Tuesday, April 2, 2013
William Curl will plead guilty in exchange for a lighter sentence in the murder of Plainfield teenager Antinette “Toni” Keller. His sister said he maintains his innocence, but agreed to an Alford plea.
Updated at 7:18 a.m. April 3 The man accused of murdering a Plainfield teenager and attempting to conceal the crime by burning her remains agreed Tuesday to plead guilty in exchange for a 37-year sentence in the Illinois Department of Corrections. William Curl, 36, is accused in the sexual assault and murder of 18-year-old Northern Illinois University freshman Toni Keller. The teen disappeared in October 2010 after going for a walk in a DeKalb park. Her charred remains were found two days later. Thelma Holderness, founder of the Keller family support Facebook group Summoning of Yellow, said Toni’s parents, Roger and Diane Keller, confirmed Monday that a plea deal was in the works. Holderness said DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s office …
Friday, March 15, 2013
Attorneys for accused killer William Curl asked for more time.
A DeKalb County judge ruled that the trial will begin as scheduled on April 11 in the murder of Plainfield teen and Northern Illinois University freshman Toni Keller. William Curl, 36, is charged with five counts of first-degree murder, criminal sexual assault and concealing a homicidal death. Sign up for the Plainfield Patch newsletter On Wednesday, Judge Robbin Stuckert denied a request from public defender Tom McCulloch seeking another trial delay, according to the DeKalb Daily Chronicle. McCulloch said he wanted more time because he was concerned prosecutors would call an expert psychologist to the stand without giving the defense the expert's name or background information until just before the trial, the Chronicle reported. …
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Prosecutors have asked for more time in case against William Curl, accused in death of Plainfield teenager.
For the fourth time, the trial date has been pushed back for 36-year-old William “Billy” Curl, accused in the sexual assault and murder of Plainfield teen Antinette "Toni" Keller. Sign up for the Plainfield Patch newsletter. On Monday, the trial was continued until April 11, 2013, after a DeKalb County judge agreed to give prosecutors time to recruit an expert in forensic psychology to testify in the proceedings against Curl, according to the DeKalb Daily Chronicle. Last month, Judge Robbin Stuckert denied prosectors’ request to bar testimony from a psychologist who evaluated Curl for the defense. Stuckert also denied a request from the defense seeking to have all five first-degree murder charges dismissed. Curl’s attorneys unsuccessfully …
Friday, December 7, 2012
A DeKalb County judge on Thursday denied defense motions to drop all five counts of first-degree murder against accused killer William Curl.
William “Billy” Curl will stand trial on charges he sexually assaulted and murdered Plainfield teen Antinette "Toni" Keller after a judge rejected a motion to dismiss all five counts of first-degree murder. Judge Robbin Stuckert on Thursday denied the motion, filed in October by Curl’s attorneys. READ: ACCUSED KILLER SEEKS TO HAVE CHARGES DISMISSED IN TONI KELLER CASE The lawyers asked the judge to dismiss the murder charges “because they do not specify what acts caused Keller’s death,” which prevents the accused killer from adequately preparing a defense, the DeKalb Daily Chronicle reported. The judge also denied prosecutors’ request to bar testimony from a psychologist who conducted an evaluation of Curl for the defense. Along with the …
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
DeKalb newspaper reports that attorneys for William “Billy” Curl filed a motion to have five counts of first-degree murder charges dropped, seek to block witness.
The man accused in the slaying of an 18-year-old from Plainfield was in court Tuesday as his attorneys moved to dismiss all five first-degree murder charges, according to the DeKalb Daily Chronicle. William “Billy” Curl, 36, is also charged with one count of criminal sexual assault, one count of arson and one count of concealing a homicidal death in the 2010 murder of Northern Illinois University freshman Antinette “Toni” Keller. Sign up for the Plainfield Patch newsletter. On Tuesday, Curl appeared in court via closed-circuit TV as his attorneys filed motions to dismiss the murder charges “because they do not specify what acts caused Keller’s death,” which prevents the accused killer from adequately preparing a defense, the Chronicle …
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Plainfield, NIU communities come together to remember the slain teen, reflect on the lasting impact of her death.
