The Illinois State Police have charged two individuals with concealment of a homicide and dismembering a human body in connection with the death of a 38-year-old man.
James Adams, 26, and Robin Turner, 62, are accused of working together to cover up the crime after Adams fatally stabbed his half-brother, Dalewayne Turner, during an argument.
Boaters discovered part of a human arm in Lake Mattoon on June 28, and investigators later found additional human remains, which were identified as Dalewayne Turner through distinct tattoos on the arm.
Adams and Robin Turner were taken into custody as potential suspects, and according to court documents, Adams admitted to fatally stabbing his half-brother, claiming it was an act of self-defense.
The two suspects are accused of taking several steps to conceal the crime, including using bleach to clean the home and mask odors, repainting parts of the house, and disposing of rugs.
Robin Turner told investigators that the repainting and remodeling were part of renovation work, but prosecutors said the suspects' story does not add up.
When investigators searched the home, they found a downstairs freezer with a bloodstain dripping from a drain hole, and inside, they discovered a torso, neck, and head, but no limbs.
The remains were allegedly placed in trash bags, weighted down, sealed with duct tape, and dumped in Lake Mattoon, but one weighted bag tore apart, allowing the victim's tattooed arm to rise to the surface.
Subsequent searches revealed additional weighted bags containing human remains in the lake, authorities said.
The two suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for a detention hearing.
