DNA Shows Headless Skeleton Was Male

(AP)  DNA test results released Wednesday show a headless, armless skeleton found along the Des Plaines River last week was from an unidentified male, ending speculation the badly decomposed body was one of two women whose disappearances have drawn national media attention.

Results of an autopsy performed last week on the remains were inconclusive. The person had been dead several months or more, but the rib cage, spinal column and partial left and right femur bones were not enough to determine an identity, race or gender of the corpse, authorities said.

Shreds of blue jeans and a small amount of U.S. currency were also found along with the remains near the town of Channahon.

An investigation into the corpse's identity was ongoing, Illinois State Police said Wednesday in a statement.

The location of the remains in Will County prompted speculation they were related to the high-profile missing person cases of Stacy Peterson or Lisa Stebic.

Stacy Peterson's husband Drew has pleaded not guilty to killing his third wife, Kathleen Savio. He contends Stacy, his fourth wife, left him for another man when she disappeared in October 2007 and is most likely living outside Illinois.

"We can take no joy or relief in the fact that it isn't (Stacy Peterson) because some family somewhere will be grieving," Drew Peterson's attorney, Reem Odeh. "But we hope this invigorates a global search for Stacy and brings attention to the fact that she is still missing."

Savio's death was originally ruled an accidental drowning. It was reclassified as a homicide after her body was exhumed and an autopsy conducted following Stacy Peterson's disappearance.

Drew Peterson is being held at the Will County Jail on $20 million bond.

Stebic, a mother of two, was last seen in Plainfield in April 2007. Authorities have named Stebic's husband Craig a "person of interest" in her disappearance but he is not charged with any crime. He has denied any involvement.

[isc6822]

I hate to break this 'news'.. but, having Xy (so-called 'male') DNA is Not necessarily a fool-proof indication of gender... One can have these 'male' genes, and be phenotypically female, even to the point of being able to bear children. However, in such a case, a doctor will be able to tell if 'she' indeed has had a child, and, thus, this may rule out the possiblity of the remains belonging to either woman. (did Stacy or Lisa have any children?) Just the same, it sounds completely plausable, and most likely probable that the remains are those of the construction worker. Hopefully, some family will get some closure in this.

[sh81842]

Oh, my God!!! They've found Hoffa!

Seriously, a headless , armless body shows up on a river bank in Chicago? What's all the fuss about? A day WITHOUT a headless, armless body showing up somewhere in Chicago would be a bigger story.

[swingset4u]

I wonder if this could be one of the victims of a barge explosion that happened awhile back and the body of one of the crew members were never found?

[mypatch]

If this woman had just taken off , she would be using credit cards and may have a bank account somewhere. NO report of that is there? She would also come forward to claim her children and tell about her husband. The police have good reason to suspect she is dead as no communication has been reported from her family or friends. Now, weather her husband killer her or not is going to be up to a jury when they charge him with the crime. Since all it takes is circumstantial evidence to bring someone to trial these days. Now he is arrested for killing his 3rd wife. Something is rotten in the woods here.

[impeachbhb]

This is the remains of one of the terrorists who went through enhanced interrogation at GITMO. Got the goods on Bush and Chaney now!!!!!