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

[Joe Friday]

This is the first I've heard of the gun charge. That wasn't listed prior as far as I know. There seems to be more evidence then and that's one big hint. :waitasec:

Joe Friday, do you know if they post court docs. in Illinois? I follow Caylee's case and know about the Sunshine Law in Florida but that's very unusual is it not? What do other states reveal, how and when I wonder?

We all know how easily the media can get it wrong. Remember the little tid-bit of information about the POI calling in a tip about the fire in the park? Well that turned out to be incorrectly reported by the media. I'm thinking the weapons charge is just another media mistake as well. I haven't seen the weapons charge anywhere other then that one article.

I seen in this article "Police also were interested in Curl because they knew he frequented Prairie Park, where Keller told friends she was headed when she was last seen Oct. 14, Feithen said." I sure hope LE has more on this guy like physical evidence, then just the fact that he frequented the park. Now that we know Billy didn't call in a tip about the fire in the park I'm wondering what it was that sparked LE's attention to Billy in the first place. http://www.daily-chronicle.com/2010/10/31/family-of-william-curl-says-he-is-innocent/aru8cmu/

Of course the prosecutor Phil Montgomery saying "I am not going to comment what the evidence is. There's obviously quite a bit of evidence. Whether or not there was a confession or not, that will come out at the trial," This makes one think that there was quite a bit of evidence such as a confession to suggest that Billy is the man. Why else would he say he is not going to comment about a confession if he was responding to a reporters question about if Billy had confessed, if Billy had not confessed. Don't you think he would have simply said "No, he did not confess" if he hadn't. http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7757804

As far as Illinois posting court documents. Usually the only time I see this is when a good reporter goes to the the court house, requests the documents such as probable cause statements for search warrants spelling out what LE expects to find or the return of the search warrant showing what evidence was actually collected during the search warrant and then posts them on their news website.

 

[Joe Friday]

My Fox Chicago is reporting that WPC entered a plea of not guilty???
http://www.myfoxchicago.com/dpp/new...dent-murder-dekalb-pleads-not-guilty-20101101

Can't use the insanity defense or get a plea bargain if he had pleaded guilty. Public defender just doing her job.

 

[Woe.be.gone]

Questions...

Does anybody know the exact dates of when Curl was first interviewed by LE and when he fled to Mexico? Also, when he came back to Louisiana and taken into custody?

These are the dates I have in my notes based on what I think we've been told yet sometimes vague ~

First interview with Curl - Oct. 18 (Monday) unconfirmed but stated by LE

Curl fled on Oct. 23 (same day id of human remains was confirmed)

Curl was arrested in LA on either Oct. 26 or 27 from a hotel room. I think the 27th.

Was he brought to Sycamore Jail on the 28th or 29th? He appeared before a Judge the morning of October 30, 2010.

So if he left Dekalb on the 23rd and was in LA by the 25th or 26th, that's a very short trip into Mexico. How many miles to Mexico and how many hours to drive? (approx 1600 miles from Chicago to the border of Mexico). So one would have to drive 66.666 mph each hour to get there in 24 hours. So one could push it and get there within two days I guess. Depending on what time he left on the 23rd he could be in Mexico by late on the 24 early 25th driving straight through. The Police have that information because they know he crossed the border. They must know when he left Mexico too.

Then how many miles out of Mexico to get to Covington, LA? It's got to be at least 400 miles, no? Another full day of driving. Sounds like an awful lot of driving for one person to do in four days. Any truck drivers care to comment?

 

[justme1962]

As far as Illinois posting court documents. Usually the only time I see this is when a good reporter goes to the the court house, requests the documents such as probable cause statements for search warrants spelling out what LE expects to find or the return of the search warrant showing what evidence was actually collected during the search warrant and then posts them on their news website.

In the 10/29 press conference - a reporter said the the warrant had been sealed. The district attorney said the judge had ordered it sealed. I think they said due to the ongoing nature of the investigation...or something like that. It's at about the 15:40 mark in the video.

