Illinois Couple Charged After Infant's Remains Found Buried In Beer Box

Content warning: The following article contains disturbing descriptions.

An Illinois couple, Nicole Pokrzywa, 36, and William Cosmen, 38, were arrested after Will County deputies discovered the remains of an infant buried in an Old Style beer box on a Wilmington property, according to a sheriff's office statement.

Investigation Details

Deputies responded to a report of a "possible buried infant" and uncovered remains wrapped in plastic and cloth inside a beer carton buried about 36 inches underground. The sheriff's office said Pokrzywa gave birth to the infant in October 2024.

Authorities say both suspects told investigators the baby was born in a toilet and that Cosmen attempted to force the body down the drain using a plunger. When the remains would not pass through the toilet, the infant was allegedly left there overnight before being wrapped in a shirt and plastic and transported to the burial site.

According to law enforcement, the pair described digging a hole they estimated at roughly three feet wide by four feet deep to place the box containing the remains.

Forensic Findings And Charges

A forensic pathologist determined the child was approximately 22 to 27 weeks' gestational age at the time of death. The sheriff's office also reported that Cosmen told officers the infant had weighed between 5 and 7 pounds at birth — a claim that would typically be inconsistent with the stated gestational age and that investigators said will be examined further during testing.

Both Pokrzywa and Cosmen have been charged with desecration of a corpse. Authorities said additional charges may be filed after laboratory testing on the remains is completed. It was not immediately clear whether either has entered a plea, and police did not specify whether Cosmen is the child's father.

"Both subjects stated the infant was born in a toilet and that efforts were made to dispose of the body," the Will County Sheriff's Office said in a press release.

Investigators continue to probe the circumstances and await forensic results. The sheriff's office has released limited information while the inquiry remains active.

Source: Will County Sheriff's Office and PEOPLE.