A 14-year-old Illinois girl, Kylie Toberman, was discovered deceased in an RV located behind her residence, mere hours after she was reported missing last Friday. Arnold B. Rivera, a 43-year-old man with a history of legal troubles, has been charged with her murder.
Toberman, a promising young wrestler, was reported missing from her Vandalia home around 6:30 a.m. on Friday. Her body was discovered later that same day. Megan Zeller, Toberman’s mother, confirmed the tragic news of her daughter’s death on social media.
Zeller expressed her grief and frustration on Facebook, stating that she was not allowed to see her daughter or her two other children due to restrictions imposed by the teen’s legal guardian. She also criticized the Department of Children and Family Services. Zeller vowed to fight for justice for her daughter, describing her as “beautiful, intelligent, and caring.”
The specifics of the girls’ living arrangements and custody status remain unclear. Zeller did, however, share some details about her daughter’s family connections, revealing that a man with the same last name as Rivera is her daughter’s uncle, although the relationship between the two men is not known.
Rivera has a criminal history, including charges of burglary and child sexual abuse dating back to 2000. These charges were dropped in exchange for a guilty plea on a separate case of aggravated battery in a public place. Rivera served 30 months as part of this plea deal. In 2008, he was back in court, pleading guilty to possession of a stolen vehicle, for which he received 24 months probation.
Rivera now faces charges of first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and concealing a homicidal death. His arraignment is scheduled for Monday morning at the Fayette County Courthouse. He is currently being held without bond at the Fayette County Jail.
The Vandalia Wrestling Takedown Club, where Toberman was a member, expressed their sorrow over the loss of the young wrestler. They described her as a “sweet and bright young girl” and stated that her loss was deeply felt by the team and the community.