Man gets 75 years for murder, sexual assault of 14-year-old step-niece

VANDALIA, Ill. (WAND) - A man charged with the murder of a 14-year-old Illinois girl in November 2025 has been sentenced to 75 years in prison.

Arnold Rivera pleaded guilty in court to a murder charge and a criminal sexual assault charge. Other charges were dismissed.

WAND News partner KSDK reported in November that 14-year-old Kylie Toberman was reported missing in November, only to later be found dead.

She was living with her adopted mother and sisters.

Toberman's body was found inside a tote bag in an RV behind the home she lived in. It was an RV where Rivera lived. Rivera was Toberman's step-uncle.

Rivera had been acting as Toberman's caretaker while her stepmother underwent medical treatment.

Prosecutors said Rivera sexually assaulted Toberman in a car, strangled her with jumper cables, and then put her body inside a blue tote bag in the RV.

Rivera has a lengthy criminal past, including charges in 2000 for burglary and criminal sexual abuse of a child between the ages of 9 and 16, according to KSDK.