Decomposing body found in Illinois storage unit identified as former police chief

MAQUON, Ill. (TCD) -- Officials positively identified the decomposing remains discovered in a storage unit last year as a 71-year-old former police chief.

On Oct. 7, 2022, at 6 p.m., Knox County Sheriff's Office deputies went to a storage facility on East 3rd Street in Maquon after someone called complaining about a "suspicious odor." Officials met with the facility's manager and the person who owned the unit, and the owner opened the door. The owner reportedly said the smell came from a dead opossum.

Deputies saw a "large box" inside the unit and asked the owner to open it. The owner allegedly said there was a body inside the box, so deputies called in detectives and the Illinois State Police Crime Scene Investigators. Detectives obtained a search warrant to open the box and found the remains.

The person could not immediately be positively identified due to the "condition of the body."

Deputies announced Oct. 11 they arrested Marcy Oglesby for concealment of death.

On Tuesday, March 28, the Knox County Sheriff's Office confirmed the remains are those of Richard Young. WQAD-TV reports Young previously worked as the chief of the Maquon Police Department.

According to WQAD, Knox was additionally charged with murder, attempted murder, aggravated battery by ingesting a toxic substance, and concealment of a homicidal death, but a judge dropped those charges against her. She still faces charges of concealment of a death, forgery, and firearm crimes.

Young reportedly had a lethal amount of a chemical found in eyedrops in his system.

MORE:

• Press Release, 10/8/2022 - Knox County Sheriff's Office
• Update to Press Release, 10/11/2022 - Knox County Sheriff's Office
• News Release - Knox County Sheriff's Office
• Sheriff's office officially identifies body found in Maquon storage unit as former police chief - WQAD
• Murder charges dropped in case of decomposing body found in Maquon storage unit, 3/17/2023 - WQAD