ANTINETTE (Toni) KELLER - 18 yo (2010) - DeKalb (W of Chicago) IL

Created: Saturday, October 23, 2010 1:04 a.m. CDT

Authorities rule out missing NIU student went to California

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The mobile command center is set up in Prairie Park near the pedestrian bridge in DeKalb, Ill. The Prairie Park is one area investigators are searching as part of their investigation into missing NIU student Antinette Keller. (Rob Winner – Shaw Suburban Media)

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SYCAMORE – Police have ruled out a theory that missing student Antinette Keller might have gone to California, DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said Friday.

Feithen led a news conference at the DeKalb County Farm Bureau for the DeKalb County Major Case Squad on Friday afternoon to talk about developments in the search for Keller, who has been missing since Oct. 14.

Keller, known to her family and friends as Toni, was last seen about noon Oct. 14 at her residence hall on the Northern Illinois University campus. Keller, an 18-year-old freshman art student, told friends she was going for a walk in the area of Prairie Park to get ideas for an art project. She was carrying her camera and some sort of sketchbook or clipboard, police said.

Keller family spokeswoman Mary Tarling, a cousin of Keller's, said during a Friday evening phone interview with the Nancy Grace Show that her family was expecting Keller for the weekend and had made arrangements to spend time with family and friends. It wasn't until Friday evening that they discovered she was missing, Tarling said.

A friend who also lives in Neptune North residence hall, where Keller lives, reported her friend missing about 6:10 p.m. Oct. 15, and NIU Police immediately began a search for her, Feithen said. A nationwide all-points bulletin was sent out that night, and an alert was issued on the NIU website at 2:48 p.m. the next day.

On Thursday, the DeKalb County Major Case Squad took the lead on the investigation. That is a natural progression for a case of this type, Feithen said. He noted the squad – made up of officers from DeKalb, Sycamore and NIU police departments, the DeKalb County Sheriff's Office and Illinois State Police – has more resources at its disposal than any one department. Forty investigators currently are working on Keller's disappearance, he said.

"These are officers who meet on a regular basis and work on joint investigations together," Feithen said. "What the major case squad is doing now is they basically are searching for items of interest and interviewing anyone they feel might be able to contribute to this case."

Tarling said the family hopes that the shift of case control to the DeKalb County Major Case Squad will help them bring Keller home soon and urged anyone with information about Keller to contact authorities.

"There's no tip that's not valuable," she said.

Searches have been conducted daily since Keller was reported missing, Feithen said. Police have concentrated on campus and in the area south of the Union Pacific railroad tracks, in and around Prairie Park.

A portion of Prairie Park in DeKalb will not be accessible to residents. An entrance to the park near the Elk's Lodge has been roped off by yellow police tape, and a mobile command center has been set up near the pedestrian bridge. A portion of the paved walking and biking path, as well as part of the disc golf course, are not accessible because they are roped off by yellow police tape.

Feithen said it was a temporary closure and that the command center likely will be there through at least today. Feithen said the command center had been set up in the parking lot of the Elk's Lodge, but noted that the lot "gets pretty full" on the weekends.

"My guess is they're just trying to be considerate of the Elks and get it closer to the areas that we are concentrating onto look at some things closer," Feithen said.

Cindy Capek, executive director of the DeKalb Park District, said the district has not been instructed to not allow people in the park at this point. Both Feithen and Capek asked those in the park respect the boundaries that have been set up.

While investigators are looking into leads in other jurisdictions – all in Illinois – the focus of the search will remain in the area of the park unless evidence pointing elsewhere comes to light, he said.

Feithen noted that police don't believe volunteer searches of the roughly 150-acre wooded area around the park are necessary. The area has been searched by police several times, including multiple dog searches, two aerial searches and one search of the Kishwaukee River by the St. Charles Fire Department dive team.

The dive team is expected to be called back to search waterways again, Feithen said.

"If we felt additional search teams were necessary at this time, we would bring them in," Feithen said. "We feel very confident in our search of the area."

A bulletin released earlier this week by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children noted Keller might have gone to California. That theory came about because a close friend recently moved there to be with family, Feithen said, and police have ruled it out.

Feithen refused to speculate whether he believes Keller is still alive, repeatedly telling reporters that police continue to look at all avenues. He declined to comment when asked if police have found any evidence of foul play or if there were indications Keller might have run off.

"One of the responsibilities of the major case squad is to explore all possible scenarios that could have happened," Feithen said. "What we don't want is to put any kind of blinders on, and we continue to look at any possibilities."

Feithen also declined to go into detail about the investigation, and refused to be drawn out by questions about whether any activity has been recorded on Keller's cell phone or credit cards. He confirmed police found Keller's dorm key in the park, but declined to say whether it was the one family said she lost several weeks ago or if it was the replacement.

Feithen asked reporters to remember the 40 officers working on the case are experienced investigators and said he would not release details of what steps have or have not been taken in the search.

NIU Police Chief Donald Grady said Tuesday there had been no activity on her cell phone from the day she disappeared up until that time and police believed the phone was turned off.

Feithen confirmed a portion of Prairie Park was roped off Friday and said investigators will rope off different areas as leads come in that indicate that area should be searched again.

Though the investigation has gone on for more than a week, Feithen said investigators view each new day as another chance to uncover information.

