4 children of murdered Illinois mother adopted

URBANA -- A couple from Urbana adopted four children whose mother was reported missing before her body was found in a wooded area a few miles from her home.

Mark and Lisa Thurber have received a signed court order allowing the Sadorus couple to adopt four of the late Naomi Arnette's seven children.

The 36-year-old Arnette went missing in May 2007. Her body was found four months later and her estranged husband found guilty of her murder in August. Robert Arnette was sentenced to 65 years in prison.

Two of Arnette's older children are 17 and 18-years-old and working to gain their independence from the state Department of Children and Family Services. Her 16-year-old daughter lives with the Thurbers but declined to be adopted.