Illinois Couple Accused of Trying to Flush Newborn Down Toilet Before Burying Her in Beer Box

WILMINGTON, Ill. — A disturbing investigation in Will County has led to the arrest of a couple accused of attempting to dispose of their newborn daughter in unthinkable ways.

According to the Will County Sheriff’s Office, 36-year-old Nicole Pokrzywa and 38-year-old William Cosmen are facing charges after deputies uncovered details of what happened inside their Wilmington home.

Investigators say Pokrzywa gave birth in the bathroom while she was roughly six to eight months pregnant, and the baby was delivered directly into the toilet. Authorities allege the couple then tried to flush the infant down the drain, even using a plunger in the attempt. When that failed, the newborn’s body was reportedly left in the toilet overnight.

The next morning, the pair removed the baby from the home and traveled to another property. Deputies say they dug a shallow grave—about three feet deep—and placed the infant inside an Old Style beer box that had been wrapped in a plastic bag and cloth. The grave was marked only with a single stone.

Sheriff’s detectives eventually located the site and oversaw a careful excavation, confirming the remains were those of a newborn girl. Officials have not released how they were led to the location.

This report was compiled using information gathered from law enforcement statements, official press releases, and publicly available news sources.

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Both Pokrzywa and Cosmen were taken into custody after investigators recovered the body. During interviews, the couple gave nearly identical stories about the birth, the failed attempt to hide the infant in the toilet, and the later burial.

They are currently charged with desecration of a corpse, a felony under Illinois law. Additional charges are expected once the autopsy and forensic examinations are complete, including the possibility of homicide-related charges depending on the baby’s cause of death.

The investigation remains ongoing as deputies continue to piece together the events leading up to the tragic discovery.