The DeKalb County Major Case Squad announced today that DeKalb Police Chief Bill Feithen will be the sole spokesperson and chief investigator of the search for missing NIU student Antinette Keller.

At the DeKalb County Farm Bureau, 1350 W. Prairie Drive, Sycamore, the DeKalb County Major Case Squad briefed the press on the investigation.

This multi-jurisdictional unit consists of law enforcement from DeKalb, Sycamore, NIU and the DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department and Illinois State Police.

“There are 40 investigators on this case,” Feithen said.

Feithen said the major case squad has been around for roughly 14 years.

The search for Keller has involved different areas of interest, none of which are closed.

“We continue to look at all avenues of this case,” Feithen said.

Feithen declined to comment on questions concerning foul play, Keller running away or a history of running away, and information that develops from sources at this point in the investigation.

An alert from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children released earlier this week indicated Keller may have traveled to California.

Feithen said that possibility was ruled out. He said the lead was connected to a close friend who was going to travel to the state.

Feithen said that no additional help is needed in searching for Keller.

“If we felt additional search teams [were] necessary, we would bring them in,” he said. He said that at this point the major case squad feels confident in what it has.

So far law enforcement has not eased its efforts to find Keller.

Feithen said there are searches every day for Keller.

In conjunction with foot and dog searches, Feithen said two air searches have been conducted, as well as a water search with help from the St. Charles Fire Department Dive Team.

Also, the major case squad is still investigating items of interest and interviewing anyone who may have information, Feithen said.

As far as other areas outside of DeKalb County are concerned, Feithen said investigators are reaching out, but declined to comment on any exact locations.

Although a rumor that a body was found in a Malta cornfield Wednesday night was rejected as being untrue by DeKalb County Sheriff Roger Scott, Feithen said the reason for the rumor may be linked to a person who said they may have spotted someone fitting Keller’s description.

Feithen said that some pieces of information may have been misheard or may have become mixed up as they were passed along.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to call one of the following numbers:

815-748-8407

815-753-TIPS

or DeKalb County Crime Stoppers at 815-895-3272