Toni Keller from Dekalb, IL, missing from NIU(Remains Found)

[MuffyBee]

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20020900-504083.html
Antinette "Toni" Keller Update: Charred Remains Found Near NIU Could Take Time to ID
October 27, 2010


CHICAGO (CBS/WBBM/AP) A prominent forensic anthropologist told CBS affiliate WBBM that it could take some time for investigators to identify the severely burned body found in a park near the Northern Illinois University campus where missing student Antinette "Toni" Keller was last seen.

Earlier Tuesday, DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen stopped short of saying the remains that were found in a densely wooded area are those of Keller, a freshman art major at NIU. It apparently took authorities a week for them to confirm that the remains were even human because the body was burned beyond recognition, according to CBS affiliate WBBM.

The 18-year-old was reported missing Oct. 14 after she reportedly told friends she was going to work on an art project in popular Prairie Park in DeKalb, west of Chicago.

"I assume that in this case some sort of accelerant was used to burn the body," said forensic anthropologist Dr. Clyde Snow. "Ordinary fires will not cause that much destruction."

Dr. Snow has not been called in on the Keller case, but has identified victims of John Wayne Gacy, Dr. Joesef Mengele and the Oklahoma City bombers, reports WBBM.

According to Dr. Snow it may not have been possible for authorities to use dental records to make a positive ID.

"With very intense fires, the whole skull, including the dentition, could be so badly damaged or destroyed. The teeth, for example, with intense heat will crack," he said.

DNA may be the only route to identifying whether the body found is in fact Keller's and Dr. Snow says that takes time because it has to be compared to family members' DNA.

Feithen said the human remains were found "early on in the investigation," and not Saturday when it was announced, which has led to fear on the 25,000-student campus, where a gunman fatally shot five students inside a lecture hall before killing himself in 2008.

"The community has reached a level of hysteria that only comes when questions are not being answered, and no one can be blamed for being unnerved," the Northern Star, the student newspaper, said in a Tuesday editorial.

Feithen defended the weeklong delay in announcing the discovery of the remains. "As soon as we found out they were human remains, we notified everyone," Feithen said.

DeKalb County State's Attorney John Farrell said authorities had to take care not to undermine the investigation, which is now being handled as a homicide case.

Security has been increased at the university, including making security escorts available to students and staff 24 hours a day.

[Tolerance]

WBBM is reporting this morning that a respected forensic anthropologist from Indiana has been called in to help ID the remains positively.
So disturbing.
Such unimaginable heartache for her family.
Tol

Edit to add link:  http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2010/10/27/outside-forensic-expert-to-examine-niu-remains/

[Tolerance]

Here is the link for the above info:
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2010/10/27/outside-forensic-expert-to-examine-niu-remains/

[Brandi]

Haven't been following this case, myself. Been so busy with Somer, Haleigh, Casey, Kyron and Zehra's cases. But I was asked to do some artwork for this thread.

I thought she liked sunflowers, since I saw a picture of her that looked like she had a tattoo of sunflowers.

The following image is what I made for her.

[Brandi]

[Nut44x4]

VERY NICE Brandi......

October 29, 2010 10:03 AM
Antinette "Toni" Keller Update: Person of Interest Held in Louisiana

DEKALB, Ill. (CBS/WBBM) A person of interest is being held in Louisiana in connection with the murder of Northern Illinois University student Antinette "Toni" Keller.


PICTURES: Antinette Keller Missing


CBS affiliate WBBM reports the man has not been charged, and therefore, his name has not been released. But it has been revealed that he called police to notify them of a fire in the same DeKalb park where Keller's severely burned remains are believed to have been found.

Keller, 18, of Plainfield, disappeared on Oct. 14 after telling friends she was going for a walk in a wooded area south of the NIU campus.


What police believe to be her remains were discovered two days later. The charred remains, which have yet to be positively identified, were found near items believed to belong to Keller.


The discovery of the remains was not announced until Saturday.


Despite the lack of charges so far, Keller's relatives were relieved to learn of the arrest.


"On this one, my heart stopped a little bit," the Keller's family spokeswoman Mary Tarling told WBBM. "It's odd; there's no prep for something like this, and just to know that there's a human being that at some point we're going to look at that could do this. It's hard, it's hard."


Right now, the person of interest is being held in Louisiana, charged with obstruction of justice and driving a stolen vehicle.


He is awaiting extradition to DeKalb County, west of Chicago, where police intend to question him in connection with what police believe was the murder of Toni Keller. The extradition is "pending," DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen told the station.


On Tuesday, despite the uncertainty of the body's identity, Feithen said the probe into Keller's disappearance had become a "homicide investigation" largely because of the items found near the remains.


That night, hundreds of students - many holding candles - gathered in a darkened room at the campus to remember Keller and show their concern for the art student, her family and friends.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20021133-504083.html

[Nut44x4]

I feel comfortable now with moving this and I just want to say..... I always thought it was someone who knew her (close or not) and when he is named, we will know. Perhaps I am wrong., but her body has been found...imo.

‘Person of interest’ held in Louisiana in NIU homicide
By Joe Hosey jhosey@stmedianetwork.com Oct 29, 2010 01:50PM

“person of interest” in custody in Louisiana is being questioned Thursday night in the case of Northern Illinois University art student Antinette “Toni” Keller, who went missing earlier this month.

Keller’s disappearance is being considered a homicide although remains found near the DeKalb campus have not yet been positively identified. Keller’s belongings were found near the charred remains.

The “person of interest” is being held out of state. His extradition to Illinois is “pending,” DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said. The person is being extradited from Louisiana, a police source said.

The man has been charged with obstruction of justice and unlawful possession of a motor vehicle, although police did not say if those charges relate to the Keller case.