"Our concern for Toni's well-being started at the time she was reported missing," Feithen said. "We want to bring Toni home, and we won't stop being concerned until we can do that."

Despite theories buzzing on Internet social networks, Feithen said Keller's disappearance has no similarity to the 2007 disappearance of Bradley Olsen from the 1000 block of West Lincoln Highway.

The investigation into Olsen's disappearance remains open.

Feithen expressed his appreciation to volunteers who have been distributing fliers with Keller's photo in the community. He also thanked people who have cooperated with police in the investigation and with the local chapter of the American Red Cross, which has offered support to searchers.

NIU spokesman Brad Hoey said the campus community is indebted to public safety officials working on the search.

"We're a very resilient community, a very resilient campus, and the support coming from the community, from outside the community and from campus is really overwhelming," Hoey said.
Have you seen her?
Antinette J. Keller, known as Toni to her family and friends, was last seen at the Neptune North residence hall about noon Oct. 14. She is a white female, 18 years old, about 5 feet 6 inches tall, 130 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing blue jeans and a gray or green sweater. Keller has a sunflower tattoo on her upper right chest and a pierced nose, probably with a stud.
Anyone with information is asked to call 815-753-TIPS, 815-748-8407 or 815-895-3272.
Volunteer Opportunity
• 9-9:30 a.m. Sunday: The national missing persons organization LostNMissing is hosting a poster event at Northern Illinois University. Volunteers can meet at the Capitol Room in the Holmes Student Center. A representative for the Keller family will give a brief recap of the investigation to date and a LostNMissing representative support representative will instruct volunteers on the most visible placement for posters in the community. Volunteers will then distribute missing person posters featuring Keller's photo throughout the area.http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2010/10/23/31793940/index.xml

Posted: Oct 23, 2010 12:26 PM Friday, Video Gallery

Search ramps up missing student 1:59

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Enlarge this pictureBrad Hoey, NIU Media Relations(left) and Chief Bill Feithen, DeKalb Police/Major Case Squad

Saturday, Oct. 23, 2010

Search continues for missing NIU student



DEKALB, Ill. -- DeKalb police say they don't believe a missing Northern Illinois University student has gone to California.

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says on its website that NIU student Antinette "Toni" Keller might have gone to California where a close friend recently moved. But DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen says that's been ruled out.

Keller is a freshman from Plainfield. She was last seen early afternoon Thursday, Oct. 14, when she reportedly told friends that she was going for a walk in a nature area behind the Junction Center retail complex.


Police and dog teams have searched the area and a dive team has checked the Kishwaukee River. The university says counselors are available to help students. The DeKalb County Major Case Squad is leading the investigation.

UPDATE: NIU Student's Disappearance Handled As Death Investigation

DEKALB, Ill. -- The DeKalb County Major Case Squad announced this evening that it has reclassified the investigation into the search for Antinette “Toni” Keller as a death investigation.

Her family was notified earlier today.

Investigators from the squad have recovered human remains and items consistent with property belonging to Keller in Prairie Park, south of Route 38 in DeKalb. The remains, however, have not been positively identified, according to DeKalb Chief of Police Bill Feithen, who is the spokesman for the Major Case Squad.

A portion of Prairie Park remains cordoned off as officers continue the investigation.

Investigators are actively pursuing leads in the case and are seeking information about any suspicious activity or persons in Prairie Park on or about the time of Keller’s disappearance. Keller, a freshman at Northern Illinois University, was reported missing to campus police on the evening of Friday, Oct. 15. She was reportedly last seen around noon the previous day.

Anyone with information potentially related to the case is urged to call (815) 748-8407 or (815) 753-8477 or Crime Stoppers at (815) 895-3272.

Body found in case of missing NIU student

The case of missing Northern Illinois University student and Plainfield resident Antinette Keller has been reclassified as a death investigation, DeKalb Police said late Saturday night.

DeKalb police said human remains have been found in Prairie Park, and police said they had information that Keller was headed to this park. The Keller family has been notified that the investigation is a death, DeKalb Chief of Police Bill Feithen said.

“We felt strongly enough about the developments and as well as the items that were located through the course of this investigation to bring us to this point,” Feithen said.

According to Feithen, investigators from the DeKalb County Major Case Squad recovered human remains and items consistent with property belonging to Keller in Prairie Park, south of Route 38 in DeKalb. Police are not releasing any details on the items recovered.

The remains have not been identified, and police are not confirming the condition of the remains. They have apparently been in the park for some time, perhaps since shortly after Keller’s disappearance, police said. The cause of death remains under investigation, Feithen said.

“We’re not prepared to give an estimate of right now of when we feel the remains can be identified,” Feithen said.
The remains were found in a densely wooded area, not a grassy area. A portion of Prairie Park remains cordoned off as officers continue the investigation, police said. Feithen said the area will likely be sealed off for the next day or two.
“It really depends on the evidence technicians,” he said. “It could be sooner.”

Investigators are actively pursuing leads in the case and are seeking information about any suspicious activity or persons in Prairie Park on or about the time of Keller’s disappearance.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 815-748-8407 or 815-753-8477 or Crime Stoppers at 815-895-3272.

