Fulton County Coroner’s Office- IL

05/15/2026

Today staff members of the coroner’s office and other public safety agencies participated in cop on a rooftop, to raise money for Special Olympics!

04/26/2026

Last week a few our deputy coroner’s attended LLRMI’s lead homicide investigator certification course put on by the ILETSB in Peoria. Good job to our deputies for obtaining this certification!

Yet another class took place last week. This time the class, 40hr Lead Homicide, was held in Peoria at Central Illinois Police Training Center. As you can see in the picture below the class was well attended!

04/22/2026

Update on missing person, Kenneth Johnson.

Joint Press Release from Sheriff Webb and Coroner Rhodes:

The Fulton County Coroner's Office is releasing the identification of the deceased male who was found in a wooded area in rural Lewistown. A ground search was performed and the individual was located approximately 500 yards north of where his vehicle had been parked. Fulton County Coroner Austin Rhodes positively identifies the deceased male as Kenneth Johnson, 59, of Canton. An autopsy was performed on today’s date in Peoria County. Routine toxicology testing is pending. No foul play is suspected. This incident continues to be investigated by the coroner's and sheriff's office.

The Sheriff's Office and Coroner's Office were assisted by Canton Police, Lewistown Police, Farmington Police, Fulton County ESDA, Illinois Conservation Police and the Illinois State Police Air Ops.

04/14/2026

The Canton Police Department is proud to celebrate its dispatchers this week above all others.

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, and we would like to publicly acknowledge and thank our dispatchers for their hard work and dedication. Their job is almost always the first contact with someone having a bad day, and they do their job diligently all day, every day.

Thank you for your service, and thank you for being the voice of calm, compassion, and reassurance on the other end of the phone and the radio.

01/10/2026

Congrats Chief! Enjoy retirement!

11/24/2025

At approximately 0340 hours on Sunday (11/23/25), the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Avon Fire- Rescue and Galesburg Hospital Ambulance Service were dispatched to a single vehicle collision at the intersection of E. County 17 highway and N. Buchen Road in rural Avon. Shortly after the arrival of emergency responders, it was determined that sole occupant and driver of the vehicle was deceased.

The Fulton County Coroner Austin Rhodes has identified the deceased as Jonathan Lant, 29, of Princeville, IL. An autopsy was scheduled for today’s date (11-24-25) in Peoria County, confirming that Lant died due to injuries sustained in the crash. Toxicology is currently pending in accordance with Illinois state statute. This incident remains under investigation by the coroner’s office.

11/10/2025

At approximately 11:20 am on Sunday 11/9/2025, the Cuba Fire Department, Fulton County Emergency Medical Association, Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, along with other emergency responder agencies were dispatched to the 23000 Block of North Cherokee Road in Wee-Ma-Tuk for a fully involved residential structure fire, with multiple individuals still inside. Upon arrival, it was found that the house was fully involved. The fire was extinguished a short time later.


It is with great sadness that the Fulton County Coroner Austin Rhodes can confirm that two deaths occurred due to this fire. They have been identified as Sawyer M. Brooks-Kirkpatrick, 4, of Cuba. The second individual has been identified as Margaret Brooks, 69, of Cuba. Both individuals were pronounced deceased at the scene by the coroner’s office.


Forensic autopsies have been completed on both individuals on 11/10/2025 in Peoria County. The cause and manner of death remains under investigation by the Coroner’s Office. The cause of the fire is still being investigated by the Illinois State Fire Marshall’s Office.

10/02/2025

Congrats Wes on firefighter of the year! Our office is proud to work alongside this great team!

09/13/2025

Our office, along with other public safety agencies participated in the Canton Friendship Festival parade this morning!

Fulton County IL Sheriff's Office
Buckheart Township Fire Protection District
Copperas Creek Fire Protection District
Fulton County Ema
City of Canton Fire Department - Illinois

09/06/2025

09/06/25 update :

Joint release from the Canton Police Department and Fulton County Coroner’s Office

The Canton Police Department received a call just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3rd, regarding the body of a deceased male found inside the residence at 699 Baxter Court. The deceased male was later identified as David W. K***z, 70, of Canton.

After a preliminary investigation and an autopsy was performed on Friday, Sept. 5th, the Fulton County Coroner, Austin Rhodes has ruled the manner of death to be an act of homicide. The cause of death is being withheld at this time in this investigation.

The investigation has resulted in the arrest of Rocky Garwood, 38, of Canton, who has been charged with first-degree murder and home invasion. Garwood is currently detained in the Fulton County Jail, awaiting a preliminary hearing.

The death investigation is still ongoing and is being conducted by the Canton Police, along with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, and the Fulton County Coroner’s Office.

The police department is requesting the public's assistance in reviewing any possible video surveillance from the night of September 2nd into the early morning hours of September 3rd, regarding a male on a bicycle during those hours. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, contact the Canton Police Department at (309) 647-5131 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (309) 647-3636

09/06/2025

09/06/25 update


The Canton Police Department received a call just before 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 3rd, regarding the body of a deceased male found inside the residence at 699 Baxter Court. The deceased male was later identified as David W. K***z, 70, of Canton.

After a preliminary investigation and an autopsy was performed on Friday, Sept. 5th, the Fulton County Coroner, Austin Rhodes has ruled the manner of death to be an act of homicide. The cause of death is being withheld at this time in this investigation.

The investigation has resulted in the arrest of Rocky Garwood, 38, of Canton, who has been charged with first-degree murder and home invasion. Garwood is currently detained in the Fulton County Jail, awaiting a preliminary hearing.

The death investigation is still ongoing and is being conducted by the Canton Police, along with the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, and the Fulton County Coroner’s Office.

The police department is requesting the public's assistance in reviewing any possible video surveillance from the night of September 2nd into the early morning hours of September 3rd, regarding a male on a bicycle during those hours. If anyone has any information regarding this incident, contact the Canton Police Department at (309) 647-5131 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at (309) 647-3636.