Divers Look for Missing Man in Pekin Lake

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By Kristina Russell

Story Published: Mar 23, 2009 at 5:34 PM CDT

Story Updated: Mar 23, 2009 at 10:57 PM CDT

A suspect from an early morning traffic stop is still missing after diving into Pekin Lake.

The man fled the scene of his traffic stop, after being pulled over early Sunday morning.

Police K–9 units tracked the suspect into the lake. However, they were unable to locate the man because of lack of light.

Dive teams used sonar to check points of interest, but so far, they haven't recovered a body.

"Divers went out searched those targets, which turned out to be logs submerged in the bottom. That was all we can do for them today," said Tim Sommer with the Peoria County EMA.

The divers' search concluded after three hours although nothing was found. Divers say debris and high water levels hindered their investigation.

Periodic surface searchers will continue in the following weeks. The North Pekin police chief was not available to comment on the traffic stop.

Friday, Apr 10 at 4:28 PM To Still Curious wrote ...

Yes he is dead... no they havnt found the body.. we as a family are grieving for the loss of my father. and it will be some time before they find a body. But we have accepted teh fact that it has been over 2 weeks adn he is gone.

Thursday, Apr 9 at 5:02 PM STILL CURIOUS wrote ...

EVERYTHING SEEMED TO HALT - IS ANYONE STILL SEARCHING FOR JEFF? I READ A DIFFERENT BLOG - THAT SAID "RIP DAD" - I ASSUME THAT MEANS THE FAMILY HAS BEEN CONVINCED THAT HE DID NOT MAKE IT? THIS IS SO SAD - I KNOW IF IT WERE MY FAMILY MEMBER I WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SLEEP UNTIL I HAD THAT CLOSURE.

Thursday, Apr 2 at 2:08 PM Pekin wrote ...

put your anger were it should be no officers are out there tryin to find jeff fight with them not each other you can tell you all loved jeff just dont air all your hate to each other on the net. pray for you all

Wednesday, Apr 1 at 4:46 PM HUH wrote ...

SO,what is going on? They are just going to presume he is dead, and that's THAT? I mean come on - the man has children, a family, friends that need the closure.

Sunday, Mar 29 at 10:05 AM BILLY AND MICHELLE wrote ...

this is not a matter of blame its a matter of loss and everyone involved has lost something if they knew jeff !its easy to put the blame on someone else. the fact is that nothing said good,bad,or indifferent.is going to change the choice HE MADE.again our love and prayers go to his family and mutual freinds. he was our family for awhile when he lived withus and i know one thing jeff went to his own beat of the drum. we have been out day after day looking. and we will continue.

Sunday, Mar 29 at 12:53 AM scottmcc wrote ...

ok iam done!! very sad and tired of being torn /jeff i love you my brother you will allways walk with us

Saturday, Mar 28 at 11:32 PM Samantha McCormick wrote ...

I agree 100% with you aunt carol... i too am done!

Saturday, Mar 28 at 3:36 PM P. wrote ...

If the agencies there had called the proper agencies to respond he may have been saved. There are still surface searches. It is to dangerous to search with divers in this area. To the family sorry for your loss.

Saturday, Mar 28 at 11:08 AM Carol McCormick wrote ...

Sam, I'm done reading it. Maybe you can be done too? This would hurt your dad, let's be done with it and concentrate on what's important. Our family; the family that loved him for 41 years.

Saturday, Mar 28 at 10:04 AM Samantha McCormick wrote ...

I wish they would remove this entire news feed.. it woukld make my father sick to his stomach to read some of the things that have been posted. RIP: Dad. we love you ...

Saturday, Mar 28 at 8:39 AM scottmcc wrote ...

the water search will not resume

Saturday, Mar 28 at 7:37 AM WOW wrote ...

Has there been anything said about when they will resume searching?

Saturday, Mar 28 at 2:03 AM Carol McCormick wrote ...