More than a week has passed since Keller, a freshman on NIU’s DeKalb campus, last was seen. Keller, 18, left her dormitory at about 11:30 a.m. Oct. 14, when she reportedly told friends she was walking to Prairie Park, a heavily wooded area near the school.

An art portfolio she was initially thought to be carrying was found in her dorm room. Her family believes she left once with it, then returned it to her room before leaving for her walk.

The 2010 graduate of Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville is an art major at NIU.

Keller has been thoroughly enjoying her first semester of college life, said Mary Tarling, of Naperville, Antinette’s cousin, who is serving as a family spokeswoman.

“Every expression she’s given in the past six or seven weeks she’s been there was that she absolutely loved it,” Tarling said last week. “It fit her very well. She had just settled in and adored what she was doing.”

After DeKalb Police press conference Saturday, NIU President John Peters issued a statement, expressing deep concern and sadness.

“I know that all of the NIU community is distressed from this news. The outpouring of support in the search for Toni has been inspirational. Our community rallied together at the first indication she was missing, and I want to thank our students and the countless community volunteers who have been working tirelessly over the last week to get the word out about Toni’s disappearance,” Peters said in a statement. “Please keep the Keller family in your prayers during this very difficult time.”

The university has established an information hotline at 815-753-4NIU (4648). Calls will be answered tonight from until Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Parents and students who have questions are encouraged to contact the university’s information hotline. Students will also have access to counselors on campus until midnight Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

“The university is united behind meeting the needs of each and every one of our students as they cope with this news,” Peters said.

NIU officials and the NIU Police Department have implemented heightened campus safety and security measures. Late Saturday the university issued an advisory cautioning students to be extra careful as they move about the campus and the DeKalb community. Students were told to move about the community in groups of three or more.
NIU Police have increased their presence around the campus, and police are extending the normal “late night ride service” to a 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. schedule beginning Saturday. Students are being urged to use this service, especially if they are unable to find a group to travel with in and around campus.

Campus police are also making available security escorts for any NIU student, faculty or staff member in and around the campus on a 24-hour basis. Access to residence halls on campus will be restricted to hall residents only, with students needing their official NIU identification to gain access.

A body found in a DeKalb park was so badly burned that investigators are unable to determine if it is that of a Northern Illinois University student who went missing nearly two weeks ago, authorities said Tuesday.
Despite that uncertainty, DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said the probe into the disappearance of 18-year-old Antinette “Toni” Keller has become a “homicide investigation” — largely because of items found near the remains.
“The remains were found in close proximity to items found that are consistent with personal items Toni owned,” Feithen said.
Officials reached out to the public for help in the investigation of what happened to the Plainfield teen, who vanished on Oct. 14 after telling friends she planned to go to a park south of NIU’s campus.
In a macabre twist to the intensive search, Feithen said the charred remains found by police on Oct. 16 in Prairie Park were too badly damaged for an autopsy to conclude if they are those of Keller.
Authorities now are consulting forensic experts to help them with the identification.
“Forensic experts have identified the remains as human. Whether these remains are Toni’s or not, could take some time’’ to determine, Feithen said.
Police, in fact, didn’t initially announce the discovery of the remains on Oct. 16 because it wasn’t clear if they were human or animal, he said.
Investigators waited a week — until this past Saturday — to disclose they had discovered the remains. Feithen said police held off saying anything until initial findings concluded the remains were human.
That delay, though, angered some of Keller’s friends, who spent much of that week handing out flyers and searching on their own for the missing teen. Police should have disclosed sooner that they had found remains in the park, even if they weren’t sure of their origin, they said.
“A bunch of us do feel like we were duped. We were puppets being used for their own advantage,” junior Jasmine Roberts said of police withholding the information.
Feithen wouldn’t speculate on what may have happened to the outgoing freshman art student.
“We are looking at all possibilities,” said Feithen, adding that police had “no indication that this is anything other than an isolated incident.”
Keller’s family has said they believe she is dead.
On Tuesday, classmates drew the same conclusion.
“Our friend isn’t coming back,” said Robinson, 21, who lived in the Neptune North dorm near Keller’s room.
She described Keller as a “ray of sunshine” who would want her friends to grieve but then get on with their lives.
“Toni would have wanted us to go on,” said Robinson, of Rockford.
Another friend said “it just seems impossible to think anything positive right now,” said Andrew Buchanan, 18, a freshman who also lives in Neptune North.
Police said they have made no arrests and had no “persons of interest” in custody.
But Feithen said a police task force with more than 40 investigators is working around the clock to try to solve the mystery.
“We’re working diligently to solve this crime so the community can feel safe,” he said.
NIU officials, meanwhile, have ordered increased campus police patrols and other security measures, including offering expanded bus service and 24-hour security escorts to students and faculty moving around the campus.
“We have tried to take prudent steps to address all these issues,” said NIU Vice President Kathy Buettner, who expressed optimism that police would find the killer.
“We have confidence in our law enforcement,” she said.
A school service to remember Keller was scheduled for Tuesday night at the Holmes Student Center on the NIU campus.
Some students who know the missing teen plan to attend, hoping it will help them better cope with their grief.
“It will help. It will let us feel this loss a little bit more,” said sophomore Matthew Schultz. “I think a lot of us are trying to block the feeling of what’s happening, and I think it will help us get over it a little bit more.” The university has set up an information hotline, where operators will attempt to answer questions about the case. That number is 815-753-4648. Parents and students who have questions are encouraged to contact the university’s information hotline.
DeKalb County Major Case Squad investigators are requesting the public to report any suspicious activity or persons in Prairie Park in DeKalb on or about the time and date of Keller’s disappearance to 815-748-8407.
Keller is a graduate of Neuqua Valley High School.

