Kevin Reid - Murder of Cerman Toney, 4 & A Parker, 19 -Investigator: Wish case of missing cousins was solved sooner
10:37 PM CDT on Sunday, March 30, 2008
(KMOV)- A top police investigator said he wishes the case of a missing pregnant teenager and her cousin could have been solved more quickly.
On Wednesday, police found the bodies of 19-year-old Anquiaette Parker and 4-year-old Cermen Toney, Jr.
A long-time suspect is now charged with murder.
A memorial on the property where prosecutors say Kevin Reid buried the 4-year-old boy and his pregnant cousin in a cistern hidden in the woods possibly as long ago as November 2005.
Hundreds spent tens of thousands of hours searching and working the case, but a lead investigator with Illinois State police said he wishes the outcome could have been different.
Police said they had met with the new owner of the property and explained about the case.
So when the property owner cleared away thick debris and discovered a hidden cistern, he called police right away and that enabled investigators to recover the victims before the crime scene could be contaminated.
Police said they logged about 1,000 hours of overtime working the case.
They also thank volunteers and other search and rescue agencies that came to help.
A memorial service will be held for Cerman Toney, Jr. Saturday April 5th at the Inner Circle Ministries located at 2109 West Main in Belleville at noon.
Trust fund information for Cerman Toney, Jr.
U.S. Bank
1000 North Highway 67.
St. Louis, Missouri 63031
http://www.kmov.com/localnews/stories/kmov_localnews_080330_cousins.17cf9d84.html