Person Who Jumped From Bridge IDed As 39-Year-Old Joliet Man

JOLIET, IL — The Will County Coroner's Office has identified Monday night's drowning victim as 39-year-old Joliet resident Cesar Robles. He was pronounced dead at 10:53 p.m. Monday after his body was recovered by Joliet firefighters searching the Des Plaines River, in the 300 block of North Joliet Street.

Monday's drowning marked the second night in a row involving someone jumping to their death in the frigid and dirty waters of Joliet's Des Plaines River canal.

Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey told Joliet Patch that Monday night's incident occurred near the Jackson Street Bridge around 7:15 p.m.

The Joliet Police Department was called to the bridge after Robles had jumped in the Des Plaines River. Officers could see Robles in the water, and while officers were trying to take measures to rescue the man, he went underwater and never resurfaced, the Joliet Police Department stated.

Around 8:30 p.m. Joliet's temperature was 27 degrees.

After an extensive search using divers from the Joliet Fire Department and the Plainfield Fire Department, plus a boat from the U.S. Coast Guard, Robles was pulled from the water around 9:40 p.m., according to Joliet police.

The Will County Coroner's Office was notified to take custody of the body.

On Sunday night, the Joliet Fire Department was notified by a Cass Street bridgetender and by Harrah's Casino that someone jumped into the water near the Bicentennial Park.

The Joliet Fire Department spent several hours Sunday night and again on Monday during the daylight trying to recover the body.

The Joliet Fire Department had boats in the water Monday and also used a drone, but Sunday night's jumper has not been located, Blaskey said.

Blaskey said the Joliet Fire Department will remain out along the canal until the bodies are recovered.

When Joliet Patch asked Blaskey if he could recall two straight days involving someone jumping into the dangerous canal, he responded, "Never."