Body of Effingham Woman Found Outside Her Home

An Effingham woman was found dead outside her home Wednesday morning.

The woman was identified as 65-year-old Elaine Free. 

Effingham city police received a call just after 6:30am from an individual near the 2700 block of South Park Street who observed someone lying in the bushes in front of a residence. The caller did not see any movement by the individual so phoned 911. Rural Med EMS and city police arrived and found Free dead in front of her residence.

The Effingham County Coroner's Office and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services were called to the scene. Once the scene was processed, the Coroner's Office took the body to Champaign County Regional Autopsy Center were an autopsy was conducted that afternoon to determine the official cause of death. 

Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes said the results of the autopsy and of toxicology tests are pending and will not be available for approximately two to three weeks. Medical records were obtained by the Coroner's Office to assist in the investigation.

No foul play is suspected, but the investigation is continuing by the Effingham City Police Department, Effingham County Coroner's Office and Illinois State Police Crime Scene Services.