Missing college student ‘just starting their journey’ found dead in creek, officials say

The body of a 21-year-old college student was discovered in a creek a day after he was reported missing, Illinois cops say.

Matthew Listman, a student at Illinois State University, had been reported missing to the Normal Police Department on Thursday, Jan. 26.

Friday night, his body was discovered in a creek just a few blocks away from the college campus. A preliminary autopsy revealed Listman “died of drowning, in the setting of cold exposure,” police said.

Foul play is not suspected.

Listman, from Libertyville, Illinois, was a business major at the university, his dad said in a Facebook post.

“Matt is remembered for his positive demeanor and had the ability to find good in everyone,” Ron Listman said. “He was an old soul and cherished time with those near him.”

His father called him “a true family man.”

In a statement obtained by multiple outlets, ISU President Terri Goss Kinzy said Listman’s death “is a shocking loss to our tight-knit College of Business community.”

“Losing anyone is painful, but that pain is especially acute when we lose someone who is just starting their journey in life,” she said in the statement.

Listman’s funeral will be Saturday, Feb. 4, at McMurrough Funeral Chapel in Libertyville.

This story was originally published January 31, 2023 at 6:13 AM with the headline "Missing college student ‘just starting their journey’ found dead in creek, officials say."