 

[Cubby]

I hope they have more than the fact the guy fled after his first interview.
I HOPE he gave incriminating evidence of some kind during that first interview -
I hope the secrecy is warranted. I'm having flashbacks of Riley Fox's father being falsely accused and Jerry Hobbs spending appx 5 years in prison before Lake Cty got it right the dna didn't match. (that's just to name two in high profile cases as I expect this to be. I don't expect this case to be a slam dunk for the prosecution....)

jmo

 

[Woe.be.gone]

Case archive album:

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


I'm hoping for more pics, but since IL doesn't allow cameras in court, we will be out of luck on seeing anything like that.

Thank you for posting your album here. You've done a great job putting it together. :star1::star1::star1::star1::star1:

 

[Joe Friday]

I seen here on WS where some of the charges had been posted earlier. Mainly the five counts of first degree murder but I never seen all the charges posted, especially the one having to do with the sexual assault so I thought I would post them all here in their entirety.

Count seven (7) having to do with penetration also makes me think without an autopsy there must be a confession.

_________________________________________

• 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. It is a Class M felony, which is punishable by 20-60 years in prison, fines up to $25,000 and mandatory three-years probation. If prosecutors prove aggravating factors, Curl could be sentenced to natural life in prison.

• Count Two: First-degree murder, accusing Curl of killing Keller without lawful justification, and with the intent to cause great bodily harm, by knowingly performing the acts that led to her death on Oct. 14 knowing that such acts would result in her death. It is a Class M felony, which is punishable by 20-60 years in prison, fines up to $25,000 and mandatory three-years probation. If prosecutors prove aggravating factors, Curl could be sentenced to natural life in prison.

• Count Three: First-degree murder, accusing Curl of killing Keller without lawful justification by knowingly performing an act that led to her death, "knowing that such act created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm to Antinette Keller" on Oct. 14. It is a Class M felony, which is punishable by 20-60 years in prison, fines up to $25,000 and mandatory three-years probation. If prosecutors prove aggravating factors, Curl could be sentenced to natural life in prison.

• Count Four: First-degree murder, accusing Curl of killing Keller while "committing a forcible felony, criminal sexual assault," an act that led to her death on Oct. 14. It is a Class M felony punishable by up to 20-60 years in prison, fines up to $25,000 and mandatory three-years probation. This charge makes Curl eligible for the death penalty.

• Count Five: First-degree murder, accusing Curl of killing Keller while "committing a forcible felony, arson," an act that caused her death on Oct. 14. It is a Class M felony punishable by up to 20-60 years in prison, fines up to $25,000 and mandatory three-years probation. This charge makes Curl eligible for the death penalty.

• Count Six: Arson, accusing Curl of "by means of fire, knowingly damage personal property of Antinette J. Keller being clothing, a cellular telephone, and a camera, having a total value of $150.00 or more without the consent of Antinette Keller" on Oct. 14 It is a Class 2 felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison.

• Count Seven: Criminal sexual assault, accusing Curl of sexually penetrating Keller by use of force. It is a Class 1 felony, punishable by up to 15 years in prison. The state's truth-in-sentencing law would require Curl to serve at least 85 percent of his sentence if convicted on this charge.


• Obstructing justice, accusing Curl of leaving the state of Illinois on or about Oct. 23 with "the intent to obstruct the prosecution of the individual or individuals responsible for the concealment and/or death of Antinette Keller possessing knowledge material to the subject at issue." It is a Class 4 felony punishable by up to three years in prison.

• Unlawful possession of a converted motor vehicle, accusing Curl of possessing a 1994 Ford Explorer when he was not entitled to possess it. It is a Class 2 felony, punishable by up to seven years in prison.


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

 

[Cubby]

Anyone think Toni's dna has been found on any of Curls belongings? Or perhaps something she owned was found in his possession?

I keep thinking there HAS to be more than guy who hangs around in park is questioned then flees and is then charged.

