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14-year-old girl found dead in Illinois; suspect with extensive record arrested

The body of Kylie Toberman, a 14-year-old wrestler, was found in a trailer hours after she was reported missing

14yearold teenage found dead in Illinois suspect with extensive record arrested
Time to Read 3 Min

A 14-year-old girl was found dead Friday in a trailer behind her home in Vandalia, Illinois, just hours after she was reported missing. The victim, identified as Kylie Toberman, was found in circumstances that authorities described as homicide. Arnold B. Rivera, 43, was arrested and charged with the young woman's murder, according to local news outlet KDSK. Police confirmed that the suspect has an extensive criminal record.

Mother's Grief and Outrage

Kylie's mother, Megan Zeller, confirmed her daughter's death on Facebook, where she expressed her despair and questioned the role of child protective services.

Zeller alleged that Kylie's legal guardian did not allow her to see the teenager or her other two daughters, and held the Department of Children and Family Services responsible for what she called a failure to protect them.

“She was young and innocent… I thought I could trust someone and now my baby is an angel. I WILL NOT BE SILENT OR STOP until justice is done for my daughter!” she wrote. In another post, the mother described the young woman as “beautiful, smart, and loving.”

It is still unclear whether the children were formally adopted or in the custody of other relatives. Zeller also mentioned that a man with the last name Rivera is Kylie's uncle, although it has not been confirmed whether there is a family relationship between this individual and the suspect.

A suspect with a serious criminal record

Rivera has a long criminal history dating back to 2000, when he was charged with robbery and criminal sexual abuse of a minor between the ages of 9 and 16. Both charges were dropped after a plea deal, in which he pleaded guilty to aggravated assault in a public place and served 30 months in prison.

In 2008, he faced justice again after pleading guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle, for which he received 24 months of probation, according to KSDK.

Now,Rivera faces new and serious charges: first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault, and concealment of a homicide. He remains in custody without bail at the Fayette County Jail and is scheduled to appear in court Monday morning.

Community mourns the loss of a young athlete

The news caused shock in Vandalia, especially among Kylie's teammates, as she was a prominent young wrestler. The Vandal Wrestling Takedown Club expressed their grief on social media.

“It is with heavy hearts that we share the news that yesterday we lost one of our wrestlers, Kylie Toberman,” the organization posted. “Our team and our community are deeply saddened by the loss of such a sweet and bright young woman.”

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