An Illinois teen was found dead in an RV behind her home hours after she was reported missing Friday — and a suspect who had prior run-ins with the law was charged with murdering the promising young wrestler.
Arnold B. Rivera, 43, allegedly killed 14-year-old Kylie Toberman, who was reported missing in Vandalia around 6:30 a.m. Friday. Her body was found that afternoon, KDSK reported.
Toberman’s mother, Megan Zeller, confirmed her daughter’s death on Facebook.
Zeller wrote that Kylie’s legal caretaker would not permit her to see the teen or her two other daughters and lambasted the Department of Children and Family Services.
“I was young and dumb… I thought I could trust somebody and now my baby is an Angel. I WILL NOT SHUT UP OR STOP till my child gets justice!” Zeller wrote on Facebook.
“My baby was sooo BEAUTIFUL, intelligent && caring,” the heartbroken mother added in a separate post.
It’s unclear if the girls were formally adopted or placed in the custody of related family members.
Zeller also dropped crumbs of information about Kylie’s living situation and family tree. She clarified that a man who shares Rivera’s last name is her daughter’s uncle, though it’s unclear if the two men are related.
Rivera was previously charged with burglary and criminal sexual abuse of a child between the ages of 9 and 16 in 2000. Both charges were dropped in exchange for a guilty plea on a separate case where Rivera was charged with aggravated battery in a public place, KSDK reported.
He served 30 months as part of the deal, but was right back in court in 2008 and pleaded guilty to possessing a stolen vehicle. There, he was slapped with just 24 months probation, according to the outlet.
Now, he’s facing charges for first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault and concealing a homicidal death.
Rivera is scheduled to be arraigned Monday morning at the Fayette County Courthouse. He is being held without bond at the Fayette County Jail.
“It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that we lost one of our wrestlers, Kylie Toberman, yesterday,” the Vandal Wrestling Takedown Club wrote on Facebook.
“Our team and community are grieving the loss of such a sweet and bright young girl.”
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