Man killed in Aroma Park tornado identified after EF-3 storm hits Kankakee County
The man found dead in Aroma Park home after an EF-3 tornado touched down in Kankakee County on Tuesday has been identified.
Officials identified the victim as 65-year-old Maurice Norington, who they said died from what appears to be "injuries sustained from the storm."
The Kankakee County Sheriff's Office confirmed Norington was found by employees of a service company working to clear the area.
The Kankakee County Sheriff's office said that, around 4:25 p.m. on Thursday, deputies were notified about a tornado victim found inside a damaged home in Aroma Park. Kankakee County Coroner Bob Gessner later confirmed the death.
Norington's family described him as an Army veteran and a lifelong lover of horses who worked for years in the racing industry as a breeder and trainer. His family said he grew up in Kanakekee County and graduated from St. Anne Community High School.
"Maurice was an intelligent and thoughtful man who valued family, community, and meaningful relationships," His family said in a written statement. "Above all, he was a beloved brother, uncle, and friend to many. He loved his family deeply and remained closely connected to the community that helped shape him."
He lived alone on Oakwood Drive, a street where homes were leveled by Tuesday's EF3 tornado.
After the storm, Maurice's family tried to call him, but he never answered. On Thursday, police did a welfare check and found his body inside his home, which was heavily damaged by the tornado.
His niece, Monique Norrington-Joseph, said he was a very generous uncle.
"A lot of the advantages that I've been able to take advantage of in life is a direct result of my uncle, Maurice. He paid for me to go to college, he paid for me to go to high school, and he was a really good man," she said. "He was an amazing soul, and we are saddened by his loss. We are just in shock, to be honest with you. We are in utter shock."
Tuesday's severe storms spread across multiple counties in northern Illinois and Northwest Indiana. It was a powerful EF-3 tornado, with peak winds of 150 miles per hour, which tore through Kankakee County, leaving portions of Aroma Park decimated.
The tornado damaged nearly 500 buildings around Kankakee County, with 30 homes completely destroyed.
On Wednesday, Kankakee County Sheriff Mike Downey said the county declared a state of emergency due to the severity of the storm damage.
Areas hit hardest by Tuesday's tornado in Kankakee County were getting blasted by high winds on Friday, making cleanup and recovery more difficult.
There were many downed trees and debris left to clean up all over Aroma Park.