Chicago Police

Son Charged in Elgin Woman's Disappearance After Remains Found in Lincoln Park Lagoon

The son of a missing Elgin woman is now facing murder charges as police believe the elderly woman's remains were found inside a duffle bag in a Lincoln Park lagoon.

Brian Peck, 55, is charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a homicidal death, according to the Elgin Police Department. 

The charges come just one day after authorities said they were investigating whether the remains found in a Lincoln Park lagoon over the weekend were those of Peck's mother, Gail Peck, who disappeared while walking her dog in the northwest Chicago suburb. 

Gail Peck, 76, was last seen Friday leaving her home alongside her dog in the 700 block of Littleton Trail on the east side of Elgin. A couple of hours later, the dog returned home but Peck was nowhere to be found. 

On Tuesday, Elgin police said they had evidence the body found in the lagoon was Peck's, but DNA testing was also being conducted to "verify this evidence." 

Brian Peck, who initially reported his mother missing, was then charged with "crimes relating to the murder, dismemberment and concealment of his mother," police said. 

Fishermen found the suspected human remains Saturday morning inside a duffle bag in the neighborhood lagoon, located in the 2200 block of North Stockton Drive.

Members of the police Marine Unit responded and later discovered a second duffle bag with additional remains, police said. The remains in both bags were believed to be from the same person.

The Cook County medical examiner’s office was investigating.

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