Alderman's Severed Arm Post Inflames Slain Teen's Family

WAUKEGAN, IL — An alderman is facing criticism for posting a graphic photo of an unidentified severed arm discovered at a beach in Waukegan earlier this month.

A "mostly intact" human arm found on the lakefront by someone walking on the beach on May 11 is thought to belong to a female victim, according to a representative of the Lake County Coroner's Office, which has called in a forensic anthropologist in an effort to identify its owner.

Ald. Keith Turner, 6th Ward, posted a photo of the arm on Facebook, drawing almost immediate condemnation from both sides of the Illinois-Wisconsin border.

"Shocking discovery at Waukegan Beach! A severed arm found, but no report or mention from the administration. What's the story behind this mysterious incident?" said Turner, who is challenging Waukegan Mayor Anne Taylor in next year's election.

Turner added emojis of a thinking face and a detective along with the hashtags, "#WaukeganBeach" and "#MysteryUnsolved" to the since-deleted post.

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Investigators from multiple jurisdictions believe that there is a "strong possibility" that the arm came from Sade Robinson, a 19-year-old woman killed and dismembered last month in Wisconsin. Conclusive identification is pending the results of DNA tests.

Authorities say a 33-year-old Milwaukee man murdered Robinson, who was set to graduate Milwaukee Area Technical College, after a first date at a restaurant where he used to work. Her torso and arm washed up on the South Milwaukee shoreline and her severed leg was later found in a park in Cudahy, Wisconsin. He remains jailed on a $5 million bail.

Taylor issued a statement Saturday about the alderman's social media post.

"The City of Waukegan does not comment on active criminal investigations, especially in cases where the City is not the lead agency. This policy is intended to preserve the investigation’s integrity and respect the privacy of victims and their families. That is why no public statements were made until Alderman Keith Turner posted a graphic photo of the remains on his Facebook account," Taylor said.

The mayor said Turner never contacted Waukegan police or city staff to ask about the incident before making the post.

"The City did not provide Ald. Turner with the photograph, and he was never given permission to post the photo on his Facebook page. Individual Aldermen are not authorized to speak on behalf of the City, much less for the Police Department," Taylor said.

"On behalf of the City of Waukegan, I find the posting of an image of this type to be morally disgusting, socially irresponsible, and extremely cruel to the victim’s family," Taylor said. "I hope all Waukeganites join me in prayer for the victim of this horrific crime and for the victim’s family."

Robinson's mother, Sheena Scarbrough, believes the arm belongs to her daughter. At a graduation ceremony Sunday at which she accepted Robinson's posthumous degree, she said Turner "should be ashamed of himself," WISN reported. "He's a disgrace as a professional to be doing anything of that nature and character," she said.

Scarbrough told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that she wanted the alderman to be reprimanded for his post, which she said disrespected her daughter and her legacy. She urged voters not to vote for Turner next year.

"Please do not elect an individual of his character to be your mayor, who carries on this type of disrespectful behavior. It's completely out of line," Scarbrough said. "He should know much better."