Son Pleads Not Guilty In Mother's Murder, Dismemberment

ROLLING MEADOWS, IL — The man whose mother's mutilated remains were found dumped in Chicago pleaded not guilty to her murder in Cook County court. Brian Peck, 55, has been indicted on four courts of first-degree murder and concealing a homicide in connection with the death of his 76-year-old mother, Gail Peck. The Daily Herald reported Brian Peck wore a tan prison uniform and spoke only to answer the judge's questions during his arraignment Friday in a Rolling Meadows courtroom.

According to prosecutors, Brian Peck told detectives his mother, "furious that he was playing Jimi Hendrix music so loud," confronted him with a "military style knife" during an argument around 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 25. The 260-pound only child allegedly stomped on his 140-pound mother's head and neck until she was dead. After realizing that she was dead, Brian Peck told police he "put her in the bathtub and hacked her up," prosecutors said during his bond hearing.

Brian Peck reported his mother missing two days later. Elgin police said he first claimed she went out to walk the dog. The dog came back but Gail Peck never returned, her son told cops. In the mean time, authorities said Peck's confession and other evidence indicates he dumped parts of her body in Lake Michigan – first dropping luggage in a lagoon at Diversey Harbor, then returning the following day to throw the remaining parts in garbage bags Montrose Harbor. Prosecutors said I-Pass records show Peck's car traveled to Chicago at the times in question.

Remains later identified as belonging to Gail Peck were found by a fisherman in Diversey Harbor, near Lincoln Park Zoo, on the morning of Oct. 28. Chicago police said a human arm found washed up on Montrose Beach on Nov. 7 is still being examined.

Brian Peck lived in the basement of his mother's home, prosecutors have said. His mother had previously filed a restraining order against him and he pleaded guilty to battery after Gail Peck said he beat and threatened her during a fight over loud music fewer than 20 months before he was arrested for her murder.

During his Dec. 1 arraignment, prosecutors provided his public defender grand jury transcripts and police records related to Brian Peck's arrest, including body camera footage from Elgin police when they showed up to investigate the report of Gail Peck's disappearance, the Daily Herald reported.

“I’ll make all appearances no matter what the circumstances, your honor," Peck told Judge Ellen Mandeltort at Friday's hearing, according to the Elgin Courier-News.

Peck remains held without bail in Cook County Jail. His next court appearance in Rolling Meadows has been set for Jan. 10.

Related:

• Son Admitted Dismembering Mother, Dumping Remains: Prosecutors
  
• Remains Identified As Elgin Mom Of Son Charged With Her Murder
  
• Remains Near Montrose Beach Believed To Be Those Of Gail Peck

_{Top photo: Brian Peck booking photograph, Gail Peck family photograph | Cook County Jail, Elgin PD}