ROMEO, Mich. – The court has requested more time to review the police interrogation of a man accused of killing and dismembering a 19-year-old Macomb Township man.
Andrew Fiacco, 19, was in court Thursday for a preliminary examination hearing on charges connected with Stephen McAfee's murder. Fiacco is charged with first-degree murder, disinterment and mutilation of a dead body, lying to a police officer and felony firearms violations.
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After more testimony from Detective Mark Morfino, lead investigator on the case, both defense attorney David Griem and assistant Macomb County prosecutor Bill Cataldo agreed they would like to view a video and the transcript of Fiacco's interview with law enforcement after his arrest in April. The parties will talk next week to decide on a date to resume the hearing.
This hearing will decide if Fiacco and codefendant Eevette Renee MacDonald are going to trial. MacDonald, 18, is charged with accessory after the fact to a felony, disinterment and mutilation of a dead body and lying to a police officer. She is accused of helping Fiacco dispose of McAfee's body and lying to police about the killing.
Wednesday's hearing
The preliminary examination got underway Wednesday. Fiacco and his ex-girlfriend MacDonald both were in court where police testified a single tip led them to a break in the case. Disturbing details already had emerged the last time Fiacco and MacDonald were in court for charges in connection with McAfee's death and dismemberment. On Wednesday, medical examiner Dr. Daniel Spitz described finding part of the 19-year-old's body in a shallow grave. Spitz testified about the day McAfee's remains were found hidden in two different locations on Macomb County.
Case background
McAfee went missing from his Macomb Township home in March 2016. Detectives searched for any sign of him as they followed up on tips. Posters were placed around the community and even a private investigator was hired to help figure out what happened to the 19-year-old. But the case went cold.
More than a year later, in April 2017, a female walked into the Macomb County Sheriff's Department and revealed Eevette Renee MacDonald, 18, allegedly confided in her that she helped dispose of McAfee's body by hiding it in shallow graves near the Fiacco family home in Ray Township. Other remains were left at the scene of the murder near 34 Mile Road and Van Dyke.
On April 27, 2017, Sheriff’s investigators searched two locations: A vacant property in Bruce Township and Fiacco’s home in Ray Township. Evidence and remains were located at both locations, the Sheriff's Office said. Lower extremity remains and a skull were found buried near Fiacco's home, investigators said. Neighbors told Local 4 they watched as a person wearing a jail jump suit showed investigators the area behind the home.
READ: Stephen McAfee murder: Timeline of events
Confession
Investigators said Fiacco eventually admitted to shooting McAfee in the face when McAfee allegedly attacked him. But that was after a year of Fiacco denying he had any knowledge of McAfee's disappearance.
"(Fiacco) did admit that he drove Mr. McAfee from a Macomb Township location to an address and area at 34 Mile Road in Bruce Township, and they both walked to a wooded area. At one point during their travels he alleged that Mr. McAfee attacked him and (Fiacco) was in possession of a firearm at the time. He did admit that he fired three shots, one into the stomach of Mr. McAfee. And he stated after Mr. McAfee remained on the ground he fired two more shots into Mr. McAfee's back. He subsequently left the scene," Morfino testified in April.
MacDonald told investigators Fiacco killed McAfee and showed her the body about a month later, Morfino said.
"She indicated both of them took an ax recovered from Mr. Fiacco's house and cut the body in half," Morfino testified. "They retrieved the lower extremities of Mr. McAfee and also his skull, placed it in a duffel bag and transported it to (Fiacco's) residence. After that they buried the skull and lower extremities at Mr. Fiacco's residence."
READ: Gruesome details emerge during suspects' arraignments in Stephen McAfee murder
Morfino said MacDonald later burned the duffel bag.
Murder, disinterment charges
Fiacco is charged with first-degree murder, disinterment and mutilation of a dead body, lying to a police officer and felony firearms violations. During his arraignment the prosecutor argued Fiacco should not be released on bond.
"We're talking about a young man who was shot multiple times, twice in the back, left in this abandoned field dead and decomposed. At which point they showed up a month later and they dismembered and mutilated the body," said Cataldo.
MacDonald, 18, is charged with accessory after the fact to a felony, disinterment and mutilation of a dead body and lying to a police officer.
MacDonald's attorney argued for a $10,000, 10 percent, bond because she is a high school senior who is already enrolled in classes this fall at Macomb Community College. Her bond was set at $20,000.
Motive unclear
In April, investigators and Prosecutor Eric Smith said the motive for this crime was not clear. Investigators said Fiacco gave multiple stories. Smith called it "sketchy."
“Their motive is a little sketchy right now," Smith said during a news conference Friday, April 28, 2017. "But after the thorough investigation by the investigators with the Sheriff’s Department, we’re confident in our charges and we’re confident in our ability to prove these charges.”
Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said there is no evidence the homicide was drug-related.
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