‘That’s not a fish, guys’: Pair charged after boaters find dismembered arm found floating in lake
MATTOON, Ill. (TCN) — Two people have been charged with concealment of a homicide and dismembering a human body in connection with remains found floating in a lake.
According to a press release from the Illinois State Police, boaters contacted authorities when they found a human arm floating in Lake Mattoon in Illinois on the evening of June 28. According to Sammy Flynn, who was boating with her family, her father asked her to use an oar to push away what was believed at the time to be a dead fish, NBC Chicago reports.
Flynn told the outlet, “I got up closer to it. I was like, that’s not a fish, guys. I’m pretty sure that’s a human arm.”
The Cumberland Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene and later requested that Illinois State Police assist in the investigation. According to state police, more remains were found when the lake was searched thoroughly.
The arm had tattoos described by state police as distinctive, and investigators asked the public to help with identification. The victim was identified as Dalewayne Turner, 38, and investigators named Robin Turner, 62, and James Adams, 26, as suspects. A search warrant was executed at their home and investigators allegedly found more evidence there.
Robin Turner and Adams were charged July 2 with concealment of a homicide and dismembering a human corpse, according to state police. According to prosecutors, James Adams is Dalewayne Turner’s half-brother and Adams allegedly stabbed him to death in the basement of the home before dismembering his body and placing it into a trash bag, NBC Chicago reports. Robin Turner allegedly helped dismember and dispose of the body.
According to court documents obtained by NBC Chicago, the pair allegedly tried to weigh down the trash bag before dumping it in the lake.
More charges could be forthcoming, as the investigation is active, per state police.
