Pastor who was reported missing found deceased in car submerged in river, causing confusion.

Last week, the community was left in shock after the sudden disappearance of Reverend Warren Beard, a beloved pastor at New Israelite Missionary Baptist Church. Reverend Beard, 53 years old, was last seen on July 2nd in Joliet, Illinois, around 10:30pm. The license plate reader camera captured him near the intersection of Jefferson Street and Larkin Avenue.

As days went by with no sign of Reverend Beard, concerns for his well-being grew. However, those concerns turned to heartbreak when authorities discovered his vehicle submerged in the Des Plaines River in Rockdale. The news was confirmed by fire officials on Tuesday afternoon, about four hours after CCTV footage showed a car driving into the river.

Tragically, the body found inside the vehicle was identified as Reverend Beard. His colleagues and family were left baffled and devastated by the news. Pastor Chenier Alston, who worked with Reverend Beard for 18 years, expressed his grief and disbelief. "Reverend Beard is a very important person to us," he said in an interview with NBC Chicago.

Reverend Beard was not only an assistant pastor at the church, but also a Sunday school teacher. Pastor Alston fondly remembered their last conversation, which took place just hours before the tragic incident. "He was jovial, he was happy, he was joking as usual," shared Pastor Alston. "And the phone call ended with, as we always end it, 'I love you.'"

The circumstances surrounding Reverend Beard's death are still unclear. His loved ones are struggling to understand what could have led to this tragic end. "This is not like him," said Pastor Alston. "He would not abandon his family and not come home."

Initial reports suggested no signs of foul play, but Pastor Alston believes otherwise. He pointed out that the surveillance footage showed Reverend Beard's car maneuvering around a barricade and crashing into the river. "What I want answered is, Who did this?" he questioned, according to Church Leaders. "And whatever those answers are, we are going to get justice for him."

Reverend Beard was a devoted father to five children and a beloved member of the community. His aunt, Theresa Boss-French, expressed the family's heartache. "We are all hurting right now," she told NBC Chicago. "We all know Reverend Warren Beard is not someone who would just disappear without saying a word to his family."

As the community mourns the loss of Reverend Beard, an autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday to determine the cause and manner of his death. The search for answers and justice continues for the beloved pastor who will be deeply missed.

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