GUILTY IL - Antinette 'Toni' Keller, 18, DeKalb, NIU Student, 14 October 2010

[newshound6]

I know many on this board already feel this way-I pray they get a clean,swift conviction of this guy and he's is executed.I have felt ambivalent about capital punishment in the past(and I still do concerning some drunk or drugged up robberies gone bad type killings)BUT...I am sick , so sick of these disgusting predators just looking for women and children to kill. Predators like this are hopeless and can never live amongst us again.

 

[niuparent]

JMHO--
Yes, this was a crime of "opportunity", but, to me, that says that he didn't stalk Toni specifically before killing her- but likely still targeted her for some reason- some characteristic about her (a la Ted Bundy). I think he probably spent a lot of time "trolling" for an "opportunity". He didn't/couldn't lure a victim outright because he doesn't fit in with them socially, so he waited to find someone alone and vulnerable.

Classmates have said that Toni Keller liked to go to Prairie Park and sketch/shoot photos, and they said she was friendly to virtually everyone she met. William Curl was known to frequent the park. I still think he might have encountered her in the past, and fantasized about her, such that he waited for another opportunity for her to show up.

 

[Joe Friday]

I think Billy Boy must have confessed to the murder and given enough information for the other charges to be added on when questioned for the following reasons.

1. For the murder and sexual assault charges to already been brought against Billy Boy without positive ID on the remains
2. The statement that "if there is a trial"
3. The word "during" used

LE didn't even know for sure they had human remains when they first discovered them. They didn't have a body to see if she was stabbed, shot, strangled, tortured or otherwise. LE wouldn't have had a clue as to if she was burned alive I don't think, remember the remains were so badly burned there could be no autopsy. Unless perhaps Billy left behind her panties stained with his semen how would they have know she was sexually assaulted? It was said in media reports and by the chief that articles consistent to what she was wearing were found so underwear might be what LE is talking about there. Unless there was a weapon found that we haven't heard about, how would they know how she was killed? Unless Billy had told them all of these things when being questioned.

I will give Billy Boy one thing, he is not very bright when it comes to trying to get away with a crime. And I thank God for that.

JMO

 

[Vresia]

A poster on the Daily Chronicle FaceBook page offered an explanation for the 5 murder charges:

1) under the Illinois criminal statute, there are multiple ways to charge a single crime based on "aggravating factors" involved

2) prosecutors often initially charge in as many ways possible and see what they can get to stick in the indictment; the person may not necessarily be indicted on all counts- it depends on the strength of the evidence

http://www.facebook.com/#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=149790375065666&id=165428676052 (the post is 5th from the bottom)

 

[Vresia]

A $5 million bail was confirmed this morning for the man charged with the murder of a Northern Illinois University freshman during a DeKalb County court hearing that the defendant attended through closed-circuit video.

William P. Curl, 34, of DeKalb, appeared to listen intently but showed no other outward reaction in the 10-minute hearing before DeKalb County Judge James Donnelly, even when Donnelly told him he could face the death penalty if convicted of the crimes. Curl was dressed in orange jail garb with his hands cuffed behind his back as he sat in the jail's holding area...

Prosecutors did not read a formal proffer and so revealed few details of the crime, although they did say police had recovered Keller's burned clothing and her cell phone near the remains.

"We certainly wouldn't have charged someone with the various charges we have if we weren't satisfied we had sufficient evidence to prove we have the right person," said Assistant DeKalb State's Attorney Phil Montgomery after the hearing.

http://www.chicagobreakingnews.com/...alb-murder-arrest-plainfield-art-student.html

 

[Vresia]

Curl is facing a total of nine charges in the case. During a news conference Friday night, DeKalb County State's Attorney John Farrell said the charges come from allegations that Curl caused Keller’s death “during the course of the criminal sexual assault and also during the course of an arson.”

The charges are as follows, with descriptions of the charges coming from court documents and punishment and fine descriptions coming from Judge Donnelly. The first seven charges were filed Friday.

• Count One: First-degree murder,, accusing Curl of killing Keller without lawful justification, and with the intent to kill, by performing acts that led to her death on Oct. 14...


DeKalb County Housing Authority statement:
"We have been advised that William Curl has been arrested. William Curl has been a quiet, respectful resident of the Authority’s DeKalb high rise for nearly four years," Brett Brown, the executive director of the housing authority, said in the statement. "He is a longtime resident of DeKalb County. Authority staff is cooperating with law enforcement’s investigation of the disappearance of Northern Illinois University student Antinette Keller. We must withhold further comment as the law enforcement process continues.”

http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2010...ng-niu-student-antinette-toni-keller/a6w5f2u/

 

[Vresia]

Curl has some prior criminal history in DeKalb County, including charges for criminal damage to property, DeKalb County Assistant State’s Attorney Phil Montgomery said.

http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20101029/news/710309859/

 

[twinkiesmom]

JMHO--
I simply can not fathom that this could be his first victim.
(Some graphic content here, so please skip this post if this is disturbing to you)-


The amount of detail to this crime says plainly to me that he had fantasized about doing this for a long time. IMO, this is not his first time sexually assaulting someone and encountering and manipulating a dead body. I believe that he very likely has raped other women in the past. With the amount of time he spent with her body in order to burn it, I just do not believe that he hasn't fantasized and experimented with this before. Perhaps there are some neighborhood animals missing. I believe LE may find an extensive history on his computer of looking up violent images and websites. I do not believe a rapist who does not intend to kill the victim, can suddenly, after the death, come up with such an elaborate plan to dispose of the body. And, as others have mentioned, burning a body does take some doing- accelerant, time, etc. And most definitely, some experimentation with starting fires.

