What sounds like the plot of a crime thriller is now a grim reality in Plainfield, where relatives of Dalewayne Turner are speaking publicly as shocking details emerge about his death. Investigators say the 38-year-old’s dismembered remains were recovered both from a downstate lake and from a freezer inside a Plainfield home. His wife, 62-year-old Robin Turner, and his half-brother, 26-year-old James Adams, have been arrested on felony counts tied to concealing a homicide and dismembering a human body. Family members remembered Turner as a devoted sports fan and loyal relative, and they are now calling for justice as the case moves through Will County courts.
How investigators traced the remains
The investigation began June 28, when boaters on Lake Mattoon reported spotting what turned out to be a human arm in the water. Authorities used distinctive tattoos on the limb to identify the victim as Dalewayne Turner of Plainfield, age 38. Follow-up searches of the lake turned up additional remains and helped steer detectives toward a Plainfield residence linked to the case. The Illinois State Police say their Division of Criminal Investigation later arrested two suspects and presented the case to the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, according to the Illinois State Police.
Search warrant uncovers remains in Plainfield home
On July 1, agents served a search warrant at a home in the 2400 block of Ruth Fitzgerald Drive, where they reported a disturbing discovery in the basement. Court filings state that investigators found additional human remains inside a locked chest freezer. Prosecutors and local reporting say the freezer had been sealed and weighed down, and officers also recovered a reciprocating saw blade along with other items they allege were used to cover up the crime scene. According to local coverage and court documents, body parts were allegedly placed in bags, weighted with concrete, and dumped into Lake Mattoon, as reported by FOX 32 Chicago.
Family speaks out
In a public statement, the Turner family said they believe Robin Turner "is the mastermind behind this horrific crime" and asked for privacy as law enforcement continues its work. Relatives told reporters they had been informed that Dalewayne was in treatment and said they had no reason to suspect he was missing until authorities matched the arm from Lake Mattoon to him. They recalled memories of his kindness and loyalty and described a son, brother, and sports fan whose life, they say, was taken in an almost unimaginable way. Patch published the family’s full statement along with interviews with grieving relatives.
Records show prior complaints and protection orders
While the criminal case unfolds, court records are shedding light on prior conflict involving the household. Both Robin Turner and James Adams previously sought orders of protection against Dalewayne, according to filings. Adams submitted a petition on May 9, 2025, and court files show that Robin Turner’s earlier order lapsed when she failed to appear in court. Joliet police say officers had also been called to the Ruth Fitzgerald Drive address multiple times since 2024. Those details come from local records and reporting that tracked protection order filings and police responses over the last couple of years. The local radio outlet WJOL and court documents outlined the series of protection orders and calls for service.
Charges and next steps
Robin Turner and James Adams each face two felony counts: Concealment of a Homicide, which is classified as a Class 3 felony, and Dismembering a Human Body, a Class X felony. Illinois State Police say they brought the case to the Will County State’s Attorney on July 2 while the broader investigation remained open. According to court filings and local reports, Robin Turner has already made a court appearance, and Adams is scheduled to appear on July 29. Prosecutors’ documents, along with statements from family members, state that Adams told relatives he stabbed Dalewayne and later repeated that account to investigators. Those same records note that Adams has at various points claimed self-defense as authorities continue to review evidence.
Legal implications
Under Illinois law, dismembering a human body is charged as a Class X felony and concealment of a homicidal death is charged as a Class 3 felony, with both set out in state criminal statutes. Those statutes, along with recent press materials, outline the legal elements prosecutors must establish as the case moves toward detention hearings and the possibility of additional charges, according to the Illinois Compiled Statutes. As of now, both defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty in court, and investigators continue to gather and analyze evidence.
