Body of Illinois coroner recovered from lake after apparent hunting accident

The body of the Shelby County, Illinois coroner was found Friday after an apparent hunting accident.

According to a release from the central Illinois county’s sheriff’s department, deputies responded to a 911 call reporting a body floating in Lake Mattoon near waterfowl decoys in front of blind on the shoreline.

The caller was the hunting partner of Coroner Brad Phegley, 67, who had apparently fallen into the lake by accident, the release stated. Phegley, a resident of Windsor, was first elected county coroner in 2020 after serving eight years as chief deputy coroner, according to a campaign page on Facebook.

Shelby County Deputies and Neoga Ambulance responded to the scene where the Phegley was pronounced dead.

Agents from both the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Police and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigations Division are investigating. An autopsy was scheduled in Bloomington Saturday.

Members of Phegley’s office were assisted by Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed, the release stated.

According to the campaign Facebook page, Phegley was a U.S. Army Veteran, a past sheriff’s deputy and was retired after 28 years with the state police.