Remains of NIU student Antinette “Toni” Keller will not be released to her family for a memorial service until a forensic anthropologist hired by the defense can review them.

The matter was discussed Wednesday at the DeKalb County Courthouse during a status update for William Curl, the man charged with Keller’s murder.

Curl appeared in court via closed-circuit TV from the DeKalb County Jail.

Clay Campbell, DeKalb County State’s Attorney, said he had filed a motion for the court to order the Coroner’s office in DeKalb County to release the remains to Keller’s family.

Keller was last seen Oct. 14 after telling friends she was headed to Prairie Park. Burned human remains were found in the park on Oct. 16. The remains were identified as Keller’s during a status update for Curl on Jan. 6.

Regina Harris, Curl’s defense attorney, said she wants to have her own forensic anthropologist, a Pennsylvania specialist in burned remains, review the remains even though the state has already reviewed them.

Harris said she needs to know that the remains do not contain any evidence that could be used in a potential trial.

The state’s report about the remains was turned over to Harris in court, which Harris said she had also been waiting for her anthropologist to review.

Campbell said he is confident the remains do not contain any evidence that would be needed in a trial.

“In the opinion of the state, [the remains] can be safely turned over to the family without compromising Curl’s right to a fair trial,” Campbell said.

Campbell also announced he had filed a motion for the state to test several DNA samples. He informed Harris that the tests may consume the entirety of the samples.

Harris said the tests would consume the blood samples because they are small in size. She said the blood samples were taken from an item from Curl’s bathroom and an item of clothing of which she does not know the origin.

The defense has no problem with the entire samples being consumed, Harris said, but she wants to have her own out-of-state DNA expert present when the tests are performed by the state.

An additional status update was set for Monday at 8:45 a.m.

On Monday, Harris will give an update on when her forensic anthropologist can fly to Illinois to review the remains and when her DNA expert can attend the blood sample testing.

Campbell said a hearing date will be set on Monday for a decision to be made about whether or not to release the remains to the Keller family.

“Whether [Harris] agrees or not, it’s our intention to ask the court to rule as soon as possible on this motion…considering the pain and suffering that is obviously being experienced by the Keller family,” Campbell said.

Campbell said Keller’s family members intend to hold a memorial service when they receive the remains.