A quiet street in Pekin, Illinois, has become the centre of a gruesome murder investigation after police discovered the dismembered remains of two people in a residential apartment.
Nathaniel J. Muhammad, 36, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder and is being held without bond at the Tazewell County Jail. The horrifying discovery was made on Tuesday after officers were called to conduct a well-being check at the property on St. Julian Place.
According to court documents cited by local media, the situation unfolded after a domestic incident. A woman, who had recently ended her relationship with Muhammad, arrived at the apartment with a friend to retrieve her belongings. Upon entering, they made the grisly discovery and immediately alerted the authorities.
Police arrived on the scene and confirmed finding two bodies. While the victims have not been formally identified by the coroner, they are believed to be a 59-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman. Prosecutors have stated that Muhammad allegedly used a saw to dismember the victims after killing them.
Nathaniel Muhammad appeared in Tazewell County Court on Wednesday, where a judge denied him bond. The case has sent shockwaves through the local community, with residents expressing disbelief that such a brutal crime could occur in their neighbourhood.
The investigation is ongoing, with autopsies scheduled to confirm the causes of death. Further charges may be filed as evidence processing continues.