“We are not commenting any further tonight,” Feithen said. DeKalb Police have received about 210 leads in the case so far and are especially interested in any information on suspicious people and activities -- particularly fires -- in Prairie Park between midday Oct. 14 and the morning of Oct. 18, the police chief also said in a statement released Thursday.

Keller, 18, of Plainfield, vanished Oct. 14 after telling friends she planned to go to the park, located south of NIU’s campus. Remains were found in that park two days later, although police said they were so badly charred, identification has not yet been possible. The discovery of the remains was not announced until Saturday.

Authorities now are consulting forensic experts to help them with identification.

“We are relieved in some ways for sure. Because it did cross our mind that, while this is horrific for us, we certainly don’t want another family to lose a son or daughter,” said Mary Tarling, Keller’s cousin. Police notified Keller’s family Thursday afternoon that they were talking to a person of interest in the case, but didn’t say who they were questioning.

“We are very comforted that whoever did this, we hope that this individual isn’t going to be in the active population anymore,” Tarling said. “It might bring some comfort to Toni’s mom and dad, both.”

“I’m just very sad. It’s a terrible tragedy,” said Ellen Avery, the Kellers’ Plainfield neighbor. “We’re totally devastated. Nothing can bring her back.”

On Tuesday, despite the uncertainty of the body’s identity, Feithen said the probe into Keller’s disappearance had become a “homicide investigation” largely because of the items found near the remains.

That night, hundreds of students — many holding candles — gathered in a darkened room at the Holmes Student Center to remember Keller and show their concern for the art student, her family and friends.
http://bataviasun.suntimes.com/2152069-417/keller-police-person-case-interest.html

[AmandaReckonwith]

LE released/reopened the park yesterday and a local went out to take a bunch of pics, posted the link on WS and gave me permission to use them, so there are pics of bonfire sites there now. All the bonfires have been more or less cleaned out with the investigations,
But--- you get a great feel for the park, the layout, and where it happened.

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Antinette%20Toni%20Keller%20%20-IL-/


I am hoping we get a perp name today.

[MuffyBee]

LE released/reopened the park yesterday and a local went out to take a bunch of pics, posted the link on WS and gave me permission to use them, so there are pics of bonfire sites there now. All the bonfires have been more or less cleaned out with the investigations,
But--- you get a great feel for the park, the layout, and where it happened.

http://s296.photobucket.com/albums/mm166/crankycrankerson/Antinette%20Toni%20Keller%20%20-IL-/


I am hoping we get a perp name today.

As always, thank you so much for your time and efforts for the missing and exploited.   

[AmandaReckonwith]

TY MuffyBee

[Tolerance]

Thank you, everyone.
I have really missed being able to research and post.
My life should return to normal next Tues.
I am so grateful to see that Toni is not forgotten at SM.
Blessings.
Tol

[AmandaReckonwith]

William Paul Curl aka Billy Curl
507 Taylor St DeKalb IL

Unemployed. Has never been a student or employee at NIU.
Lives with his mom, took her car.
When police scheduled an interview for Monday, he took off.

[AmandaReckonwith]

I saved the presser, except for the questions, you couldn't hear the questions.

[Brandi]

[Leroy]

Man charged in case of missing NIU student
DeKalb man accused of murder, sexual assault and arson in death of Toni Keller
October 29, 2010|By Angie Leventis Lourgos, Tribune reporter

 

A 34-year-old DeKalb man has been charged with first-degree murder, criminal sexual assault and arson in the death of Northern Illinois University freshman Antinette "Toni" Keller, DeKalb County authorities said Friday.

William P. Curl, of the 500 block of East Taylor Street, allegedly "caused the death of the victim during the course of committing a criminal sexual assault and during the course of an arson," said State's Attorney John Farrell at a news conference Friday night.

Authorities would not get more specific than that about how Keller died.

Investigators knew of no prior relationship between the victim and the accused, DeKalb police Chief Bill Feithen said.

"This was a gruesome murder, and we believe it was a crime of opportunity," Feithen said. "There is no reason for us to believe there are other victims."

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2010-10-29/news/ct-met-1030-niu-keller-20101029_1_toni-keller-sexual-assault-niu-student

[4 Donks]

Thank you Brandi. She looks so young. It's so sad .

[cookie]

very sad that Toni's last vision on earth was of the creepy guy who murdered her...she must have been so scared ....   I hope this guy gets what he deserves...
  RIP Toni..

[Tolerance]

Still checking for updates.
Still praying for peace for Toni's family.

Thank you for the artwork, Brandi.

Tol

[Nut44x4]

Psych exam sought for NIU murder suspect
The Associated Press Nov 5, 2010 02:43PM


A public defender has requested a psychiatric examination of the 34-year-old DeKalb man who’s accused of killing a Northern Illinois University freshman from Plainfield.

Public Defender Regina Harris asked for the examination Monday at William Curl appeared in DeKalb County Circuit Court in Sycamore via closed-circuit television from the county jail.

Harris did not specify why she is requesting the evaluation, made after talking with Curl by telephone.

Curl, charged with first-degree murder, is being held in lieu of $5 million bail in the killing of Antoinette “Toni” Keller.

Keller, 18, was last seen around noon Oct. 14 when friends said the art student was headed to a park and nature preserve near NIU. Burnt human remains were found in the park Oct. 16. Though they haven’t been positively identified, some of Keller’s possessions were found nearby, according to DeKalb police.
http://homersun.suntimes.com/news/2196754-418/curl-dekalb-keller-defender-examination.html

[Tolerance]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2933164,niu-killing-dna-113010.article

It sounds to me like the suspect may be talking..............Plea Deal??????