19-year-old found dead near Illinois River during fishing trip with dogs, reports say

UPDATE: A 19-year-old man who went missing with his two dogs, Poppy and Killer, was found dead Thursday, May 16, his mother said.

“A volunteer fisherman... who searched all day yesterday was able to find Bryar today resting in peace,” Sarah DeJaynes said on Facebook of her son, Bryar DeJaynes. “Poppy was also returned to us. However Killer is still missing.”

His body was found near the Illinois River in Jersey County, just north of Pere Marquette State Park, KHQA reported.

Killer, a black lab mixed dog, remained missing as of late Thursday.

The original story is below.

Authorities in Illinois are searching for a 19-year-old man, who reportedly vanished while on a fishing outing with his dogs.

Bryar DeJaynes was last seen on Mother’s Day — Sunday, May 12 — when he was going to the Illinois River with his two dogs, Poppy and Killer, according to his mother, Sarah DeJaynes.

He was spotted Sunday purchasing fuel for his boat at a gas station in Pearl but has not been seen since, KTVI reported. Pearl is about an 80-mile drive northwest of St. Louis.

Tuesday, his boat was discovered empty, his mom said. According to Advantage News, a newspaper based in Alton, Illinois, DeJaynes’ boat was found on the Illinois River with his truck and trailer at a nearby boat ramp.

“Praying dogs are with him, but if they are running around it could give us a better location to search from. Right now he could be anywhere from Peal to Grafton,” Sarah DeJaynes said, describing a 45-mile stretch along the river.

She said the Illinois Department of Natural Resources has joined in the search for her son.

Anyone with information about Bryar DeJaynes’ whereabouts is asked to contact the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Office at 618-576-2417.

This story was originally published May 16, 2024 at 10:59 AM with the headline "19-year-old found dead near Illinois River during fishing trip with dogs, reports say."