Missing southwest Illinois cancer patient has been found, police say
A 79-year-old cancer patient missing from his Breese home since last week has been found, police said through a press release late Tuesday afternoon.
Police would not say where Charles J. Koerkenmeier and his white 2007 Ford F-150 pickup truck were located, but Clinton County Deputy Coroner Ryan Weh confirmed that the missing man was pronounced dead at 4:15 p.m.
Attempts to reach Koerkenmeier’s family were unsuccessful.
“Charlie” Koerkenmeier had last been seen at his residence, 97 South Main Street, at approximately 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11. After searching for several hours, Koerkenmeier’s family notified police he was missing the next day at about 6:30 p.m. police said.
Koerkenmeier’s medical condition requires a colostomy bag. It appears that he had not taken his prescription medication and that he left his medicine, wallet and identification at his home, police said.
A Breese Police Deptartment spokesperson said Tuesday morning that there are no new leads into the whereabouts of Koerkenmeier. A release from Chief Robert Fix was issued about six hours later stated that Koerkenmeier had been found.
“Mr. Charles ‘Charlie’ Koerkenmeier and the vehicle have been located and all search efforts can be terminated at this time,” is all it said.
This story was originally published November 17, 2020 at 7:06 PM.
