In a chilling crime that has left authorities and the local community shocked, an Illinois man has been accused of fatally stabbing his half-brother during a heated argument. He then allegedly collaborated with the victim’s wife to hide their gruesome deed by dismembering the body. The pair reportedly froze the head, neck, and torso, and stealthily disposed of other body parts in a lake.
This heinous act has led to serious charges against James Adams, aged 26, and Robin Turner, 62. According to the Illinois State Police, both face accusations of concealment of a homicide and dismembering a human body, following the demise of Dalewayne Turner, who was 38 at the time of his death.
The gruesome discovery began on June 28 when boaters on Lake Mattoon stumbled across part of a human arm. Their chilling find prompted an investigation, which unearthed additional remains in the vicinity.
For investigative teams, identifying the victim hinged on his unique tattoos, which ultimately confirmed the remains as those of Dalewayne Turner.
Adams and Turner now face grave charges as they are accused of both concealing a homicide and dismembering a human body, names and dates that will forever be marked in the history of Illinois State Police investigations. (Illinois State Police)
Adams and Robin Turner were quickly identified as potential suspects and taken into custody.
According to court documents released on Monday, Adams admitted to fatally stabbing his half-brother, and the victim’s wife failed to contact law enforcement after the killing, Fox 32 reported.
Adams had claimed he killed the victim in an act of self-defense, and Robin Turner said the two men were arguing in the living room when Adams stabbed her husband multiple times, the documents said.
“The one thing I will say is that I did it, but I did it out of self-defense. I will tell you guys that,” James said, according to the documents.
The two suspects are accused of taking several steps to conceal the crime, including using bleach to clean the home and mask odors, repainting parts of the house, removing and burning wood paneling in a fire pit and disposing of rugs, the documents said.
Some of Dalewayne Turner’s remains were found in Lake Mattoon, while the rest were discovered in a freezer, according to authorities. (GoFundMe)
Robin Turner told investigators the repainting and remodeling were part of renovation work completed between June 21 and June 30.
Some parts of Dalewayne Turner’s dismembered body were found in a freezer, investigators said.
On Wednesday, investigators searched the home and found a downstairs freezer with what appeared to be a bloodstain dripping from a drain hole, according to court records, Fox 32 reported. Investigators opened the freezer and discovered a torso, neck and head but no limbs.
Investigators said the remains were placed in trash bags, weighted down, sealed with duct tape and dumped in Lake Mattoon. But prosecutors said one weighted bag tore apart, allowing the victim’s tattooed arm to rise to the water’s surface.
The remains were identified as Dalewayne Turner through distinct tattoos on the arm. (Illinois State Police)
Subsequent searches revealed additional weighted bags containing human remains in the lake, authorities said.
The two suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for a detention hearing.
A GoFundMe created to cover funeral expenses had raised more than $1,300 as of Tuesday afternoon.
“Our brother Dalewayne E. Turner was tragically taken away from us, leaving our family heartbroken,” the fundraiser reads.