MACOMB TOWNSHIP, Mich. – Authorities identified the human remains found in Ray Township as a missing 19-year-old man from Macomb Township.
Stephen McAfee was last seen March 10, 2016, leaving his home on Walden Drive in Macomb Township, the Sheriff's Office said. He was 19 years old.
A 19-year-old man and an 18-year-old woman are facing charges.
Two charged with multiple felonies
Andrew Michael Fiacco and Eevette Renee MacDonald are charged with multiple felonies.
Fiacco, 19, of Ray Township, is charged with first-degree murder, disinterment and mutilation of a dead body, lying to a police officer and felony firearms violations.
MacDonald, 18, of Shelby Township, is charged with accessory after the fact to a felony, disinterment and mutilation of a dead body and lying to a police officer.
Both were arraigned Friday at 1:30 p.m. Fiacco was held without bond.
MacDonald's attorney argued for bond, suggesting a $10,000, 10 percent, bond because she is a high school senior living with her grandmother who is already enrolled in classes this fall at Macomb Community College.
Her bond was set at $20,000. If she posts bond, she will have to wear a GPS tether and have no contact with McAfee's family.
Macomb County Sheriff discusses case
According to Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham, a break came in the case Wednesday when a young lady and her father went to authorities with information.
Wickersham said the girl received the information from MacDonald, who is Fiacco’s ex-girlfriend.
According to Wickersham, Fiacco allegedly shot McAfee and MacDonald helped him to bury the remains. Authorities arrested MacDonald that night.
During an interview, MacDonald implicated herself in the crime, according to authorities. Fiacco was taken into custody and he provided deputies with similar information. He was picked up from a court-ordered inpatient facility.
Two locations were searched Thursday: a home in Ray Township near 28 Mile Road and vacant land at 34 Mile Road in Bruce Township. Wickersham said that McAfee was shot at the 34 Mile Road location and was moved to the Ray Township location some period of time later.
Wickersham said remains were found at both scenes.
Detective says body was dismembered with ax at arraignment
Macomb county Sheriff's Detective Mark Morfino spoke about the case during the suspect’s arraignment.
He told the judge that Fiacco said during an interview that he shot McAfee three times: once in the stomach and twice in the back.
Fiacco took MacDonald to the location of the shooting a month later and dismembered the body with an ax, the detective said.
Some of the remains were then transported to the Ray Township home where the skull and lower extremities were buried. A lower jaw bone and clothing were found at the Bruce Township location.
Prosecutor says motive 'sketchy'
“Their motive is a little sketchy right now," Macomb County Prosecutor Eric Smith said. "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.”
Wickersham said there is no evidence the homicide was drug-related.
Human remains found buried in Ray Township
The remains were unearthed Thursday behind a home in Ray Township were found buried near a home on Kuntsman road, which is near 28 Mile Road.
Wickersham said Fiacco lives at the home.
Authorities said they were led to the exact spot behind the home where the human remains were found.
Neighbors watched as a person wearing a jail jump suit showed investigators the area behind the home.
The Macomb County Medical Examiner took the remains away.
According to Wickersham, vacant land at 34 Mile Road and Van Dyke was also searched where evidence was discovered. Authorities believe the shooting occurred at this location.
McAfee missing since March 2016
Attempts to locate McAfee through his cellphone were unsuccessful, the Sheriff's Office said in March of 2016.
The remains found Thursday were positively identified as McAfee.
Investigators followed up on numerous tips, missing person posters were distributed and a reward was offered. The family hired a private investigator.
All leads were exhausted and the case went cold.
Here was the statement from the Sheriff's Office:
"His current whereabouts are unknown. Attempts to locate him through his cell phone have been unsuccessful. The Sheriff’s Office has been working with the family to locate Mr. McAfee, however, there has still been no contact with him and he remains missing. He has had no contact with his family or friends since March 10."
Fiacco allegedly told deputies McAfee was shot multiple times at one location and later moved to the home in Ray Township.
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