For most people, Oct. 14 is just another date on the calendar. But for those gathered Wednesday night at the DeKalb Elks Lodge, the day has a different meaning, and it’s one that changed their lives forever. Led by Northern Illinois University custodian Thelma Holderness, the group gathered to remember the day Toni Keller's life ended, cruelly and far too soon. Keller, an 18-year-old freshman at NIU, disappeared on Oct. 14, 2010, after going to take photos for an art assignment at a DeKalb park. Her remains were found two days later. William Curl, the man who stands accused of sexually assaulting and murdering the Plainfield teenager, is scheduled to go on trial in December. Sign up for the Plainfield Patch newsletter. “In the past months…
Saturday, July 28, 2012
Trial in murder of Plainfield teen Antinette “Toni” Keller has been pushed back twice. Proceedings are scheduled to begin Dec. 3.
By the time William “Billy” Curl goes on trial for the murder of Toni Keller, the Plainfield teen will have been dead for more than two years. On Wednesday, Roger Keller, father of the murdered 18-year-old, spoke out after yet another pretrial court date, according to a report from the DeKalb Daily Chronicle. “My family is suffering, and that’s the truth,” Keller reportedly said as he exited the July 25 hearing, adding that no one cared, including presiding Judge Robbin Stuckert. Curl's next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 29. The trial has been delayed twice from its original May 7 start date. In March, Stuckert granted Curl’s public defender more time to prepare his defense, setting a June 11 trial date. More recently, the judge …
Monday, July 2, 2012
Attorney Regina Harris said her departure is not expected to cause further delays in the trial of William Curl, accused of killing Plainfield teen Antinette “Toni” Keller.
The public defender assigned to represent accused killer William Curl announced her resignation on Friday, but said her decision is unlikely to cause further delays in the case, according to DeKalb’s Daily Chronicle. The trial has already been delayed twice. Curl is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering Antinette “Toni” Keller, an 18-year-old Northern Illinois University freshman. Keller, a Plainfield resident, was reported missing in October 2010 after telling friends she was going for a walk in a DeKalb park to take photos for an art class assignment. Her remains were found in the park two days later. The trial was originally set to begin May 7. In May, DeKalb County Judge Robbin Stuckert agreed to allow more time for psychiatric …
Monday, June 11, 2012
Supporters are asked to gather at the DeKalb County Courthouse Tuesday clad in yellow for a peaceful assembly in honor of Plainfield murder victim Antinette “Toni” Keller.
Thelma Holderness never formally met Toni Keller, but the Plainfield 18-year-old had caught her attention. A janitor at Northern Illinois University, Holderness would often see the teen studying early in the morning. "I just noticed her every day. ... Sometimes she would look up and smile at me,” Holderness told Patch last month. At the time, Holderness was helping organize an art auction in honor of Toni, who dreamed of becoming an artist. The money was to pay for food, fuel and lodging costs incurred by the teen’s parents, Diane and Roger Keller of Plainfield, as they traveled to DeKalb County for the murder trial of William Curl. Curl is accused of sexually assaulting and murdering Toni in what police called a crime of opportunity. The …
Monday, May 14, 2012
More time is needed for psychiatric evaluations of accused killer William Curl, public defender says.
The family of Antinette “Toni” Keller will have to wait a few more months before 35-year-old William Curl goes on trial for the Plainfield teen’s murder. According to the DeKalb Daily Chronicle, Judge Robbin Stuckert granted Curl’s attorney more time to have psychiatric evaluations completed on the accused killer, setting a new trial date of Dec. 3. Public defender Regina Harris cited Curl’s lengthy history of mental problems, according to the Chronicle. Keller, an 18-year-old freshman at Northern Illinois University, was reported missing Oct. 14, 2010, after telling friends she was going for a walk in DeKalb’s Prairie Park. Her charred remains were found in the park two days later. Curl is accused of attacking Keller in what DeKalb Police…
MKozlowski
10:36 pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2013
My husband & I both agree electric chair needs to be used on the scum of the earth that takes an innocent life! Prayers&hope for healing to the Keller family. more ›