Published on December 8, 2024 7:20 pm
Last Updated on December 8, 2024 7:21 pm
Shelby County Coroner Brad Phegley died on Friday afternoon in what was termed an accidental death.
The Shelby County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call at 2:49pm Friday of a male subject floating in the lake near County Road 3526 East and 850 North Road in Shelby County. The caller was a waterfowl hunting partner of the 67-year-old Phegley who found Phegley near their decoys in front of their shoreline waterfowl blind. Shelby County deputies and Neoga Ambulance Service responded to the scene where Phegley was pronounced dead.
Information from the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office indicated it appears Phegley’s death was due to accidental circumstances.
Illinois Department of Natural Resources Conservation Police were called in to investigate what the Sheriff’s Office termed a hunting accident. Conservation Police requested the assistance of Illinois State Police Crime Scene and Investigations. An autopsy was conducted on Saturday in Bloomington. Shelby County Acting Coroner Richard Largent said nothing was found to indicate anything other than the death was accidental.
The investigation is continuing by the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, IDNR Conservation Police and Illinois State Police. Shelby County deputy coroners responded and were assisted by Moultrie County Coroner Lynn Reed.
