Coroner Positively IDs Ashley Tucker's Remains

JOLIET, IL - On Saturday afternoon, the Will County Coroner's Office positively identified the human remains that were found in Lockport Township as being those of Ashley Tucker. The coroner's office said that Tucker's death is being investigated as a homicide. A Joliet Police Department press release issued on Saturday indicated the human remains were located on Friday.

The coroner's office press hotline indicated the remains were found inside a burn barrel that was recovered by police in the 3500 block of South State Street.

Coroner's officials said they were able to positively ID Tucker through her tattoos.

Earlier Patch article:

The Joliet Police Department spent the past two days searching for crime scene evidence in connection with Ashley Tucker's disappearance at a property north of the Old Joliet Prison along Collins Street. Now, police say the evidence may involve her human remains.

At 8:40 p.m. Friday, the Joliet Police Department issued a statement on behalf of Chief Al Roechner that stated: "The investigation into the disappearance of Ashley Tucker has led detectives to an area in the 3500 block of State Street where detectives have recovered what is believed to be human remains."

People familiar with the efforts told Patch that the police had confiscated a burn barrel and the barrel was loaded into a Will County Coroner's Office vehicle.

Tucker, 25, has been missing for two weeks, since Oct. 13. She was last seen on the city's far east side near where she lived. A dangerous convicted sexual predator, Peter Zabala, is now in custody and Joliet Police have told Patch that Zabala is believed to be the last person to see her alive.

Regarding the bones found on Friday, "Identification is speculative at this stage as the remains are in poor condition. The Joliet Police Department is working with the Will County Coroner's Office to reach a conclusive determination of identity," the police department's press release indicated.

Earlier, one person said there were at least a dozen Joliet Police officials at the property, which is next to the McBride's Collision & Body Shop.

The property at the center of the investigation was behind a house about a half-mile north of the prison property, Patch learned.

One person told Patch they saw hundreds of feet of crime scene tape and portable spot lights fixed to some trailers. The police were searching for evidence behind the house, not inside.

Patch will update this story over the weekend if there's a major development in the case.

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