Illinois Man and Accomplice Charged in Grisly Homicide and Dismemberment Case

An Illinois man has been charged after admitting to fatally stabbing his half-brother during a domestic argument. The charged individual, James Adams, 26, allegedly worked alongside the victim’s wife, Robin Turner, 62, to dismember and hide the remains, Illinois State Police reported.

On June 28, boaters in Lake Mattoon discovered a human arm, leading investigators to find additional remains identified as belonging to Dalewayne Turner, 38, through distinct tattoos.

Both Adams and Robin Turner face charges of concealment of a homicide and dismembering a human body, related to Dalewayne Turner’s death. Authorities quickly identified them as suspects, taking them into custody. Court records revealed that Adams claimed self-defense in the stabbing, stating in documents, “The one thing I will say is that I did it, but I did it out of self-defense.” Robin Turner acknowledged the men were arguing when Adams attacked her husband.

The suspects reportedly took measures to hide the crime. They used bleach to mask scents, repainted the house, burned wood paneling, and disposed of rugs. Investigators found parts of Turner’s dismembered body in a freezer and in Lake Mattoon.

In the home, a freezer contained a torso, neck, and head, but no limbs. Some remains in the lake were weighted with trash bags and duct tape. However, a bag tore, leaving a tattooed arm visible on the water’s surface.

Subsequent searches of the lake revealed more human remains. The suspects are scheduled for a detention hearing on Thursday. A GoFundMe campaign has raised over $1,300 for Turner’s funeral expenses, with a message stating, “Our brother Dalewayne E. Turner was tragically taken away from us, leaving our family heartbroken.”