Illinois State University student from Libertyville, 21, found dead, police say

The body of a missing 21-year-old Illinois State University student was found near a creek in Normal Friday, Normal police said.

The man was identified as Matthew Listman of Libertyville. Listman died of drowning, a preliminary autopsy from the McLean County Coroner’s Office determined. He had been reported missing Thursday, police said.

Listing was a senior studying business administration, university president Terri Gross Kinzy wrote in a letter the school community.

“Our most sincere condolences go to Matthew’s family, friends, and classmates during this very difficult time. Losing anyone is painful, but that pain is especially acute when we lose someone who is just starting their journey in life. Matthew’s passing is a shocking loss to our tightknit College of Business community, and he will be greatly missed,” she wrote.

[ Mom of ISU grad student Jelani Day enlists civil rights attorney Ben Crump to urge FBI investigation into her son’s death. ‘I need to know what happened.’ ]

Kinzy encouraged students in need of support to seek counseling services.

Police had spoken with Listman’s friends and family when he was reported missing, gathering cellphone data and video from nearby businesses in an attempt to find him. His body was discovered around 10 p.m. Friday night near a creek at the 900 block of Normal’s North Main Street, police said in a Saturday news release.

Police wrote that the death “does not appear to be criminal in nature” as a toxicology test was pending Saturday. The coroner’s preliminary autopsy noted the apparent drowning occurred “in the setting of cold exposure.” McLean County Coroner Kathleen Yoder was not immediately available for comment Monday.