As police declared their hunt for missing Northern Illinois University freshman Antinette “Toni” Keller has become a murder investigation, hundreds of students gathered Tuesday night to mourn the disappearance of their classmate.
A body found in a DeKalb park was so badly burned that investigators are unable to determine if it is that of the 18-year-old Plainfield woman who went missing nearly two weeks ago, authorities said earlier Tuesday.
Despite that uncertainty, DeKalb police Chief Bill Feithen said the probe into Keller’s disappearance has become a “homicide investigation” largely because of items found near the remains.
“The remains were found in close proximity to items found that are consistent with personal items Toni owned,” Feithen said.
Officials reached out to the public for help in the investigation of what happened to the Keller, who vanished Oct. 14 after telling friends she planned to go to a park south of NIU’s campus.
Hundreds of students — many holding burning candles — gathered Tuesday in a darkened room at the Holmes Student Center to remember Keller and show their concern for the art student, her family and friends.
“I just want to show support for Toni, her family and everyone here,” said 19-year-old Sara Pezel, who lived next door to Keller in the Neptune North dorm.
She called her friend’s baffling disappearance “horrible” and said it has left many students frightened.
“Me and many other people are scared out of our minds,” Pezel said.
Keller’s cousin, Mary Tarling, thanked students for turning out, telling them “it’s OK to be sad.”
“I know you’re sad, and we’re sad,” said Tarling. “But it’s OK to be sad. That shows the love you have for Toni.”
Police searching for Keller on Oct. 16 in Prairie Park found charred remains that were too badly damaged for an autopsy to conclude they are those of Keller.
Authorities now are consulting forensic experts to help them with identification.
“Forensic experts have identified the remains as human. Whether these remains are Toni’s or not, could take some time” to determine, Feithen said.
Information withheld
Police, in fact, didn’t initially announce the discovery of the remains Oct. 16 because it wasn’t clear if they were human or animal, he said.
Investigators waited a week — until this past Saturday — to disclose they had discovered the remains. Feithen said police held off saying anything until initial findings concluded the remains were human.
That delay, though, angered some of Keller’s friends, who spent much of that week handing out fliers and searching on their own for the teen.
Police should have disclosed sooner that they had found remains in the park, even if they weren’t sure of their origin, they said.
“A bunch of us do feel like we were duped. We were puppets being used for their own advantage,” junior Jasmine Roberts said of police withholding the information.
Keller’s family has said they believe she is dead — and Tuesday, classmates drew the same conclusion.

Person of Interest Questioned in Keller Case


Updated: Friday, 29 Oct 2010, 8:22 AM CDT
Published : Thursday, 28 Oct 2010, 6:31 PM CDT
FOX Chicago NewsDeKalb - A person of interest is being questioned in the disapearance and murder of Northern Illinois University student Antinette Keller, DeKalb police said late Thursday in a statement. He is under arrest in Louisiana and is headed back to Illinois. Keller was last seen on Oct. 14. Burned and decomposed remains believed to be hers were discovered Oct. 23 in a wooded area not far from where she was said to be walking at the time she was last seen. Keller's disappearance is being considered a homicide although remains found near the campus have not yet been identified. Keller's belongings were found near the charred remains. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the person of interest in Louisiana was the man who actually notified police about the fire in that park where the remains were found. DeKalb Police said the individual is in is in custody on charges of obstruction of justice and unlawful possession of a motor vehicle. Police will not say any more about why they think he may be connected to the death. "We are very relieved. Nothing will bring Toni back, there's no way to fix things for us, but there's comfort knowing. Person of interest means, there is no one else will have to lose a son or daughter. It's an extreme comfort to myself, Toni's dad and Toni's mom," said Keller’s cousin, Mary Tarling. Police are not saying what evidence led them to the man in Louisiana. He's expected to be extradited back to Illinois Friday. All along, police have called the case an isolated incident. Keller's family says they know of no one in her life who would be capable of doing this. Police have received approximately 210 leads and said they are especially interested in any information about suspicious subjects and activities, especially fires, in Prairie Park between midday Oct.14 and the morning of Oct. 18. Anyone with information is asked to call 815-748-8407, 815-753-8477 or Crimestoppers at 815-895-3272.http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/news/metro/person-of-interest-questioned-in-keller-case-20101028

