IL - Parents tried pushing newborn down toilet with plunger before burying her in beer box - Wilmington, Dec 2025

[Clearsky]

Pair allegedly tried to dispose of baby in toilet before burying remains

Two people have been charged with desecration of a corpse after Will County authorities say they found the remains of an infant in a shallow grave in the 1900 block

www.wspynews.com

The Will County Sheriff's Office arrested 36-year-old Nicole Pokrzywa and 38-year-old William Cosmen, both of Wilmington

 

[Gemmie]

Holy BEEP!!!

Have people not heard of BIRTH CONTROL?!? Seriously! Plunging a newborn down a toilet is NOT to be used in lieu of it! Sheesh.

Just at these nasty excuses for human beings.

 

[Vaderman]

Language is a bit confusing. The article describes "the infant" as being between 22 and 27 weeks old. Was it a fully birthed infant, alive for 22-27 weeks, and then placed in a toilet and murdered? Or a 22-27 week old fetus that was likely a miscarriage?

 

[Clearsky]

Language is a bit confusing. The article describes "the infant" as being between 22 and 27 weeks old. Was it a fully birthed infant, alive for 22-27 weeks, and then placed in a toilet and murdered? Or a 22-27 week old fetus that was likely a miscarriage?

Right, it's unclear, but they've only been charged with desecration of a corpse so far:

Police allege that Pokrzywa gave birth to the girl in October 2024 in Manhattan when she was six to eight months pregnant. The baby was then found in a toilet, and Cosmen is alleged to have tried to force the body down the drain with a plunger. The remains were left overnight and later buried at the Roberts Road property.

 

[foxface29]

Language is a bit confusing. The article describes "the infant" as being between 22 and 27 weeks old. Was it a fully birthed infant, alive for 22-27 weeks, and then placed in a toilet and murdered? Or a 22-27 week old fetus that was likely a miscarriage?

Most likely the latter, I believe. The miscarriage or gestational death. Like Clearsky says, the article details that she gave birth at 6-8 months (which is still quite early). A 27 week baby would be around 6 months, which is extremely premature.

They were also charged with only desecration of a corpse, not infanticide or homicide.

Most likely story- she gave birth at home to a extremely premature baby (October 2024), tried to use the toilet, failed, left her there overnight (Chicago News), and later buried the girl.

 

[PromotedPawn]

Sounds like a miscarriage IMO. I didn’t realize there were restrictions on disposal in some states. Any indication this fetus was born alive? Or is the crime simply tied to the disposal method?

 

[foxface29]

Sounds like a miscarriage IMO. I didn’t realize there were restrictions on disposal in some states. Any indication this fetus was born alive? Or is the crime simply tied to the disposal method?

This crime was in Illinois. Desecration of a body is a crime there, and rightfully so.

765 ILCS 835/1

"Sec. 1. (a) Any person who acts without proper legal authority and who willfully and knowingly destroys or damages the remains of a deceased human being or who desecrates human remains is guilty of a Class 3 felony."

 

[PromotedPawn]

This crime was in Illinois. Desecration of a body is a crime there, and rightfully so.

765 ILCS 835/1

"Sec. 1. (a) Any person who acts without proper legal authority and who willfully and knowingly destroys or damages the remains of a deceased human being or who desecrates human remains is guilty of a Class 3 felony."

I get it. My brain has separated a potentially miscarried fetus from a human body. As someone who has had to dispose of the contents of a much wanted pregnancy, I never thought I could be charged with a crime for doing so.

Either way, we don't know how this fetus came to be deceased and trying to push it down the toilet with a plunger sounds harsh.

I will wait for more information before passing judgement on the parents though. JMO.

 

[sunflowermomma]

The mother could have not known how far along she was. Many hospital websites in the US directly instruct you to dispose of fetal remains from miscarriages at home. Oftentimes women are sent home from the hospital while miscarrying to deal with it on their own. I hate cases like this. So much judgement and hostility before any facts are known, when there is little information and support for women going through this, and then they're called a murderer. JMO.

Patients & Families | UW Health

Patients & Families Description

patient.uwhealth.org

 

[Wallendo]

The incident occurred in October 2024 but the body not discovered until December 2025.

The article also says that both of them gave incriminating statements. And more charges are pending.

It would seem that the baby may have been born alive and they are suspected to have done something to hasten its demise.

It is a very vague and confusing article.

 

[Panniniclaus]

If she is 36, that is a very hard 36...