WEXFORD COUNTY, MI. On Tuesday, February 20, 2024, the Michigan State Police (MSP) Cadillac
Post was contacted reference a missing 55-year-old man from Cadillac. The man’s truck, dog, phone, and other personal items were still at his residence in Cadillac. A search of the property was conducted.
Troopers located an area behind the house where the ground had been recently disturbed. On
Wednesday, February 23rd, detectives obtained a search warrant excavated the area, locating large
chunks of burnt wood, tires, remnants of burnt clothing and a piece of apparent flesh.
Further search warrants were obtained, and the MSP Grayling Crime Lab was contacted to excavate the area for additional evidence. Detectives and lab personnel conducted an excavation of the hole, locating a body. The MSP Computer Crimes Unit assisted at the scene with the collection of digital evidence.
Two suspects were quickly developed who are known to have been staying with the victim prior to his disappearance. They were taken into custody and lodged in two separate jails on unrelated charges.
The suspects, 45-year-old Michael Peter Hayes from LeRoy and 18-year-old Katelynne Jonelle Hendricks from Tustin, were formally charged today for the homicide. Hayes was arraigned today in the 84th District Court in Wexford County on one count First Degree Premeditated Homicide, one count Felony Firearms, one count Disinterment and Mutilation Dead Body, one count Concealing the Death of an Individual, and one count Removing Dead Body without Medical Examiner. He is being held without bond. Hendricks was arraigned today in the 84th District Court in Wexford County on one count Accessory after the Fact to a Felony, and one count Concealing the Death of an Individual. She is being held on a $500,000 cash bond.
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