A teenager from Illinois was discovered deceased in an RV located behind her residence, just hours after she was reported missing on Friday. A man with a troubled past has been charged in connection with her death.
Arnold B. Rivera, 43, faces allegations of murdering 14-year-old Kylee Toberman, who was last seen in Vandalia around 6:30 a.m. on Friday. Reports indicate that her body was found later that afternoon, according to information shared by local news.
Kylee’s mother, Megan Zeller, confirmed the tragic news on Facebook, expressing her heartbreak.
In her posts, Zeller criticized the Department of Children and Family Services, revealing that her daughter’s legal custodian had denied her visitation with Kylee and her other daughters.
“I was young and foolish… I thought I could trust anyone, but now my baby is an angel. I will not be silent or stop until my child receives justice!” she stated online.
In a separate message, Zeller remembered her daughter as “so beautiful, smart and caring.”
The details regarding the girls’ formal custody—whether they were adopted or placed in a relative’s care—remain unclear.
Zeller also provided snippets about Kylie’s family situation, stating that a man sharing Rivera’s last name is Kylee’s uncle, though their exact relationship is uncertain.
Rivera’s criminal background includes a 2000 charge for robbery and sexual abuse of a child aged between 9 and 16. Those charges were dismissed as part of a plea deal in which he accepted guilt for aggravated assault, leading to a 30-month prison sentence. In 2008, he pleaded guilty again, this time for possessing a stolen vehicle, which resulted in 24 months of probation.
Currently, he is facing charges of first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual conduct, and concealment of a murder-death.
Rivera is set to appear in Fayette County Court for arraignment on Monday morning and is being held without bail.
The Vandal Wrestling Takedown Club expressed their sorrow on Facebook, saying, “It is with great sadness that we share the news that we lost one of our wrestlers yesterday, Kylie Toberman,” and added that the team and community are grieving for such a thoughtful and bright young girl.
