Murder Of Aurora Woman Missing Since 2003 Solved With Yorkville Man’s Conviction

YORKVILLE, IL — After 23 years, the 2003 case of a missing Aurora woman who was later found dead has been closed. The Kane County State’s Attorney’s Office announced late Wednesday that a jury has convicted a Yorkville man of her murder.

Prince L. Cunningham faces between 45 and 85 years in prison for the murder of Tyesha Bell, officials said.

During the early morning hours of May 9, 2003, Bell left her Aurora apartment, where she lived with her sister and 1-year-old daughter, to meet Cunningham, who was married but also dating Bell and was the father of her daughter.

Body ID’d As Aurora Woman Missing Since 2003: Police

Cunningham was meeting Bell to give her money to buy a new car, prosecutors said. Bell left behind her purse, driver’s license and a burning candle and was never heard from again.

In the months before her disappearance, officials said Cunningham convinced Bell to end their court-ordered child support agreement and instead let him give her cash. They met frequently to exchange money.

Cunningham once called the police on Bell after she showed up at his house in Aurora, where he lived with his wife, according to the state’s attorney’s office.

Yorkville Man Indicted In Murder Of Aurora Woman Missing Since 2003

In the days after Bell’s disappearance, Cunningham lied to police about his relationship with her, telling them he hadn't spoken with her in months and claiming he was not the father of their daughter. Cunningham also contacted the Montgomery Police Department to say a pair of Converse shoes had been stolen from his car and suggested Bell may have been involved.

He also instructed his cell phone carrier to ask that his phone be deactivated and number changed, and he gave his car to his niece, prolonging police’s search for the car by months.

Bell was considered a missing person until December 2020, when someone found skeletal remains on a property that was under development in Montgomery. A Converse shoe was also located.

An autopsy and forensic analysis determined the remains belonged to Bell and that she died from a single gunshot wound to the back of her head, officials said.

Cunningham was indicted and arrested two years later, on June 14, 2022.

“For more than 23 years, Tyesha Bell's family has lived with unanswered questions, unimaginable grief, and the pain of not knowing what happened to their daughter, sister, and mother,” State’s Attorney Jamie Mosser said in a statement. “Throughout this case, they carried themselves with remarkable strength and dignity. While no verdict can restore the life that was taken from Tyesha, we hope this decision brings them a measure of peace and the assurance that her life mattered, her voice was not forgotten, and the person responsible has finally been held accountable. This verdict sends a message that no amount of time, deception, or concealment can erase the truth or diminish our commitment to pursuing justice for victims and their families.”

Cunningham is due back in court July 31. He remains in custody at the Kane County jail.