Man charged after woman’s body discovered in Busse Woods

MOUNT PROSPECT, Ill. – A man has been charged in connection with the discovery of a body in Busse Woods on Saturday .

At around 9:30 a.m. Saturday, authorities said a motorist noticed someone lying in Busse Woods near Higgins Road, about one mile west of Arlington Heights Road. First responders arrived and found the body of a woman who has since been identified as 23-year-old Atalia Pucheta Martinez.

After the body was identified, the Mount Prospect Police Department began investigating and interviewed Martinez's ex-boyfriend, 26-year-old Juan Pio Toto.

Toto told police he and Martinez got into an argument in the parking lot outside of their apartment early Saturday morning. During the argument, Toto said Martinez fell to the ground and hit her head, according to investigators.

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Police said Toto then put Martinez in the backseat of his vehicle and drove her to a wooded area, removed her from the vehicle and placed her body in the wooded area. He then drove off.

Toto was arrested and charged with one count of concealment of death, a non-detainable charge.

Toto appeared in Rolling Meadows Court Tuesday and was granted pre-trial release. However, he has been place on electronic monitoring and was ordered to turn in his passport. He is not allowed to leave the state or have contact with Martinez's family and is due back in Rolling Meadows Court on Dec. 6 at 9 a.m.

The Mount Prospect Police Department is continuing to investigate Martinez's death in conjunction with the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office and the Cook County State's Attorney's Office.

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The Medical Examiner's Office is waiting for further test results before making a final conclusion on the cause and manner of Martinez's death.

Investigators said any potential additional charges being filed would happen after an official ruling on the cause and manner of death.

Anyone with additional information is asked to call the Mount Prospect police at 847-870-5656.