I love my brother. I miss my brother. I don't know when it will stop hurting. I can't possibly contribute anymore then that. Not now and certainly not here; this thread has hurt on top of hurt that is unbelievable already.

Friday, Mar 27 at 10:58 PM scottmcc wrote ...

to my family i love you all and we know that jeff did too this is harder than we all can possibly begin to comprehend our love for jeff has never wavered or our love for our family should not ever sam,jake,leigh,josh,jess,justin,heather,jill,carol,katy,terrie,mom,dad,grandma,grandpa,elizabeth,joy,john,this might be the best time we have ever had to show how strong we really are i hope you all know that we can be the strongest ever we can and if it were up to jeff this is when we should with love

Friday, Mar 27 at 9:41 PM Samantha McCormick wrote ...

Thank you Jess! I love you. I miss you dad and i love you!

Friday, Mar 27 at 8:00 PM Jessica McCormick wrote ...

and it doesnt make his family feel any better getting on here and seeing petty arguemnets between people. we all love my uncle jeff and will miss his so much everyday...SO IF YOUR JUST GOING TO GET ON HERE AND BE NEGATIVE ...STAY OFF!!!!

Friday, Mar 27 at 7:58 PM Jessica MCCormick wrote ...

this is his neice and all i have to say is that waht is this helping arguing with each other over the internet about my uncle and what he did and what could have been to stop it and blah blah blah...its done there is nothing that anyone can do or say to make the situation beter ..so i think if you dont have anyhitng positive or sending your respects to his family you shouldnt say anything at all. everyone in his family is heart broke and devasted from this

Friday, Mar 27 at 6:44 PM Anonymous wrote ...

it is very uplifting to read those things. i love you dad... i miss you more than anything in the world and it is beyond reality how very hard this is to deal with. i love you.

Friday, Mar 27 at 6:44 PM Anonymous wrote ...

little negative... we are all trying very hard not to be but with a loss of a father/son/broither/uncle it is a little difficult not to be angry or negative about th situation at hand. if you dont like comments that my family has made espeially if they are not directed at you in particular please just leave it alone.. let us grieve let us be neg and to those of you that have our family in your houghts thank you .. and i do enjoy reading the positive things that people have said about my dad.

Friday, Mar 27 at 6:41 PM Anonymous wrote ...

third.... i said he was not with anyone bc that is what he told me and his family... he told my brother specifically a week b4 this all happened that he was not with anyone bc my brother was gonna move to pekin to live with him and i was going to spend the summer with him. i dont appreciate the people that are being nasty and disrespectful to my mom or any of my family members like my grandma said we have been through alot this last ear in particular and in my eyes we have a right to be a

Friday, Mar 27 at 6:38 PM Samantha McCormick wrote ...

ok to clear some things up... first off.. i wasn't being negative i was simply asking people not to be neg, sorry if it came across that way. second off some of you dont seem to understand that i am 19 years old and got a total 6 years of those 19 with my dad... this last year in particulat we got very close and you have no idea how unbeleivably hard it was to get my dad back and finally feel the closure that he wanted me and loved me only for it to be ripped away!

Friday, Mar 27 at 6:34 PM P in Peoria wrote ...

I believe Jeff could've been saved if the the proper steps would have been taken. Law enforcement and emergency services were apparently unprepared.This is not speculation I was there. I hope no one else has to lose there life due to unpreparedness!! Miss you Jeff!!

Friday, Mar 27 at 6:27 PM Tami D wrote ...

Hey Curious... You should'nt have made ole ladies plural becuz Joy has not disrespected anyone on here nor am I petty or ignorant!! I think you need to read the comments again!

Friday, Mar 27 at 4:24 PM still curious wrote ...

To Jeff's Mom - I never had the chance to send my thoughts when you lost your sister - I am so sorry! For the "ole ladies" and Tami D - seriously! Now is not the time or the place to be petty and ignorant!

Friday, Mar 27 at 11:02 AM Tami D wrote ...

