Juan Pio Toto was arrested and charged with one felony count of concealment of death after 23-year-old Atalia Pucheta Martinez was found deceased. | Mount Prospect Police Department
Juan Pio Toto was arrested and charged with one felony count of concealment of death after 23-year-old Atalia Pucheta Martinez was found deceased. | Mount Prospect Police Department
A 26-year-old man has been arrested and charged in connection with the discovery of a woman’s body found over the weekend in Busse Woods.
According to the Mount Prospect Police Department, Juan Pio Toto, of 1498 South Brownstone, was arrested in connection with the death of 23-year-old Atalia Pucheta Martinez, who was discovered by a motorist in the wooded area near Higgins Road in Elk Grove Village on Saturday, Nov. 9.
First responders from the Cook County Sheriff’s Department and the Cook County Forest Preserve Police Department conducted a death investigation, and upon identifying Martinez's body, Mount Prospect Police assumed control of the investigation.
The investigation led investigators to Martinez's ex-boyfriend, Toto.
Toto reportedly told investigators that he and Martinez had an argument in the parking lot outside their apartment early that morning.
According to police, Toto said Martinez fell to the ground during the dispute and hit her head.
Toto said that he placed Martinez's unconscious body in the back of his vehicle and drove her to the wooded area.
Authorities say Toto then removed her from the car and left her in the woods before driving away.
Toto has been charged with one felony count of concealment of death. During his court appearance on Tuesday, he was granted pre-trial release, placed on electronic monitoring, and ordered to surrender his passport.
Toto is restricted from leaving the state or having contact with Martinez’s family.
The investigation into Martinez’s death remains ongoing as the cause and manner of death have not yet been determined.
The Medical Examiner’s Office is awaiting additional test results and further charges may be filed pending the official ruling.
In the wake of Martinez’s death, a GoFundMe page has been established to help her family with funeral expenses.
North Cook News reached out to the Mount Prospect Police Department to inquire about Toto’s citizenship status and was informed that the information could only be provided in person and not over the phone.
Toto's next court date is on Dec. 6.
North Cook News is following this developing story.
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