CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) — In a startling discovery over the weekend, the serene waters of Lake Mattoon became the center of a grim investigation. Boaters enjoying their day on the lake were shocked to find part of a human arm, prompting responses from authorities and the Illinois State Police to delve into the unsettling situation.
Quickly following this gruesome find, two individuals, 26-year-old James Adams and 62-year-old Robin Turner, have been charged. The charges they face include concealment of a homicide and dismemberment of a human body, according to reports from Illinois State Police.
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As the investigation continues, the charges brought against Adams and Turner underscore the severity of the incident, shedding light on the need for answers in the face of such a disturbing and curious case.
The shocking revelation unfolded as boaters, out with family and friends, attempted to clear what they initially thought to be dead fish from their path. This routine endeavor soon turned ominous as a more macabre scene came into focus.
Sammy Flynn, one of the boaters who made the chilling discovery, recounted the experience. “Pushed that first fish away, then got to the second one and it just didn’t look like the first fish,” Flynn described. “I was like okay. I got a little bit closer, and I looked again, and I looked and – I was yelling at everybody behind me. I was like, ‘Guys, that’s not a fish. That’s an arm.'” Her alarm promptly set off a wider reaction from the group, leading to the immediate involvement of law enforcement.
The group immediately called 911.
Investigators later found additional human remains in Lake Mattoon, police said. Illinois State Police said investigators used what they described as distinct tattoos to identify the victim.
According to police, the remains belonged to 38-year-old Dalewayne Turner of Plainfield.
Illinois State Police executed a search warrant at a Plainfield home on Wednesday as part of the investigation.
Authorities said the investigation remains ongoing and that additional charges are expected.
Adams and Robin Turner are expected to appear in court on Monday.
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