Hey first ole lady.... "stealthfully" REALLY? Websters dictionary says thats not even a word!! You are being very disrespectful and your not even doing it with real words!! I think you should read Jeff's Mom's post!!

Friday, Mar 27 at 7:32 AM Jeff's mom wrote ...

This is the 2nd tragedy our family has had to endure in a little over 6 months. Both of these tragedies have ONE thing in common...alcohol! I love my son beyond words and my heart is shattered. He didn't always make the best decisions but was a wonderful human being. I will miss him for the rest of my life. We all hurt so much and emotions are running the gamit. Please lets respect Jeff, his family and each other. Thank you for all who knew, cared about and loved my son.

Thursday, Mar 26 at 11:56 PM his "first" ole lady wrote ...

continued from previous post......... You couldn't have just refused to get in the vehicle with him? I can say that I have "stealthfully" removed key from his hands on many occasions. I know that Jeff was a stuborn person, but it seems to me that .....if this BOAST of undying love for him was genuine, he wouldn't have been in the position to have to run.SOMEONE should have done the responsible thing. AAHHHH alcohol..............It's such a complicated addiction, isn't it joy?

Thursday, Mar 26 at 11:54 PM His "first" ole lady wrote ...

I send my love to the family and prayers Jeffrey. ...Please people, there are children related to him reading these comments. Be respectful. I have known Jeffrey for little over 20 years.He ran from alot of things in his life, but never when facing the music where the law is concerned.He had to be under complete distress to make the decision to run. My question is: who could be that careless and self absorbed to put keys in his hand knowing he was drunk and had warrants?

Thursday, Mar 26 at 9:25 PM Coworker Washington wrote ...

I only knew jeff for a short time,but in that time I meet a hell of a good guy.I can only hope this finds him safe and ok.if not my prayers go out to his family and freinds.just remember jeff if by some chance of faith you can read this you can always face your problems but your famly means the most keep up the faith.

Thursday, Mar 26 at 9:20 PM Tami D wrote ...

Thats funny whenever I saw Jeff with Joy they looked intimite to me!Besides I'm not sure what that has to do with finding Jeff. And telling people not to be negative negatively doesn't really work.There are all kinds of family not just blood makes you family but anyway. My prayers are with you Joy!

Thursday, Mar 26 at 8:24 PM Unk Scott wrote ...

Lets not speculate alot. It will be along time till flooding will be down. It is hard not having answers, let's hope for the best

Wednesday, Mar 25 at 10:01 PM Samantha McCormick wrote ...

He is not married, engaged, or with anyone intimatley. He has 3 children, a brother, a sister,a mother, and a neice and 2 nephews! We as his family have been through enough these last 2 years so please stop writing things on here that are neg or that are goig to get peoples hopes up. We appreciate your prayers but please stick to facts! Thank you! We Love you dad! and i miss you more than anything in the world! *Sam

Wednesday, Mar 25 at 9:57 PM Samantha McCormick wrote ...

Ok people this is Jeff's daughter.The police are NOT givng up .. it is to dangerous for them to be out looking for my dad's body.I have spolen to the cheif of plice MYSELF and they are not giving up.. they are waiting for the water's to go down a bit and for the debri and stuff to settle they can't see anything under water until the debri is cleared or settled. So unless you are of his family with the last name McCormick, Macneil, or Potts please DO NOT post any false informaton on here anymore

Wednesday, Mar 25 at 9:47 PM curious still wrote ...

So did the police stop looking for him? And if so why? Is it due to conditions, the length of time they have looked already, or what? I don't understand how or why they could just stop!

Wednesday, Mar 25 at 5:28 PM michelle wrote ...

THE FAMILY IS IN OUR HEARTS AND PRAYERS... WE LOVE YOU JEFF AND HAVE NOT GIVEN UP HOPE TO FIND YOU

Wednesday, Mar 25 at 12:47 PM tc 340 wrote ...

as far as anyone knows the man has not been found. the "homeland security van thingy" is operated by tazewell county esda and is actually a unified command vehicle issued by the dept. of HS. it acts as a mobile office for local law enforcement and fire dept.