Police in Illinois say they have filed charges of first-degree murder against a man in the killing of 18-year-old Northern Illinois University freshman Antinette "Toni" Keller.
DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen told The (DeKalb) Daily Chronicle Friday night that has also been charged with criminal sexual assault and arson.
Curl, who was arrested by U.S. Marshals in Covington, La., has been extradited to Illinois and is being held at the DeKalb County Jail on $5 million bond.
Keller, who was from Plainfield, was last seen about noon Oct. 14 when friends said she was headed to a nearby park and nature preserve. Two days later, burned remains were found in the park, and a week later, forensic experts confirmed the remains were human.
Earlier, Keller's family expressed relief that a person of interest was being held in the investigation of her death.
"There's relief because we're concerned for the safely of everyone," said Mary Tarling, a cousin. "It doesn't do anything for what we lost, but it would have been much worse if something also happened to someone else."
The remains were burned beyond recognition, but Keller's parents have little doubt they belong to their 18-year-old daughter, said Tarling.
"There doesn't seem to be an alternative explanation," she said.
Among the indications the remains are Keller's is that her camera and sketch pad were found nearby, Tarling said, citing what police have told the family.
A talented watercolor painter and nature lover, Keller may have headed to the wooded park just south of the campus to take pictures or sketch drawings for an art project, Tarling said.
"She painted flowers and landscapes," Tarling said. "She loves camping and rock climbing."
Security has been increased at NIU, including making security escorts available 24 hours a day. NIU spokesman Brad Hoey said Friday that demand for late-night ride service has soared 30 percent since police revealed the discovery of the remains.

Jan 6th 2011

SYCAMORE – Burned remains found in a DeKalb park have been positively
identified as those of missing Northern Illinois University student
Antinette "Toni" Keller.

At a routine court appearance Thursday for William "Billy" Curl, the man
accused of killing the 18-year-old freshman, DeKalb County First
Assistant State's Attorney Bill Engerman turned over a forensic report
to Curl's attorney that identified the remains through DNA analysis.

The remains were found in Prairie Park on Oct. 16, burned too badly for
positive identification. It took forensic analysts about a week to
determine the remains were human, but they still could not be
identified. The identification finally came through a parentage
analysis, Engerman said. Analysts were able to match DNA from Keller's
mother and father to DNA extracted from a femur found in the park.

"To be able to confirm the remains found are those of Antinette Keller,
to a certain degree, brings closure, to that issue at least," DeKalb
County State's Attorney Clay Campbell said.

"We knew this in our hearts, but it still is difficult to hear,"
family spokeswoman Mary Tarling, Keller's cousin, said during a phone
interview. "It's a form of closure, but that doesn't make it pleasant.
You don't want it to be her, but you don't want it not to be her. You
just want the whole thing to not have happened at all."

Keller's family is planning some sort of memorial service for her,
Tarling said, but intends to wait until spring when the service can be
held outside.

Keller was last seen on Oct. 14, when she told friends she intended
to take a walk in Prairie Park. When she hadn't returned by the
following evening, her friends reported her missing. The search was
later classified a death investigation, then a homicide.

Curl was arrested Oct. 29 and charged with five counts of first-degree
murder and one count each of sexual assault, arson, obstructing justice
and unlawful possession of a converted motor vehicle.

He has not submitted a plea on any of the charges; his attorney,
DeKalb County Public Defender Regina Harris, has said she is awaiting
the results of a psychological evaluation. On Thursday, she said that
evaluation is still in progress.

Curl is being held in the DeKalb County Jail on $5,065,000 bond; he
would need to post $506,500 to be released. His next court date is Feb.17.

When addressing media after the hearing, Campbell, Engerman and DeKalb
Police Chief Bill Feithen confirmed further evidence analysis is being
done, but declined to release specifics.

"As in any case, the police gather evidence and evidence is analyzed.
That process is continuing," Engerman said. "We can't comment on what
that evidence is."

Campbell added that while prosecutors and law enforcement realize the
public wants information on the case, they don't want to risk
compromising Curl's right to a fair trial.

Harris said after the hearing that the identification of the remains came as no surprise.

"I think everyone anticipated these remains belonged to Antinette Keller," she said. "That aspect is not terribly surprising."

Northern Illinois University spokesman Brad Hoey said the news came as
no surprise to the campus community, either. Local people had already
accepted that the remains were probably Keller's, he said, but noted he
hopes the identification could be a step forward in the healing process.

"The release of the latest information regarding the Toni Keller
investigation is scientific confirmation of details with which the
campus and local community has come to terms since the case was
designated a death investigation in late October," he said. "Our
thoughts and prayers remain and will always be with the Keller family."

Curl pleads not guilty to all counts


Posted: Tuesday, February 22, 2011 4:12 pm | Updated: 12:05 pm, Mon Mar 28, 2011.

