Antinette Keller update: William Curl to plead not guilty in NIU student murder

Antinette Keller update: William Curl to plead not guilty in NIU student murder

Sycamore, Ill. - The attorney for William Curl, the man accused of raping and murdering Northern Illinois University student Antinette “Toni” Keller in October, said Thursday her client will plead not guilty to the charges he is facing in the case.

Toni, 18, vanished on October 14 after leaving her residence hall around noon to take a walk in the park. Human remains and other items believed to be Toni’s, were found just two days later in Prairie Park. The remains were burned beyond recognition, but DNA testing definitively determined they belonged to Toni.

To see photos of Toni, click here.

DeKalb County Public Defender Regina Harris said she has already obtained a psychological evaluation regarding Curl, which states he is fit to stand trial.

Police said their interest in Curl as a suspect in Toni’s case was peaked because after meeting with them for one interview, he failed to appear for a second interview scheduled for October 25. They also noted that he frequented Prairie Park.

In addition, he reportedly fled to Mexico in his mother’s car, but returned to the U.S. shortly thereafter. He was arrested on October 26 in Covington, Louisiana and extradited to Illinois several days later.

Curl is facing five counts of first-degree murder, one count of concealing a homicidal death, one count of arson, and one count of criminal sexual assault.

DeKalb County State’s Attorney Clay Campbell said he has not decided whether or not he will seek the death penalty against Curl, who is slated to be arraigned on Tuesday.

Curl remains behind bars at the DeKalb County jail on a multi-million dollar bond.

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