Crime & Safety

2nd Update: Male Body Found Near Fox River in Batavia; Police Call Incident 'Suspicious'

Police confirm on Monday that the body of a 46-year-old man was found east of the 500 block of North Batavia Avenue near the Fox River. He sustained injuries, officials said.

Editor's note: Police have identified the man who was found near the river. To read more about him, .

Two police departments are cooperating in an investigation into the death of a bank on Batavia's west side.

A resident discovered the 46-year-old man in an area east of the 500 block of North Batavia Avenue, and east of the bike path along the west bank of the Fox River. and personnel were dispatched to the area at 11:23 a.m. Monday, according to a Batavia Police Department press release.

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The man has tentatively been identified, but information about him was withheld Monday pending notification of his next of kin, police said.

The man was unconscious and not breathing at the time the resident discovered him, police said. Emergency personnel determined that the man was in fact dead.

Find out what's happening in Bataviawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The man sustained injuries, but at this time the cause of the injuries and the cause of death are unknown until the Kane County Coroner's Office conducts an autopsy.

Police consider the incident suspicious in nature, according to the press release. The Kane County Forest Preserve and the Batavia police departments will conduct the investigation together, the press release said.

The body was found on Kane County Forest Preserve District property, officials said.

"I just think that's really surprising and shocking," said Batavia resident Sarah Higgins as news of the body discovery spread. "You don't hear about this kind of thing in town. It's really the bigger cities."

Higgins has lived in Batavia for 12 years. She could not recall another incident like this one besides the one that .

On April 6, 2011, off the east bank of the Fox River near the footbridge in the preserve. No foul play was suspected in the man's death.

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To read our initial story on this incident, click .


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