Robert Arnette Killed Naomi, Leaving 7 Children Motherless

**Lizard** · May 8th, 2008, 03:52 PM

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, IL - I encouraged Lilith to start this thread, as she knew Naomi. The short version is that Robert Arnette is in custody, accused of killing his estranged wife Naomi. She went missing in May of last year; her body was found in September. The seven children (two of which are his biological children) had lived with Robert Arnette's sister Angela Roy both before and after their mother's disappearance due to an ongoing abuse and neglect case stemming from Robert Arnette sexually molesting a child in 2005.

News today regards Roy's treatment of and behavior toward the children and the possibility of a change of venue in Robert's case:

On Wednesday, John DeLaMar,* the guardian ad litem for the children, who now range in age from 8 to 18, asked Judge Holly Clemons to issue an order of protection on behalf of the children against Roy. DeLaMar, a former Champaign County judge, alleged that the relationship between Roy and the children had seriously deteriorated. In fact, DCFS removed the children from her home and placed them with other foster families in the area in January.

DeLaMar said that Roy had refused to return various items of personal property to the children after they moved out and conducted herself "in an inappropriate manner toward (them) including the use of inappropriate, demeaning language and the discussion of inappropriate topics and invasions of privacy."

Four of Mrs. Arnette's daughters testified Wednesday that they agreed that an order of protection entered against Roy on their behalf would be a good idea.

Roy testified that she opened an account for the children at Busey Bank to which people made donations after Mrs. Arnette's disappearance. She said some of the money was used for her and five of the children to take a trip to Alabama in November, some was used to make mortgage and utility payments on Mrs. Arnette's home in Sadorus, and some was used to buy clothing for the children.

After three hours of testimony, Judge Clemons continued the hearing until later this month.

As for Robert, his request to have his trial moved elsewhere was denied Wednesday. Case is set for trial on Aug. 18.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/loc...childrens_aunt

*Not only was DeLaMar a Champaign County judge for many years, he also handled all the abuse/neglect cases. Not a bad person to have as guardian ad litem.

**Lilith** · May 9th, 2008, 10:47 AM

Thanks Lizard...
I have wanted to start this but did not know where to begin..

I think the whole situation with the kids and Angela Roy is fucked from the get go..
After all those kids have went through, and she wants to create more drama and strife?? That is just beyond my thinking.. WTF? I mean, who is the adult there? She sure the fuck is not acting like it from the things I have heard..

Good, I am glad his change of venue has been denied.. I hope he rots..

**ashdavus** · May 9th, 2008, 01:06 PM

What a bitch. I mean, honestly, using money donated for the children to make her mortgage payments? I can understand financing a vacation for the children, and I can totally understand using some for utility bills. After all, seven extra people in the house is bound to make the water bill go up. But she would have had to make that same mortgage payment regardless of whether those kids were living with her or not. GAWD, I wanna run her over with my truck!

**Lizard** · May 9th, 2008, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by ashdavus

I mean, honestly, using money donated for the children to make her mortgage payments?

I will say this, the newspaper article suggests she was using the money for mortgage payments on Naomi's house, not her own.

**ashdavus** · May 9th, 2008, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by Lizard

I will say this, the newspaper article suggests she was using the money for mortgage payments on Naomi's house, not her own.

That makes even LESS sense.

**Lizard** · May 9th, 2008, 02:31 PM

Robert:

Angela Roy:

**Lizard** · May 15th, 2008, 12:56 PM

A coroner's jury has ruled the cause of Naomi's death "undetermined."

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/loc...h_undetermined

**skeptical** · May 15th, 2008, 01:01 PM

Undetermined huh? Hope thast doesn't somehow help the bastard get away with his crime.

**Lilith** · August 2nd, 2008, 08:29 PM

URBANA – A former Champaign man accused of murdering his estranged wife and hiding her body is set to stand trial Aug. 18.

Lawyers in Robert Arnette's case Friday accepted the findings of Champaign psychiatrist Lawrence Jeckel that Arnette is fit to stand trial for the murder of Naomi Arnette, who was 36 at the time she went missing.

Her remains were found in a shallow grave in rural Sadorus on Sept. 30, 2007. She had been reported missing May 21, 2007.

Robert Arnette was charged in October with first-degree murder and concealment of a homicidal death. Authorities have never spelled out how they think Mrs. Arnette was killed.

