OTTAWA – The body of Rhonda Politsch, 62, of Sublette was found in a cornfield near Ottawa on Saturday, Aug. 28 after being reported missing around 10 p.m. the night before. Ottawa Police were informed that a woman, later identified as Politsch, had her dog run away from her and into a cornfield earlier in the day in the area of Farm and Fleet in Ottawa.

Ottawa Police responded to the area, located Politsch’s vehicle unoccupied and immediately began their investigation and a search. The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Office was contacted and also responded to the scene along with the Utica Fire Department. The ground search continued into the early morning hours.

Additional help was provided by the Illinois Search and Rescue Council (ISAR) and the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System (ILEAS). The LaSalle County State’s Attorney’s Office offered technical assistance, and the Illinois State Police provided aerial surveillance during the search. Help was also provided by multiple volunteer search groups that responded from across the state.

Police said Politsch was last seen at Farm and Fleet around 11 a.m. on Friday by members of the public, who assisted her in searching for her dog inside the cornfield. Police were notified that Politsch may be missing later that night, when an acquaintance was unable to get in touch with her after seeing a Facebook post about Politsch’s missing collie, Quinn.

Politsch was located deceased in the cornfield by a search team around 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The missing dog was found on Monday and taken to a veterinary hospital for treatment.

The incident remains under investigation by the Ottawa Police Department and the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office. They expressed their appreciation to each agency, group and person that assisted in the search.

Politsch was a long-time employee of Pioneer State Bank in Sublette, formerly Sublette Farmers State Bank.