The investigation into the disappearance of art student Antinette "Toni" Keller is now a homicide investigation, officials said today.
But remains found in a secluded park where she was last headed are so badly burned, they can't be positively identified as Keller's, officials added. Items belonging to Keller were found near the remains, officials have said.
Officials also disclosed that the remains were found on Oct. 16, just two days after Keller disappeared. But officials said they were unable to determine whether the remains were human. It was not until a week later, on Oct. 23, that officials determined they were human and held a news conference to announce the discovery.
Police said they have no suspects at this time. They said the FBI and Illinois state police are working on the case, along with more than 40 DeKalb area police officers.
Keller, from Plainfield, disappeared after telling friends she was going for a walk toward Prairie Park, just south of Illinois Highway 38. The park remains closed.
Keller's cousin, Mary Tarling, who has been a spokeswoman for the family, said the family learned about the burned remains on Monday night from police.
"It's a level of violence that's hard to hear," she said. "We're still carrying on and looking past all of that detail toward the answers that we seek."
Tarling said she is frustrated with the lack of information from police but she understands it is to "protect the investigation."
"It's hard to take for us -- for myself and Toni's dad," Tarling said. "It's a cruel waiting game. We're trying to understand and be patient."
She said police share news with the family "slightly before" it's announced at press conferences, but they know little more than what's been released publicly. "We have no choice but to let this investigation unfold and wait with everyone else."
Tarling said she's spent a lot of time with Toni's parents at their Plainfield home, where family congregates to pray, talk and just sit together quietly. Tarling said Keller's parents won't comment on the situation.
Loe Unterborn, who attended high school with Keller and described her as a best friend, said the situation has been a nightmare for her.
"I can't get it out of my head," she said.
Keller had plans to hang out with Unterborn the Friday after she disappeared. Unterborn, who lives in Naperville and attends the College of DuPage, said the two were both vegans and often cooked together, watched movies or hung out near the large pond behind Keller's parents' home.
"We have a million inside jokes," she said.
Unterborn said she believes the police are working hard but "I wish they'd give us more information."
Andrew Buchanan, a freshman who said he was a close friend of Keller, expressed surprise and dismay that police would wait so long to disclose the finding of any remains.
"It feels like they're keeping things from us," Buchanan said. "We just want some closure."
NIU parent Ravina Ewing said she's worried about her 22-year-old daughter's safety because no one is reported to be in custody in connection with Keller's disappearance.
"You really can't sleep because you don't know what's going on," said Ewing, of Dolton. "Right now everyone is on pins and needles wondering what's going on."
Ewing said she wants her daughter to leave the college in light of the past shootings and now this. "I really want her to come home," Ewing said. "That's too much."
Ewing said she asks her daughter to call her before and after classes to make sure her she's OK.
A concerned parent from Ottawa, who did not want her name used, said she is "disturbed and upset."
"With the incidents that have happened at Northern, where is the security?" said the parent of a 21-year-old student. "It just amazes me no one could see anything."
Since the weekend, school officials have heightened security on campus and locked student dorms earlier than usual. There is a greater police presence on campus, and campus buses are running expanded hours.
But officials have been repeatedly criticized for not providing more information sooner.
Sophomore Sara Pezel said she had organized a rally Monday demanding college officials provide students more information about Keller's disappearance, but she said the rally was canceled because NIU officials warned students not to attend.
"More information could have been let out," said Pezel, of St. Charles, who said she knew Keller and lived next door to her at Neptune North residence hall. "We're not getting updates. Nobody knows what's going on. It shouldn't be like that."
University spokesman Brad Hoey said school officials never warned students not to attend the rally. There was a message about the rally on a Facebook page dedicated to Keller's disappearance, but Hoey said the posting was taken down because it wasn't approved by Keller's family or the university.
He added that campus officials have tried to give students, employees and parents as much information about the case as possible through e-mail and text advisories. The first one was posted Oct. 16, two days after Keller was last seen and the day after she was reported missing.
But Hoey said the university can release only as much information as police allow.
NIU President John Peters released a statement after the news conference today, saying he is "deeply saddened" by the new classification in the Keller case.
"Many in our community are experiencing fear, anger and outrage toward this horrific crime," he said." I share in all of these emotions as well. My heart goes out to the Keller family."
He said the university is focused on keeping students safe and encouraged parents to keep in touch with their children.
"NIU has been tested before, and we have demonstrated our resilience. In this difficult time, we must stay focused, stay strong and stay united," Peters said.
Michelle Manchir contributed to this report.
-- Becky Schlikerman and Angie Leventis Lourgos
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