In a chilling turn of events more than a year after his mysterious disappearance, authorities now believe they have found the remains of Frank Lucas, a resident of Rankin, Illinois, in Champaign County. His former neighbor has been arrested, accused of committing the murder.
Frank Lucas, aged 55, vanished on July 8, 2024, prompting his family to report him missing three days later. Initially, the search concentrated on Rankin, but as days turned into weeks, the investigation expanded to other areas within Vermilion and Champaign Counties.
This past Wednesday, the Vermilion County Sheriff’s Office shared a pivotal update. According to Captain Michael Hartshorn, the investigation unearthed compelling evidence suggesting that Lucas was murdered. The suspect identified is Johnny Gibson, a 56-year-old who previously lived near Lucas but has since relocated to Peoria.
Earlier this week, on Monday, investigators discovered human remains in a rural part of Champaign County. While the Illinois State Police Crime Lab is working diligently to confirm the identity, Captain Hartshorn indicated that the remains are believed to belong to Lucas.
On Monday, investigators found human remains in rural Champaign County. The Illinois State Police Crime Lab is attempting to identify the remains; while a positive ID has not been made yet, Hartshorn said the remains are believed to be Lucas.
An arrest warrant was issued for Gibson on Tuesday, and he is charged with three counts of murder, one count of dismembering a human body and one count of concealing a homicidal death. He was arrested at his home in Peoria and was later transported to the Vermilion County Jail.
Court records show that Gibson made an initial appearance before a judge on Wednesday. The State’s Attorney’s Office has filed a petition to deny him pretrial release, but that issue was not decided on Wednesday. He will remain in jail until a detention hearing can be held on Thursday.
The investigation into Lucas’ disappearance and suspected murder is ongoing. Hartshorn said anyone with additional information about this investigation should contact the Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division at 217-442-4080.
