219 – Abandoned Barn on PPD Property
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
PEORIA – The body of a man found hanged inside a barn along the Illinois River was identified Tuesday as that of a Peoria Heights man reported missing in January.
Peoria County Coroner Johnna Ingersoll said William “Bill” Oakes was identified from personal belongings, including an ID card, which was found with the body.
Oakes, 54, a resident of Forest Park Apartments in Peoria Heighs, was reported missing by a family member in January.
Ingersoll said foul play doesn’t appear to have played a role in Oakes’ death. Inside his apartment, police found handwritten notes indicating the man may have been contemplating suicide.
Ingersoll said it is not known how long Oakes was inside the barn before his discovery on Monday.
The boarded-up barn where the body was found is about a half-mile south of San Koty Lane, a gravel road leading east off Galena Road. It is located about a mile northeast of Oakes’ apartment.

January 28th, 2008 at 8:11 pm
That the barn down on the river side of Galena Road, somewhere near the foot of Forest Park Drive?
January 29th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
This one is next to post 218 in the woods off 29 – I think across from scsi and the san koty water place.
February 2nd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
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July 9th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
The abandoned soccer field was in our yard @ 6206 Galena Rd. My dad was the caretaker of the property and we lived there for 5 years. There were 66 acres of land that the park owned and the house, soccer field, beach and barn were all on that property. It was located next to the Longshore Subdivision and I heard that the house was torn down and that a man hung himself in the barn. CREEPY!!!