Fourteen-year-old Kylie Toberman, a promising young wrestler from Vandalia, Illinois, was reported missing early on Friday morning — and heartbreakingly, her body was discovered just hours later inside an RV parked behind her own home. Authorities have since arrested Arnold B. Rivera, 43, charging him with first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, and concealing a homicidal death.
Kylie’s mother, Megan Zeller, broke the devastating news in a Facebook post, confirming her daughter’s death and railing against the legal caretaker who prevented her from seeing Kylie and her two sisters. In her grief, she wrote, “I was young and dumb … I thought I could trust somebody and now my baby is an angel. I WILL NOT SHUT UP OR STOP till my child gets justice!”
Rivera, who was taken into custody later on Friday, has a troubling criminal history. In 2000, he was charged with burglary and criminal sexual abuse of a minor aged 9 to 16 — though prosecutors dropped those counts in exchange for a guilty plea on a separate aggravated battery charge. He served roughly 30 months, and in 2008, faced another conviction for possessing a stolen vehicle, which resulted in probation.
As for the discovery: the Illinois State Police, now leading the investigation, say investigators found Kylie’s body in an RV stationed behind the home where she lived. The Fayette County Coroner’s Office has not yet released the cause or manner of death, citing ongoing inquiries.
Kylie was well known in her community — she attended Vandalia Junior High School and was a member of the Vandal Wrestling Takedown Club. Her teammates, coaches, and friends are devastated. The wrestling club shared a message on Facebook: “It is with a heavy heart that we share the news that we lost one of our wrestlers … our team and community are grieving the loss of such a sweet and bright young girl.”
The Vandalia Community Unit School District also issued a statement: they said they were deeply saddened by the loss, acknowledged the active law enforcement investigation, and promised that school counselors and crisis support would be available to students and families in the days ahead.
Rivera is being held without bond at the Fayette County Jail and is set to be arraigned on Monday morning at the Fayette County Courthouse.
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