Puccio is one of five people charged in the killing and dismembering a woman in Urbana who identify themselves as members of a loose-knit group the FBI knows as a growing gang.
The group includes Puccio, 25; Kandis Forney and Andrew Forney, 25 and 26, both of Michigan; Christopher Wright, 37, and Sharon Cook, 25, both of Urbana. All were charged in the death of 21-year-old Jessica Rae Sacco, who was found in the bathroom of her apartment on 625 W. Light St. on March 30, 2012.
Champaign County Coroner Joshua Richards said an autopsy revealed that Sacco's skin showed signs consistent with suffocation. She had also suffered a stab wound in her upper abdomen, although it was not a fatal injury.
Sacco was not pregnant, although there had been rumors that she was, Richards said.
A friend of Puccio and the Forneys said she and the others are part of the Juggalos, people known to like Insane Clown Posse and other Psychopathic Records hip hop groups. The friend, Linda, did not want her full name used to protect her identity.
Juggalos have been identified by the FBI as a loosely-organized hybrid gang that is rapidly growing across the U.S. According to the FBI, the group is somewhat transient in nature and its members are often involved in simple assault, personal drug use and possession, petty theft and vandalism. Social networking has helped the group expand, according to the FBI.
Linda said she, Puccio, the Forneys, Cook and Wright are all Juggalos, but she said it was mostly for the love of the music. She described Sacco as being "on the outside" of the Juggalos group, although Sacco also associated herself with them via Facebook.
"(Juggalos) aren't bad people. We're not really a gang," Linda said. "It's because of the code words we use."
Andrew Miller said he was once a fan of the group and defended its supporters.
"These ICP fans are the most non-racist, non-hating people," the Springfield resident said. "Their songs talk about bigotry and how evil it is."
Cook and Wright were arraigned April 2 in Champaign County on charges involving abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence.
Puccio and the Forneys were arrested in Hamilton on March 31. On April 2, they waived extradition in Butler County Common Pleas Court and were brought back to Champaign County.
Staff writer Megan Gildow-Anthony and the Associated Press contributed to this report.