Human remains determined to be of missing man, Peoria County coroner says

The Peoria County Coroner’s Office said the body of Gabriel K. Cook was located in a rural area of Peoria County on Saturday.

Around 2 p.m., the Coroner’s Office and the Peoria County Sheriff's Office responded to the 2700 block of N. Ellory Road after a property owner found remains which were "believed to be human." The remains were later identified as Cook and an autopsy is planned for Monday.

The 34-year-old man was reported missing by family on March 8, 2021. Over two years later, Allen Schimmelpfennig was sentenced to 80 years in prison in what was described as a first-of-its-kind murder case in which a body was never found.

In a press release, the Peoria County coroner noted: "It is understandable that questions still exist; it is my hope to be able to answer those questions and others following the autopsy proceedings (Monday)."

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