A Carbondale woman has been arrested on charges of first degree murder for the killing of a Mt. Vernon woman whose burned body was found in August, authorities said.

Lauren L. Stinde, 23, of Carbondale, is charged with murdering and concealing the death of Robin L. Stief, according to a news release from the Jackson County State’s Attorney. Her bond is set at $1 million.

Stief’s body was discovered Aug. 30 when firefighters responded to reports of something burning near Piles Fork Creek. The remains of a woman were found in a metal trash can. Stief had been reported missing by family members on Aug. 25, five days before her body was found.

Stinde is the third suspect charged in the case following a two-month investigation led by Carbondale police. Earlier in October, Robert Dennis, 25, of Carbondale, and Tiesha Anderson, 22, of Collinsville, were both arrested on charges of concealment of a homicidal death. They are due to appear in court Nov. 3.

Details surrounding Stief’s death are sparse. Police have said little about the circumstances that led to her death, and the medical examiner’s office has declined to share the cause of death with the Daily Egyptian.

No additional charges had been filed against Dennis or Anderson as of Monday.

Campus editor Bill Lukitsch can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @lukitsbill.

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