers located the man and found him to be unresponsive and not breathing. The man was pronounced dead on the scene.
The cause of death is expected to be released by the Peoria County Coroner.
The Peoria Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division and Crime Scene Unit both responded to the scene to initiate the investigation.
The Peoria Fire Department also responded and put out the fire.
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Peoria police at (309) 673-4521, Tip411 (anonymous), or Crime Stoppers (anonymous) at (309) 673-9000
