Two individuals charged after infant’s body discovered buried in a beer box in Illinois.

A tragic incident in northeastern Illinois has led to the arrest of two individuals following the discovery of an infant’s remains concealed in a beer box. The two suspects, identified as 36-year-old Nicole Pokrzywa, the infant’s mother, and 38-year-old William Cosmen, were apprehended on Saturday by members of the Will County Sheriff’s Office. They face charges of abuse of a corpse, as reported by local law enforcement.

The investigation commenced on Thursday after authorities were alerted to a possible buried infant on a property located on Roberts Road in Wilmington, approximately 60 miles southwest of Chicago. Following this tip-off, investigators determined that Pokrzywa had given birth to a girl prematurely, and subsequently, the body was buried at the site marked with a makeshift headstone.

On Friday, officials secured the area and deployed Crime Scene Investigators to locate the remains. After excavating approximately three feet, they uncovered what appeared to be an Old Style beer box containing the wrapped remains of the infant, sealed in a plastic bag and cloth. Preliminary assessments suggest that the baby was born in October 2024, during a period when Pokrzywa was six to eight months pregnant.

Both Pokrzywa and Cosmen were taken into custody on Friday for questioning, during which they allegedly made incriminating statements about their role in concealing the infant’s death. Investigators reported that the pair indicated that Pokrzywa had delivered the child in a separate residence located in Manhattan, Illinois. Shocking accounts revealed that the infant was born in a toilet, and Cosmen attempted to dispose of the baby’s remains using a plunger to maneuver the body down a drain. However, realizing this was impossible, they chose to leave the deceased infant in the toilet overnight before ultimately wrapping her in a plastic bag and transporting her to the burial site in Wilmington.

Both suspects were formally charged on Saturday with one count each of desecration of a corpse. Law enforcement officials noted that further charges may be anticipated pending the outcomes of autopsy and toxicology reports. After being held at the Will County Adult Detention Facility, Pokrzywa and Cosmen were released later that day on a notice to appear in court.

This deeply distressing case underscores significant concerns surrounding infant mortality and the responsibilities of parents during and after childbirth. As the investigation continues, the community is left grappling with the shocking nature of this tragic event.