Wednesday, Mar 25 at 11:04 AM joy his ol lady! wrote ...

first off i wanna thank my family and our friends for not giving up on him and still searching me and his family know what is going on so stop all these storys going around the police gave up hope and the search we have not!anybody that has any thing else negative to say come see me im not hard to find!all my love sweetpea we will find you

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 10:21 PM Fawn wrote ...

"Curious" wrote: "DO YOU KNOW ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD THINK TO JUMP IN THE WATER TO THROW THE K9 DOGS OFF WHILE THEY ARE WASTED?". It doesn't sound like he left the lake. So, I would say he didn't throw them off at all. Hopefully, that isn't the case, but that's what it seems like at this point. Either way, it's better to accept consequences than worry or pain your family. I hope it's never repeated...not worth it!

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 5:55 PM Jessica McCormick wrote ...

If he is alive and well and was just trying to throw off the k-9 dogs he needs to get ahold of somebody...his entire family is worried and scared, nobody wants anything bad to come out of this.

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 5:29 PM Cindy wrote ...

Scotty, hang in there.

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 5:04 PM Just Curious in FL wrote ...

Out of curiosity, do you people look at the keys when you type? Or do you just "git 'r done" as they say in Pekin and Creve Coeur?

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 4:49 PM scottmcc wrote ...

if so we need to know now this dosent feel like being protected he is my brother i love him very much and we all need to know

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 4:42 PM CURIOUS wrote ...

HAVE THEY FOUND A BODY YET?I KNOW JEFF AS WELL,AND I BELIEVE IF ANYONE CAN BEAT THE ODDS - IT IS HIM! DO YOU KNOW ANYONE ELSE THAT WOULD THINK TO JUMP IN THE WATER TO THROW THE K9 DOGS OFF WHILE THEY ARE WASTED? HE IS ALIVE AND WELL - AND IN HIS OWN DUE TIME HE WILL CONTACT HIS LOVED ONES - HE IS PROTECTING THEM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE HE KNOWS THE COPS ARE LOOKING FOR HIM!

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 2:17 PM Cindy wrote ...

Anonymous, I did know him. My comments were pure sarcasm. I hope I did not upset you or hurt you in anyway. I am still holding out hope that he is found, alive.

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 2:14 PM anonymous wrote ...

First of all all of you ppl talking about what happened when you have no idea or who jeff was is ridiculous he was the the most amazing guy anyone could meet and if you dont know the whole story or truth just keep your mouth shuti love you so much jeff

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 1:16 PM Cindy wrote ...

Hey "Me" what is your source or who? According to the articule he has not been found. And "sink or swim" what insight!

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 1:15 PM tom wrote ...

it was probally a bs stop by mike sea he likes to abuse his authority thats y he run

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 9:30 AM His sister wrote ...

How dare you people speculate.

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 8:28 AM Sink or Swim wrote ...

I guess this can be filed under: What Not To Do When You Are Pulled Over.

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 7:52 AM Anonymous wrote ...

REALLY???ME?? What are you talking about? Jeff, unfortunaly for his family will not make it but if they found him in a burch pile they would do anything to get his bdoy out of there! WOW people and the "RUMOR" Mill!

Tuesday, Mar 24 at 1:35 AM Anonymous wrote ...

It was the ESDA mobile command center you saw out there.

Monday, Mar 23 at 7:54 PM Me wrote ...

Because it happened late Saturday night/early Sunday morning. They have located the body. He is under a bruch pile and can not get him out yet.

Monday, Mar 23 at 5:46 PM I WANNA KNOW wrote ...

OK maybe that explains Monday but why were they there on Sunday morning as well but also had the Homeland Security vehicle(motor home type)with them??

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