Editor's note: This story contains details of violence and may not be suitable for all readers
Police believe meth use and money from stolen, pawned items may have been factors in the grisly killing of a man at a home on North Randolph Street in Macomb early Friday.
Sean Hayes, 37, Macomb, and Morgan Bearce, 24, Macomb, both face two counts of first degree murder in the shooting death of Bryson Saddoris, 21, Macomb.
The men appeared for an initial hearing Tuesday from a video feed.
McDonough County Assistant State's Attorney Susan Maxwell said an ongoing investigation by the Macomb Police Department revealed the three were smoking methamphetamine in a bedroom at 625 N. Randolph St.
She said Hayes asked Saddoris to go into the kitchen with him for a private conversation. Bearce couldn't hear what they were saying, but then heard a gunshot ring out.
He followed the sound and saw the victim on the kitchen floor with Hayes standing over him, holding a shotgun.
Hayes told Bearce the victim was still breathing, and coerced him to use a revolver to "put him out of his misery," according to police. Bearce admitted to shooting the victim six more times.
Maxwell said there was no fight or altercation between the men, but authorities believe there was a disagreement over money earned from pawning stolen items.
Police believe the incident played out in the early morning hours of Friday, because police said Bearce showed up on a neighbor's doorstep Friday at 3 a.m. in hysterics and not making sense. The neighbor told him to leave and come back later when he'd gotten himself together.
Additional evidence of the time of death came from an autopsy performed by McDonough County Coroner Eric Jameson. He told Community News Brief that the victim had likely been dead for more than 48 hours before police made the discovery.
Police are called over photo
Police began investigating events at the home Sunday when called by a man who said a third person had viewed a photo from Hayes that showed a dead body wrapped in a blanket.
The floor and room in the photo was identified as the laundry room of the Randolph Street residence. Hayes had allegedly identified the body in the photo to the unnamed viewer as Saddoris.
Police were unable to track down Saddoris, and discovered he hadn't been heard from by acquaintances in days.
At that time, Macomb police began a surveillance operation on the Randolph Street home.
It was then that officers witnessed Bearce burning something in the back yard and moving items from the residence into a vehicle parked behind the residence.
Maxwell said, in the meantime, police were able to track down Hayes. When confronted, he threw up his hands and proclaimed, "I didn't do s--."
Hayes showed police the photo in question, but said he had only seen the body while visiting the home to smoke methamphetamine. He admitted to taking the photo of Saddoris' body, but claimed it was only after Bearce showed him.
Investigation begins at the residence
Police apprehended Bearce at the home without incident on Sunday night.
Maxwell said when he was asked what was in the laundry room, he replied, "Sean's mess."
Police found the victim's body in the laundry room, wrapped in a sleeping bag, plastic and tape.
Authorities say the pair apparently attempted to clean up the scene with bleach, towels and fire. Police found a tooth and jaw bone remnants in a burn pit in the backyard.
In the vehicle Bearce was seen loading, they found a shotgun, a revolver, ammunition, methamphetamine and cocaine. In a shed, they found bloody towels with bleach stains.
Maxwell said there was blood spatter found in various areas of the kitchen.
Police were on the property for approximately 12 hours completing their work.
Tuesday's hearing
Judge Nigel Graham ordered both held in the McDonough County Jail citing a danger to the public.
Graham noted Hayes' long criminal history, which includes 13 felony convictions and violent crimes.
As soon as Graham ended the hearing, Hayes appeared to stand up and say, "Nobody wants to take my alibi," followed by further indistinguishable shouting.
Graham noted that Bearce is on probation for drug-related crimes in McLean County and being in possession of a firearm and narcotics was in direct violation.
Assistant Public Defender John P. Sheehan argued that Bearce should be granted home confinement because he admitted to being coerced into participating in the shooting after the victim was already fatally wounded. Jameson's report indicated that the initial shotgun firing – birdshot to the head – was fatal.
Graham denied the request.
Both men face a sentence of 45 years to life in prison. They are scheduled to appear again on August 18. In addition to first-degree murder, both men are charged with obstruction of justice for allegedly attempting to clean up a crime scene.
According to property tax records, the home is owned by the Bearce family.
On Sunday night, police radio traffic indicated that an intoxicated female was taken from the home, but that individual is not included in current public reports.
