QPD: Destinie Daniels Died of Natural Causes Weeks Before She Was Found, No Trauma or Drugs Detected
QUINCY, Ill. Nearly a month after the death of 24-year-old Destinie Daniels generated widespread questions and speculation across Quincy, police have released the findings of their investigation, providing a clearer picture of what happened inside the downtown apartment where the young woman was found.
The Quincy Police Department announced Tuesday that Daniels died of natural causes and that investigators found no evidence of injury or trauma. Toxicology testing also found no indication of drugs in her system.
The findings bring a significant update to a case that had drawn considerable public attention since Daniels was discovered deceased Sept. 24 inside Apartment 11 at 200 N. Eighth St., the former downtown post office building.
According to police, Daniels had likely been dead for approximately two and a half weeks before she was found.
Digital evidence reviewed during the investigation supported that estimated timeframe and established that Daniels showed signs of life on Sept. 5.
Police also addressed another element of the case that had become the subject of extensive online speculation.
Investigators said additional digital evidence established that Collin Blanchett had not been present at the apartment building since July 2026.
Blanchett had previously voluntarily contacted Quincy police during the investigation and was interviewed by detectives.
The newly released findings provide important context after weeks of rumors and theories surrounding Daniels’ death.
Police said the department was releasing the information specifically to address public concerns and misinformation circulating on social media.
“Our responsibility is to follow the facts and evidence, not speculation or unverified claims circulating on social media,” the department said.
A suspicious odor was reported days earlier
The police release also answers questions surrounding an earlier call to the same building.
At approximately 12:49 a.m. Sept. 18, six days before Daniels was discovered, Quincy police responded to 200 N. Eighth St. after receiving a report of a suspicious odor.
The responding officer detected an unidentified odor on the main floor of the former post office building.
Police said that after the officer spoke with the complainant on the second floor, the odor was no longer detectable. The complainant told the officer that cleaning had recently taken place and that the odor was no longer present near the apartments.
Based on the circumstances observed by the responding officer, police said there were no grounds for further action at that time.
Six days later, officers returned.
On Sept. 24, police were called to conduct a welfare check at Apartment 11. Daniels was found deceased inside, and detectives immediately began a death investigation.
Investigators interviewed Daniels’ family members and potential witnesses, collected evidence and continued working the case while awaiting the results of the autopsy and toxicology testing.
Those tests ultimately determined there was no indication of drugs, injury or trauma and that Daniels had died from natural causes.
Investigation relied on forensic and digital evidence
QPD said its conclusions were based on multiple forms of evidence, including witness interviews, forensic findings and digital records.
That evidence was significant not only in determining the cause and approximate time of Daniels’ death, but also in addressing some of the allegations and speculation that circulated publicly after her body was discovered.
Police said the investigation established that Daniels was alive Sept. 5 and that Blanchett had not been at the apartment building since July.
The department did not identify any evidence of foul play in its final findings.
Adams County Coroner Scott Graham has spoken directly with Daniels’ family regarding the autopsy findings, according to QPD.
Police are now asking the community to allow the family to grieve without continued speculation.
“We ask the public to respect the family’s privacy and allow them to grieve without continued speculation,” the department said.
