An Illinois couple has been charged and released after detectives discovered the remains of an infant girl buried in a beer box in a Wilmington backyard.
The investigation began on Thursday, December 4, when the Will County Sheriff’s Office received a tip about a possible unreported burial on the 1900 block of Roberts Road. Sources said a 36-year-old woman had given birth in October 2024 and the child had been buried on the property. Investigators noted the burial site was marked with a large rock.
On Friday morning, deputies detained Nicole Pokrzywa, 36, of Wilmington, and William Cosmen, 38, of Manhattan while securing the property. Crime Scene Investigators excavated the site and found an Old Style beer box containing the remains of a female infant wrapped in cloth and a plastic bag.
During questioning, the couple reportedly described harrowing events leading to the burial. They allegedly said Pokrzywa gave birth at a home on North Street in Manhattan, with the baby born in a toilet. Cosmen allegedly attempted to dispose of the infant by forcing it down the drain with a plunger. When the body did not fit, they reportedly left it in the toilet overnight, then later wrapped the infant in a green shirt and plastic bag and transported her to the Wilmington property for burial.
A forensic pathologist with the Will County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy on Saturday, concluding the infant was between 22 and 27 weeks old. Further testing is required to determine the exact cause of death and whether the child was born alive.
The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Pokrzywa and Cosmen with one count of Desecration of a Corpse. Under state law, the charge is classified as a non-detainable offense, so both suspects were processed and released with a Notice to Appear for a future court date.
Sheriff’s officials said the investigation is ongoing, and additional charges could be filed pending further forensic testing.