Forensic analysts have identified the human remains found in Prairie Park on Oct. 16 as those of NIU student Antinette “Toni” Keller.

Forensic analysts were able to match DNA from a piece of femur bone to DNA swabs taken from Keller’s mother and father, said Bill Engerman, DeKalb County first assistant state’s attorney.

The identification was announced at the DeKalb County Courthouse Jan. 6 during a court appearance for William P. Curl, 34, the man charged with Keller’s murder.

“To be able to confirm that the remains are [Keller’s] brings closure to that issue, at least,” said Clay Campbell, DeKalb County state’s attorney, during a press conference after the hearing. “[It is] a necessary step in the continued prosecution of this case.”

Regina Harris, , DeKalb County public defender and Curl’s defense attorney, said she was not surprised with the results of the DNA analysis.

“I think everyone anticipated that these remains would belong to Antinette Keller,” Harris said.

Curl’s next court date is scheduled for Feb. 17 at 8:45 a.m. for a further status update on the evidence that Harris received from the state’s attorney Dec. 9 and Jan. 6.

During the court proceedings, Engerman turned over to Harris forensic analysis reports and chain of custody documents detailing the handling of pieces of evidence during the course of the investigation.

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

During a status update for Curl Dec. 9, the state turned over to the defense all handwritten police notes, case reports, case photographs and DVDs of Curl’s interviews conducted by the DeKalb County Major Case Squad. The state also turned over surveillance footage pertaining to the investigation from 7-Eleven, 802 S. Fourth St., Taco Bell, 1209 W. Lincoln Highway, and Casey’s General Store, 1001 N. Annie Glidden Road.

“I’ve been tendered thousands of pages,” Harris said in court. “I’m going to need time to [review them].”

DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen said during the press conference that he had notified Keller’s family of the identification prior to the hearing.

Keller was last seen on Oct. 14 and reported missing on Oct. 15. Burned remains were found in a dense area of Prairie Park on Oct. 16 but were not identified as human until Oct. 23. Items believed to belong to Keller – a burned camera, cell phone and clothing – were found near the remains, leading police to believe they belonged to the missing student.

Curl was taken into custody Oct. 26 in Covington, Louisiana for unlawful possession of a converted motor vehicle and obstruction of justice for failing to appear for his second interview with DeKalb Police, impeding the investigation into Keller’s disappearance.

Curl is charged with arson, sexual criminal assault and five counts of first-degree murder.

Results are still pending from a DNA sample Harris agreed to have Curl provide Nov. 30. The prosecution filed a motion Nov. 19 requesting Curl’s DNA sample after Curl described details of Keller’s death, including the clothes and shoes he was wearing at the time, in a police interview. Police found blood-stained shoes in a garbage dump search that may belong to Curl. Harris said it could be months before the state crime lab can provide the results from the DNA sample.

Harris said on Dec. 9 she does not want Curl arraigned or brought before the judge to plead guilty or not guilty before she has the results of his psychological evaluation, which she requested during Curl’s status hearing Nov. 1.

“He’s had a long mental health history and educational issues as well, so I’m looking into all of that at this point,” she said.

Harris said Curl has been hospitalized for mental health issues in the past.

As of Curl’s most recent hearing, Harris said his evaluation is still ongoing.

Curl is being held on $5 million bond. He would need to post $506,500 bail, 10 percent of his bond total for all nine charges, to be released from DeKalb County Jail.

Curl is innocent until proven guilty.