PEORIA, Ill. — Peoria Police have made an arrest in the death of 50-year-old Mona Ellison.
The PPD’s Criminal Investigations Division has identified the suspect as 42-year-old Christopher Sanders.
During the course of an investigation, detectives developed information which led to Sanders becoming a suspect.
On Thursday, detectives had reason to believe Sanders left Peoria and was headed south, possibly to the greater St. Louis area. Local authorities were contacted and advised of the incident.
Sanders was taken into custody at approximately 6:30 p.m. Thursday in New Baden, Illinois.
PPD detectives transported Sanders back to the Peoria Police Department for interview purposes.
Sanders was subsequently arrested for first degree murder and transported to the Peoria County Jail.
At approximately 10:15 a.m. Thursday, Peoria Police Detectives found Ellison’s body behind a residential structure in a wooded area in the 100 block of Woodrow Drive in East Peoria.
“East Peoria Police were on scene and provided assistance. The Tazewell County coroner arrived and took custody of the body,” Peoria Public Information Officer Amy Dotson said.
An autopsy to determine cause and manner of death is being conducted on Friday.
On Wednesday, at approximately 7:15 p.m., Peoria Police responded to the 3500 block of N.E. Brevis regarding a report Ellison’s disappearance.
Ellison had not been seen or heard from in several days.