Yes, this was a crime of "opportunity", but, to me, that says that he didn't stalk Toni specifically before killing her- but likely still targeted her for some reason- some characteristic about her (a la Ted Bundy). I think he probably spent a lot of time "trolling" for an "opportunity". He didn't/couldn't lure a victim outright because he doesn't fit in with them socially, so he waited to find someone alone and vulnerable.

The fact that the neighbor says he's so nice simply indicates more strongly to me that he is a sociopath.

It makes us feel good to demonize this guy as some monster and not the ordinary middle-aged loser next door still living with his mommy. He was motivated by lust that he chose to act on rather than control it and walk away. The murder and fire were cover up....not necessarily the boogey man here.

As the mom of a daughter, I wish more teenaged girls were aware of how vulnerable they really are...From seeing his mugshot, you can tell that he easily doubled her weight...She was essentially portable. If he was a smarter guy, he easily could have toted her into a waiting car, and we would still be wondering who did this. This was a stupid, stupid crime and may very well be his first...This was motivated by lust....If we had to predict his background, I would imagine it included and (possibly) hookers...I bet being unemployed cramped his lifestyle with women.

 

[Woe.be.gone]

Farrell acknowledged the multi-jurisdictional and multi-agency effort included the DeKalb Police Department, DeKalb County Sheriff’s Office, Sycamore Police Department, NIU Police Department, Illinois State Police, U.S. Marshals, St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana, and the FBI.
http://www.niu.edu/emergencyinfo/current_advisories1/statement.pdf

LE did an amazing job of keeping so much information under wraps. They were under so much pressure pressure and there were so many agencies involved, I don't know how they did it.

I don't understand why, if Curl was on the run, they wouldn't put out an all points bulletin on him. Wouldn't other people be in danger outside the DeKalb area with him on the loose? I searched and I can't find any prior charges against this guy. :waitasec:

That said, I'm sure LE has their reasons for the way they do things but something seems off to me about the total picture. I'd be interested to know Curl's IQ. LE says to trust that they have the evidence.

 

[Woe.be.gone]

The media reporting that the POI had called in the tip on a fire sure throw me and a I think a lot of others in our speculation that Antinette knew her killer.

If I hadn't heard that information I would not have speculated that Antinette knew her killer because he cared enough about her to call authorities or that maybe he left behind her personal items so she would be found.

Now knowing that Billy Boy was very familiar with the park I can see how he might of knew he could start a fire to burn her body and no one would think much about it.

Also now knowing that Antinette didn't know her killer I can now look back and think someone that knew Antinette would most likely not have been able to commit such a horrific crime against her.

I am glad that I at least had some of my speculation correct in that he was called in for questioning but didn't show up and that he had skipped town towards the south perhaps to Mexico. It will be interesting to see how authorities tracked him to Louisiana. If authorities had an arrest warrant out for him, when he crossed back into the USA from Mexico his name should have came up if it was ran and they would have nabbed him there I would think. And to know where he was staying I would think it was phone records.

BBM ~ When searching for background info, I came across an article about a Bill Curl who retired after thirty-three years employment at the Superdome. :waitasec: Could they be related? I'll find the article and link it here.
http://www.neworleans.com/sports/sp...uperdomes-bill-curl-one-of-the-good-guys.html

Is there any chance this could be his father? Why would he go to Louisiana?
http://newsblaze.com/story/20060913072147nnnn.nb/topstory.html

 

[Vresia]

I don't understand why, if Curl was on the run, they wouldn't put out an all points bulletin on him. Wouldn't other people be in danger outside the DeKalb area with him on the loose?

LE were not aware that Curl was missing until he missed his 2nd interview on 10/25. All they may have known Curl was guilty of at that point was taking his mother's car. I don't know if that is enough to have a public all points bulletin.

He returned to the US the same day he was missed the meeting with LE & was arrested the next day, 10/26. He apparently left a trail of breadcrumbs with passport, and other type records and LE may have known pretty much where he was once he crossed back in the US.

 

[cluciano63]

I am just so sickened by the horrible death of this poor girl...a vicious, motiveless crime, no reason for her to expect to be in danger.

I am just sick for her family, her poor mom. I have 5 college-age nieces and worry all the time, hoping they never go anyplace alone. But Toni should have been able to go for a walk during the day...

