LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
DANVILLE – Dillon J. Steele, Paris, received a 30-year sentence Friday, Aug. 25, for the murder of Paris resident Anthony Rauch.
Rauch had been living with his ex-wife Melinda Warfel when Steele, who was in a relationship and Warfel, entered Warfel’s home on Feb. 15, 2020, and stabbed Rauch once. Rauch succumbed to his injury, and Steele transported the body to Indianola, where he dismembered it and burned the remains.
The cremated remains were discovered in Indianola in April 2020, and the remains were identified through DNA from Rauch’s father and son.
After testimony from Warfel, Steele pleaded guilty to a Class M Felony of first-degree murder. Judge Charles Hall sentenced him to 30 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections, and he must serve the entire sentence. He is not eligible for parole.