Case Against Macomb Man Accused of Murdering 21-Year-Old Could Start Mid-November
Morgan Bearce, who has been accused of killing 21-year-old Bryson Saddoris, in July 2025, appeared before Circuit Court Judge Nigel Graham June 17 for another pre-trial hearing.
According to Bearce's attorneys, Mark Wykoff and Daniel Fultz, their client will be ready for trial Nov. 16.
On the defendant's motion, the case has been continued to a pre-trial conference Sept. 9 at 11 a.m. Graham also ordered the continued detention of Bearce for the protection of the community. The 25-year-old Macomb man has been charged with first-degree murder for the July 29, 2025 shooting death of Saddoris at 625 N. Randolph St. Bearce has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial.
Previously, police reported Bearce admitted that he shot Saddoris six times with a revolver, claiming he fired the additional shots to “put the victim out of his misery' after the initial gunshot. A second man, Sean Hayes, was initially arrested but was released Aug. 19, after charges were dropped by McDonough County State's Attorney Matt Kwacala, who said there was new evidence that supported Hayes' release. After his release, the 38-year-old was arrested a few months later for two counts of disorderly conduct Oct. 3 for allegedly threatening a McDonald's employee, as well as threatening an individual near T.J. Maxx. On April 24, Hayes was arrested for allegedly stealing copper from utility vehicles.
He was charged with possession of stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hayes was released and was set to appear in McDonough County Circuit Court on the latest charges; however, a contempt warrant was recently issued after he failed to show up for a court date.
Authorities stated all three men (Bearce, Saddoris and Hayes) were smoking methamphetamine at Bearce's Randolph Street home at the time of the incident. Hayes initially denied involvement in the shooting but reportedly had admitted to photographing the Saddoris' body and cleaning the crime scene.
Bearce claims that he was in another room of the home when he heard a gunshot in his kitchen. He told police he found Hayes in the kitchen standing over Saddoris, holding a shotgun.
He then allegedly handed Bearce a revolver and instructed him to put the victim out of his misery. Bearce admitted to emptying the revolver on the victim. The crime was discovered a few days later when police descended on the home as Bearce loaded a car with drugs and guns. He initially told police that it was 'Sean's mess' in the laundry room. The crime was brought to the attention of law enforcement after Hayes allegedly posted a photo on social media of Saddoris following the shooting.
