REMAINS OF INFANT EXHUMED BY INVESTIGATORS; 1-YEAR-OLD MORTON GIRL DIED IN 1976

Tazewell County authorities this week exhumed the remains of a 1-year-old infant as part of a criminal investigation into the child's death 17 years ago.

Authorities were saying little about the investigation into the Sept. 2, 1976, death of Danielle Christine Neal, whose parents lived in Morton until shortly before she died.

But Assistant State's Attorney Kirk Schoenbein, who was present when the infant's remains were exhumed Tuesday morning, said that representatives of the state's attorney's office and the sheriff's department took the action after getting a court order.

An autopsy on the remains was conducted Tuesday, and they were reburied the same day in Roberts Cemetery, Schoenbein said. Autopsy results probably won't be in for a week or two, he said.

Danielle Neal, the daughter of Glenn and Vicky Neal, died at Saint Francis Medical Center, where she had been a patient since Aug. 30, 1976, according to the infant's obituary.

When the child died, her parents were living in Toledo, Ohio. No phone number for them could be found there.

Born in Korea, Danielle Neal came with her parents to the United States in April 1976, her obituary said.