Death Investigation Underway in Clay County

Clay County and Illinois State Police officials are conducting a death investigation.

Zone 8 State Police Division of Criminal Investigation was requested to conduct the investigation just before 1:30pm Wednesday. The information was released by State Police Friday afternoon.

Just after 1pm Wednesday, a woman later identified as 54-year-old Stephanie L. Harrell of Flora was found dead in her vehicle parked in an agricultural field entrance on Olive Street, about three-quarters of a mile north of US Route 50 in Clay County. The official cause and manner of death are undetermined at this time and will be released by the Clay County Coroner's Office once a final autopsy and toxicology report are completed.

DCI was assisted by the Clay County Sheriff's Office, Flora Police Department, Clay County Coroner's Office, and State Police Crime Scene Services.

Authorities say this is an active and ongoing investigation, and no additional information will be released at this time. Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact Illinois State Police DCI Zone 8 Investigations Trooper Lucas Schilling at 217-342-7859 or by e-mail at Lucas.Schilling@illinois.gov.