Something about the silence is making me uneasy.. very uneasy.
I hate thinking that but I can't help the nagging feeling something just isn't sitting right.

ETA: If he had visible burn injuries on his body (crime related) the first go around with questioning would they have released him to be questioned later?

 

[niuparent]

As I've said before, I'm uneasy about this case for many reasons, not the least of which is I still have a child at NIU and I don't want to think of other students at risk if the wrong guy is in jail.

Like Cubby, I'm wondering/hoping they have dna evidence to link Toni to Curl. I don't know enough about dna identification, but can they use things like her hair that might be in a brush in order to do matching to items he was found to have? Since he went to great lengths to burn Toni's clothing, I wonder if he took his own shirt and pants and burned them on site, too. Maybe there were remnants of that left? I don't know if they have washing machines in each apartment where he lived, or if the apartment complex had "group washing facilities" but maybe somebody saw him trying to dispose of evidence there...

(Going back to the whole burning situation, I have to think an accelarant was used to end up with remains that weren't easily identifiable; maybe they found a container with residue and his fingerprints, or something else suspicious...)

 

[Joe Friday]

Anyone think Toni's dna has been found on any of Curls belongings? Or perhaps something she owned was found in his possession?

I keep thinking there HAS to be more than guy who hangs around in park is questioned then flees and is then charged.

Something about the silence is making me uneasy.. very uneasy.
I hate thinking that but I can't help the nagging feeling something just isn't sitting right.

ETA: If he had visible burn injuries on his body (crime related) the first go around with questioning would they have released him to be questioned later?

BBM

Maybe if they didn't know they were looking for a victim of a burning.

I really question when LE actually say's they found the remains. In another case I'm following involving unrecognizable burnt human remains. LE guarded the residence night and day while they were waiting for the remains to be identified as being human, which only took one day. LE's excuse for placing an officer overnight at the residence in this case was so that if anyone had information about the missing 2 year old they could come to the house and talk to the officer there. That is actually what LE told the press to explain why they were staked out there. Thinking back now I can see they didn't want to come out and say they had might of found remains before they knew for sure, getting all kinds of rumors started, but the truth was they didn't want anyone disturbing the crime scene while the remains where being ID'ed as human or not.

I don't think DeKalb LE would have left the area in the park unprotected or unguarded for that amount of time if they had suspected the remains were that of a human. Maybe they had surveillance on the site and Billy happen to wonder back to see if anything had changed and that is why LE was alerted to him.

 

[DKanalyst]

I live locally. Prairie park is big and has many very secluded areas. I read on the "Missing Antinette Keller" Facebook page that there are often fires in Prairie park. I'm thinking the burning was an opportunity -- the fire was there and was used and maybe he went back and added gasoline to the fire later. After the police opened the park, someone posted pictures of three bonfires that had been cleared out by the police.

I don't go in Prairie park, but in the woods near my house, there are places that are very difficult to get to -- have to crawl under bushes, etc.

I am new to this forum, please let me know if I violate any policies.

 

[twinkiesmom]

It could very well be that he told them.
It could also be that her clothing (found at the scene) had DNA on it. It could be that the clothing taken off of her body suggests sexual assualt--both that it was removed AND the manner in which it was removed. Was it casually taken off and folded or were buttons ripped, stitches broken, etc?? If his objective was to just murder her he would have no need to take her clothing off.

It could have been something like finding her DNA in his dirty laundry....It could have been he saved a trophy from the crime...It could be her clothing was not completely destroyed in the fire and there was a stain that survived.

 

[DKanalyst]

The DeKalb Chronicle reported that "There are three security cameras per floor, including the eighth floor, where Curl lived." The building used to be all seniors. I don't know when it changed. The security cameras could easily have caught him coming home from the crime. They might have started looking at them when he didn't show up for his second interview.

 

[Cubby]

As I've said before, I'm uneasy about this case for many reasons, not the least of which is I still have a child at NIU and I don't want to think of other students at risk if the wrong guy is in jail.

