Eric Burlingame Obituary News: The body of a missing man from rural Hopedale has been discovered on a site near Shiloh Road in rural Hopedale.

 On Thursday, December 18, 2025, officials from the Tazewell County Coroner’s Office were called to an area near Shiloh Road in the countryside of Hopedale regarding an individual who had died.

Eric Burlingame, a 59-year-old man from rural Hopedale, was declared dead at the location at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. There are no indications of any criminal activity.

Mr. Burlingame was located in a spot that had recently been blanketed with substantial snow drifts due to the recent snowfall. He had been reported as missing since December 14, 2025.

An autopsy is planned for Friday afternoon.

The Illinois State Police, the Tazewell County Sheriff’s Office, and the Tazewell County Coroner’s Office are currently conducting an investigation into this matter.