William Curl has “tentatively indicated” he will plead guilty to the murder of NIU student Antinette “Toni” Keller. As part of the agreement, Curl will be sentenced to 37 years in jail.

Keller was reported missing in October 2010. Burned human remains were found in the park on Oct. 16, but it was not until Jan. 6 DNA testing confirmed the remains were Keller’s. In February 2011, Curl was indicted by a grand jury on five counts of first degree murder, one count of concealment of a homicidal death, one count of arson, and one count of criminal sexual assault.

He pleaded not guilty on Feb. 22, 2011.

“I can say that if 37 years is the sentence it is unjust for all Toni endured at this man’s hands,” said Thelma Holderness, who runs the Facebook page for Summoning of Yellow, a Keller remembrance page.

According to a release from the Office of the DeKalb County State’s Attorney, the office believes this to be the longest sentence imposed at 100 percent on a negotiated plea to a non-death penalty eligible murder in the county since at least 1980.

Keller’s family has been advised of the sentence, according to the Office of the DeKalb County State’s Attorney. The plea is expected to take place Wednesday.

Richard Schmack, DeKalb County state’s attorney, declined to comment.

 

Timeline:

Oct. 14, 2010: Keller was last seen

Oct. 16, 2010: Remains found in DeKalb park

Oct. 23, 2010: Curl leaves Illinois

Oct. 26, 2010: Curl arrested in Louisiana

Oct. 29, 2010: Curl charged with murder

Oct. 30, 2010: Curl’s first court appearance

Nov. 24, 2010: DNA sample requested from Curl

Nov. 30, 2010: Curl agrees to give DNA sample

Jan. 6, 2011: DNA test confirms remains found in park are Keller’s

Feb. 1, 2011: Grand Jury indicts Curl on five counts in the murder of Keller

Feb. 17, 2011: Curl deemed psychologically stable to stand trial

Feb. 22, 2011: Curl pleads not guilty to all counts

March 10, 2011: Death penalty no longer possible in William Curl trial–Gov. Pat Quinn abolishes death penalty

March 23, 2011: Keller remains requested to be given to family for memorial

April 3, 2011: Keller family to receive remains

May 1, 2011: Prosecutors say Curl gave conflicting reports on death of NIU student

June 21, 2011: Curl defense receives apartment surveillance video, awaits DNA test on landfill shoes

Nov. 18, 2011: Curl’s trial date rescheduled for third time