Chicago Area Local News

CHANNAHON TOWNSHIP (CBS) ― A barge crew discovered female human remains Wednesday afternoon in the Des Plaines River, prompting speculation that Stacy Peterson or Lisa Stebic may have been found.

A witness at the scene said the body was taken from the scene about 7:50 p.m. after police and Will County coroners had investigated the body. The body weighed no more than 30 pounds and appeared to have been mainly bones, according to the witness.

A source at the scene said the body was not found in the water but off onto a nearby shore.

Witnesses said it was around 2 p.m. that a barge crew discovered the remains — not an intact body — near the south shore after spending the past four days clearing logs and debris.

A source said the remains looked like that of a small female wearing underwear, but that DNA testing likely would be required for a positive ID.

State police have taken over the investigation and confirmed remains were found, but would not release any other information Wednesday evening.

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov reports that the remains were taken to the Will County Coroner's Office. An autopsy is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

State Police Master Sergeant Tom Burek says it's too early to draw any conclusions.

"We're not identifying whether or not it's male or female, it would be very premature to do that," Burek said. "Nor are we making an attempt to associate with any current investigation and we'd be very premature to do that."

Relatives of missing Bolingbrook mother Stacy Peterson said they've been contacted by state police, who told them a woman's body has been found in the river near Channahon, though the remains have not been identified.

"We don't know who it is," said Pam Bosco, a spokeswoman for Stacy Peterson's family. "We're just being patient right now. We're waiting."

She believes there won't be any definitive word Wednesday about the identity of the body.

And Bosco said relatives realize the remains could be those of another woman, possibly missing Plainfield resident Lisa Stebic or someone else.

Bosco said Stacy Peterson's family members just hope the remains can be identified so a family somewhere can learn the fate of a missing loved one.

"We just hope they can identify who it is," Bosco said.

The cleanup crew made their grisly find approximately three-quarters of a mile west of the Interstate 55 bridge, near the Big Basin Marina.

The shore area is only accessible by boat, so investigators spent time shuttling down the river from the boat launch at the marina on the river's north side.

State police and Braidwood canine units were called to the scene. Channahon and Illinois conservation police were also assisting. State police said two investigators were in charge of the scene. A lead investigator for state police rode out and returned around 4 p.m. At 4:30 p.m., Will County Coroner Patrick K. O'Neil rode out to examine the body.

Fifteen minutes later, the Channahon Fire Department brought a boat to the landing as news helicopters circled overhead.

"There are human remains, but that is all that is known right now," police said.

A forensic team was called in to search the area at 5 p.m. and police said they might need lighting to continue the investigation as the sun went down.

State police say they don't know when definite results of the autopsy will be released.

Drew Peterson's attorney Joel Brodsky says he met with Peterson today, and that Drew was aware of the body found in the Des Plaines River, and was reportedly "unconcerned."

CBS 2's Dana Kozlov and Mike Puccinelli, and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.

(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

Editor's Picks

• Real Or Fake?
• Celebs Who Lean To The Right
• Top 10 Smartest And Dumbest Dog Breeds
• World's Most Useless Facts