 

[niuparent]

When searching for background info, I came across an article about a Bill Curl who retired after thirty-three years employment at the Superdome. :waitasec: Could they be related?

I don't know if the Bill Curl from Louisiana's Superdome is related, but there's a picture of the LA gentleman here: http://www.nola.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/06/legendary_media_official_bill.html

 

[AnnieOakley]

It makes us feel good to demonize this guy as some monster and not the ordinary middle-aged loser next door still living with his mommy. He was motivated by lust that he chose to act on rather than control it and walk away. The murder and fire were cover up....not necessarily the boogey man here.

(Respectfully snipped)

I respectfully disagree. I consider anyone who does something like this to be a boogey man. There are a lot of "middle-aged losers" out there, but I doubt most of them are out there raping and killing women and abusing corpses. JMHO

 

[cluciano63]

It makes us feel good to demonize this guy as some monster and not the ordinary middle-aged loser next door still living with his mommy. He was motivated by lust that he chose to act on rather than control it and walk away. The murder and fire were cover up....not necessarily the boogey man here.

(Respectfully snipped)

I respectfully disagree. I consider anyone who does something like this to be a boogey man. There are a lot of "middle-aged losers" out there, but I doubt most of them are out there raping and killing women and abusing corpses. JMHO

Me too...every block probably has its own weirdo, but most of them are not twisted freaks with a penchant for raping, murdering and burning innocent young women...

 

[Vresia]

At least one poster has mentioned an online site where one can search for criminal records in Illinois. Is this it ?
Check Illinois http://consumer.public-record.com/index.asp

The records for felony, misdemeanor, DUIs only go back to 2005. Perhaps the reason Curl doesn't show up is because his convictions predated the database.

Another explanation could be that he has no criminal convictions, just charges that may have been dropped, dismissed or he was found not guilty.

The Asst State's Atty said he had "some" criminal history in Dekalb and mentioned charges for criminal damage to property.

It makes us feel good to demonize this guy as some monster and not the ordinary middle-aged loser next door still living with his mommy. He was motivated by lust that he chose to act on rather than control it and walk away. The murder and fire were cover up....not necessarily the boogey man here.

I really like twinkiesmom's description. Curl may be well known to LE for being a "loser" and doing loser type things but he does not seem to have a record of convictions for anything serious.

 

[Vresia]

It makes us feel good to demonize this guy as some monster and not the ordinary middle-aged loser next door still living with his mommy. He was motivated by lust that he chose to act on rather than control it and walk away. The murder and fire were cover up....not necessarily the boogey man here.

(Respectfully snipped)

I respectfully disagree. I consider anyone who does something like this to be a boogey man. There are a lot of "middle-aged losers" out there, but I doubt most of them are out there raping and killing women and abusing corpses. JMHO

I don't think there is a disagreement between TM's & AO's assessments of Curl. TM description applies to Curl's pre-crime status in the community and AO's applies to his post-crime status. Having killed Antinette in the way he is alleged to have, Curl is definitely a boogey man to me now but, from the little we know, he wouldn't have been more than a loser to me on 10/13.

 

[Woe.be.gone]

I am just so sickened by the horrible death of this poor girl...a vicious, motiveless crime, no reason for her to expect to be in danger.

I am just sick for her family, her poor mom. I have 5 college-age nieces and worry all the time, hoping they never go anyplace alone. But Toni should have been able to go for a walk during the day...

Me too. I had a hard time falling asleep last night. The different scenarios kept playing over in my mind. Who has the right to subject women and children to this type of horror and taking anothers life. If you believe in God it's hard to fathom. But God says there is Satan, so people like this are proof of the evil within people. Everytime I hear of another horrible crime (which is all the time now), I still can't wrap my brain around how or why a person would want to do these things. It sickens me.

 

[twinkiesmom]

I don't think there is a disagreement between TM's & AO's assessments of Curl. TM description applies to Curl's pre-crime status in the community and AO's applies to his post-crime status. Having killed Antinette in the way he is alleged to have, Curl is definitely a boogey man to me now but, from the little we know, he wouldn't have been more than a loser to me on 10/13.

I think there is some confusion between "antisocial" and "sociopath". This guy was clearly antisocial but is not likely a sociopath....The police were on to him from the get go, so he must have made incriminating statements or not been able to lie convincingly. The running to Mexico shows consciousness of guilt.

Sociopaths are intelligent, charming, stone cold, and excellent liars. Curl was apparently none of these things.

 

[Woe.be.gone]

I don't know if the Bill Curl from Louisiana's Superdome is related, but there's a picture of the LA gentleman here: http://www.nola.com/sports/index.ssf/2010/06/legendary_media_official_bill.html

There must be a reason why he would head there of all places. Of course he may have only gotten that far enroute to somewhere else that is if he even knew where he was going. I tried to match him to a place of birth but the search sites all ask you to join. Oh and figure the odds, there's like a zillion William Curls in the world, either dead or alive. They do seem to be grouped in a few states - TX, IN, OH, CA - to name a few. I wish I knew the ins and outs of searching better.