‘Toni Is Gone’: Body Believed to Be That of Missing NIU Student

Courier News- As DeKalb County authorities worked to identify what they believe is the body of missing college freshman Antinette Keller, her family was together at home Sunday, trying to comfort each other and come to terms with the idea that the 18-year-old Plainfield woman is likely dead.

“Basically, Toni is gone. We don’t have her anymore,” said Keller’s cousin, Mary Tarling. “Sometimes the details don’t matter when you bring it down to that. You can’t fix that.”

A poster distribution scheduled for Sunday on the Northern Illinois University campus was cancelled, said Tarling, who had planned to attend the event.

DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen announced late Saturday that investigators with the DeKalb County Major Case Squad found human remains in Prairie Park, along with what appeared to be some of Keller’s personal belongings.

Keller’s family was notified Saturday that the missing person case was reclassified as a death investigation.

Police also asked everyone to think hard about Oct. 14, the day Keller was last seen. If anyone remembers any suspicious activity or suspicious people near DeKalb’s Prairie Park about noon that day, the time Keller was reportedly there, they are asked to call police.

“All we can do is hope for answers over time, which is where we hope … something will surface.” Tarling said. “Someone will say something or remember something.”

Keller was reported missing Oct. 15, one day after she told friends she was going for a walk in the forested 150-acre park.

An intense search for Keller ended Saturday with the discovery in the park.

The mood on campus was somber Sunday, as the news sank in.

“Obviously there’s a lot of sadness, especially for those who knew her,” said NIU spokesman Joe King. “There’s a lot of disappointment that this didn’t turn out better. We were all hoping for a much happier outcome. We wanted to bring her home.”

Because of the shift in the case, police and NIU officials tightened security and increased the police presence on campus.

Campus police extended the late-night ride service schedule and are offering security escorts 24 hours a day. Residence halls are only accessible to residents.

The most recent advisory posted on the university’s website includes safety tips, such as using well-lit routes, and avoiding isolated areas and solo walking trips.

King said he didn’t get the impression that students are fearful and added the safety tips were repeated simply to reinforce them in people’s minds.

“Those precautions are standard precautions we give to students, that any university would give to students,” King said. “We wanted to refresh their memory if out after dark to travel with a group, to avoid areas that are not lit. Things we always try to keep in the forefront of their minds.”

The DeKalb County Major Case Squad investigators are asking anyone with information about Keller’s case to call 815-748-8407.