WHITE COUNTY — A body found in October of last year in White County has now been identified.

According to White County Coroner Chris Marsh, the body is that of 54-year-old Timothy Roberts.

Marsh says on Oct. 4, 2023, White County 911 received a call from 911 Stewart St. in Carmi where some juveniles who were playing in the woods had entered a half-fallen down building and discovered a body that had been dead for many months. The Carmi Police Department, White County Sheriff’s Office and the White County Coroner responded. It was decided that Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigations should be called to process the building and the scene.

Marsh says after the scene was processed, the body was removed and placed in the White County Morgue. An autopsy was performed on Oct. 6, 2023 in Champaign. There was no identification at the scene nor on the body, so the remains were treated as unidentified.

A concerned lady, Belinda Roberts, called the next day saying she had heard an unidentified body had been found in Carmi and that her brother had been missing for about five months and had not been seen. Roberts said her brother’s name was Timothy Roberts. She stated that his mother was still alive and living in Mt. Vernon. Marsh contacted the possible mother, Patricia Garrison, and asked if he could get a DNA swab from her to submit to the State Police Crime Lab for comparison and possible DNA match. She agreed.

The DNA swab from the possible mother and a femur bone from the remains were submitted. The results recently came back with a 99.99997% match that the remains found are Garrison’s son, Timothy Roberts. He died on Oct. 4, 2023.

Carmi Police Chief Jason Carter and Marsh wish to convey to the citizens of Carmi and White County that from all indications at the scene and evidence from the autopsy, Roberts died in his sleep from probable natural causes. There was no foul play suspected at the time of the investigation nor is there any speculation as to foul play now.

Roberts remains will be released to Jordan Funeral Group of Carmi who is assisting the family with arrangements.