NIU Killer Claims He Was Forced To Confess; Judge Rules Appeal Can Continue

SYCAMORE, IL - The man who admitted to the brutal rape and murder of 18-year-old Antinette "Toni" Killer could get another chance at freedom. A judge on Monday ruled that convicted killer William Curl's post-conviction appeals process can continue in the Northern Illinois University student's 2010 murder.

Curl, now 40, claims he was coerced into pleading guilty in Keller's murder, accusing DeKalb County prosecutors of threatening to charge his teenage son in connection with the crime, according to the DeKalb Daily Chronicle. He also claims his court-appointed attorney failed to adequately represent him and should have done more to suppress statements he made to the police during questioning in Keller's death.

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Curl's lawyer claims he was under the influence of salvia, a hallucinogenic drug, when he was questioned, and was not taking medication he had been prescribed for mental health issues, according to the Chronicle.

Keller, a freshman from Plainfield, disappeared on Oct. 14, 2010 after telling friends she was going to take photos for an art assignment at a park near campus.

Police said Curl attacked Keller in the park, raping and killing her before trying to hide the crime by setting her body on fire. Her remains were found two days after she went missing, but not positively identified until January 2011 because they were so badly burned.

Curl, who was unemployed and living in DeKalb at the time of the murder, drew the attention of investigators when he failed to show up at a second interview with police. He fled, first to Mexico, then later to Louisiana, where he was arrested, police said.

As part of his plea deal, Curl was sentenced to 37 years in prison and must serve 100 percent of the sentence. The DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s office called the sentence “the longest ever imposed at 100 percent on a negotiated plea” on a non-death penalty case in DeKalb County. Curl received credit for the more than two years he served in the DeKalb County jail while awaiting trial.

In 2013, Keller's family and their supporters objected to the plea agreement. Shortly after the deal was announced, mother Diane Killer wrote in Facebook post, “I am ashamed to be in the State of Illinois. They [knew] hew as guilty and evidence showed a strong case. Instead, a criminal gets the option of a lighter sentence for a guilty plea. So he gets off after [37] years and (father) Roger and I and RJ and Nana and Grandma Keller and all of the Keller family gets a life sentence.”

• No Trial in Toni Keller Murder: Killer Cops a Plea
• 'This Could Be Anybody Else's Kid Next Time:' Curl Gets 37 Years in Toni Keller Murder

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