Burnt Remains Could Be Missing Illinois Woman: Police

CENTRALIA, IL — It has been more than seven years since 41-year-old Benedetta “Beth” Bentley was supposed to board an Amtrak train in southern Illinois, heading back home to her family in Woodstock. That's according to a friend of hers. Illinois State Police, however, said there's no record she ever got on that train, and she hasn't been seen since.

But human remains found near the place she was last seen could be a break in the case, authorities said Thursday. Woodstock police said Illinois State Police notified them of the discovery this week after information was developed that led them to a rural location in Jefferson County.

"Suspected human remains and other evidence were recovered at the location," Woodstock police said Thursday. "Investigators are attempting to positively identify the remains, which were badly burned."

Police said a friend dropped Bentley off at the Amtrak station in Centralia May 23, 2010. She was supposed to get on the 6 p.m. train back to Woodstock. She never returned home, and her family reported her missing.

Jennifer Wyatt-Paplham, the friend who reportedly drove Bentley to the station, was at one point charged with obstruction. Police alleged she lied about not having contact with Bentley on or after May 25, 2010 — two days after she vanished. They also claimed Wyatt-Paplham lied about dropping Bentley off at the Centralia train station. Those charges were dropped in 2012, according to the Northwest Herald.

A website dedicated to finding Bentley noted she was carrying a pink and orange Vera Bradley bag and a big white Gucci purse when she was taken to the train station. "She may have walked around the area," according to a post on the site.

After Bentley was reported missing, police interviewed Amtrak staff and passengers, none of whom remembered seeing Beth on the train, according to the site, which describes Bentley as 5-foot-6 and 180 pounds, with green/brown eyes and platinum blonde hair with extensions. She was reportedly wearing a black tank top, blue jean skirt and flip flops.

On May 20, the mother of three told her husband she was going to Wisconsin with Wyatt-Paplham to visit Wyatt-Paplham's relatives, the Chicago Tribune reported. Instead, the two reportedly drove to Mt. Vernon to visit Wyatt-Paplham's boyfriend and spend a weekend at a nearby lake.

Three days later, Wyatt-Paplham told authorities she dropped Bentley off at the train station. Since then, police say, there has been no activity on her cell phone, bank account or credit cards.

The case remains active for Woodstock and Illinois State Police. Authorities asked anyone who has information on Bentley's disappearance to contact state police at 618-542-2171 or the Woodstock Police Department at 815-338-2131.

Photo of Beth Bentley via Illinois State Police