Arnette's attorney, Assistant Public Defender Emily Monroe, asked in mid-July that Arnette be examined for his fitness to stand trial.

Judge Tom Difanis approved the request.

Arnette is being prosecuted by Assistant State's Attorney Duke Harris.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/loc..._naomi_arnette

FUCK YESSSS!!! FRY THE MOTHER FUCKER!!!!!!

**Lizard** · August 21st, 2008, 11:31 AM

All right, trial started yesterday.

A niece of Robert's testified she asked him about Naomi's death and he said that he killed her "out of frustration" by either choking or strangling her.

Robert is claiming that Naomi hung herself.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/loc...ed_wifes_death

**Gilbrit** · August 22nd, 2008, 12:03 AM

Robert is claiming that Naomi hung herself.

I'm not buying the hanging bit, Robert.
I doubt if the jury will either.

**jlt080405** · August 22nd, 2008, 12:11 AM

Thanks for the update, thank you for sharing the info, I am sorry about your friend Lilith, she looks like a wonderful soul, thanks for posting the original story liz, and the updates. Her children, my goodness it is just so sad. I hope this fucker fries

**Lilith** · August 25th, 2008, 10:41 PM

URBANA – Robert Arnette was convicted today of killing his estranged wife, Naomi, and burying her body in the woods south of Sadorus to hide the murder.

The jury of seven men and five women found the 39-year-old Arnette guilty of the charges of murder and concealment of a homicidal death. Judge Thomas Difanis set sentencing for Nov. 3. He faces 20 to 60 years in prison on the murder charge.

Mrs. Arnette was missing for more than four months before her remains were found in a shallow grave south of Sadorus, where the couple lived before they separated. She was reported missing by her sister-in-law, Angela Roy, on May 21, 2007, after she failed to show up for work.

Her body was found on Sept. 30 and the remains were confirmed, at an autopsy two days later, to match her dental records. Dr. Scott Denton, a forensic pathologist based in Bloomington, testified this morning that a rayon shirt or blouse was found twisted or rolled around the neck of Mrs. Arnette.

"It was around the neck tightly," he said.

Denton could not say with certainty just how Mrs. Arnette died.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/loc...n_wifes_murder

**Lilith** · August 25th, 2008, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by Lizard

All right, trial started yesterday.

A niece of Robert's testified she asked him about Naomi's death and he said that he killed her "out of frustration" by either choking or strangling her.

Robert is claiming that Naomi hung herself.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/loc...ed_wifes_death

I missed this one, thanks Liz

**jlt080405** · August 25th, 2008, 11:36 PM

Thanks Lilith, looks like the jury got it right! Hopefully he gets max at sentencing. What's goin on with the children lately, anyone know?

**Lizard** · August 25th, 2008, 11:47 PM

Originally Posted by jlt080405

Thanks Lilith, looks like the jury got it right! Hopefully he gets max at sentencing. What's goin on with the children lately, anyone know?

Thank God for a relatively speedy trial. Lilith may know more about the children; I only catch what's covered in the local news.

**Lizard** · January 2nd, 2009, 02:19 PM

Four of Naomi's children have been adopted.

URBANA – Among the dozens of gifts at Mark and Lisa Thurber's house under the Christmas tree this year is one that can't be covered with pretty paper and bows.

It arrived Tuesday in the form of a signed court order allowing the Sadorus couple to adopt four children whose lives were forever changed about two years ago, when their mother went missing.

...

Following the upheaval of their family home, the five girls and two boys, who now range in age from 9 to 18, went through two different foster homes before most of them ended up with the Thurbers in August.

Lisa Thurber is the first cousin of the biological father of the five older children of Mrs. Arnette. In November, she and her husband petitioned the court to adopt the four youngest children.

Mrs. Arnette's two oldest children, Karla, 18, and Clarence, 17, are still wards of the Department of Children and Family Services, but are working with the department to gain their legal independence.

...

Mrs. Arnette's 16-year-old daughter continues to live with the Thurbers as a foster child but declined to be adopted. She, too, wants to win her independence in a couple of years.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/loc...ettes_children

Also, back in November, Robert Arnette was sentenced to 65 years in prison.

http://www.news-gazette.com/news/loc...oncealing_body