Police have arrested a suburban Chicago couple accused of burying a newborn inside a beer box in their backyard. Nicole Pokrzywa, 36, reportedly gave birth at a home in Wilmington, Illinois, in October 2024. Following the baby’s birth, she and her partner, William Cosmen, 38, allegedly tried to dispose of the infant’s remains in a bizarre way but ultimately landed on a backyard burial. When police learned about the alleged crime, they interviewed the couple, who reportedly incriminated themselves. The pair now faces desecration of a corpse charges. But the question remains, what really happened?
According to a news release from the Will County Sheriff’s Office, Pokrzywa gave birth in October 2024, and buried the infant’s remains in a backyard on Roberts Road. Investigators began searching the property and spoke with Pokrzywa and Cosmen about the fateful fall day. The couple reportedly told police the infant was born in a toilet. But that’s not the worst part.
After the birth, Cosmen tried to “dispose of the body by forcing the body down the toilet drain with a plunger.” When that didn’t work, the couple told investigators they left the baby’s remains in the toilet until the next day. They then put the baby in plastic, covered it with a cloth, and buried the infant in a Old Style beer box.
Investigators located the infant’s body on December 5, 2025. The following day, the Will County Coroner’s Office performed an autopsy. “The pathologist concluded that the age of the female, infant child was between twenty-two to twenty-seven weeks old,” police noted in the release.
The story confused many people, who wondered what happened at birth.
“This is confusing…she gave birth prematurely at around 6/7 months, in 2024. If the infant/fetus was between 22 to 27 weeks old, that would be 5 and a half to almost 7 months along in the pregnancy. How can the baby weigh 5-7 lbs?” someone asked in the comments of the news release. “Also, if this happened over a year ago, how were authorities notified? Did an animal dig up the remains? I know these questions don’t matter… but some things aren’t adding up in my brain.”
Others thought Pokrzywa didn’t know what to do.
“Honestly probably a miscarriage and they freaked out… I’m not gonna be to harsh on judging them tilll the details come out,” another person suggested.
The Will County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Pokrzywa and Cosmen with desecration of a corpse, but they could face further charges. How heartbreaking and equally disturbing. Who tries to force an infant down a toilet?
