Damien Gulliford Obituary, PEORIA, ILLINOIS — Authorities have identified the man whose body was recovered from the Illinois River earlier this week as Damien Gulliford, a 45-year-old resident of Peoria, according to the Peoria Police Department. Officials confirmed his identity after an investigation that included fingerprint analysis and the examination of distinctive tattoos.
Police said officers, along with members of the Peoria Fire Department, responded at approximately 9:14 a.m. on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, to the 400 block of Southwest Water Street following reports of a body floating near the shoreline of the Illinois River. Firefighters recovered the body from the water before the Peoria County Coroner’s Office assumed custody.
Investigators later confirmed the deceased was Damien Gulliford. Authorities said his family was notified following the positive identification. An autopsy determined that Gulliford died from acute drowning. Medical examiners reported there were no signs of traumatic injuries or evidence of foul play, indicating there were no obvious indications that his death resulted from violence.
Despite the autopsy findings, detectives with the Peoria Police Department’s Criminal Investigations Division continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Gulliford’s death. Authorities say they have not yet determined how or where he entered the Illinois River and are working to establish the events leading up to the incident.
Police are asking anyone with information regarding Damien Gulliford’s movements before he entered the water or any details that may assist the investigation to contact the Peoria Police Department. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through tip411 or Crime Stoppers as detectives continue their investigation.
The passing of Damien Gulliford has saddened his family, friends, and the Peoria community. As loved ones remember his life, they await answers about the circumstances surrounding his tragic death. May he rest in peace.