Like Cubby, I'm wondering/hoping they have dna evidence to link Toni to Curl. I don't know enough about dna identification, but can they use things like her hair that might be in a brush in order to do matching to items he was found to have? Since he went to great lengths to burn Toni's clothing, I wonder if he took his own shirt and pants and burned them on site, too. Maybe there were remnants of that left? I don't know if they have washing machines in each apartment where he lived, or if the apartment complex had "group washing facilities" but maybe somebody saw him trying to dispose of evidence there...

(Going back to the whole burning situation, I have to think an accelarant was used to end up with remains that weren't easily identifiable; maybe they found a container with residue and his fingerprints, or something else suspicious...)

in addition to dna there could be fibers from Toni's clothing found on Curls clothing...

 

[Cubby]

I live locally. Prairie park is big and has many very secluded areas. I read on the "Missing Antinette Keller" Facebook page that there are often fires in Prairie park. I'm thinking the burning was an opportunity -- the fire was there and was used and maybe he went back and added gasoline to the fire later. After the police opened the park, someone posted pictures of three bonfires that had been cleared out by the police.

I don't go in Prairie park, but in the woods near my house, there are places that are very difficult to get to -- have to crawl under bushes, etc.

I am new to this forum, please let me know if I violate any policies.

Welcome to WS DKanalyst. Good points. So you're thinking perhaps Curl did not start the original fire and stumbled upon one someone left burning or smoldering in the park?

 

[Cubby]

Just a reminder, we do have a subforum for media links and time line only, no discussion. If anyone wishes to start a timeline and media link only thread for Toni's case.

Here is a link to the subforum.
Missing! Timeline Forum and Media links - Websleuths Crime Sleuthing Community

 

[rodie]

Anyone think Toni's dna has been found on any of Curls belongings? Or perhaps something she owned was found in his possession?

I keep thinking there HAS to be more than guy who hangs around in park is questioned then flees and is then charged.

Something about the silence is making me uneasy.. very uneasy.
I hate thinking that but I can't help the nagging feeling something just isn't sitting right.

ETA: If he had visible burn injuries on his body (crime related) the first go around with questioning would they have released him to be questioned later?

Perhaps they found something in his home rather than the car. If he missed his appointment on the 25th and alledgedly skipped out on the 23rd, there had to be something that made LE call in the FBI and track him all the way to Mexico.
If he was visibly burned at the first interview, then shame on LE for letting him get up, walk out, and more importantly roam around the neighborhood for 7 days.
I share your uneasiness Cubby. This case has felt odd from the get-go.

 

[Woe.be.gone]

This report about a woman being attacked on NIU campus 1AM Saturday morning is unsettling ~

http://northernstar.info/campus/campus_crime/article_7a6d4c9e-e552-11df-a048-00127992bc8b.html

 

[Soul125]

Anyone think Toni's dna has been found on any of Curls belongings? Or perhaps something she owned was found in his possession?

I keep thinking there HAS to be more than guy who hangs around in park is questioned then flees and is then charged.

Something about the silence is making me uneasy.. very uneasy.
I hate thinking that but I can't help the nagging feeling something just isn't sitting right.

ETA: If he had visible burn injuries on his body (crime related) the first go around with questioning would they have released him to be questioned later?

You read my thoughts exactly. That would be very weak evidence in a trial wouldn't it. Just because the guy left town doesn't make him guilty of murder. I hope there is something that can link him to the crime scene. I am no lawyer, but you need more evidence than that to convict somebody of murder don't you?:waitasec:

 

[Lissa2002]

in addition to dna there could be fibers from Toni's clothing found on Curls clothing...

I had that thought too, wondering if the dogs who had reportedly tracked Toni's scent down to 1st and Fairview - near I88 - might've actually been tracking the perp with say, a piece of Toni's clothing or something else.

I don't know enough about tracking dogs to know if this is a possibility.

(I've been following this forum for awhile, and also live in DeKalb - just 2 blocks from Prairie Park).