SYCAMORE | William Curl, 34, pleaded not guilty to five counts of first-degree murder
in the death of Antinette “Toni” Keller during an arraignment Tuesday afternoon.
He also pleaded not guilty to one count of concealment of a homicide, one count of arson and one count of criminal sexual assault.
During the arraignment, Judge Robbin Stuckert explained to Curl his charges, their corresponding penalties and his constitutional rights.
The first-degree murder charges are punishable by 20-60 years in a state penitentiary. If the state can establish beyond a reasonable doubt that aggravating factors were committed in conjunction with a murder, Curl could be sentenced to life imprisonment.
Curl could face the death penalty if the state can prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the felonies of criminal sexual assault or arson were committed during the course of a murder.
The state’s attorney has 120 days from arraignment to decide if the death penalty will be pursued.
Campbell said during a status update for Curl on Thursday that the death penalty decision remains under review.
Curl did not waive his right to a jury trial during the arraignment, but may do so at any time, said Curl’s public defender Regina Harris.
She said Curl’s plea could also change at any time.
Curl wore an orange jail jumpsuit and navy blue slip-on shoes chained together. After reading every charge, Stuckert asked Curl if he understood the charge and its possible penalties.
He responded with “yeah” or nodded his head for each charge.
Curl appeared before Stuckert for the first time in-person at the DeKalb County Courthouse since being charged. He had previously appeared via live closed-circuit TV from the DeKalb County Jail.
Harris said defendants can find it nerve-wracking to appear in court, but it helps them to understand the legal process.
“Being on video tends to distance them emotionally a little bit from the process,” Harris said, “While [Curl] was nervous, I think that in some ways he was more comprehending of everything that was happening because he could hear everything, could see the judge face to face.”
Clay Campbell, DeKalb County State’s Attorney, declined to comment on the arraignment.
He confirmed that two members of Keller’s family were present during the proceedings.
Curl’s sister Moria said she sees her brother twice a week and had visited him Tuesday morning before attending the arraignment.
“We wish justice,” she said. “Both sides deserve it; Toni, more than anyone.”
Moria said Curl is holding up as well as expected.
“I can’t wait until the day his name is cleared,” she said.
Curl’s next status update will be at 1:15 p.m. on March 23 at the DeKalb County Courthouse.
Harris said she expects to receive more evidence from the state at that time.

http://northernstar.info/city/article_b1d1da6e-3ed1-11e0-b469-00127992bc8b.html

Agreement reached to release remains of Toni Keller


SYCAMORE – DeKalb County State's Attorney Clay Campbell and Public Defender Regina Harris have reached an agreement that will allow some of the remains of Antinette "Toni" Keller to be released so her family can hold a memorial service.
The agreement was announced Friday afternoon during a court hearing at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore. The remains will be released in seven to 10 days.
The family has not yet held a memorial service for Keller.

"We waited intentionally until we had Toni," said Mary Tarling, a cousin of Keller's and spokeswoman for the Keller family. "She needs to be at her own memorial."
None of the Keller family members were in court Friday, but Campbell said he had spoken to her father earlier in the day.

"It goes without saying they are looking forward to the day they can take their daughter home," he said. "As a father myself talking to a father, you could hear in Mr. Keller's voice that he's been waiting for this for a long time."
A memorial has not yet been set, but Tarling said it is the family's intention to invite anyone who wants to come. "We will notify everyone who has been patient and compassionate with us," she said.
Keller, an 18-year-old Northern Illinois University student, disappeared last October after telling friends she was going to take a walk in Prairie Park. Her burned remains were later found in the park, and a DeKalb man, William "Billy" Curl, has been charged with her murder.

Campbell said some of the remains have to be maintained for evidence at trial, but he believed there are enough remains to allow those with evidentiary value to be preserved while releasing others to provide some comfort to the Keller family.
During a status hearing earlier this week, Harris – who is representing Curl – said she was hopeful an agreement would be reached. She had asked a forensic anthropologist who is an expert in burnt remains to review detailed photographs and determine whether all of the remains needed to be maintained for potential evidentiary value.
Curl, 34, has been held in the DeKalb County Jail on a more than $5 million bond since his arrest in October. He has been arraigned on five counts of first-degree murder, one count of concealing a homicidal death, one count of arson and one count of criminal sexual assault in Keller’s death. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Keller, who was 18 at the time of her death, was last seen Oct. 14 on the NIU campus, when she told friends she intended to take a walk in Prairie Park. Remains were found in the park Oct. 16, but they were burned too badly for positive identification. It took forensic analysts about a week to determine the remains were human, but they still could not be identified.

The DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Jan. 6 that the remains had been positively identified through DNA testing as those of Keller.
http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2011/04/01/agreement-reached-to-release-remains-of-toni-keller/apiqrg1/

Evidence exchange in Curl case continues

Tue May 3, 2011
DeKALB | The state of Illinois turned over nearly 4,000 pages of evidence Tuesday to the defense attorney of William P. Curl, the DeKalb man charged with the murder of Antinette "Toni" Keller.

Clay Campbell, DeKalb county state's attorney, gave evidence to Curl's public defender Regina Harris in a status update for Curl at DeKalb County Courthouse, 133 W. State St. in Sycamore.

Curl appeared in court before Judge Robbin Stuckert via closed-circuit TV from DeKalb County Jail.

Campbell turned over the 4,000 pages, contained on discs, which included grand jury transcripts, investigation reports and notes, police reports, Keller's death certificate and toxicology, forensic, anthropology and DNA reports. Also included in the evidence were DVD's of statements from witnesses and Curl himself.

Curl's next status update is set for June 21 to give Harris time to review the materials.

Campbell said he expects to give more evidence materials to Harris on June 21.

"So far we have disclosed nowhere near the extent of [materials] we will disclose," Campbell said.

After court, DeKalb County Coroner Dennis Miller confirmed that some remains of Keller's had been given to her family shortly after Curl's last status update on April 3.

Keller was last seen Oct. 14 after telling friends she was headed to Prairie Park. Burned human remains were found near the park on Oct. 16. During a status update for Curl on Jan. 6., Campbell said the remains had been identified as Keller's.

