Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis

Police: Slaughter chamber found in warehouse where homeless man was dismembered

AP

EAST ST. LOUIS -- Police investigating the discovery of smoldering human body parts quickly focused on a nearby warehouse where they believe the victim was cut apart by two fellow homeless men with anything from a meat cleaver to hack saws found there, search warrant documents suggest.

The documents paint a gruesome scene of Zachary Irvin's final moments last month inside the freight warehouse, where investigators believe the jobless 22-year-old was bound to a lawn chair before being killed, according to an investigator's warrant request.

Tony Flinn, in the documents obtained Thursday by The Associated Press, added that searchers found blood on walls and floors of several rooms of the sprawling, old warehouse that's become a hangout for trespassing homeless. Bloody fingerprints also were on door jambs and drywall.

Dennis Iagulli, left, and James Pierson. - AP

Lt. Bill Baker, head of the regional team that investigated the killing, said an autopsy showed Irvin had been shot to death before his body was cut up.

Homeless man held in shooting death of man found dismembered, on fire

Homeless victim's body was found burning

BY CAROLYN P. SMITH - News-Democrat

EAST ST. LOUIS -- Police have arrested a homeless man on charges of first-degree murder in connection with the death of another homeless man whose dismembered body was found burning Tuesday in East St. Louis.

Dennis Iagulli, 41, was being held Sunday in the East St. Louis Jail on charges of first-degree murder and concealment of a homicide.

He was charged in connection with the death of Zachary Irvin, 22.

Illinois State Police crime scene investigators and other law enforcement officers gather evidence at the Water St. scene where a body was found in East St. Louis Tuesday. - Steve Nagy/BND

Scott Workman, deputy commander of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, said Irvin had been shot and dismembered. Irvin was identified by dental records, Workman said. Irvin had recently located to St. Louis from St. Elmo, Ill., Workman said.

Workers from a nearby trucking company found Irvin's body burning in a small cart or wagon along Winter Street near the East St. Louis Police Department's shooting range.

The next day, the Major Case Squad announced that detectives on the case had located a second crime scene: an old warehouse at 650 N. Front St. in East St. Louis.

"We believe the male body was killed in one location and burned in another," Workman said. "We believe the Front Street location to be a place where multiple homeless people live."

Workman did not elaborate on how the body was dismembered. And he said he could not comment on a motive for the murder.

Bail for Iagullli was set at $3 million.

A second man also was arrested in connection with the investigation. James Pierson, 35, who is homeless, was charged with unlawful use of a weapon by a felon. He also was jailed, with bail set at $150,000.

Both men were scheduled to be transferred to St. Clair County Jail today.

Workman said police will be presenting additional information to the St. Clair County state's attorneys office for additional charges.

Workman praised the team assembled with him to make up the Major Case squad. "I would like to commend the investigators involved in this case for their dedication and tireless efforts to bring this investigation to a close. And, I'd like to thank all of the agencies who assisted in this investigation from Illinois and Missouri," Workman said.

Contact reporter Caroyn P. Smith at 239-2503.

Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2010/06/28/1310304/homeless-man-held-in-shooting.html#ixzz0sA7WyPVW