A teen girl was allegedly raped and murdered by her step-uncle whose care she was left in despite him having a history of sex crimes.
Kylie Toberman, 14, was found dead in an RV on the property she was staying in Vandalia, Illinois, after a frantic hours-long search.
The teenager was last seen about 9pm on Thursday and reported missing at 6.30 the next morning, said to be wearing a red sweatshirt and black leggings.
Kylie’s body was discovered about 2.20pm that afternoon and her cause of death is still undetermined.
Her step-uncle Arnold Barry Rivera, 43, was arrested after Kylie was found, following a brief foot chase where he tried to break into neighboring homes to hide.
‘If you locate Rivera please do not approach Rivera but call 911 immediately,’ the Vandalia Police Department said in a wanted alert on Saturday.
Kylie Toberman, 14, was found dead in an RV on the property she was staying in Vandalia, Illinois, after a frantic hours-long search
Kylie’s step-uncle Arnold Barry Rivera, 43, was arrested after her body was found and charged with first-degree murder and aggravated sexual assault
Kylie’s body was discovered about 2.20pm on Friday and her cause of death is still undetermined
Rivera was charged with first-degree murder, aggravated sexual assault, and concealing a homicide, according to jail records.
He has a history of sex allegations and was charged with sexual abuse of a minor, but the case was dismissed five months later.
Kylie’s mother Meghan Zeller begged for help finding her daughter while she was still missing, then announced she was ‘no longer with us’.
‘I was young and dumb… I thought I could trust somebody and now my baby is an Angel,’ she wrote online.
‘I will not shut up or stop until my child gets justice! I will not stop until my other girls are home.’
Zeller did not have custody of the teen or her two younger daughters and Kylie’s father was dead from a drug overdose.
Kylie was said to have excelled and school and been involved in sports despite having a troubled upbringing
Kylie was on the wrestling team of her school beforer she was killed
Rivera has a history of sex allegations and was charged with sexual abuse of a minor in but the case was dismissed five months later
They were instead staying with the grandmother of one of Kylie’s sisters.
Locals said Rivera’s house was filled with dogs and their feces so the girls stayed in an RV behind it.
Kylie was said to have excelled and school and been involved in sports despite having a troubled upbringing.
Rivera was booked into the county jail at 8pm on Friday and will face court this week. The Illinois State Police is continuing to investigate.
