A couple in Illinois has been charged and released after detectives unearthed the remains of an infant girl buried inside 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 at a property on the 1900 block of Roberts Road. Sources indicated that a 36-year-old woman had given birth in October 2024 and that the child had been buried on the premises.
According to investigators, the burial site was marked by a large rock.
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On Friday morning, deputies detained Nicole Pokrzywa, 36, of Wilmington, and William Cosmen, 38, of Manhattan, while securing the property for a search. Crime Scene Investigators began excavating the area identified by the tip. After digging down about three feet, they discovered an Old Style beer box. Inside, wrapped in cloth and a plastic bag, were the remains of a female infant.
During questioning, both Pokrzywa and Cosmen reportedly provided detectives with a harrowing account of the events leading to the burial.
The pair allegedly told investigators that Pokrzywa gave birth at a home on the 400 block of North Street in Manhattan. They stated the baby was born into a toilet. According to the police report, Cosmen attempted to dispose of the body by forcing it down the drain with a plunger.
When they realized the infant—described by the suspects as weighing five to seven pounds—would not fit, they reportedly left the body in the toilet overnight. The couple later removed the infant, wrapped her in a green shirt and a plastic bag, and transported her to the Roberts Road property in Wilmington for burial.
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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. Due to the level of decomposition, further testing is required to determine the exact cause of death and if the child was born alive.
The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged both Pokrzywa and Cosmen with one count of Desecration of a Corpse.
Despite the nature of the allegations, the charge is currently classified as a non-detainable offense under state law. Consequently, both suspects were processed at the Will County Adult Detention Facility on Saturday afternoon and released with a Notice to Appear for a future court date.
Sheriff’s officials noted that the investigation is ongoing and additional charges could be filed pending further forensic testing.
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