Illinois State Police Seeks the Public’s Assistance with 2018 Death Investigation in Galesburg
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 11, 2026
June 11, 2026
GALESBURG – Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 2 continues to investigate the 2018 death of Tyler Smith and is seeking the public’s assistance with any information they may have.
On September 15, 2018, the Galesburg Police Department responded to the report of a body in the Cedar Fork Creek in Galesburg. The body was identified as 23-year-old Tyler Smith of Rochelle, IL. Smith was in Galesburg with friends the night before he was to attend his last National Guard Drill Weekend in Macomb. Smith had attended Western Illinois University in Macomb and was planning to pursue his dream job as a police officer in San Jose, CA.
The initial findings of Smith’s 2018 autopsy in Peoria County revealed that Smith died as a result of a drowning.
The Galesburg Police Department conducted the initial investigation but later requested ISP to continue the investigation.
On July 15, 2020, the body of Tyler Smith was exhumed, and a second autopsy was conducted at the McLean County Coroner’s Office in Bloomington.
Since the results of the second autopsy was revealed, ISP has followed up on numerous leads, conducted numerous new interviews, and executed additional search warrants; however, to-date, the circumstances surrounding Tyler’s death are still undetermined and remains under investigation.
Based on facts discovered in this investigation, ISP believes the events leading to Tyler Smith’s death started around 11:43 p.m. on Friday September 14, 2018, in the area of N. West Street and Cedar Fork Creek in Galesburg.
ISP is appealing to anyone with direct knowledge of the death of Tyler Smith to come forward to speak to investigators, and to allow Tyler’s family know how their loved one died. If someone has direct knowledge of the incidents leading up to the death of Tyler Smith, they are urged to contact ISP Sergeant Luke Kuehl at 815-632-4010, Ext 230, or to submit their tip on ISP’s Investigative Tips Website (https://isptips.illinois.gov/content/soi/isp-tips/en/investigations/20260611-tyler-smith.html).
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