• Share
• E-Mail
• Print

Human remains and items possibly belonging to a missing Northern Illinois University student have been found in a DeKalb park, police announced Saturday.

Investigators from the DeKalb County Major Case Squad recovered the human remains and "items consistent with property belonging to" Antinette "Toni" Keller in Prairie Park south of Illinois 38, according to a DeKalb police release.

DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said the remains have not been positively identified, but police have reclassified Keller's disappearance as a death investigation. Her family was notified Saturday evening, police said.

Keller's cousin Mary Tarling said the family was saddened and shocked by the discovery of the remains.

"We're holding each other up," she said. "The comments from the public and the media have been very helpful, and we're grateful."

A portion of the park remains cordoned off as officers continue the investigation, police said.

"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," the release said.

Keller, 18, a Plainfield resident and graduate of Neuqua Valley High School in Naperville, was last seen Oct. 14. She told friends she was going for a walk near West Lincoln Highway by the Junction Center retail complex near the NIU campus, according to an Oct. 18 alert from the school.

A spokeswoman for the DeKalb County coroner's office confirmed that the coroner had been out to the scene where the remains had been found, but referred other questions to DeKalb police.

Anyone with information related to the case should call DeKalb police at (815) 748-8407; the county's tip line at (815) 753-8477, or Crime Stoppers at (815) 895-3272.