Bodies Identified in Missing Persons Case

Bodies Identified in Missing Persons Case

KSDK TV 12
(KSDK) -- Illinois State Police have tentatively identified the remains of two individuals that were found in a cistern in Collinsville on Wednesday.

The remains were identified as those of 19-year-old Anquiaette Parker, and her 4-year-old cousin, Cermen Lemont Toney, Jr., or "C.J." as he was known. The pair disappeared back in November 2005 when Parker, who was pregnant at the time, was babysitting C.J.

NewsChannel 5 has also learned that two persons of interest were taken into custody, with charges expected to be filed on Friday.

State Police have not said what evidence was uncovered, but they are telling us it has been sent to a state police crime lab, and it is likely some D.N.A testing will take place.

A source close to the investigation confirmed human remains were found during digging on Wednesday.

Police said a tip from a new property owner led them to their dig site, behind a home, right next to Fairmont Park Race Track, where investigators were still working to uncover evidence Thursday afternoon.

Police said the property owner called them when he found something he thought would be of interest to investigators.

What that was, police won't say, but they said he found it while clearing brush and outbuildings on his newly purchased land in the 9200 block of Collinsville Road.

Police said they've had their eye on the property, which they've searched dozens of times, and the two men who used to live on the property, who they've interviewed multiple times, ever since the missing pair disappeared.

Greg Fernandez is a retired Illinois State Police Lieutenant. He was one of the lead investigators in the missing persons case.
Fernandez says, "We did over 25 searches by land and air, and we had horses and bloodhounds but never could find a body."

Anquiaette Parker's car was found not far from the dig site at a veteran's hall shortly after she disappeared.

At this point, police weren't commenting on any possible motive in this case, but a source close to the investigation tells NewsChannel 5 that police "believe there's indication why this happened."

Greg Fernandez says, "I am sad for the families but at least they get to come home for a proper burial."