Two people are in custody after investigators uncovered the remains of an infant buried on a property in the 1900 block of Roberts Road in Wilmington. Deputies were led to the site after detectives received a tip the day before, and Crime Scene Investigators recovered the remains Friday morning. The Will County Coroner took possession of the body and scheduled an autopsy to determine the cause and timing of death.
How deputies say they uncovered the grave
According to ABC7 Chicago, the Will County Sheriff's Office said detectives were first told Thursday about a possible burial on the Roberts Road property and learned a 36-year-old woman had given birth. Investigators obtained a search warrant, and around 9 a.m. Friday, deputies took several people into custody while they secured the scene.
What investigators say was recovered
Crime scene technicians dug roughly three feet down and found the infant inside what appeared to be an Old Style beer box, wrapped in a plastic bag and cloth, according to FOX 32 Chicago. The Will County Coroner's Office then took possession of the remains and scheduled an autopsy for Saturday to help establish how and when the infant died.
Who is in custody and what they told investigators
Local reporting from Patch says detectives interviewed a 36-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman who, according to the sheriff's office, made "incriminating statements" about concealing the infant's death. Both remain in custody while investigators gather evidence and wait for the coroner's findings, and the sheriff's office is coordinating with the Will County State's Attorney's Office as the case moves forward.
Legal next steps
If the autopsy establishes a cause of death consistent with a criminal investigation, prosecutors could pursue charges, and the two people in custody would face formal filings, the sheriff's release said, as reported by ABC7 Chicago. The Will County State's Attorney's Office will review the autopsy results and any forensic evidence before deciding whether to file charges.
Safe-haven law offers an alternative in some cases
Illinois law allows a parent to legally and anonymously surrender an unharmed newborn, up to 30 days old, to designated providers such as hospitals, staffed fire stations and police stations, according to the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. DCFS materials note the Safe Haven statute is intended as an option for parents in crisis and does not shield a parent from criminal liability if an infant was harmed.
What officials say now
Neither the infant nor the two people taken into custody have been publicly identified, and officials have not released additional details about the investigation, according to FOX 32 Chicago. Formal charges could be pursued after the autopsy is completed, and investigators say more information will be released once prosecutors decide how to proceed.
