A man who confessed to killing his stepdaughter was sentenced to life in prison.
Chyenne Kircher was 14 when she vanished October 13, 2011 from her home in East Dubuque, Illinois. The case was originally treated as a missing person situation because of a note, reportedly left by Chyenne, indicating she was running away from home.
Kircher’s stepfather, Terry Abbas, was charged with murder after authorities confirmed human remains found on land behind the home were Chyenne.
Abbas pleaded guilty to six charges in October 2013, including three counts of murder, two counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse and one count of concealing a homicidal death. Abbas admitted in Jo Daviess County Court to killing and sexually abusing Chyenne and burying her body behind their family home.
Court records show Abbas was sentenced December 6, 2013 to the maximum available term of life in prison for the sexual abuse and murder charges.