Curl is charged with five counts of murder, one count of concealment of a homicide, one count of arson and one count of criminal sexual assault. He is also charged with obstruction of justice and possession of a converted motor vehicle. He is being held on a $5 million bond.

http://northernstar.info/city/article_caaccb60-75f0-11e0-8160-0019bb30f31a.html

Updated: Tuesday, August 2, 2011 10:25 a.m. CDT
Curl attorney has DNA expert for evidence in case
SYCAMORE – The attorney for the man accused in the October 2010 murder of Northern Illinois University student Antinette Keller said she has found an expert to be present while evidence in the case is tested.

DeKalb County Public Defender Regina Harris said Tuesday morning during a hearing at the county courthouse in Sycamore that she has found an expert in DNA to be present while DNA in the case is tested.

Harris represents William Curl, a 34-year-old DeKalb man accused of killing Keller. She told Circuit Judge Robbin Stuckert that she is drafting an order to contact a lab technician to arrange a time for that testing to occur. Since some of the DNA samples being tested at the Illinois State Police crime lab are so small they could be consumed or destroyed during testing, DeKalb County State's Attorney Clay Campbell said Harris wanted to retain experts to be present during that testing.

Dr. Karl Reich and Dr. Pravatchai Boonlayangoor with Lombard-based Independent Forensics of Illinois have been appointed to observe consumption, testing and analysis of all DNA samples, according to court documents. There was an agreed order that DNA testing could go forward, Campbell said.

Harris also subpoenaed the DeKalb Police Department, seeking any information on other offenses involving Curl, regardless of whether an arrest was made. Stuckert asked Harris Tuesday to make copies of the subpoenaed material for the state's attorney's office.

Keller, a freshman from Plainfield, was last seen Oct. 14 on the NIU campus when she told friends she intended to take a walk in Prairie Park. Burned remains were found in the park Oct. 16, and it took forensic analysts about a week to determine they were human. The DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Jan. 6 that the remains had been positively identified through DNA testing as those of Keller.

Curl was charged Oct. 29, and since then has been held in the DeKalb County Jail on more than $5 million bond.

He was indicted in January by a grand jury on five counts of first-degree murder, one count of concealing a homicidal death, one count of arson and one count of criminal sexual assault. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Police have said they interviewed Curl shortly after Keller disappeared, and that Curl fled the area and missed a second interview with investigators. Police allege he fled to Mexico before returning to the United States.

He was arrested Oct. 26 in Louisiana by the U.S. Marshals Service and extradited to DeKalb County.

Curl’s next court date was set for Sept. 28.

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2011/08/02/curl-attorney-has-dna-expert-for-evidence-in-case/aho97gy/

DNA Results in Keller Case Still Pending; Next Court Hearing Nov. 1
In a court hearing today, DeKalb County State's Attorney Clay Campbell told a judge that his office continues to review evidence and documents in the case.
September 28, 2011

SYCAMORE – Attorneys are still waiting for the results of DNA testing done in the case of the DeKalb man accused of the October 2010 slaying of Northern Illinois University student Antinette “Toni” Keller.

During a hearing Wednesday at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore, DeKalb County State's Attorney Clay Campbell said his office is awaiting the results of DNA testing. They are also continuing to review documents and evidence in the case.

Keller, a freshman from Plainfield, was last seen Oct. 14 on the NIU campus when she told friends she intended to take a walk in Prairie Park. Burned remains were found in the park Oct. 16, and it took forensic analysts about a week to determine they were human. The DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Jan. 6 the remains had been positively identified through DNA testing as those of Keller.

William "Bill" Curl was charged Oct. 29, and since then he has been held in the DeKalb County Jail on more than $5 million bond.

http://plainfield.patch.com/articles/dna-results-in-keller-case-still-pending-next-court-hearing-nov-1

DNA testing for Keller case to be completed

Posted: Tuesday, November 1, 2011 11:34 pm | Updated: 12:02 am, Wed Nov 2, 2011.


The DeKalb County State's Attorney's office expects DNA testing for the Antinette "Toni" Keller murder case to be completed within two to three weeks, said Clay Campbell, DeKalb County State's Attorney, at a hearing Tuesday.
Campbell said the Illinois State Police crime lab is currently preparing the paperwork to send results to the prosecution and defense.
William "Billy" Curl, 35, was charged on Oct. 29 with murder, arson, criminal sexual assault and the concealment of a homicidal death in connection with Keller's death. Curl was arrested on Oct. 26, 2010 in Louisiana and extradited to DeKalb County.
Curl's next scheduled court date is Dec. 6.

http://northernstar.info/city/police_beat/article_2a6c72e4-050c-11e1-b0a4-0019bb30f31a.html

