Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis

2 charged in death of man found near trash bin in Madison

MADISON • Officials said Tuesday that two men have been charged with murder and armed criminal action in the death of a man whose burned body was found dumped near a trash bin here last week.

Ernest Lamont Smith, 38, of the 10300 block of Baron Drive in the Castle Point area of St. Louis County, and Marquan Prete, 17, of the 2900 block of Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis, were charged in St. Louis County Circuit Court. Bail was set at $750,000 for each.

The victim, Christopher Andrew Scott, 30, of the 7700 block of Nacomis Drive in Normandy, was found about 1:44 p.m. Friday near Kohl and Race streets. The Major Case Squad was called in to investigate.

According to court documents, Smith suspected Scott of breaking into his house a couple of days earlier. An argument started, and Smith got a gun and pistol-whipped Scott, the documents say. Scott tried to get away but Prete tackled him and held him down and Smith then shot him twice, police said.

Officials said Scott was killed at an address in the 10100 block of Baron Drive in St. Louis County and the body was moved to Illinois.

Granite City Capt. Ken Rozell, in his role as a deputy commander with the Major Case Squad, said about 25 officers worked on the case. "Once we identified the body, it was a matter of chasing down leads," Rozell said. "The family helped quite a bit."

Madison County prosecutors plan to review the case for possible charges in Illinois.

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Two charged with murder after burned body found next to dumpster

News-Democrat --

Two St. Louis men have been charged with murder in a case in which the victim's body was found Friday in Madison.

Ernest Lamont Smith, 38, and Marquan Prete, 17, were charged with first-degree murder and armed criminal action, according to the Major Case Squad.

The burned body of Christopher Andrew Scott, 30, of St. Louis, was found next to a dumpster near Kohl and Race streets in Madison, police said.

The case will be turned over to the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis on the Missouri side for further investigation.

The Madison County States Attorney's Office will review the case for possible charges in Madison County.

Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2011/02/16/1593480/two-men-charged-in-killing-of.html#ixzz1E8SIjqdf

Police release identity of man found dead in Madison

News-Democrat

MADISON -- The name of the man whose body was found Friday was released by police Saturday.

Christopher Andrew Scott, of St. Louis, was identified as the victim.

The cause of Scott's death was not released. He was last heard from on Feb. 6.

The Major Case Squad was called to investigate the suspicious death after a motorist spotted the body off Kohl Street.

Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2011/02/12/1589510/major-case-squad-releases-name.html#ixzz1DsU4iSWK

Major Case Squad investigating after man's body found in field

News-Democrat --

A man's body was found Friday in Madison and the Major Case Squad is investigating the suspicious death.

A passing motorist saw what appeared to be a body in a field off Kohl Street and called the Madison Police Department. Officers responded and found the body.

The cause of death has not been determined, said Granite City Police Capt. Ken Rozell, who is serving as deputy commander of the Major Case Squad.

The Major Case Squad, which was activated at 3:30 p.m., has 15 detectives assigned to the case.

No other details were released.

Read more: http://www.bnd.com/2011/02/12/1588438/mans-body-found-inmadison.html#ixzz1DlB5EK00