DU QUOIN, IL — The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office received information in the early morning hours of Monday, September 1st regarding a possible homicide at an unknown location in the county.

Initial information given to the Sheriff’s Office provided a suspect vehicle allowing Deputies to begin a search. At approximately 9:00 PM the same day, an officer from the Christopher Police Department observed the suspect’s vehicle at the intersection of IL Hwy 14 and IL Hwy 148. The officer began following the vehicle and requested back up. Deputies from Franklin County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Christopher officer with a felony stop of the suspect vehicle in the 9000 block of Birch Rd in Rural Du Quoin. Units from Du Quoin Police Department, Perry County Sheriff’s Office, and Illinois State Police also responded to assist with the stop. The driver of the vehicle was taken into custody and the only other person in the vehicle was deceased, believed to be the victim of homicide.

Units on scene for the stop secured the area to await the arrival of Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Detectives and Deputies. The investigation in Jefferson County also revealed the suspected location of the possible homicide. Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services was contacted to process the vehicle and scene of the stop and also Jefferson County residence believed to be the initial crime scene. The Jefferson County States Attorney was contacted to assist with search warrants for both scenes. The Perry County Coroner was contacted to respond to collect the body of the victim. The driver was transported to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office for questioning.

This is an ongoing investigation and no further information will be provided until the victim’s family has been notified by the Perry County Coroner. More details will be released at a later time.