The human remains found last week in a lagoon in Chicago’s Lincoln Park were officially identified Thursday to be those of an Elgin woman whose son is already charged in her death.
The Cook County medical examiner’s office said Thursday the remains found Oct. 28 belong to Gail Peck, 76, who was reported missing the day before. An autopsy was conducted Sunday, but a cause of death is still pending. The remains — a torso and parts of two legs — were found in two duffel bags by a fisherman and divers.
Peck’s son, Brian Peck, 55, was charged Tuesday with two counts of first-degree murder and a single count of concealment of a homicidal death. Though the remains had not been positively identified at the time, officials said there was enough evidence to charge Peck. He is being held without bail in Cook County Jail.
Prosecutors said Brian Peck, who lived with his mother in the 700 block of Littleton Trail, said he killed his mother after she told him he played his Jimi Hendrix music too loudly. Peck told police he stomped on his mother’s head and neck, then “put her in a bathtub and hacked her up,” police said.
After dismembering her body, he placed the parts in luggage and duffel bags and dumped them in Lake Michigan near Diversey and Montrose harbors. Police also discovered a handsaw in the bag with the remains found in the lagoon.
Peck reported his mother missing to police Oct. 27, saying she went to walk the dog but the dog returned home without her. Police said they began to doubt Brian Peck’s account, and soon found a large bloodstain and cleaning supplies in Gail Peck’s bedroom.
After investigators showed Brian Peck video footage of him buying luggage, bricks and duffel bags, along with photos of the newly discovered remains, he changed his story, police said.
Police continue to search Montrose Harbor for additional remains, officials said.
Twitter @knthayer
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