WHITE CO, IL (WFIE) -
The White County Sheriff's Office has named a person of interest in the death of Jessica Evans, 17, of Norris City, IL.
Authorities, family and friends actively searching for 22-year old Jacob Wheeler with ATVs, K-9 units, and by helicopter. The sheriff's office says they don't know if Wheeler, an Iraq veteran is a victim or if he had something to do with Evans' death.
"I've known Jake all my life and I can't see him acting like this. It's not like him. Very, very unlike him. A very good hearted person," said Dalton Scott, who's helping search for Wheeler.
A missing person's report was issued for Evans and Wheeler on Sunday by their families. The two had gone fishing and camping along the Wabash River, east of Centerville on Friday. The White County Sheriff's Office says there is evidence the two where camping, and the last person to speak to Evans was her mother on Saturday after midnight.
"She indicated they were having a big time, and she didn't feel like there were any problems at that point," said White County Sheriff Doug Maier.
However, Evans never showed up to her babysitting job Sunday morning, and less than 48 hours later, her body with gunshot wounds to the head was found in the bed of Wheeler's pick up truck about two miles from where they were said to be camping at the end of Co. Road 2150 N east of Centerville.
"It was in a wooded area along the river, and the vehicle had been kind of ran down a small embankment, into the woods, crossed a tree, and came to a rest in that area," Maier said.
Sheriff Maier says a homicide investigation is rare, this being the third in the last decade in White County.
"I'd hoped that this could be resolved that these two young people decided to take off and weren't very thoughtful and didn't let anybody know. Obviously it didn't end up that way," Maier said.
"He's just he's a great guy. He's got a good heart. I just can't see any of this being real," Scott said.
The sheriff's office tells 14 News the center of their investigation is still being able to locate Wheeler.
They also say Wheeler's family is being very cooperative. The area where the two were camping is near Wheeler's parents home.
An autopsy on Evans is expected to be performed in White County on Tuesday.
Anyone with information should call the sheriff's office at 618-382-5321.
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Jessica Evans.
Jacob C. Wheeler