December 7, 2011
Section: Mobile

May trial date scheduled in Keller slaying case

CAITLIN MULLEN
SYCAMORE – The trial for the man accused of killing Northern Illinois University student Antinette “Toni” Keller is scheduled to begin in May. During a hearing Tuesday at the DeKalb County Courthouse in Sycamore, attorneys agreed to schedule William “Billy” Curl’s case for trial May 7. Curl, 35, was brought to the hearing in the courthouse from the DeKalb County Jail. Keller, a freshman at Northern Illinois University from Plainfield, was last seen Oct. 14, 2010, on the NIU campus when she told friends she intended to take a walk in Prairie Park. Burned remains were found in the park Oct. 16, 2010, and it took forensic analysts about a week to determine they were human. The DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s Office announced Jan. 6 the remains had been positively identified through DNA testing as those of Keller. State’s Attorney Clay Campbell said prosecutors have disclosed everything in their possession, including results of DNA testing done at the Illinois State Police Crime Lab, although he declined to comment on specifics of the results. Curl was charged Oct. 29, 2010, with killing Keller. Since then he has been held in the DeKalb County Jail on a bond of more than $5 million. He was indicted in January by a grand jury on five counts of first-degree murder, one count of concealing a homicidal death, one count of arson and one count of criminal sexual assault. Curl has pleaded not guilty to the charges. He will next appear in court March 27, which is the deadline for pretrial motions to be filed.

http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_action=doc&p_docid=13B7F073E3260FE8&p_docnum=1

Curl's trial date rescheduled for third time this year

Posted: Sunday, November 18, 2012 10:44 pm
Northern Star Staff

The trial date of William “Billy” Curl, the man accused of the 2010 murder of NIU student Antinette “Toni” Keller, has been postponed for a third time this year.

Curl was indicted for five counts of first degree murder, one count of concealment of a homicidal death, one count of arson and one count of criminal sexual assault related to Keller’s death, according to a Feb. 1, 2011, Northern Star article.

In a court hearing Friday, Judge Robbin Stuckert agreed to postpone the trial’s start date to allow for Curl to have hearing aids fitted, according to a Saturday Daily Chronicle article.

Medical examinations requested by the court revealed the need for hearing aids, and DeKalb County Jail said he could have the hearing aids by Nov. 30, according to the article.

The new start date for the trial will be Jan. 14. The date was chosen by the courts, according to a Saturday Plainfield Patch article.

Jan. 14 was Keller’s birthday. She would be 21 the day the trial begins.

According to the Patch article, Keller family friend Thelma Holderness said the date upset Roger Keller, Toni Keller’s father.

“This is beyond insensitive,” Holderness said in the article. “Roger stood and he said to the court, ‘Just so you know, that is Toni’s birthday.’”

Holderness said Roger Keller was then told to not speak out of turn and to keep his composure within the courtroom.

The trial was scheduled to begin in May. It was rescheduled for June and then December to allow for psychological evaluations of Curl to take place.

On Dec. 6, Stuckert is scheduled to rule on a motion filed by Curl’s legal team asking to dismiss all five murder charges, as the team claims the charges are not specific enough to build a defense, according to the Patch article.

http://northernstar.info/city/article_dcc9d83a-3203-11e2-bdaa-001a4bcf6878.html

Plea deal in DeKalb murder case criticized by victim's family
April 04, 2013|By Clifford Ward and Michelle Manchir, Chicago Tribune

A DeKalb man was sentenced Wednesday to 37 years in prison for murdering a college freshman in a plea deal that was criticized by the victim's family and a former prosecutor, but defended by the state's attorney as the right decision to protect the public.

William Curl, 36, agreed to plead guilty to the first-degree murder of Antinette "Toni" Keller, 18, a Northern Illinois University student from Plainfield whose burned remains were found in a DeKalb park in October 2010 after the art student told friends she was going there to do some sketching.

Although he pleaded guilty, Curl still maintains that he did not kill Keller, said his attorney, DeKalb County Public Defender Tom McCulloch.

The hearing before Judge Robbin Stuckert in Sycamore was interrupted almost immediately when a woman identified as a relative of Curl's shouted from the audience that Curl should not accept the plea deal.

"Billy, don't take it. They are railroading you," the woman blurted out. She continued to speak loudly as security officers removed her from the courtroom. Even after her removal, she could be heard shouting "He didn't do it" from the hall.

She was not the only critic of the outcome.

Keller's parents, Diane and Roger Keller, thought the sentence was too lenient, according to a family spokeswoman. They were not in court Wednesday.

"To be there would almost be a display of support (of the deal) in some respect," Toni Keller's cousin Mary Tarling said. "And Roger and Diane do not feel like they want to support the outcome of this.

"They're just very concerned that there's this release date" from prison for Curl, Tarling said, "that there's this window of light and hope" for him.

Curl must serve 100 percent of the sentence, minus about 21/2 years he spent in jail awaiting trial.

Had Curl been convicted on all counts, he faced a maximum sentence of 75 years in prison, according to prosecutors, who dropped charges of sexual assault and arson as part of the negotiated plea.

On a Facebook page dedicated to Toni Keller, a message was posted in which Diane Keller said she felt let down by the terms of the plea deal.

"My family is so tired of suffering. My baby girl is gone," the message read.

Although no family members attended the hearing, former DeKalb County State's Attorney Clay Campbell was in the audience. Afterward, he said the 37-year prison term was "outrageous" for someone who "raped, murdered and incinerated" Keller. Equally outrageous, Campbell said, was Curl maintaining his innocence.

"At a minimum, he should have been required to stand before the court and admit his guilt to this horrible crime," said Campbell, who said he met with Keller's parents many times during his two years as state's attorney.

read more:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-04-04/news/ct-met-niu-curl-plea-0404-20130404_1_plea-deal-william-curl-antinette-toni-keller