PLAINFIELD, IL — Days after boaters found part of a man’s arm in a lake in central Illinois, Illinois State Police said two people have been arrested in his dismemberment.
The victim was identified earlier this week as Dalewayne Turner of Plainfield.
On Thursday, state police said Robin Turner, 62, and James Adams, 26, are charged with concealment of a homicide and dismembering a human being. State police did not list any murder charges for the pair but said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges are expected.
The discovery of a part of the victim's severed arm kicked off the investigation on Sunday.
By Monday, state police issued a plea for his identity, sharing a photo of a distinctive tattoo — a skull holding a Green Bay Packers helmet — on the man’s arm.
On Wednesday, ISP announced that they’d identified the victim as Turner, 38.
Wednesday evening, state police confirmed they were investigating at the home of Adams and Turner in the 2400 block of Ruth Fitzgerald Drive, which has a Plainfield mailing address. Public records also listed the home as an address for Dalewayne Turner.
On Thursday, state police said subsequent searches of Lake Mattoon turned up additional body parts.
A search warrant executed at the home on Ruth Fitzgerald Drive also led to additional evidence, police said, and Adams and Turner were taken into custody
Police said the pair had been "quickly identified as suspects."
They were in the Will County jail as of Thursday night, with an initial court hearing set for Monday morning, according to jail records.
Boaters along Lake Mattoon described discovering the partial arm on Sunday.
An Effingham County woman told WCIA that her father spotted what he thought was dead fish floating towards their boat and handed her an oar, telling her to get them away from the boat.
That’s what the woman said she realized “something’s not right” and spotted the tattoo.
She told WCIA that her group then called 911 and were told to wait for authorities to arrive.
State police said the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Department requested ISP adopt the investigation
On Monday, state police released an image of two tattoos — the skeleton holding the Packers helmet and an unknown letter or number — and asked for the public’s help.
“If anyone has any information regarding a man with tattoos matching the pictures below, or has any other information which may be helpful, we ask that they contact ISP Zone 8,” ISP said.
On Wednesday, officials said the arm belonged to Turner and that they were no longer requesting additional tips.
By Thursday, a GoFundMe page was started by relative William Turner.
"Our brother Dalewayne E. Turner was tragically taken away from us, leaving our family heartbroken and facing unexpected funeral expenses," the campaign said. "Dalewayne was a huge Chicago Bears fan, and his passion for the team brought so much joy to our family gatherings. He was always the first to cheer during games and loved sharing his excitement with everyone around him. Dalewayne’s sense of humor and kindness made him a beloved friend to many, and he always went out of his way to help others.
"As we navigate this difficult time, we are asking for help to cover funeral expenses and other costs that have come up unexpectedly. Your support will help us honor Dalewayne's memory and give him the farewell he deserves."
On Thursday, state police thanked numerous agencies for assisting in the investigation: the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Mattoon Police Department, Neoga Police Department, Effingham Police Department, Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office, Cumberland County Coroner, Effingham County Search and Rescue, Neoga Emergency Medical Services, Mattoon Fire Department, Neoga Fire Department, Lincoln Fire Department, Hillsboro Fire Department, Montgomery EMA Lake Mattoon, Marina & Campgrounds - City of Mattoon, Joliet Metropolitan Area Narcotics Squad and the Joliet Police Department.
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