February 1, 2021 – It’s been close to one year since Danny Crosby was last seen leaving his abandoned vehicle near the Tri-County Fairgrounds in Pana. Since the early morning of Feb. 27, 2020, family and friends have not heard from Danny. He was 25 at the time of his disappearance. He is 6’ 4”, weighs 170 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes.
Danny spent part of his early childhood in Decatur where the family lived in the West End. His father, Tim, a native of Pana, was a reporter and editor for the Herald & Review in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Much of the Crosby family remains in the Pana area.
Tim Crosby believes his son is dead and that foul play was involved. Shortly after getting his car stuck in a field near the Tri-County Fairgrounds, Danny was seen on video walking away from the car. Danny’s family reported him missing two weeks later, right as the COVID-19 virus was shutting down the country. Local police were unsure how to proceed because of jurisdictional issues, and months were lost as the family struggled to get the case into the hands of the Illinois State Police. The ISP is now actively investigating.
The family is offering a $5,000 reward to the person who is able to provide certain, specific information leading directly to the arrest and conviction of those involved with his death, or the recovery of his remains.
“Every day that passes without word of Danny’s fate is another nail in the hearts of his family and friends,” Tim Crosby said. “Danny was a dearly loved son, brother, cousin, grandson, and friend. He was last seen in the company of people he knew. Some of them know what happened to him.”
A “Finding Danny Crosby” page has been established on Facebook with the hope of bringing more attention to his disappearance. The group’s stated aim is to find out what happened to Danny, bring him home, and get justice.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Illinois State Police at (217) 782-4750.
