Authorities say an Illinois man stabbed his half-brother to death during a dispute, then allegedly joined the victim’s wife in cutting up and concealing the body — freezing the head, neck and torso while dumping other remains in a lake.
James Adams, 26, and Robin Turner, 62, have been charged with concealment of a homicide and dismemberment of a human body in connection with the death of 38-year-old Dalewayne Turner last month, Illinois State Police said.
The investigation began June 28, when boaters spotted what appeared to be part of a human arm in Lake Mattoon. Investigators later recovered additional remains from the area.
Officials subsequently identified the remains as those of Dalewayne Turner, citing distinctive tattoos found on the arm.
James Adams and Robin Turner are facing charges of concealment of a homicide and dismembering a human body in the death of Dalewayne Turner. (Illinois State Police)
Investigators soon named Adams and Robin Turner as potential suspects, and both were taken into custody.
Court documents made public Monday state that Adams admitted to stabbing his half-brother to death, while the victim’s wife did not notify law enforcement after the killing, Fox 32 reported.
Adams reportedly claimed he acted in self-defense. Robin Turner told investigators the two men were arguing in the living room when Adams stabbed her husband several times, according to the documents.
“The one thing I will say is that I did it, but I did it out of self-defense. I will tell you guys that,” James said, according to the documents.
The two suspects are accused of taking several steps to conceal the crime, including using bleach to clean the home and mask odors, repainting parts of the house, removing and burning wood paneling in a fire pit and disposing of rugs, the documents said.
Some of Dalewayne Turner’s remains were found in Lake Mattoon, while the rest were discovered in a freezer, according to authorities. (GoFundMe)
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Robin Turner told investigators the repainting and remodeling were part of renovation work completed between June 21 and June 30.
Some parts of Dalewayne Turner’s dismembered body were found in a freezer, investigators said.
On Wednesday, investigators searched the home and found a downstairs freezer with what appeared to be a bloodstain dripping from a drain hole, according to court records, Fox 32 reported. Investigators opened the freezer and discovered a torso, neck and head but no limbs.
Investigators said the remains were placed in trash bags, weighted down, sealed with duct tape and dumped in Lake Mattoon. But prosecutors said one weighted bag tore apart, allowing the victim’s tattooed arm to rise to the water’s surface.
The remains were identified as Dalewayne Turner through distinct tattoos on the arm. (Illinois State Police)
Subsequent searches revealed additional weighted bags containing human remains in the lake, authorities said.
The two suspects are scheduled to appear in court on Thursday for a detention hearing.
A GoFundMe created to cover funeral expenses had raised more than $1,300 as of Tuesday afternoon.
“Our brother Dalewayne E. Turner was tragically taken away from us, leaving our family heartbroken,” the fundraiser reads.
