Son Admitted Dismembering Mother, Dumping Remains: Prosecutors

ELGIN, IL — The son of an elderly Elgin woman reported missing last week is accused of killing and dismembering the elderly woman, then dumping her remains in a lagoon in an attempt to conceal her death. Brian Peck, 55, was charged in the death of Gail Peck, 76, after body parts were found Saturday in the Lincoln Park lagoon. Elgin police on Monday said they had reason to believe dismembered remains found stuffed into duffel bags are those of the missing woman.

Brian Peck, who lived with his mother in her Littleton Trail home, reported her missing on Friday, telling police she left to walk her dog on Friday evening and claiming the dog returned without her.

He appeared in court Tuesday afternoon, where he was ordered held without bond. Cook County prosecutors said Brian Peck confessed to his mother's murder and admitted to putting her body in a bathtub and cutting it into pieces, according to CBS Chicago. He also allegedly said he dumped her head and arms into Montrose Harbor, where a Chicago police marine unit was seen searching on Tuesday, and threw the rest of her body in the Lincoln Park lagoon. The killing allegedly took place last week.

On Friday, Elgin police began an intensive search, using all-terrain vehicles, a drone, helicopter and officers on foot. Area residents also assisted in the search for Gail Peck, police said.

As the search went on, police said they received information suggesting that Gail Peck's disappearance did not happen as her son reported. "As additional information was obtained, more investigative resources were devoted to the possibility of the case being criminal in nature," police said. Detectives also executed a search warrant at the Peck home.

Elgin police said they learned that a body was discovered in a lagoon near Lincoln Park on Saturday. Chicago police said a fisherman called 911 at around 11 a.m. after finding a duffel bag filled with what appeared to be human remains and a hand saw in the lagoon. Marine unit divers then found a second duffel bag with more remains near the 2200 block of North Stockton, Chicago police said.

"Over the course of the next few days, detectives determined that Brian Peck was ultimately responsible for killing his mother and discarding her body, and that the remains found in the Chicago lagoon were that of Gail Peck," Elgin Police Chief Jeffrey Swoboda said in a community alert video on Tuesday. He thanked members of the police department for working tirelessly on the case, as well as members of the community, "who came out and helped us search for Gail, and shared her story on social media, all in the hopes that maybe she was just disoriented, and we could get her home safely."

The Daily Herald reported that Gail Peck took out an order of protection against her son in March 2016, alleging he put her in a choke hold and threatened to kill her after they argued about him playing loud music. In June 2016, Brian Peck pleaded guilty to domestic battery and was sentenced to 100 days in jail, according to the Daily Herald. Brian Peck also has convictions for identity theft, aggravated battery, computer fraud, possession of a stolen motor vehicle and theft by deception.

"It was clear to us from the very beginning, talking to friends and family, that Gail Peck was loved by all that she knew," Swoboda said, extending his condolences to Peck's loved ones.

Watch Elgin Police Chief Jeffrey Swoboda discuss the charges against Brian Peck:

Elgin police said investigators obtained evidenced that the body is Gail Peck's, adding that DNA testing is being done to positively ID the remains.

Late Tuesday morning, news photographer Christoper Smith reported a large police presence and Chicago Marine Unit divers at Montrose Beach.

Main photo: Brian Peck/Photo of Gail Peck. Images via Elgin Police Department